6 Jul 2009

Independence Day weekend events

Posted by Denise

I had a busy 4th of July weekend, as I was invited to 2 separate picnics. It was a blessing that I didn’t have to choose between which one to attend, since one was on Friday and the other on Saturday. Jessie met the ETO team at the Steele’s apartment Friday morning and drove us out to his house in the village of Citiheeve. Jessie grilled some delicious shashlik (shishkebobs), and everyone’s culinary contributions were well received. We had a blessed time of singing hymns and patriotic songs, and after a rousing game of Catch Phrase it was time for the dessert. Teresa made one of her spectacular cakes (I’ve never eaten one I didn’t like) and I was still able to find some strawberries and rhubarb at the market, so I made the pie I remember my grandmother making when I was a child. It rained on and off most of the day, but by early evening it had cleared up and was very pleasant.

Bryan is excited that his team won a round of Catch Phrase

Teresa's delicious patriotic cake

Saturday morning I headed out to the village of Karachaniv where the Bardwell family lives. The place was already abuzz with preparation of food and last minute cleaning. After an cloudburst while the meat was cooking the sun came out and it was quite sunny and hot. Again the food was delicious and the fellowship enjoyable. There were 14 children running around, mostly boys as opposed to just 4 girls the day before, so the day had a whole different energy. Kostya helped inflate and fill the kiddie pool I brought and it was a great way to cool off. The skies again darkened and the wind blew, but the storm passed over without dumping on us.