Thanksgiving

Sister Sorenson asked all of the missionary couples to host a Thanksgiving dinner for their district. She would furnish the turkey and a can of pumpkin. Great! Do I have a pan to cook the turkey in? Where can I find poultry seasoning so I can make dressing? I do not have a pie plate.

We only have two American missionaries, one from Arizona and another from Florida. Our other four missionaries are from Ukraine, Russia, England, and Denmark. So... we had an international Thanksgiving! We invited another senior couple that live next to us to join our dinner and she volunteered to make the pie (she has a pie plate) and the mashed potatoes. I cooked the turkey (we found a cooking bag that came in a long roll that you cut off as much as you need - it was only big enough for a chicken so I cut and rolled two pieces together) and the turkey turned out super AND very moist! We had gravy (not very good) and dressing (found poultry seasoning) beans and carrots and a Russian salad called "Olivia," plus pumpkin pie and chocolate cake, and a relish plate, chips and deviled eggs for munchies to start with. There were ten of us around our table. I found a table cloth and most of our dishes matched!

Thanksgiving dinner

Sister Trunova (Ukraine), Sister Champenios (Denmark), Elder Ablet (England), Jim, Elder Baldakov (Russia), Elder Hansen (Arizona), Elder Dunn (Florida), Anderson's (Lindon,Utah)

hanging out in the computer room
Hanson, Dunn, Ablet, Champenios, Baldakov, Trunova

A game of Phase 10! (while we watched the Polar Express)

Eight cameras were set up to take pictures - where to look?!

Riga again...

As of this writing we have been to Riga four times carring passports and visas for the missionaries. We have a great time while we are there. The town is not that big and we have seen old town, museums, been on walking tours, seen a movie, rode the train to Jurmala, put our feet in the Baltic Sea, read books, been to church (Russian and Latvian branches) walked around the city, ate at wonderful restaurants, etc.......

Breakfast buffet af the hotel - omlets and all kinds of eggs, fruits, breads, different flavors of yogurt, juices, milk, hot chocolate, meats (sausage, bacon, cold cuts, salmon), cheeses, many kinds of breads and rolls, jams and jellies, cereals, and a few other things that Europeans eat...

We have been doing so much walking that my shoes have worn out! I needed to put a new heel on my black boots. We walked around Riga and found a shoe repair (remont-ремонт) and they fixed my shoe while we were waiting! Then we walked all afternoon through a different part of the town to get to the "Lido" so we could have a fun dinner.

On our walk through town to get to the Lido we passed many wooden buildings that have a historic value and are not to be torn down. Yes, people are living in them.

There are at least 10 different flower shops on this row. It looked and smelled wonderful!

Lisa and Kelly Busby and their three cute children! These two little boys and one other girl make up the primary for the Russian Branch in Latvia.

The Radisson Hotel where we stay. The large windows look out over Old Town and the river and many cathedrals. It is an amazing view!

While walking through the park, Jim saw and was fasinated by these dogs. The owners were very happy to talk about them and let Jim have his picture taken with them. The dogs hair in very interesting, it matts and needs to be cut into strips when they are young.

Look at that SMILE!

We visited Riga the end of October so we were able to see some Halloween decorations.

On the steps into a building we saw more Halloween Pumpkins! Jim really was happy because he was able to wear his levis.

October 28,2010

I had a wonderful Birthday! I talked to and had cards and messages from so many great people! THANK YOU!

Even the missionaries from our district brought me flowers! Then Jim and I went to dinner at a familiar restaurant called "Friday's" and had a very tasty meal!

Elder Hansen, me, Elder Boldakov

Victory Park

We were home all morning and then decided to head to Victory Park and look at the indoor and outdoor museums. We couldn't take pictures inside but we took pictures outside. There are so many monuments and museums dedicated to The Great War and the veterans. (There are also many political leaders we see statues of too!) The inside museum was very enjoyable too, but those pictures are inside my memory!

Me standing in the large square that leads up to the monument and indoor museum.

The flowers had just been taken out of this garden. This is part of the large square.

Jim is standing in a bunker.


Looking at the life size diorama.

train

helicopters - like the eyes

mig - 29

nice paint job!

bi - plane

ambulance

B MW

Tank that is dug in the ground.