Yonatan and Eilon

Yonatan recently went on a long trek in Nepal and is now working as a bartender at events. His mum asked me to make him a card for his 22nd birthday and wondered if I could somehow combine these two things. She also asked me to add a heart with the name of Yonatan's girlfriend on it.
She sent me a photo of Yonatan next to a sign saying Larke Pass. I learnt that the Larke Pass, also known as Larkya La, is a high mountain pass in Nepal, situated at an elevation of 5,106 metres (16,752 feet). It is the highest point on the Manaslu Circuit Trek. The pass is marked by a sign indicating its elevation and is a popular spot for trekkers to take photos. The sign is often adorned with prayer flags, adding to the scenic and spiritual atmosphere of the location.
Mum also sent me a photo of Yonatan mixing a cocktail.
I decided to show Yonatan in front of the Larke Pass sign, dressed in his mountaineering clothing. At the same time, he is holding a cocktail shaker and has already mixed a few drinks, which I placed next to him. I added some trekking poles, a red heart with his girlfriend Eden's name on it, and a big yellow number 22 to mark his age.
Apparently Yonatan absolutely loved it!

Yonatan's little brother Eilon celebrated his 10th birthday a few months ago. Mum asked me to show him playing the piano on his card, but wanted me to add a basketball and some milk chocolate M&M's as well. The yellow number 10 shows his age.

Eilon loved his card too. "Thank you so much for the cards! They made our day." mum wrote to me.

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

Silver Door Plaques

My customer was so happy with the name plaques I made her that she came back to me for more. This time she asked for silver frames, but with the same blue backing paper as before.
I created three papercuts, each with the names of some newly married couples. I hope that Elisheva and Yehuda, Oriya and Yossi, and Carmel and Benaiah like their plaques. 

Elisheva, Yehuda and Yossi are quite common Hebrew names. The name Oriya means "my light".

The name Benaiah was a new one to me. It means "God has built". It is derived from the Hebrew word "bana" (to build). The name is found in the Bible, where Benaiah is depicted as a valiant warrior and leader, particularly during the reigns of King David and King Solomon.

Benaiah's wife's name, Carmel, means "vineyard" or "garden".

* This post has been shared on Happiness is Homemade and Tuesday Turn About.

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., Tuesday Turn About and Creative Muster.

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.