Back to the Beach

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We took advantage of another beautifully warm and sunny weekend and a visiting Swedish houseguest (no, we didn't actually take advantage of the houseguest, we just took advantage of her being here to get out of the house and go somewhere) to head for the beach again yesterday. (Who are you Mother Nature and what have you done with January? Nevermind, whoever you are please don't go anywhere!)
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This time we headed for Shefayim Beach, a bit further up the coast. Unlike Tel Aviv's built up coastline full of hotels, beachside cafes and bars and hawkers selling everything from ice creams to kites, Shefayim is utterly undeveloped and because of a relatively difficult access also a bit less crowded. It's also got tidepools to explore, shells (Maya decided they were radishes of all things and spent a great deal of time planting and watering a number of them. They must have planted radishes in school at some point because I don't buy them often enough for her to even know what one is, let alone how to grow it.) and apparently decent fishing. These three folks were fishing with poles but there was another man right behind them fishing with a net, and doing fairly well too judging by the number of fish flopping around in his basket.
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Two magnificent weekends in a row, our luck is bound to run out soon. In the meantime though we're enjoying every glorious minute.
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More monochrome shots from around the world can be found here. Go take a look.
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Ghostwriter

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My sky last Saturday afternoon. Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies from around the world.

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Chrysanthemum - this time I'm sure

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No question, it's definitely a chrysanthemum. With a subtle sepia cast.

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Did someone say bread crumbs?

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Click to enlarge, and then visit Wordless Wednesday to see what else people aren't saying this week.

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Rack 'em up boys

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After Saturday's beach adventure we headed across the street to our favorite bar family friendly dining establishment for lunch, happy hour cocktails (real American-style cocktails, and two for one!), touch-screen computer games and the chance for Itai to finally beat his father at pool.
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It was a red letter day all around, and so very much needed after last week.

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Just another Saturday in January

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Yes, I'm a bit slow jumping back in to regular blogging after the holidays, but the real reason that I'm not participating in Monochrome Weekly this week is that I couldn't bear the thought of not sharing these images in color. They're not great photos, grainy and taken at a distance while I stood guard over the 3 bikes and 2 backpacks my family left heaped on the sidewalk while they raced off towards the sand (the kids) and sea (my husband, who never misses a chance for a swim), but they do depict an absolutely magnificent day, the kind of day that demands that you drop everything and head outside to enjoy it.
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I won't lie, January isn't always this wonderful, it can be cold and rainy and downright miserable, and most days you do need at least a light jacket, but every once in a while the stars align and it all comes together in a gloriously perfect day and the whole country heads outdoors.
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We threw the bikes on the back of the car and headed for the beach ourselves. Jay and Itai roared up and down the beachside promenade while Maya and her training wheels and I went at a more scenic pace, examining pebbles, vendors' stalls, pigeons, and whatever else happened to catch our eye before she decided it was time to park the bike and head for the sand. Itai eventually joined her there and Jay stripped down and headed for the water. I watched from my sentinel's perch on the sidewalk, camera in hand.
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When everyone had had their fill of sea and sand we headed across the street to our favorite beachside bar where we managed to snag a table with a built-in computer for the kids to play while we waited for our lunch. (We love this bar - the drinks are great, the food is good, and the atmosphere during the day is very family-friendly, but speedy they are not. We always come prepared with something to keep the kids occupied as we wait, and wait, and wait some more for our food to arrive.) We ended up hanging around for a while after lunch so that Itai could shoot some pool - first with his father and then with the girl at the next table.

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Eventually it was time to go home and relax for a few hours before Jay and I headed out again to here some music in Tel Aviv, and then before we knew it the weekend was over and it was time start the work week all over again. As January weekends go though, I'll take another one like this anytime. It was EXACTLY what I needed to recharge my fading batteries, and is yet another reason why I love living where I do.

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