New Direction

Nowadays, many writers have blogs in which they express their hopes, dreams and frustration.

I once read about a writer who didn't want to use the blog to rant about her supposed lack of inspiration, or her wonderful exploits of that day - "Got in 20.000 words".
Instead, she decided to use the space for sharing interesting tidbits she had come across during her research. Often the information was too much to blend into the book, but she knew her readers would appreciate the extra background information.

I thought this was a great idea, and decided to follow suit - in English and in Dutch. (There's a seperate Dutch blog now.)

Thus, from now on this blog will be used to share the extra's, interesting information I've stumbled upon while researching either an article, or in preparation for my latest book.

Feel free to leave your comment!

"Levonah" - the Caper

(This is an expert of my latest book about Huram-Avi and Solomon's Temple)

Zebudah and Huram enjoyed Jerusalem’s evening coolness.
“You’re not cold?” Zebudah worriedly tightened the shawl around Huram’s shoulders. He looked tired and drawn. She gently pressed the limp hand resting in his lap.
With closed eyes Huram leaned his head against the still warm stones of the courtyard, smiled, and shook his head. “I’m fine, don’t worry.” He sniffed the air. “What’s that fragrance?”
Zebudah walked to a shrub growing from a crack in the wall. “The levonah is blooming tonight.”
With her fingers she caressed the flower’s long swirl of purple stamens, careful not to touch the hooked spines at the base of their leafy stalks. Slowly, before Zebudah’s eyes more flowers opened their four white-pinkish, delicate petals, exposing their abundant stamens. The courtyard filled with their sweet fragrance, enticing the night insects to visit them.
“Oh, Zebudah!” Huram sighed, content.

Day Tripper Nazareth and Zippori

With special needs children to care for, it’s impossible to have or take a holiday. Taking the children along to visit interesting places (for us that is) is not a good idea either. Our children don't like to make long trips, are not interested in sightseeing and most places are inaccessible for wheelchairs anyhow.

In the last couple of months Wim (Bill) and I took some mini-breaks during the Sunday mornings the children are at school, but longer trips were not possible. At least, not together.

Not it so happened that I needed to make a research trip to a potter in preparation of my new novel. Our friend Will was willing to drive and accompany me, and also add to his knowledge base for the Beit Avraham. It became a very long trip, full of blessings and wonderful, interesting sites.

The potter in Nazareth gave us a tour with explanation about ancient and modern pottery. He was the grandson of a pottery artist, who began around the 1920's in Nazareth.

Then we drove to ancient Zippori, a town with a rich history of archeological finds from Roman (1st century AD), Byzantine, and Crusader periods.

We walked over the ancient cardo (colonnaded street) where you could still see the ruts of the wagons in the stones. Even though they only had been excavating minimally, everywhere you looked you saw ancient colums sticking out, mosaic floors were abundant; there were ritual baths (mikva’ot) and a synagogye, also with a beautiful mosaic floor.

The weather was perfect. Only the day before the heat wave broke, giving us pleasant spring weather during the many hours we had to spend outdoors.

Through the Jordan Valley we went back to Jerusalem again, taking pictures along the way, and arriving safe and sound 12 hours later.

What a privilege to be able to live in this wonderful country where history lies at our fingertips!