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In this topsy turvy time

 The weather these days keeps bopping back and forth between balmy and filled with the promise of



warmer weather and springtime,



and days like this.



that make you feel like winter will never
 


ever come to an end.



We delivered some things to a friend who was in the hospital across the park.






We were rewarded with bits of beauty on our way.











Later in the week, we met a friend for a balmy walk in the snowy park.















  
We passed this statue of Daniel Webster and remembered a beautiful walk we had taken on the grounds of his New Hampshire home with our kids many summers ago.


We left the park and wandered home.  This van reminded me of my aunt's Russian neighbors in Jerusalem who called my Aunt Sophie, "Mrs. Sofa".   It was just the best name. 


If anyone ever called me such an excellent name you can  be sure that all of my passwords would include that name. 


We passed an architectural rarity, an original glass door awning. The original door is gone, replaced by a smalled less grand modern one.


The house next door has the original door and stoop but not the awning. 


The garage doors were probably the basement kitchen entries.



Today is Purim. Normally we are a family that goes all out for Purim. This year we didn't feel quite so celebratory. I did however make something that feels vaguely Persian for Shabbat dinner



I cooked chicken with butternut squash, pomegranate arils, and pomegranate molasses.


I am hoping that next year we will once again feel like celebrating. This brilliant video might help. 


Shabbat Shalom! and Chag Sameach!



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