SWEET 16 CELEBRATION

Davis is the son of two of our best friends, Inese and Peteris. They have always treated us as one of the family so we were invited to Davis' 16th birthday celebration. It was a big party with nearly all of the extended family there. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and the two Americans all had a great time.

Things are done a little differently at a Latvian party. Instead of a birthday 'spanking' you get tossed in the air for the number of years you are celebrating. (Good luck on them trying that for my next birthday!) We also had several songs, a cello special, quartet by some of the cousins and of course, enough food to feed an army.

Probably the most interesting part of the night was when they played the game 'charades'. Have you ever tried to play this in a foreign language? Talk about not translating....

We are ever so grateful when we are allowed glimpses into the culture and especially family traditions. Plus, we are now being treated more like family and less like guests. I certainly prefer to be family. Paldies jums!

 

 

Inese and her cakes...

Mother and son (Davis)...

 

Mom and Dad (Peteris)...

Maybe the light is finally coming on...

 

Cousins Emils and Rudolphs (Rudy)

 

Two excellent singers: cousins Emijia and Toms...

 

Most of the birthday celebration crew...

CHRISTMAS TIRGINS

I think that Tirgins is translated as 'fair'. Yesterday we had our final opportunity to buy some last-minute Latvian presents before we leave on the 18th. There was a big craft sale set-up in the new park directly in front of St. John's Basnica. One of the city's Christmas trees is right in the middle and we had a good day shopping. The only problem I saw was that everything that Laura bought was for herself. Of course, if she buys much more to take home, we will have to buy additional weight allowances for our luggage.

 

 

 

 

YOUTH MEETING; GIFT PACKAGES; TREE TRIMMING

We were asked to provide gift packages for the local boys' prison and of course, we were happy to help. Laura and I went to a couple of stores to buy the favorite candies and also piparkūkas. Piparkūkas are a traditional Latvian cookie similar to gingerbread.

Our youth wanted to help out  so we meet on Friday night at the "Davana" and made 120 gift bags of candy and cookies. We will also attach a small Christmas message. It was good to see them so willing to help...especially for this good cause.

The gift packages will be handed out to the boys on the 24th. There will be a religious service available for them if they choose to attend but it is not mandatory. We hope many will attend to hear the Christmas story from Olegs and Michail.

After the bags were finished, it was time to trim the tree. Eduards brought us a tree (I'm not asking where it was growing before it became ours!) and we made ornaments and strung the lights.

Here are a few pictures of the night's activities:

 

 

 

 

ANOTHER SNOWFALL

We have had two more days (Saturday and Sunday) of snowfall and cold temps. This was a wet snow that created some unusual accumulations. We are expecting a few days of close to freezing temperatures so it really gets slick when everything re-freezes.

The first photo is what parents use when the snow gets too deep for a baby stroller. This type of sled is used to transport the small kids around. Laura keeps begging for me to get one so I can pull her along. Maybe I'll tell Santa...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Buying Christmas gifts always is a challenge. You need just the right size, the right color, match the present to the personality, etc. When you are doing your Christmas shopping in a foreign land, it can even be more challenging.

Not only are we trying to find the perfect gift...they all have to fit into our luggage, can't be easily broken and obviously they'd better the correct size because they aren't going to be exchanged.

So, those of you out there that are expecting gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Wimberley, don't be too surprised if you get a small, generic gift made of something that is very hard, easy to get through airport security and unbreakable.

Here are a few shots today from the Lido, a large restaurant and entertainment complex as well as a few pictures of the decorations around the train station.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

(by the way, the last two pictures were taken at 5:00pm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!

We haven't had any snow for a few days. With temperatures beginning to climb, the danger turns to icicles. There have been people severely injured or killed in the past years when icicles or snow slides off the roofs land on them.

Here are a couple of examples of what to watch for:

 

 

 

 

ITS A BLIZZARD!

While it has been cold for the past few days, we've really had the snow and wind today. It was below freezing, the wind was from the north at 25 mph and the snow was whipping everywhere.

We did not see this type of weather much last year but it looks like we are in for a tough winter.

We decided to walk to church today and not risk the streets as almost no cars were moving. We live close to the police station and even the police were staying indoors.

We got home around 3:00p and I was about to stretch out for my customary Sunday afternoon nap when Inese called and invited us to her house. She said they would send someone for us. If we get stuck out there at least they have a good heating system and she is a good cook. Ata!

 

12:30p on Sunday: Snow is really blowing...

 

My picture model (Laura) is impatient ...

 

 

 

The snow has just about blown into every part of the old church door...

 

I'm sweeping snow but it's a losing battle...

FIRST SNOW

This week marked the first big snows of the winter. Wednesday provided a good dusting and then today (Friday) we got a few more inches. The snow flakes here can be so large that it piles up very quickly.

Since the snow ushers in the winter weather, I thought I would provide my Top-Ten Winter Hints for Texans living in Latvia.

1. Never leave home without your warm cap, thermal long-johns and scarf. It only takes one time for your ears to become ice-cubes and you will never forget again.
2. Just because an old lady can move really fast over black ice doesn't mean you can. She has 70+ years of walking on ice and snow, you have five months.
3. If a group of kids starting gathering around fresh, wet snow ... move away! They will bomb anybody within range with snowballs (and they are accurate).
4. A bus or tram can sling icy slush at least 1/2 of its total length (or where ever you are standing...which ever is further).
5. Don't forget to bring the firewood in every day ... or your wife gets really aggravated walking through snow at night to the woodshed.
6. Snow is soft, its the concrete underneath that is hard.
7. Snow tires, snow tires, snow tires
8. Get over the idea of having a big, steaming hot, spicy bowl of Texas chili. It just isn't going to happen.
9. If your wife is not sure-footed, go with the Yak-Traks.
10. Be ready for strange looks when you say "I've never seen this much snow in my life."

 

Here are a few pictures from today's walk: