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:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINTER IS HERE!

It will be a cold week for the celebration of Latvia's birthday.

Here's the forecast for Riga; in Cesis we are usually a little colder:

Monday

Hi: 3°Lo: -1° Frozen Mix

Tuesday

Hi: 0°Lo: -3°Flurries

Wednesday

Hi: 1°Lo: -1°Light Snow

Thursday

Hi: 1°Lo: -2°Snow

Friday

Hi: 1°Lo: -1°Flurries

Saturday

Hi: 1°Lo: -2°Flurries

Sunday

Hi: -1°Lo: -4°Flurries

NOVEMBER 11

I'm not sure of the exact translation of the name of today's celebration but obviously it has to do with the ending of WWI. After that point in history, Latvia began its longest time period as a free country.

Tonight, the soldiers that train at a local army school led a torch-lit parade to a monument memorializing a rifleman serving in WWI. After the soldiers came many citizens of all ages with their own torches and candles. It was an impressive sight. Several hundred people eventually made their way to take part.

Losing and winning this country's freedom is still very much on the Latvian citizens' minds. Most can still remember when they did not have the freedom to march down the street or speak out against corrupt politicians.

At dinner on Sunday, one of our friends just sighed and said "I don't want to ever live like we did during the  'occupation'." Even after being here for quite a while, I still cannot even begin to know how much these people have suffered, how much they have lost and how their lives will always scarred because of their loss of freedom.

 

Here are a few shots from the night:

 

 

 

 

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS!

On November 18, Latvia will celebrate its Independence Day. It is not unlike July 4 for the USA in some respects but obviously Latvia was not able to stay independent during those 90 years. That fact hasn't diminished how important November 18, 1918 is to them. The entire country will be celebrating this 90th anniversary of freedom for the next two weeks.

We knew that the Latvian president, Valdis Zatlers, was going to be in Cesis today. He was scheduled to speak in St. John's Church at a service to begin the country-wide festivities. Even though it was going to be a big deal, we had decided not to go mainly because we would have to get into the church very early to get a seat. Around 11:00 we bundled up to go out for a while and went to town center.

There we came upon a huge parade with lots of Latvian military bands, soldiers marching, dignitaries, etc. It was a very impressive display but we had evidently missed the remarks made by the president. Security was tight with Secret Service on the top of the buildings, guys talking into their wrist radios, etc.

Everything had started to break up and people were leaving. Laura and I were just milling around, acting kind of lost like we usually do, when we looked up and here comes Mr. President! I'm snapping pictures and then we realize he is shaking hands and we are in the line!

I'm trying to think of whether I should address him in the three words of Latvian that I know or just come out with some type of Texan phrase like "Hey, how ya'll doing?" or "How's your momma and them?" or even "Me and the missus here are shore glad to meet ya".

In the end, Laura just said "Hello" and shook his hand. I said "Labi Dien" (good day) while shaking his hand and then I managed to say that we were Americans. He replied saying Latvia was a great country to visit. I wanted to engage him in a little chit-chat about the world's economic problems, Latvia and Russia relations or even Obama but he was gone to the next hand-shake before I could mutter anything.

Wow, that was pretty neat! Now I know a bunch of you might be thinking "yeaahhh, right, sure you did", so here are the pictures:

 

 

Here he comes...Latvian President Zatlers, agents behind and to his right...

 

  A little closer....

 

 

Almost to us....

 

 

Getting close...don't panic!

 

 

 

Our time is over, on to the next handshake...

 

 

 

Here are a few other pictures regarding the event:

 

Secret service....

 

Parade in front of the Boys' Monument...

 

Secret service sharpshooters...

 

Security .... very unusual in Latvia to see a handgun...

 

Helicopter fly-over...

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

Fall has about fallen and winter is here. We had a big frost last night and predictions are for mid-to-upper 20's for lows the rest of the week. (But, I notice Latvian weathermen are not much better than American in predicting correctly.)

Anyway, most of the people have their wood in the sheds, such as these near our house:

 

NOT MUCH TO SAY

Here are a couple of shots that I've been playing around with.

The church-looking building is actually in a cemetery and was used for funerals. It would be a great 'new' church if someone had the money to restore it. The building is in need of lots of repair but has much character (like a lot of people I know!).

The other shot is of two iron crosses that have lost their foundation and now sit leaning upon a tree. These crosses are quite common for older graves here in Latvia.