My Adventures Where in the world is ….

In my last post I showed you how the beginning of the March storm looked.  Last night it snowed more.  When we first looked out we thought it was not much but we had already decided to stay in today.  As we watched the soap opera of vehicles outside we realized it is a lot of snow and like the earlier parts of the storm it is very drifted due to high winds – another good reason to stay in.  For now it is raining but there are a lot of people out and about.  Today is Saturday but since March 8th is a holiday – it is Women’s Day and many people will have a four day weekend because of it – many of those people have to work today.  The children’s day care downstairs is open which it usually is not on Saturday and there are many bringing their children in for the day.

So here are the pictures I took from our apartment windows down onto Polia Street.

For now it is raining and later more snow and ice.  We hope it will clear as they predict so we don’t have to walk in it to Church tomorrow and that the ice is not too bad.  Yesterday I hit a patch of ice on our way to the tram and landed on my rear end.  It was so sweet to see people stop to help me up – mostly just my ego was bruised.  You have to respect the ice here – it hides to catch you off guard if you are not careful.

Spring is coming soon for everyone but here they say it started on March 1st – what a spring!

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!