Eifel Tower Hanukkah Menorah

My granddaughter Tzipporah recently celebrated her 7th birthday.  She was born on the fifth night of Hanukkah.  So, the day of her birthday celebration changes every year.  Normally she celebrates on a weekend near her birhtday.  But this year my daughter-in-law decided to make the party on her actual birthday.

She chose Hanukkah in Paris for her theme.  I immediately began scouring websites looking for a menorah to get for her.  But, I could not find a single Eifel Tower or Paris hanukiah (Hanukkah menorah).  I knew that we would have to make one if she got one.

It turned out so cute we actually used it as a craft for the girls who attended the party and each girl went home with one of her own.  It was really simple, so I wanted to share it with others who might also want a Paris theme Hanukkah party.


I bought some inexpensive tin menorahs.  These are available at most Judaica shops and websites.

I bought some black spray paint.  I used the high heat kind since it would be near flames, but I don't know if that is necessary.

I painted the menorahs outside and left them to dry overnight.

 

 

I bought some Eifel Tower bottle openers.  I found them at our local party supply store, but also saw them on some websites for wedding favors.

 

I bought glue that works for metals and is heavy duty.

 

 

I glued the Eifel Towers onto the menorahs.  I let them dry overnight.

 

 

 I bought jewelry glue and rhinestone and sequin stars for the girls to glue on their menorah at the party. Sophie, another one of my granddaughters loved showing hers off for a picture.

 

 

 

 

I made one in advance for the girls to see, and used it as a party decoration.

 

Tzipporah enjoyed lighting her candles on her very own Eifel Tower menorah all during the remainer of Hanukkah. 

 

 





Shabbat Joy

Our family observes and celebrates the Biblical Sabbath.  In Hebrew the word Sabbath is Shabbat.  So, every Friday night at sunset we seperate ourselves from the things of the world (as much as possible) and turn our focus to G-d matters and family.  We do things different on Shabbat than on the other six days of the week.

Here are some pictures of last Shabbat.  I am so blessed!

We wear our prettiest and nicest clothes on Shabbat.  The girls loved sharing some of my necklaces and pretty flower pins in their hair.

Lance brings home beautiful flowers every Friday after work to make our weekly celebration more beautiful.  And we begin the Shabbat by putting money in the tzedakah (charity) box.  We do this to remind ourselves to always be generous - as G-d is generous to us.  He provides for our needs and gives us gifts all the time.  So, we put aside some money each Shabbat to share generously with others.

It is a longstanding custom that all girls and women light two candles to welcome Shabbat into the home and into our lives.  It is something physical we can do to change our focus from the regular things we participate in during the week to the important spiritual things that make our lives better. My beautiful candle sticks were a gift from my Mother several years ago.

After we light the Shabbat candles we cover our eyes so we don't see the beautiful flames until after we say our special bracha (blessing) - the first thing we do after Shabbat begins.  It is a time to think about G-d and all He means to us.  When we open our eyes we make three circles around the flames, bringing our hands back to ourselves which is the symbol of our opening our hearts and lives to the shalom (peace) that only G-d can give us.

When the candles are lit and the beautiful glow of the candle light fills the room we sit at the table to say more brochot (blessings) and sing special Shabbat songs.  We sing a blessing to all our grandchildren - even if they are far away from us.  It is a very meaningful time for the family.

After our blessings and songs we celebrate with wine, which is the symbol of joy.  We lift our glasses and wish each other "l'chaim" - to life!  (*note:  we give the children grape juice, not wine)

We then eat a delicious meal.  We save our special and favorite foods and desserts to enjoy on Shabbat since we eat plain foods during the week.  We have a Torah (Bible) lesson, sing songs, talk about our favorite part of the week just past, and enjoy being together as a family.  

Shabbat is the best day of the week!  I love having a weekly celebraton.  It makes a huge difference in my life to set aside one day each week to escape from the worries and stress that life on planet earth brings.  I don't go to stores to shop.  I leave the mail in the mailbox.  I don't answer the phone.  I don't watch sitcoms, crime dramas, etc. on tv.  I spend the day relaxing, playing, praying, studying, and being with the people who mean everything in the world to me.  Shabbat gives me strength.  Shabbat gives me hope.  Shabbat gives me joy.  Shabbat brings shalom to my neshama (soul).  I love Shabbat and am thankful that G-d set up His world to give us this special gift.

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...G-d blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it G-d rested from all his work that he had done in Creation. (Genesis 2:3)

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the L-rd your G-d. On it you shall not do any work .... For in six days the L-rd made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the L-rd blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.  (Exodus 20:8-11)

4th of July at Our House

We spent this year at our house in town rather than going down to the cottage at the lake as we typically do for July 4.  June was the most hectic month I've had in a very long time and I just didn't feel I could take another trip.  I really needed to stay at home at take it easy.  And since the holiday fell in the middle of the week Lance would have had to use some vacation time and we want to save it for cooler weather.

I didn't actually know there would be anyone at the house today so I didn't shop for anything special or plan anything.  Laurie brought all 3 girls over about mid-morning while I was at Savers digging around for bargains.  (I found some great treasures too.)  So when I got home it was just about time to start planning lunch for everyone.

Thankfully, I keep lots of party things around all the time.  I shop for clearance party decorations and off season items, and keep several plastic totes filled.  That makes it easy to throw a party together without much effort.  So I knew I could put something together for a nice July 4 lunch.

The girls were all busy in their bedroom while Laurie and I prepared lunch so they didn't know we were having anything special.  I don't even know if they knew it was July 4 actually.

I made some pink lemonade in the red tea jar, put some red and white striped straws in the glasses of ice and it looked very festive and tasted delicious.

Red plates, blue forks, and white napkins with red ribbon added to the party look on the table.

Star shaped chicken nuggets from the kosher store in Dallas went right along with our stars and stripes theme.

So did the watermellon (stripes), blueberries (stars), on a white tray.

Fresh whipped cream and strawberries with pound cake was a yummy yummy dessert after we had our chicken nuggets, tator tots, and corn.

Sara's pretty pony was a table decoration along with the little glass filled with tiny American flags.

 

After lunch the girls enjoyed playing in the new pool in the back yard. It was great fun!

Pop and Haley served as life guards during the swimming time.

After swimming it was bath and shampoo time, dinner - which was peanut and butter sandwiches decorated with blue sugar and star sprinkles, chips and milk - then story and song time, Bedtime Shema, and falling asleep while watching Gulliver's Travels.

It was a beautiful and happy day.  And in spite of the many problems our country is facing I'm still proud to be an American.  And I'm happy for the freedoms my grandchildren enjoy that many children throughout the world don't have.

Cranberry Salsa Recipe

Last week while getting a few groceries I stopped at one of the little food tasting stations. The featured item was Cranberry Salsa. The rest, as they say, is history. It was an immediate addiction.  I LOVED that stuff!

I immediately began gathering up all the ingredients and couldn't wait to get home to make some. I was hoping Lance would like it as much as I did, because otherwise, I would have eaten it all. Yes. I admit it. I would have eaten the entire bowl of it. But that didn't happen because he did like it. We are both looking forward to the next batch, which will be served during Hanukkah (bli neder/no promise).

If you like cranberries and cilantro you will not regret trying this tasty treat! Yum Yum!!! Enjoy!

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Cranberry Salsa

Ingredients needed:
1 bag fresh cranberries
1 bunch cilantro (leaves only)
1 bunch green onions (green part only)
1 jalepeno pepper (seeded)
1 large lime (juiced)
1 cup sugar

Instructions:

1. Wash cranberries.

2. Wash cilantro and green onions.

3. Cut open jalepeno pepper and take out the seeds.  NOTE:  Wear gloves when handling fresh peppers!

4. Juice the lime.

5. Cut white part off the green onions.

6. Chop the onions.

7. Cut stems off cilantro.

8. Put the cranberries and lime juice in blender or food process. Chop until the consistency of chunky type salsa.  (Note, if the lime is not big enough to make enough juice and you need more liquid add small amount of water.)

9. Add sugar and blend together.  10. Then add other ingredients and continue chopping.

11. Serve with cream cheese and crackers.  (Can be served as a side dish without the cream cheese and crackers.)