Rebecca was so brave and such a great sport with this parrot doing this crazy dance on her head by the beach.
(Narrated and videoed by Andy Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Water. Show all posts
August 17, 2015
PARROT Does Amazing Impromptu DANCE
Rebecca was so brave and such a great sport with this parrot doing this crazy dance on her head by the beach.
(Narrated and videoed by Andy Blumenthal)
August 2, 2015
Golden Retriever Swims Like A Fish
Out on the kayak today with Rebecca in Maryland.
This beautiful golden retriever named Rudder was playing on the bank and in the water.
He was swimming and chasing a toy that the friendly owners were throwing way out into the pond.
On this hot sunny day, this dog was having a blast, and the people seemed to enjoy talking with us about him.
Overall this was a welcome break from the Dog Days of Summer. ;-)
(Source Video: Rebecca Blumenthal)
July 27, 2015
Fish Mish
I took this video in the aquarium store.
Just found it so relaxing to watch these fish--swimming this way and that with their fish pals in the nice cool water.
In the background is the sound of a little waterfall running into the makeshift pond.
Ah, the life of a fish--if you can avoid the nets and the bigger fish--it's probably not too shabby.
I remember when my mom used to make gefilte fish for Shabbos, especially the sweet kind in a sliced up roll, and it was delicious.
For some reason, I remember calling it fish mish--I think because the fish is ground up--and then boiled or baked.
A nice appetizer--pass the tartar sauce please. ;-)
(Source Video: Andy Blumenthal)
July 20, 2015
The Fisherman
I was out in the water in a kayak enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
I paddled over near to the fisherman, but not so close as to scare away his catch.
It was hot and very sunny out on the water--there was only a little shade near the bank of the pond--and I frequently had to wipe my forehead beading with sweat under the open sun.
But it was nice to just be out there--on the water, surrounded by the greenery, the sun overhead, some birds and frogs about, and a even a little breeze shimmering over the the water.
Even better than paddling itself, is just stopping, sort of sitting back, and just listening to the silence, breathing in the nature, and letting everything else just go for a little while.
One with nature, one with G-d, and feeling integrated myself. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 13, 2015
Turtle Tank
Turtles are one of my favorite creatures.
The challenge in photographing them while they sun tan on the tree trunk is that when you get to close they simply dive into the water.
This one turtle was a little older and larger, and was basically fearless.
We paddled right up to him and he held steady there.
So awesome--turtles live in and by the beautiful water, have a tank-like protective armor, and are basically peaceful loving.
While I never got into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I think the real ones are all that. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 18, 2015
G-d Gave Us So Many Gifts
It is called (in Hebrew) "Elohin Natan Lecha Bematana,"which means G-d gave you as a present.
It's about everything wonderful that G-d has given us, and we just ask for one more gift...peace.
Hope you enjoy (it brought tears to my eyes)!
****************************
Chorus:
God gave you as a gift
Something great, something wonderful
God gave you as a gift
The life on earth
Gave you the night and the day
Love, hope and dream
Summer, winter, autumn, spring
Good soul to look around
Gave you green fields
Flowers and blooming trees
Rivers, streams and seas
Sky, moon, stars
Chorus
Gave you feasts and Sabbaths
Israel, the fathers' land
Hands and head to fulfill dreams
Gave you all the wonders
Gave you such nice things
To bring kids to this world
Listen to songs, see colors
Oh, so many are your deeds, God
Chorus
God, oh, please give me just one more gift
A small gift but a wonderful one
God, please give me just one more gift
The peace on earth
***************************
March 26, 2015
Country Landscape
The vibrant fall colors of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns.
The tops of the houses and steeple jutting up from the lush foliage.
The bluish-green mountains in the background, the wavy blue water lined by white sand on the upper left, and the light blue sky with clear white clouds at the very top.
It's a little bit of Heaven right here on Earth.
Where peace, prosperity, and health are abundant and prevail.
G-d should bless us.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 7, 2015
Even If You Can't Get To The Beach
The challenge with this puzzle was in differentiating the oodles of pieces making up the blue sky from those of the blue water.
Similarly, with all the green pieces for the palm trees and all the white ones for the sand.
It seemed as if all the pieces were just shades of similar colors, and hard to differentiate between them.
But my daughter is so smart and determined.
First, she strategically separated out the pieces with the edges and put the whole frame together.
Then, she organized the rest of the pieces by their associated colors, so sky blue pieces would be in one pile and distinct from ocean blue pieces in another one and so on.
As you can see, all that's left is to finish off the sky, and it's done.
I was able to find a few pieces, but I'm better laying at the beach, then putting one together.
Just two more weeks to Spring...thank you G-d. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 28, 2014
Just Two Pelicans Doing Their Thing
Today, we walked over to the pier and there were these two pelicans sitting there.
They let us walk right up to them and sit down on a stoop next to them--maybe two feet away only,
It was nice just sitting with Rebecca and watching these birds: they were scratching, clucking, shivering, dancing, taking in their surroundings, and wandering away together.
Felt really at peace and happy by the water, doing something so simple and basic.
In a way just wanted this time to last forever. ;-)
November 27, 2014
THINK Different
October 30, 2014
G-d, Nature and Technology
October 16, 2014
"The Chief"
First as a camper, then counselor, and finally lifeguard at this fairly large Orthodox Jewish children's camp in Rockland County, New York.
As a camper, I hated swimming and the smelly, musty, and overcrowded locker rooms.
When I was only about 6-7 already, I told my parents, I would only go to camp, if I didn't have to swim--after a lot of fuss, I got them to agree.
But years later, I learned to love swimming--the gorgeous outdoors, calming water, and health and therapeutic effects.
I worked with "The Chief" (Norman Garfield, pictured at left) for many years...he was a radio talk show host and actor, and in camp played the starring role of Chief Taka Zeis, last of the Gutta Neshamah (Yiddish for Good Soul) Tribe.
He entertained the children like no one else could--with made up chants of "Tzitsamagoo!", his silly outfits (notice the unmatched socks in addition to the feather hat), and to songs like "Let the Sun Shine In," he was always someone that could be counted on to safely watch the children swim, teach them, and make them laugh.
One Summer, The Chief, encouraged us (the other lifeguards) to sign up for the Red Cross Swim and Stay Fit program, and I think I swam 20-30 miles in between lifeguarding over about 6-8 weeks.
Those were some fun times with The Chief and some of my old friends like Mark Stadtmauer, Elissa Rothman (Brodsky), and many others.
Today, just a few months post hip surgery, I once again appreciate the swimming, and try to go as often as possible for health reasons.
I am thankful for those years and for the ones granted now. ;-)
(Source Photo: Who The Heck Remembers)
October 9, 2014
The Light Of Heaven
The wondrous sun shining through the beautiful clouds floating overhead.
May the light be a healing light and may the power of the L-rd above reign over us in mercy.
From ebola and other illnesses to a sick economy, gruesome terrorism, and general inaction all around, we need G-d more than ever to show us the way.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 5, 2014
Got To Be A Caveman
We had seen a sign a number of weeks ago from the highway for Crystal Grottoes Caverns.
Today, we decided to try it out, and made the trip to Boonsboro!
I wasn't expecting much, since I had heard a lot about Luray Caverns in Virginia, but never anything about this one in Maryland.
Well we were really pleasantly surprised.
Half an hour tour underground through a literal maze of caves filled with the densest formation of stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (springing from the floor).
These things grow only like a centimeter every 150 years, so when we saw literally countless that were meters long, we were really looking at thousands of years history.
Incredibly, these beautiful mineral rock formations come into being from water seeping through the limestone a drop at a time, and we saw rocks sparkling with crystals, and in shapes ranging from hands to turtles and much more.
The guide even showed us a special place (almost like a chamber) where a number of couples had gotten married down there...sort of an appropriate place to tie the knot ever so tight in those caves.
It was also nice that we had our own tour guide for this thing, and that made this all the more interesting to ask questions and really get to see everything.
At one point, the guide suddenly shut the electricity in the caves, and we were left in complete and utter darkness...it was so surreal and sort of scary, but peaceful to be in a complete void.
The guide explained that if you were down in the blackness for 6 or 7 months, you would actually go blind from not using your eyes whatsoever.
Overall, it's sort of a oxymoron, but we just felt so alive down there...breathing this super pure and clean oxygen (no real carbon dioxide down there, because basically nothing grows there) and the cave is this marvelous perfect 54 degrees all year round.
The owner is third generation and you can tell that he truly loves owning this precious jewel of a cavern, and he meticulously cares for it and continues to expand and improve the spectacle.
However, from a business perspective, I definitely don't think he has took advantage or capitalized on this priceless property.
There were basically no concessions (except that you could buy some samples of the rock from a single display case under the front counter), and there was no cross-selling of t-shirts, pins, posters, hay rides, animal petting, hiking, boating, or food stands!
We took some (as in like 20) brochures from the owner on the way out to give out at Rebecca's school (especially, since she is taking Environmental Science this year), but this guy otherwise doesn't seem to even advertise.
This place was a hidden underground gem...50 feet down underground, but no Starbucks. ;-)
September 12, 2014
Vitamins R Good 4 U
It is on the side of a dispensing machine.
The colors, the flavors, the energy brands...all very appealing.
Their "Zero" drink is especially good for the calorie conscious of us.
My desk draw is full of these...chug a lug. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 31, 2014
Flower In Water
There was a flower floating in the pool.
I couldn't help noticing how unbelievably beautiful it was.
The white petals, the pink center, and the shaded blue water around it.
You can even see the ripples in the water immediately around the flower petals.
This is somehow magical and amazing.
Thank you G-d for showing this to us on this wonderful day.
(Source Photo: Andy and Dannielle Blumenthal)
August 17, 2014
Reflections
I couldn't believe they open at 6:30 in the morning already to rent boats on a Sunday.
In the boathouse, there was a huge spider on the floor crawling around, and the boat attendant came with a thingamajig to grab it and throw it back in the lake.
As he took the spider away, he made sure to tell us that is was POISONOUS!
On the lake, I took this photo of the gorgeous trees and greenery and it's reflection on the water...a perfect mirror image.
Thank you G-d for the amazing world you have created and allow us to enjoy. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 22, 2014
Bird Tries Again And Again
We sat on the beach before sunset to enjoy the ocean and sand without the crowds.
It wasn't cold, but the wind was blowing somewhat strong toward the south.
There were four kite surfers enjoying the gusts and gliding over the water at enormous speeds, and curving this way and that.
But this isn't what really got our attention.
Instead, it was this one little white bird...I don't know specifically the type, but if I had to guess I'd say it was a dove.
The dove was flying not with the wind southernly, but against it to the north.
In the heavy wind, it would sort of hold it's position for a little, and then try with all it's might to fly north.
But the wind was too strong, and it kept tiring and then literally nosediving--head first, straight down like off a cliff--into the water, bam!
We watched this and thought at first what is with this crazy bird--and laughed.
But over and over again this played out--I think we watched this for nearly an hour!
After each attempt, the bird would pick itself out of the ocean water again, fly back south a little seemingly to get some momentum--only to try again and end up on it's face in the water.
Reflecting on this, the bird tried again and again to make headway, no matter how many times it fell flat on it's face.
I thought this is a good lesson in life--not to give up even when things seems difficult.
If this little bird could do it--so could we--and eventually succeed at whatever we set our minds to.
If the white little bird really was a dove--the symbol for peace--then what better story to keep trying until you succeed and make flight even against the strong wind. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 21, 2014
April 20, 2014
Swim ~ Splash ~ Swim
Swimming in the hot sun, I headed straight for the cool splash.
The water was frothing white against the blue background.
As it hit the pool, it created this amazing bubbling beneath the surface.
I swam under it a number of times and came up through the bubbling fresh water.
Sort of felt like I was swimming in a waterfall in the Amazon or something exotic like that.
Hey, I can imagine...but it really was amazing with the water, the sun, the air--felt so alive!
I am thankful to G-d for allowing me this wonderful moment today to feel his beauty in the world.
(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
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