Klein maar fijn

(No translation)

This morning a short run to the birds pound at the park. The frogs still don't like me and disappear the moment they even smell me. So... no photos (have still to see the first of them with my naked eye anyway).

I did see the Eurasian Jay pretty close to me on a branch of the tree I was passing under tho:

And the bud that was bursting to bloom some time ago did indeed burst into a voluptuous adult flower:

He was calling out (as can be seen) but I'm not sure what this bird is...

The reflection shows up better than the goose itself. This bright sunlight makes it very difficult to photograph white colors...

There also was this hungry parrot - who was looking down at me while I was taking this picture but didn't fly away anyway, which I think is so sweet

The photos of lately are of no good quality at all. I also have huge problems with my camera. I feel he's gone cheating on me :-(

SaturDayAdventureDay

Left early: 06:30 but it was already warm. Coming back around 12:30 I thought I was going to faint (didn't have enough to drink while the heat-or rather the humidity in the air- was a killer). Still had to carry Klaas the last part of the way because he seemed really about to kick the bucket.

The "Adventures" --

I saw a Mynah eating a (dead) lizard:

I also teased him a bit by coming too close to him so he had to leave this juicy piece of meat out of fear I would catch him. (Yes, I am naughty).

I saw the black crowned night heron (or in short Mr. Heron as I call him in my thoughts) sitting on a bench near the Yarkon - extremely close to a fisherman (hoping to get his dinner served, I assume)

There was another one near the fisherman as well who got a fish from him - and it is my imagination for sure but... it does look like the rascal is laughing here:

I saw a flower who looked like he spun himself around into a dizzy spin:

Above the 'animal prison' I found the parrots were very active in and around their huge nest, and actually caught one resting from all the commotion:

And in Animal Prison itself this endearing sight of a baby resting her head on her mother invited me to snap a picture of it:

I used to see one here, two there and not very often either, but today the path going thru the park to the Nemaal was littered with hundreds of the insects showing in the photo underneath. This photo is of two of them who seemed to be stuck together - moving rather swiftly into one direction, which makes that one of them was walking backwards. Perhaps they're mating?

And this is Mr. Egret. Beautiful as always. Twice :-)

After many weeks of not having seen Ms. Cat I finally got to see her again. She has become very, very fat. She can't be pregnant because she's neutered so this means she is living well. I am so happy - because she is a valuable piece of my memories.... Here she is sniffing the lens of my camera:

And, this bird was just one of tens of them perching on the branches of a tree -- they weren't sparrows (the beak is too long and thin) but what they are I don't know..

A flower from a fallen tree branch. The berry-likes are new buds. Nature is invincible!

And again ;-)

I called this photo 'ragfine' - the web is so delicate that it's hard to see the details of its threads.

Feelings of 'some things never change' (tho I know they do) were creeping up when I walked thru the park - greedily absorbing these serene views.

"Beebees" all over. Ducks are probably in their reproductive period of the year. So sweet looking......

.....also when showing only their butts :P

This dragonfly's eyes are showing up at the photo while I couldn't spot them while looking at him.

I don't know the cause but these catfish at the park's pond are repeatedly jumping over the surface of the water. I don't like catfish, they look scary - but they sure are interesting 'animals'.

The ducks are totally OK with the catfish's dancing ritual.

There were trees and branches of trees on the ground. Probably part of tending to the park but this tree stem with the shape of a heart seemed to cry out to me he was heart-broken having to leave his 'home'.

This bird in flight is not an egret. Its beak is yellow... The blurriness of the photo accidently expresses exactly the swiftness he was flying around with.

Lady Hibiscus waiting to spread her ballroom dress open to the first rays of the sun after having waited for her 'prom' day (time to step into adultness)

Horseback riding

Facing some fears of the past (which was a disastrous experience) I yesterday set out to go horseback riding at a reliable manege which also gives treatment services (to the disabled). This is something I really wanted to do but I never realized how discovering that I can't afford (financially) proceeding this wonderful sport would make me feel sad.

Anyway, the manege is situated in a park on the other side of Ramat-Gan - I know the park from the past - and is a lovely area where tranquility and an overall sense of relaxation takes you (me) over and places you in another world... away from the hectic race around the clock.

The horse I rode was called Kineret and she is a lovely girl. So patient... (and huge).

Hereunder are photos from the park. The Hoopoe I found at the entrance of the manege at a worn down building where artists are selling their paintings. The Hoopoes were totally used to those people and I think they considered I belonged to them because they didn't fly away (as all birds do when I take out my camera) when I approached them as well.

This is the park:

The trees had signs telling the names of them so I finally got to know some names I have been wondering about for quite some time now. This is a Thevetia:

A Parkinsonia:

An Eucalyptus:

And a Brachychiton (very common tree in Israel)

This is Klaas sleeping :-)

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I wish I wouldn't have gone horseback riding because now I know what I have to miss due to financial restrictions :-(

UpdatingThen

It has been a long time since I wrote here. I feel a little bit guilty...

Let's start from the 'beginning' (since I 'left') :

My son came to stay over for a week - which was lovely (of course). I'm still of the opinion that one's closest family (and in particular one's own children) are the ones who have most impact on ones happiness and emotions. And thus: there wasn't much I wanted to write about (since both son and daughter are fervent anti-put-everything-on-the-internet supporters).

On the last day before my son returned to Tsefad I found a praying mantis on the window of his bedroom (both my son and daughter were shocked - an 'animal' like that entered the privacy of my home). I thought it was beautiful. I'm not scared or frightened from insects and the likes, except for cockroaches who can let me faint.

Last week, while walking Klaas, I saw a garden opposite my home of which I suspect one of the tenants thought it was a good idea to throw their old toilet pot in and make it look like a creative idea for garden design. I think it is humor:

Then, one day later, the skies (and air) were so polluted (or whatever it was that gave that impression) that the sun looked like it was suffocating high in the skies:

One day later, Friday, I met up with my friend again. The skies were clear, the sun shone brightly and we had a great time in her home town, Nethanya. Nethanya reminds me Tel-Aviv in the seventies. It lacks the coldness sophistication has brought to Tel-Aviv. It is not 'backwards' but much more 'warm' (human) than Tel-Aviv. Anyway, that's my impression...

Here are some sparrows taking advantage of the absence of the tourists (Dutch btw) from their table for a while. They seem to love the corn...

That Shabbat, the 29th May, I decided I needed to go see 'my' sea again. Though I don't like going to him when 'the Israeli people' (or any other people) are having their day off and clutter and spoil (for me) his pureness... On the way I saw this peacock having a 'look at me' moment, and so I did (look at him) and took a photo of it:

Of course, during this last week, the 'flotilla' thing happened. (Never knew this word until this week). It made me realize there is no peace possible in the Middle East. I am, I think, a VERY humane person. There is no-one I wish harm upon and I also can understand where people with contradicting opinions than mine are coming from. However... after years upon years trying to reason and trying to and succeeding in understanding people who are supposed to be my enemy - I can see now that it all doesn't matter. I have been made out as a person who makes them 'sick' simply because they can't see further than their own propaganda machine and decide that by doubting that machine I am inhumane. Well, stuff them. If they would write 'why do you think so?' I could go on talking to them BUT.... having them say I make them sick and that I am 'simple' or 'indoctrinated' (which makes me laugh because that's what I think they are, but wouldn't write this because I don't wanna hurt their feelings) - makes that for me this 'romance' is over. I stand behind our navy for the full 100% and if that makes them sick they effectively are pushing me in the corner of not being distinctive anymore. "Accuse without distinction" is their slogan and they force me to make it mine. Here's a photo of what I saw yesterday near Yizraeli and I agree with it for the full 100%. If that delivers problems to those who say Israel lies no matter if it tells the truth - that's their problem:

I find this a heartwarming photo. At least it warms my heart. Just like the big group of American African Americans that danced around Tel-Aviv chanting they thanked the 'shayeted 13' while I did my route to Shuk HaCarmel yesterday.

It's better I don't think about all this too much. It makes me too angry. "Israel is wrong by default". Well, I got news for all those people: never, ever assume that I lose sight with what is right and what is wrong. Not when I support your claims that the Gaza Blockade is collective punishment one (the Israeli government) has to find a humane solution for, and not when our navy is executing their rightful duties and are getting attacked for that. You don't like it? Then don't talk to me anymore. I won't sleep less because of it more than when I would cheat on my principles.

OK.

A few days ago I suddenly thought about the person I used to work for when I came to Israel. A very 'colorful' person. That much can be said. I haven't seen him for about 20 years. And guess what? Yesterday, while walking the Shuk Ha-Carmel I heard him call out to me. Isn't that 'coincidence'? Or what? Anyway, I was terribly surprised.

And today... I set out to walk again. But, on route I decided I really didn't wanna meet up with more than half of the population of Tel-Aviv at 'my' sea. So stayed at that park. Here are photos of sights that caught my heart...