The old normal was steady rain and cool temperatures all through August. September would be cooler, crisp, and beautiful, with the leaves beginning to change colors. While October would see the beginning of leaves dropping after reaching the brighter colors, and Halloween would see the first snow, which soon melted. The second week of November would bring a second sticking snowfall. That was then.

The past three years have seen all that fall by the wayside. The first of October 2020 saw a hundred-year snowfall, bringing this city to its knees. And nature's been smashing records and inventing new ones since. Remember, this is the Arctic, and our weather is your future.

Thanks for the appreciative comments. My kids love travelling and I collect photo memories

I delight in those autumn vies. fiery leaves colors. Unfortunately that doesn't exist here and I miss that. Not many trees lose their leaves here and when they do, they are  all dirty brown. Not picturesque at all.

Shirley it would be fun to see the two boys together, with no common language!

This is a poster in Illy's village, announcing
 an exiting event. Halloween in Israel? who can believe that? :O:

The poster asks to decorate the houses and to buy lots of sweets for the kids that will come for them.

The people taking part are requested to register, so that their house can be marked on the map that will be given to all the participants.

That's what I call "organized'!

well we here are in mixed mode about our trees,we have severial in our aeria verry green and severial has turned golden and some are well in the mode shakeing the leaves blowing everywhere. so we are well on our way to fall season. have a good day.not sure what to say about life so woent verse on it. stay healthy and safe as possable. see you all later on.

Lloyd

I'm impressed with how well organized everything is for the kids' pleasure, Bubble. Seems like your country does think of the welfare of kids and older people, to make everything as happy as can be with the conflict always present. By the way, hadn't crossed my mind when "wishing my gr-grand & your grand could get together" that there would be a language problem. Why did I assume Aviv was learning the English language in school?  Guess because you seem to understand/speak all languages, like my son in law! 

Bedtime in Kansas and I didn't eat enough protein for supper so better see about some cheese & crackers. Forgot to get Gatorade so may be waking up with a leg cramp. Oh...NO!

Shirley, I try to teach English to Aviv, but it is hard work: he does not keep still for one second! The other day he was even trying to suck his big toe while trying to remember vocab!  At school it is very rudimentary.

I "printed" some money for Aviv to spend on his Succot holiday.



 

A cloudy view from the observation tower at Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just south of the Tennessee-North Carolina border (about an hour south of Pigeon Forge, TN). Click to view full size.

Bubble, I know boys aren't supposed to be "beautiful" but his features are as perfect as any I've ever seen. Each feature can be separated and be in an artist's book on drawing faces as "how it should look". Such a joy to watch him grow up and the fairy tale world he lives in. Illy got her interest in life from you, no question.

Michael, that is the area that my father's father settled in before they moved on to Missouri. My brother tracked down the farm & history, and we did the drive one time with bumper to bumper cars all through the Smoky Mountains. Beautiful photo, are they smoking the hams yet?  I enjoyed the smells of the fall season.

cycling in Israel



 

yesterday was the last of Succot festival, with religious people getting  the Torah scrolls outside the synagogue, They carry them in the street  while dancing and singing at the top of their voices. It is called Simha Tora (the happiness of Torah)

They did that under my window as well



 

Illy and Aviv saw that in their moshav as well and Aviv had the honor to carry a scroll as well, even if he was not dressed properly for that.

Amazing, interesting photos and of Aviv's part. Thank you for these!

BUBBLE, I loved all the pictures and learning what was happening in them.  Thank you!

Here is our town park along the sea yesterday. The winter hasn't arrived yet and the sky is blue.

Bubble, I would love to walk along that beach!!!

Me too! It would be so soothing to stroll along that trail.

Here's my promenade...

BBBRRRRRRrrrrrrrrr......

A sea of ice.

Shivers....don't mind snow but dislike ice.

Bubble what is your winter like? A rainy season, just cooler weather or barely noticeable?

Winter  sees drops in temperature between 5C to 15C with rain, high winds and thunderstorms. There are usually some cold sunny days in between  [41F-59F] For me it is almost like freezing!
But it is certainly better than the snow and ice I had when I lived in Europe. The warmer weather was the main reason I chose to live in Israel after I had to leave Congo because of the Independence war there.

With the lockdowns during Covid's two years disruptions, wild life has invaded towns. In Haifa for example, there are many wild pigs (boars?) roaming the streets at night and overturning garbage cans in search of 'treats'. They multiply at such fast rate that they have become a danger for pets and small kids.

Here in town we are now seeing dozens of mongooses digging gardens and creating tunnels in the municipal park.  This could cause some serious damage to the cliff over the beach.

A neighbor even saw two young ones in our back yard.  I find that scary.



This one was in the park with six others. People daily feed the wild cats and they take advantage of it as well.

Thanks for the reply. I had thought of Israel as almost tropical, but this shows I didn't know. I had heard of mongooses but had to look them up to understand. It's amazing the differences around this world.

Remember Glen? So many years already...

Yes, I do remember Glen. Have some pick's of him and some of his "works".

Ah, found my way in tonight! I not only remember Glen but still have the Paint Shop Pro he advised me to buy to "morph" and do other things. Sadly I've forgotten all I ever knew but still have one old computer barely hanging on (Vista) that will allow me to do a few things. I bought several later versions of PSP but could never get them set up to work, by that time the lessons were over. Cas was needing lots more attention so difficult to concentrate. Then Glen died and I gave up. Great memories.

Bubble, you have had a wonderful life filled with amazing experiences. You found a wonderful place to "retire to" and for sure being close to your daughter & grandson adds to the perfect setting. Thanks for sharing your surroundings with us. Glad we don't have the wild boars and mongooses around here. I do put out food for the feral cats, close to the bird feeder so they leave the birds alone.

Another of glen, and also John Dye - anyone remember him?

 

Have you ever heard of Cat Café/restaurant?

Here is one in London. The cats walk freely around customers and on tables, enjoy the petting and attention, sample the food...

As much as I like the animals, I don't think I'll visit there.