Someones in the Sukkah with Dinah

There is something magical about reaching this season- 

no, it's not football, or fall, or pumpkin spice, though, all those things are great;

If you prefer to kick it old school,

This season, is Sukkot, 

meaning, you have survived the High Holy Days!!!!!

Say what?

Rosh Hashanah, the new year, a time to celebrate the worlds creation!

Yom Kippur, when your soul is sad & afflicted,  you must repent (with a 25 hr fast).

All together, it's like Christmas & Easter in 10 days, 

with the fun addition of many, many hours of prayer services.

So, making it to Holiday #3, in less than 30 days, 

alive, 

is really saying something.......

backing up----->

This little nugget was called up to read the Prayers for our Nation,

which we can all agree we need,

a great honor.

This little nugget is also refusing to get his hair cut, 

& the resulting mass of curls peaking out under his kippah

reminds me of 'Bar Mitzvah Boy', on SNL.

this year 

last year 

A little comparison 

& now we return you to regularly scheduled programming....

Sukkot

The festival of harvests,

Because who doesn't want to build a tent & celebrate barley harvests of years gone past?

The main player in this, is the Sukkah-

a 3 sided structure, so you can see your weary guests, ala Abraham,

and an open roof, so you may count the stars as your descendants.

Or, if you make the most of what you've got..... this---->

A 2 sided structure with a hot pink roof.

Husband & I are out of the descendants business ;)

Thanks Mimi & GPH for the great tent.

Sukkot celebrates the fruits of Israel...... so naturally we decorate with fake sunflowers & pumpkins!

......& conch shells?

*Whatever*

& then, keeping with the Mitzvot, 

eat tacos.

Having it together enough, to get this together,

 is miracle enough.

Getting this bunch to actually eat barley is just asking way too much.

Mazel Tov

How I failed my summer vactation

Every year, the Husbands family, gathers in the old home town for a get together.

His entire extended family is in the area, so, gathering them isn't a big deal.

Except, for those family members, that all live up here-

his parents, brothers & their families, 

who we see fairly regularly.

For the last 2 years, at the great migration, 

we were still at the youth ranch, & responsible for the horses.

so we couldn't just dash off.

I can't remember the other why's of we couldn't go,

but we hadn't been in several (5 years).

This year, sans horses, we decided to brave it.

We divided the current zoo up, found lovely & brave people to mind them,

& vacationed for 36 hours, 17 of which were in a car.

AS we were nearing home, last evening, the Husband & I were going over the list of successful bits, & the not so successful bits.

Our #1 major fail-->

We forgot to take pictures.

We were able to visit Husbands Gran, & really meant to take pictures of her with the kids.
Fail #1- we got a picture of her great farm dog...

Then, Husband backed down the shoulder of the highway for this little gem....

fail #2- we could not find a live armadillo.

there were dead ones everywhere......

This morning, I did find one valid vacay photo

but, it like the rest, are all sideways, & I don't know how to fix it....

Husband would call it a fail, but I call it success in a box--->

It made him absolutely bat-poo crazy, but we listened to a book on tape

(which we all enjoyed)

but, in the interim's

we all sang along to the Wicked soundtrack

(Which he did end up humming along to)

Henry even went so far as to assign us all parts to sing.

(Where he drew the line)

It was fun to see the family

I wish they lived closer, & we could gather more often.

Maybe sometime when it is less than 1 cozbillion degrees out, in the shade....

They are a loud & raucous bunch, so just about like any family, ever.

One day, I will get it all right, on the first try.....