So I have assorted photos that I thought I would add to my “history” blog. Because they are assorted they are not in any particular order and perhaps they may not make a lot of sense but I hope they might be of interest anyway.
After our big snow they shoveled the snow away from the edge and away from the building and it looks like a really big pile – not sure the picture shows it all but it was a lot of snow and I wondered how much stress it was putting on the balcony.
This was the first time Anna cooked for a mission event. She made a torte that was too pretty to cut with a map of Ukraine in Ukrainian blue and yellow and poppies. It was delicious to eat as well. Tortes are very popular here and most cakes have many layers not just two or three.
For our anniversary we went to Black Sheep Noodle Bar. Elder Morgenegg had coconut pork and rice. The pink egg is their trademark. It was really good.
At Black Sheep I had the spicy noodles. The side bowl is extra spicy sauce. I added it. It really cleaned out my sinuses but it was delicious.
A tribute to our mission driver, Aleks, by our very creative missionaries. The sisters wrote a poem and the elders acted it out with lots of adlibing. It was so funny everyone, including Aleks, was laughing.
More of Aleks.
Who knew Aleks could put up both his hands and his feet. Yes, there are actually two missionaries acting out Aleks.
For those who didn’t get the note in the fall last year this tree has what we thought were black walnuts. Turns out they are “conkers” and they are poisonous to us but they fall all around. There are lots of trees with these in the fall. Be careful though as they could cause quite a conk on your head. In the past there was some game using them on a sting. They are very pointy.
I bought this cereal the first time on a chance it would work with some marshmallows I found. Now from time to time I buy it and make the missionaries Rice Krispy Treats – Ukrainian style. It takes two packages to get enough. They only come in chocolate but I never hear complaints. The Ukrainian missionaries love them and one in particular is I think addicted to them. It is a new novelty for them.
On groceries – this is a box of lasagna noodles. Just like home – these are the ones you don’t need to cook first. It is the only kind I have seen here.
This is the only salsa I have seen. It is very inexpensive and fairly spicy. It has good flavor so I keep it on hand to make Mexican dishes with.
For Easter a sweet young woman I know in the other branch made me a little bag of gingerbread cookies.
Here are the cookies out of the bag. They were delicious so I asked for the recipe. She told me it was very complicated and took a long time to make but she sent it to me. It is very complicated and will take time to make but they were so good I want to try it anyway. It has sugar and honey and many spices. You actually cook the sugar until it melts (nothing added – just sugar) and makes a caramel sauce. I will let you know what happens and if I am successful.
Hatuna is a recent convert. She actually has a twin sister named Nastia (short for Anastasia). She always has a huge smile and is so friendly. She understands more English than she will let on though so it is funny to talk to her. She is darling. This was taken before her baptism.
In one of the tire planters outside our apartment they have pussy willows growing. Earlier they were the furry blossoms – I had never seen them later after the paws changed- they are feathery and soon turn to leaves and look like any green branch. Here the Russian word translates “Kittens.”
A close up of the pussy willows.
Here they have walk signals that have a countdown on them (the traffic lights for cars also have this countdown – and it is for red and green lights) – this is how long til the light turns green.
This is a green walk signal with count down until it turns red. They also have a yellow warning signal with the green light before it turns red and before it turns green with the red light for the cars.
Today it was rainy in the afternoon and again after we got home but then we had a rainbow over the apartment buildings across Polia from us. Here is one side.
Here is the other side. If you look really close (assuming you can make it big enough) you might see a swift or two. We have been waiting for these amazing little birds to return and today we saw them for the first time.
So there are some assorted pictures that I have collected. I hope you enjoy them.