Hila 24

My eldest son's girlfriend, Hila, turned 24 at the end of June. We were supposed to be in the UK on her birthday, so I made her card well in advance to ensure it would be in the right place at the right time. Of course, we ended up not travelling because of the war with Iran, so Nadav and Hila were actually with us on the morning of her birthday and her card was in Be'er Sheva where they live! Nonetheless, she received it later in the day and, as you can see, was thrilled with it!

I showed Hila with her family's dogs on the front of her card. To say that the dogs, Toffee and Archie, are important members of her family would be an understatement! Toffee, a Border Collie, is an older dog and has been with the family for some years. One day, while walking on the kibbutz where they live, Hila and her dad found Archie, a Dogo Argentino-Pitbull mix puppy, and brought him home. He is a huge, playful young dog, full of energy, and is now very much loved.

Hila is sitting with Toffee on her left and Archie on her right. I added the open spaces of Kibbutz Ramot Menashe, where Hila grew up, behind them. The Ramot Menashe region, where the kibbutz is located, is known for its striking landscape of planted forests - mainly pine, cypress, and eucalyptus - interwoven with natural oak woodlands, open fields, and flowing streams.

A large yellow number 24 marks Hila's age, and the Hebrew greeting simply reads, "Happy Birthday Hila".

* This post has been shared on The Good. The Random. The Fun.

Ramat Hanadiv

After our lovely hike on the Zichron Ya'akov circular route, we made our way to Ramat Handiv Memorial Gardens and Nature Park. Ramat Hanadiv, which means Heights of the Benefactor, is the final resting place of Baron Edmond de Rothschild and his wife Adelheid. Baron Edmond was a great philanthropist and strong supporter of Zionism. He made his mark by purchasing land and settling it. He established dozens of moshavot, factories and wineries, promoting industrialization and economic development in Palestine prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

Located just south of Zichron Ya'akov, on the southern slopes of Mount Carmel, Ramat Hanadiv is well known for its beautifully maintained memorial gardens. There is also a striking visitors centre, which was the first public LEED certified 'green' building in Israel. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

As you enter the memorial gardens, you see the Rothschild coat of arms, above. A bronze shield in the centre is supported by a lion and a unicorn, symbols of power and control. The clenched fist with five arrows symbolize the five sons of Mayer Rothschild, patriarch of the Rothschild clan.

At the centre of the memorial gardens is the crypt of the Baron and Baroness. Baron Edmond died in 1934 and Baroness Adelheid in 1935. On 6th April 1954 their bodies were brought to Israel from France and laid to rest at Ramat Hanadiv. Baron Edmond specified in his will that he wished to be buried in Israel and was brought here aboard a naval frigate which, upon arrival in Haifa, was greeted with sirens and a nineteen-gun salute. The government decreed a state funeral and the Baron and Baroness were re-interred in Israel, at the heart of one of the regions most populated with settlements that the Baron had helped to establish.

More than half a million visitors enter the gates of the Ramat Hanadiv Memorial Gardens annually. The beautifully landscaped gardens are divided into gardens within the garden. The Rose Garden is a formal garden with a wide variety of roses including the deep red fragrant rose Baronne E. de Rothschild, a sundial which symbolizes eternity, and six pools with fountains, representing the Baron and his five sons. The Fragrance Garden was designed with the visually impaired in mind with braille signs for those who need them, and the Cascading Garden, which features unusual dragon trees from the Canary Islands, enjoy stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. The Palm Garden, located on the eastern side of the park, includes a small selection of the world's 2,600 palms.

There are lots of shady spots with benches to sit on, flowers and trees from all over the world, and well-tended green lawns. The gardens are also full of plaques with interesting facts and anecdotes about Rothschild, and his contribution to the growth and development of the area.

Outside the formal memorial gardens, three circular hiking trails start and end at Ramat Hanadiv, and a section of the Israel National Trail passes through the gardens as well. I blogged about the Spring Trail back in 2013 and I have also hiked the Manor Trail, where ruins of a Byzantine Period agricultural villa with storehouses and stables can be seen. I still need to try the Vulture Trail, which is the longest and most challenging of the three trails in the Nature Park. It is recommended for skilled hikers only, which puts me off somewhat! We did see the Griffon vultures high in the sky above us when we hiked the gentler Zichron Ya'akov circular route.

We arrived at Ramat Handiv midafternoon, when the crowds were beginning to dissipate, enabling us to enjoy the place in a peaceful and relaxing manner. I would think it is best to avoid visiting the gardens during the holidays and hagim (Jewish holidays) or to arrive very early. Entrance to the park is free of charge but there is a small car park charge. I highly recommend a visit!

* This post has been shared on Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) and Tuesday Turn About.

A Beautiful Hotel & The Orchid Greenhouse Café

Back in 2022 Jonny celebrated his 54th birthday. In 2021 I made him a birthday card showing him trekking around the Kinneret, or the Sea of Galilee, with some friends. In 2022 his wife sent me a photo of a beautiful hotel in Greece that the couple had stayed in and asked me to create a card showing them in front of it. Apparently their room was the one with the balcony, in the centre of the building, and they loved it!

A few months after Jonny's birthday, it was Mizzie's turn to celebrate. It was a short time after Mister Handmade in Israel and I lost our youngest son and I was finding it hard to work, but Jonny knew that my cards were important to his wife, so wrote and asked me if I could perhaps make her a birthday card. He suggested a design showing Mizzie and me on one of our tiyulim (a walk or hike). Every couple of weeks, in the months after my son passed away, we would go out into the Jerusalem countryside for a short walk in nature and then I would find a nice café for dinner. One of our favourite picks was the Orchid Greenhouse Café at Kibbutz Ma'ale HaHamisha in the Judean hills, just off the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. The café is a charming place, set in a greenhouse; half of it is used as a café and the other half an orchid nursery. The dairy and vegan food is delicious and the service is excellent. We have both been back. 

I was unsure whether I could even create a card with me on it or whether Mizzie would want me on her birthday card, but Jonny was sure that she would love it.

I decided to show the two of us sitting in our favourite café, with the beautiful orchids in the background. We are enjoying a cup of tea, or in my case, coffee, and sharing a big slice of lemon cheesecake for dessert (as we once did!). And just to point out the obvious, Mizzie is on the left, with brown hair. I am on the right, with my grey curls.
It turned out that Mizzie was very happy with her card and, as it happened, she loved the Orchid Greenhouse Café so much that she went back there with her whole family on her birthday.

"Thank you so much for the beautiful card, it means so much... You're so creative and talented!" she wrote to me, adding "The Lisa card MADE my birthday!"

* This post has been shared on Happiness is Homemade, Craft Schooling Sunday, Tuesday Turn About and Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop.