Israel Update:

The kids have arrived at Tel Aviv!  There are supposed to be calls home once the kids have gone through Customs and had their PCR tests.

Photo credit to Shahar/Larisa/Matt (a.k.a. the chaperones)

So this happened today...

CLASS TRIP TO ISRAEL!

checking in

the class

kids - hen, daniel, assaf, and dillon

snacks from home

packed stuff

important docs, checked bag*, and carry-on

*Our fearless leader, Shahar, explained there is a competition to see who can pack the lightest bag.  Hen's pack was just under 11 pounds on the home scale.  Fingers crossed our scale is accurate and we won.  The current record is 11.4 pounds.

Pi Day 2022

I am woefully behind in updating the blog.  I haven't even posted pics of Christmas yet!  But I happen to have a few minutes and I did snap a quick pic of our Pi Day dinner last night.  We started with Cook's Illustrated Skillet Chicken Pot Pie and and ended with Cook's Illustrated Chocolate Cream Pie (their version with the Oreo cookie crust).  Since Darren is out of town - hanging out with his ski friends at Mammoth Lakes, CA - we had Lynn over for dinner.  Hen, in typical teenager fashion, left the table as quickly as he could and resumed playing video games while Lynn and I chatted until she had to head back to the cabin.  A good time was had by all.  

Project: Arbor Blanket

This picture was taken a couple months ago near the start of the Arbor Blanket project.  It took me three months working intermittently to finish.  There was only the one cone of organic cotton fiber and I got to watch it s l o w l y reduce in size, but there's a surprising amount left.  Perhaps I can make a cotton hand towel for the kitchen?  Anyway, the final stitch count is 96,782.  It is by far the highest stitch count of any project to date.  

Partial Lunar Eclipse

So, last night there was a partial eclipse of the moon that we were supposed to be able to see.  But we had rain in Portland and the cloud cover that rolled in with it meant the lunar eclipse was hidden from us.

What I learned from NASA:

1. This is the longest partial lunar eclipse in a millennium - 3 hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds.
2. On February 18, 1440, a partial lunar eclipse lasted 23 seconds longer and it will remain the longest partial lunar eclipse for 648 years until Feb. 8, 2669.
3. There will be a longer total lunar eclipse next year on Nov. 8, 2022.

Rejected

 Photos I did not use on this year's Christmas cards.

Christmas cards

I'm sending out 48 Christmas cards.  I find it interesting and want to note where they are headed.  Here's the breakdown:

Out of the country:
1 to Germany
3 to Canada

Out of state:
1 to Louisiana
1 to Florida
1 to Colorado
1 to Tennessee
1 to Illinois
1 to California
2 to Washington
1 to Texas
2 to Montana

In state:
19 to Portland
1 to Gresham
1 to Wilsonville
1 to Tualatin
3 to Tigard
1 to Oregon City
2 to Newberg
3 to Sherwood
1 to Welches
1 to Elgin

I have a few extras just in case a card comes in from someone who isn't currently on my list.  

Halloween 2021, Bob Ross Edition

Our plans to host a party got nixed when a party invitee accidentally double booked the evening.  Since our invite list at that point was down to two, Hen and his friend, Elliot were absorbed into the larger party.  There wasn't much trick-or-treating but there was an overnighter event that allowed Henry to play - and win! - a video game for three and a half others (after some partygoers had fallen asleep, he assures me).  The next morning when I picked him up he fell asleep in the car, woke long enough to drag his tired butt to bed, and fell back asleep.