Back on line...

...and very aware how grateful I am to be forbidden to open the computer for these 26 hours.

I allowed myself a beautiful, gracious-paced day that included watching the birds at the feeders outside, reading the Torah portion, prolonged visits with both cats, relaxed visit with a human friend in the back yard, a walk by Viele Lake, a nap...

This evening I did at last reopen the laptop, and did my civic duty reading-and-signing.

I also complied with the most challenging requirement of tomorrow's Charoset Competition at the new JCC:  I wrote out the recipe.  But the truth is, I really cook by my grandmother's throw-it-in-and-taste method.  (She didn't even taste; she sniffed.)

Tomorrow I take the gallon (!) of charoset (improvised on an Italian recipe in Claudia Roden's cookbook) to the JCC in some pretty container, and see what happens.  It is the recipe I remember doing for a seder here in this house, with a variety of friends and guest-strangers, led by Zalman.  

It had a special kick due to the addition, at the end, of a liberal splash of slivovitz.

Oy,it's not even Purim and I'm already thinking about Pesach...

Good night.