My Adventures Where in the world is ….

I remember always hearing that if March came in like a lion she went out like a lamb and if she came in like a lamb she went out like a lion.  What March is a she I don’t know but that is what I heard.  Here in Ukraine March first is the first day of Spring.  Well, surprise!  This year she came in like a lion.  We have had snow off and off since Tuesday (February 27th) afternoon.  Today it has snowed off and on all day without amounting to much but due to the winds and continual snow it is beginning to build up.  Right now as I look out my office window it is sunny with blue skies but it is snowing and the wind is blowing.  There are lots of people out and about despite the weather.  I am sure some have no choice but perhaps some go out just because. I feel bad for our missionaries because unless they have an appointment they are out in this cold weather.

The snow is to continue into Saturday and then it is supposed to clear.  We will see what actually happens.  The interesting thing is that because of the wind there are places with almost no snow and other places with lots of snow so walking is challenging.  I took a few pictures with my phone.  I took some more with my camera from our apartment windows and may add those later.  I don’t want to take my camera out in the very cold weather.

One last thing.  Last week for the new missionaries arrival luncheon and for the MLC (mission leader conference) a woman from our branch cooked the food.  The meals were delicious and we enjoyed way too much food.  For the new arrivals she made a beautiful cinnamon torte with a beautifully decorated top.  Here is a picture of Anna and the cake – it was delicious.

So that is the latest news from here.  Hope your part of the world is more spring like than here – the good news is that spring is definitely coming.

So far this year our weather has been very mild.  We have had a few cold days but mostly it is mild weather.  Maybe we have had an inch of snow in several snowfalls and so far no ice – a really good thing.  Recently it has been much colder.  Time to bundle up more.  Elder Morgenegg has taken out his warm hat with ear warmers and I have started using my ear muffs as well as my hat and scarf.  We are both wearing our warmest winter coats and gloves.  I usually have two layers of legs protection – fleece lined tights and cuddle duds or cuddle duds and knee socks or some other combination.  With my warm slip and long skirts my legs are comfortable and with sweaters and layers and my warm coat, hat, scarf and all the only thing that suffers is my nose.  I would cover that but then my glasses fog up – that is a problem.  Anyway, yesterday it snowed off and on all day with no real accumulation.  This morning we went shopping early and then were home before nine when it started snowing.  It has snowed most of the time since then except a short time of rain last night which melted a lot.  This morning though it is a winter wonderland.  It is so beautiful I went out on our stairwell balcony to take some pictures.  Hope you enjoy them.

So, that is world outside our apartment this morning.  We are off to Church soon.

 

So on Wednesday January 3 2018, Elder Morgenegg and I were invited to “taste” Mensaf/Mensif (it is spelled both ways) with our friend and adopted Jordanian son, Mohammad soon to graduate from medical school.

When we arrived he was busy in the kitchen of our branch cooking cooking cooking.  He had already cooked the meat at home and transported it to the branch.  In this very small kitchen he cooked a feast.  With my new camera I took lots of pictures and there is a brief explanation with each one.  In Jordan this feast is prepared for weddings, funerals, graduations, in fact any celebration, and for Friday nights and any time company comes for a visit.  If it has cashews you are a favored guest (yes, ours had cashews).  It is made with sheep meat (bones and all) and the meat is so tender as it is cooked a long time, rice, a delicious sauce, parsley, nuts, all laid on a bed of large sheets of flat bread.  Then as you eat more sauce is added and more sauce and more sauce.  It is insulting if you don’t finish what is in front of you and especially if you don’t finish all your sauce.  You are to eat it with your hands but Elder Morgenegg and I did not do that – although in retrospect I think we should have at least tried it – if there is another time maybe we will.

So that was our Mensaf adventure.  Would I do it again?  YES.  It was delicious but also so much fun.

I don’t know if I would ever make it myself but who knows what the future holds.  I never thought I would be here in Ukraine either.  So Happy Eating to All and to All a Good Night!

So the day after our Christmas when we came home from work we noticed that there is now a Christmas tree in the lobby of our apartment building.

I took this picture with my phone so it is not as clear as it might be but my phone is more reliable than my camera right now and I had it with me.  There are also strings of tinsel in the elevators and lower halls.  Perhaps they are celebrating the twelve days of Christmas European style starting the day after our Christmas on December 26th and ending at their Orthodox Christmas of January 7th.  I don’t know but the fireworks are also going strong at night.  I expect it will be Christmas here for a while and that is fine with me.