Christmas & Brand Marketing

So for two years for the holiday season there's been a bright pink Christmas tree in the center complete with big pink lighted spheres suspended over the square. This year, the new addition was the "T" on top of the tree.... this is because it was all sponsored by T-Mobile. It's all about branding and their color is pink... though all this pink reminds me of Pepto...

The interesting thing about living here in Macedonia is that all the commercialism, Santa, gift-giving, etc is centered around New Years rather than Christmas. So come January 7th, which is Christmas Day here, it's just Christmas with no commercialism. Kinda nice.

Flurry of Christmas Preparations

This is my living room right now. My assemble-by-numbers tree is up and decorated as is my apartment. All the other "clutter" though is from preparations for the Christmas Eve service.

The garland on the coffee table will be dressed up with the ribbons and/or pearly garland (hanging on chair) for the Advent candles. For the Advent table I was thinking of using that green/white poinsettia table cloth, but not sure if it will blend or clash... Oh, yes, speaking of poinsettias, we can finally get them here and so thought it would be a nice, simple and cheery Christmas decoration. =)

In the yellow bag is about 10 meters of garland that will hang on one of the crossbars in the school gym. The stack of ribbon on the coffee table and pearly garland will also be used to beautify that garland.... only I'm not so good at those kinds of decorations, which is why I'm glad there are others who offered to help decorate! =) Then there is the question of whether to assemble first and then hang it.... or arrive with all the pieces and assemble it there just hours before the program... oh, yes, and in between practices?

Speaking of practice.... the music on the keyboard is calling me to practice.... no, I don't play for services (yet...) though I did use this keyboard to work out the guitar notes referenced in "Late Nights & Key Signatures." Actually, I'm using the keyboard right now to help me with the vocal warm up, scales, etc. Especially needed for songs like "O Holy Night" which we did yesterday... oui... I don't like sounding operatic, but that's the only way I could hit that high note! Good thing there's only a balcony above me otherwise I think I'd drive my neighbors crazy with practices. "La la la LA LA la la...."

Thank you for your prayers for the Christmas Eve service, which will be at 9AM California time. =)

11,900 Christmas Boxes Arrive

Last night when I arrived at church for worship practice there was a GINORMOUS SEMI parked in front and filled to the brim with thousands of Christmas boxes and a flurry of activity as church members and local volunteers pitched in to unload them. After practice I lent my hands as well to unload the last few hundred boxes, becoming one person in a baker's dozen chain passing two to four boxes at a time from the parking lot down into a large room.

And as each box passed through our hands I took special notice of the wrapping. There was fancy paper, snowmen, and Christmas trees, some even had decorative ornaments and while others sported hand-crafted designs and hearts. The one that really stood out, though, was wrapped simply in brown paper, but which contained a child's artistic rendition of the nativity. It must have taken that little girl or boy hours! It was so beautiful. Each present was prepared with special treasures and wrapped with care for children that the giver does not know but wants to give a precious gift. And each one will bring such joy and smiles to children all over Macedonia (and around the world as thousands more are delivered worldwide).

In total between this semi and another one there were 11,900 Christmas presents that will be distributed to children through organizations, churches, orphanages, schools and in villages. Please pray for the children who will be receiving these gifts, and please also pray for the beautiful hands of the givers and deliverers.

Macedonia

Some entertaining, insightful and interesting videos on Macedonian life and culture including:

• reading coffee grounds & superstition
• a deserted village
• life in Macedonian prisons
• betting in sports cafe's
• ghosts riding in taxis
• grave faces

Thanks to a Dutch friend of mine who recently forwarded me the link to this site! They're in Macedonian with English subtitles and I highly recommend checking them out.

It's a Pepto-Pink Christmas Tree, Charlie Brown!

Oh how I miss going to the Christmas tree farms for the annual evergreen. The smell of pine wafting within the chilled December air as you get lost in a forest of trees. :::sigh:::

In the Balkans, Christmas tree shopping is a much different experience. Last year the "pepto" tree was all the rage (as were toxic green & pungent orange). This year it's black with red ornaments and red or periwinkle with white ornaments.


As always, if you're looking for a live tree, you can find some "Charlie Brown" ones, which cost about $30 and come complete with roots!

Personally, I opted for the basic green "Super Cdlorado" that assembles by numbers (and I WON'T mention how long it took me to assemble it!). =)

Comfort Food & Traditions

Living overseas, thousands of miles away from family and dear friends, can be hard--especially around the holidays (and nephews birthdays). Yet in our international community here we've found some traditions and comfort "foods" that help take the edge off of missing family and friends. One is the annual ladies "Caramel Apple Night."

The first one was held 10 years ago and has been a strong tradition since. The lady who started it is now back in the US, but each year she so graciously sends the caramels and prayers from ladies for the party. This is a fun evening of fellowship with anywhere from 20-50 women who are believers and live and work in a variety of roles here in Macedonia & Kosovo. Some of the ladies have been here for 9 years while others just "got off the boat" three days ago!

For many of us this is the only time we get to see each other and so is a lot a fun to catch up and to hear how each are doing in their various areas. We also share local finds (like Brita filters and a "Gourmet" restaurant) and cooking tricks (homemade vanilla extract and pie crust from filo-dough).

It's funny how things like the team Thanksgiving, the single-women's Christmas party, Carmel Apple night, the team Christmas party, ajvar-making retreats and Field Forum are all becoming regular traditions and events... ones that I find myself looking forward to each year. Back in the US we had/have traditions but they were just a part of every day life and I didn't think about their specialness very much (shocker!)... since being overseas, though, I've noticed the difference and am finding that I cherish the traditions we do have. There's a certain comfort in the familiar while in the midst of the all-together unfamiliar. Comfort "life-food" while living in a foreign land. :)

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. They mean so much and are deeply appreciated.

*******

Pictured clockwise: just a portion of the ladies shoes left by the door, apples cooling/setting in the cool winter air on the balcony (Trivia: which "apple" is not like the others?), spiced apple cider, the caramel dipping process. Mmmmm.

Recipe: Pumpkin Pie in the Balkans

Making a pumpkin pie was an all-day process this year and at times I mused that it was SO "from scratch" that it included all but milking the cow myself! I roasted & mashed the pumpkin, used homemade extracts, ground my own nutmeg and used my Mom's favorite pastry recipe for the crust. The process began at 10AM and finished around 9PM (though to be fair I did make a berry pie too.) In the US, though, one can simply use canned pumpkin, pre-blended spices and Pillsbury ready-made pie crusts.... 2 hours tops from start to finish!

Now the confession... it being an all-day process was not really that big of a deal... because I've been making pumpkin pies from scratch for years as I've fine-tuned my personal recipe (one I've tweaked since I was 9 years old). :) Now, don't be shocked, but I'm finally going to cut loose with that recipe and share (though still keeping a couple secrets secret. ;) )

Ingredients:
2/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

The above five ingredients may be adjusted to increase or decrease spiciness of the pie. This year I used homemade spice extracts and found that the overall flavor was more fully blended due to their liquid form. [To make an extract: vodka+whole spice+several months=a really nice extract] Extracts can be substituted 1:1 with the ground ones.

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-4 tablespoons dark molasses (grape molasses in the Balkans)
1-1/2 cups, mashed cooked pumpkin
2 eggs, beaten
1-2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/3 cup cream

Mix all ingredients except pastry. Pour into pastry-lined pie pan. Bake in preheated extremely hot oven (500F) for 8 minutes. Reduce heat to 325F and bake for 55 to 60 minutes longer until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Makes 6-8 servings. Serve with whipped cream on top (simply a must).

Pumpkin: to make from scratch use an Australian blue pumpkin and/or a butternut squash (don't use the common orange pumpkin as it is basically flavorless). Cut up into large chunks (leaving peel on), cover and roast in oven at 325F until very soft. Scrape out meat from skin while still warm and then allow to cool for about 1/2 hour before blending well with a mixer or in a blender.

Basic Pie Pastry:
2 Cups flour
1/2 Teaspoon salt
3/4 Cup butter
6-7 Tablespoons ice water

Combine flour and salt then cut in butter and blend well with fork until texture is small and crumbly. Add the ice water a tablespoon at a time, blending with fork, until the whole mixture is moistened. Form into two balls and turn out on well-floured surface. Place in pan and trim edges to 1/2 inch from top of pie pan. After adding pie filling cover the crust edges with foil for half the total baking time.

Enjoy!

Late Nights & Key Signatures

So, if there is an F# in the key signature of a Christmas Carol, what key is the music in? and how do you find and label the guitar chords? Oh how I wish I'd not quit piano when I was 10 (and that I'd kept my music minor in college)!

We're getting ready for our Christmas Eve service in the international church and I've been busy tracking down the music for the songs we'll be singing. Thanks to a team from Rome, NY, I have a "Living Hymns" hymnal that has all the sheet music, though without the chords for guitar. Sooo....last night I stayed up really late.. er, ok, until the early AM today, trying to rectify that. :)

The first thing I did was take the next lesson in the crash course in chord progression that I've been learning on the fly this past year and figured out what key the song was in based on the number of sharps or flats (aka "accidentals.") in the key signature. Then I proceeded to plunk out the song on the keyboard, trying to figure out what chord should be played in accompaniment.

When you don't know what you're doing it's harder than you think!! Especially when most carol's are done in the relative-minor key so that there are some interesting chord combinations! "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" were especially challenging as a result of those combinations. Understanding that music was based in mathmatics helped me, though, in figuring all that out. :)

I'll be bringing my attempt at figuring out the chords to practice tomorrow night and we'll discover fairly quickly how well I did when the guitar and piano play together. Sound nice? Score! Off-tone? Back to the keyboard! (or better yet find someone who knows a lot more about music than I do! lol).

Happy Thanksgiving!

We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday with colleagues in another town and complete with all the trimmings: turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls, apple butter, corn, cranberry sauce (!!), sweet potatoes (made with butternut squash) and a wonderful harvest salad. Dessert included pumpkin pie, apple crisp, brownies, berry pie, chocolate cookies and pecan pie. I guess from the menu you'd never guess we were in the Balkans!

We had a wonderful time together, sharing some of the things for which we are thankful, lots of laughs, games and so much more. The next day we enjoyed a breakfast of french toast and sausage and then took a hike up the mountain until the rain turned us around. Back at the house the guys played a game of chess while we gals watched (and sang to) the "Sound of Music."

All in all it was a great holiday weekend spent with a wonderful group of people!

Just a few things I'm thankful for....

The last pie for tomorrows Thanksgiving meal with colleagues is in the oven and I thought it would be nice to take a moment and express some things for which I am thankful on this special day:

• The Lord's provision in every way
• For the love and support of my family even though they may not always get what I'm doing
• Delightful conversations with nephews thanks to Skype.... gosh they're growing in to such fine young men
• Dear friends who are content with the reality of limited connectedness when I'm overseas, accept that our time together is brief while I'm in the US and who support and pray for me through it all.
• Colleagues who've become dear friends and family away from family
• That I get to live in a fascinating place, do what I love and be apart of something much bigger than I.... and getting to see and hear the resulting stories...
• For new colleagues
• For new friends locally and from many different countries
• For laughter, lots of laughter
• For girl's days out and trips to our favorite hair stylist
• For snowflakes and fireflies
• For the "girl Friday" without whom I don't know how any of us would make it through the visa process... she's amazing
• For the support and encouragement of those back in the US
• For city heat and radiators that dry the clothes in winter
• For the simple and wonderful Christmas card carrying a greeting and prayer already received in the mail
• Language and cultural coaches/teachers who are so patient
• For the many lovely life conversations in these past few months
• For those who've spoken into my life over the years, encouraging me or challenging me to grow.
• For sweet friends who loan me pie pans so I can make the pies in the picture for our team Thanksgiving dinner. :)

Funny how what I thought would be a short list has become much longer... frankly I could keep going. :) It's a good perspective check for me, though, to really reflect upon the Lord's blessings and to give Him thanks for everything. A good exercise for each day, I think.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Snowflakes and Fireflies

I opened my eyes later than usual on Saturday morning, but when I got up and looked out the window I couldn't believe my eyes! The first snow had come! Who knew?? Just the night before it was a balmy 60-ish evening with a wicked-mean wind. While it didn't blow in my windows like I thought it might it must have been what carried in this first winter dusting. :)

Snowflakes and fireflies are two things that simply enchant me, so I was pretty excited about this fluffy surprise greeting my sleepy eyes. There's just something about the stillness and quiet that comes over the city as it is delicately blanketed in white. Smile.

Just today a taxi driver told me that Macedonia has two seasons: Summer and Fall. They used to say, "Summer and Winter," but with the warmer than normal winters over the past few years that's changing. Well, I certainly hope that this wonderful dusting is just a hint at what is yet to come. Ajde, sing with me... "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...."

Chewing Coffee

"Karolina, in the morning, first thing take a little honey. Because it's sweet all the bad things will be drawn to it in your stomach. Then drink one coffee to make everything dark so that the bacteria doesn't see what's coming. Then you drink a little rakija and it will kill then all."

That was a little story a local told me a while back. I think it was her father's daily routine to keep healthy. It's not surprising that his morning ritual included coffee as this is very much a coffee culture, though the type of coffee is much different than in the states. US coffee is frequently referred to as, "flavored water." One drink of the local brew, commonly known as "turkish coffee," and you would see why. Just be careful not to chew it...

The coffee beans are ground to a fine powder, similar to the consistency of cornstarch. A heaping spoonful for every cup (approximately 1/4C in size) of water is heated together with a lump of sugar (optional) until just boiling and foamy. It's then immediately removed from the heat and served one spoonful at a time so as to evenly disburse the foam between the cups.

My first encounter with turkish coffee was 8 years ago. As I sipped I kept getting mouthfuls of coffee grounds and found myself literally chewing the coffee. I was bewildered that people would actually enjoy coffee that way. Then I noticed that none of the locals were drinking yet... then the 'DUH' light went off in my head and I realized that the cup needed to sit for a while to let the grounds settle to the bottom before drinking. Aaahhaaa!

Those grounds become a finely-packed sludge on the bottom of the cup which some ladies will "read" much like some read tea leaves. When I was in Bosnia our host lady would flip her cup over when she was finished drinking and let the grounds drain down. Later when she was doing the dishes she'd look intently into the cup to figure out what the grounds were saying. Then with a "hmm" and a nod of her head she'd then wash the grounds away. I have no idea what she "saw" but she seemed satisfied.

I can't tell you how many cups of "turkish coffee" I've had over the years, but I can tell you that each cup represents many wonderful conversations and connecting with locals: learning language, hearing their life stories, future dreams and becoming friends. And for the privilege of that I'll happily keep chewing coffee. :)

A Builder's Invention

There is an amazing amount of new and continued building constructions going up all around Skopje. Blink a second too long and a new building will have replaced your favorite store. One day you're buying coffee from a corner shop, the next day the existing building is torn down, and on the next day the foundation for a new one is laid and rebar delivered. Blink.

Living in an apartment building in the city center I get somewhat of a birds-eye view of the construction process. The other day I looked out and saw this nifty invention quickly hammered out to hold the worker's coats, bags and lunches. The guys even have a plastic tarp ready to go if rain is forecasted. Pretty smart... and makes for a fun picture too. :)

****
Side note: notice how amazingly close the new building's foundation is to the old one??? yikes!

Waiting in...er... line?

This morning I made my annual trip to the "9th Floor" to submit my visa documents, get finger-printed and get a photo taken. It was early but there was already quite a crowd waiting in front of the 2 working elevators that would only take 5 people at a time. Each time the elevator doors opened the people would surge forward to try to be one of the lucky few.

Once on the 9th and while waiting our turn outside the picture-taking-finger-printing office I took in the cultural phenomenon around me with regards to line etiquette... or, rather, the seemingly lack of it...

There was a crowd of people waiting and with no discernible sense of a line, everyone just seemed to know what there place was in the waiting order. New arrivals simply asked, "who's the last person?" received their answer and then went lean against a wall or sit on a bench to wait for their turn. Occasionally exceptions were made for families with young children, who were then allowed to cut to the front. Other's, however, simply muscled their way through in an effort to be the next one in the door regardless of the fact they were actually the last to arrive.

So it was with one particular man. Every time the office door opened the waiting crowd surged forward as if to insure the right person pops out the front and goes in next, and every time this one man tried to cut... sparking an intense verbal exchange. He was so insistent at points that others called the security guy over which sparked yet another heated discussion complete with animated hand gestures.

While all this was going on I couldn't help but long for the "Take A Number" machines that you find in California's DMV offices and other places.

Finally it came to our turn. The door opened the crowd surged forward and before my friend and I could get in that man had muscled his way in front of us and shut the door in our face! The security guard who'd put the man in his place earlier saw this but I think like the rest of us, though irritated by his cultural rudeness, were tired of this man's belligerence and let him go. In the end the security guard apparently gave him another talking to and as my friend and I were ushered in the man was all smiles... seriously, looked like a completely different man... and offered to buy us and the man who'd been next after us a coffee for our trouble.

Two words: Ле ле!

We politely declined as we all had a schedule to keep. It didn't take long to take my prints and to pose for my unsmiling picture (you're not allowed to smile... pictures are supposed to be serious). It was a bad picture, btw. Good thing I'm only stuck with it for a year (unlike the awful passport picture I've had since 2000). Anyways, this morning was another really good lesson in line etiquette here in the Balkans: know your place in the crowd, wait your turn and stand your ground... unless you can slip inside the door. :)

Some excerpts from today's papers...

Today's newspapers in Skopje were again full with news and commentary on the US election. Here's a peek from three local papers:


"Obama Writes History"
Morning News (Утрински Бесник), p. 1, 6 November 2008:
...then from p. 2:
Obama Abolishes Racial Barriers in America

"With the choice for Barak Hussein Obama, the US completes the most radical political precedent in their history."

"'Will President Barak Obama be a modern Franklin Roosevelt who will lead America out of the economic crisis or will he be a dismayed copy of Herbert Hoover', asks a British 'Independent' yesterday in light of the new boss of the world's superpower."

"This decision demolishes the racial barriers in the US and shows that the world is rapidly moving towards change, even though sometimes there's no time to carry into history... Barak Obama definitely is a part in this history. He is the new John Kennedy for the Americans [and] the new Martin Luther King for African-Americans... "

*******

"Obama Accomplishes the American Dream"
The Times (Време), front page, 6 November 2008
...then in the article on p. 2:
"Barak Obama Realizes the Dream of Martin Luther King"


"Obama's win is a huge message to all multi-ethnic countries that values need to be expressed that don't belong to a particular community."

"Will he continue the advocacy of Bush for Macedonia"
"The Balkans remain on the American agenda"

*******
Here's a couple of links to Balkan Insight for articles completely in English: "Macedonia Hails Obama Amid 'Name' Woes" and "Balkan Leaders Praise Obama Victory"

*******
Anyways, that's just a clip but you get the idea. The local news as well as the international news is saturated with commentary on this historic election. Additionally, all day yesterday I was peppered with questions by locals: "So who did you vote for?" "Who did you want to win?" "Are you happy with the result?" And chatted with local friends from other European countries who joyfully exclaimed, "I was really quite ecstatic that he won actually." It truly is amazing this sense of excitement that those here and around the globe have.

The News (Вест) summed it up by saying, "The World Gains New Hope."



"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Tim 2:1-3 NIV

Today's Headlines

I thought perhaps it would be interesting for you to see this mornings frontpage headlines here in Macedonia:

The Times (left) reads:
"Obama with one foot in the White House"
The article below it refers to the continuing name issue with Greece

New Macedonia (the paper on the right) says:
"What is there to say to the new US President: Don't Forget Us"
The inset in the middle is a letter of congratulations to the President-elect, gives best wishes for the future and then urges him to continue the US's policy towards Macedonia and the name issue.

Because of the continuing name dispute with their neighboring country most Macedonians supported McCain and now that there will be a change of party and leadership they are very concerned that the US's policy towards them and the name issue will change.

***

Note: With this post and the previous one my intention is not to make political comment but to simply tell you what people are talking about and what concerns they have at this time.

Election Day - "So who did you vote for?"

When the "Terminator" won the "Total Recall" election in my home state of California, I was in Croatia. There and back home in Macedonia the news of the "Governator" was met with bemusement. In 2004 the world was watching but the contest between Bush and Kerry was couched in appropriate measure amidst the rest of the daily news. 2008, however, has been a much different experience. The interest is keen and dominates the news both locally and internationally. Everyone has a strong opinion on this election and most are quick to share it--especially as today, November 4th, 2008, loomed on the horizon.

In this past year I cannot tell you how many conversations I've had with locals and internationals about this election. They happened in cabs, corner stores, old town streets, hair salon, church, cafes, homes, etc... Politics is a favorite subject of most Balkan people--especially American politics. My colleagues have had similar experiences as well. These were not conversations we ever sought out, yet inevitably when someone finds out or knows that you're an American they take the opportunity to express their opinion and then are anxious to extract from you your thoughts about who is going to win and who you are going to vote for.

My hairstylist, for instance, knew I was a Californian and so considered it his mission to "convert" me to the "right" party, Republican, and to support McCain. Conversely there were others who were determined to persuade me from my wayward Republican ways and to be a faithful young Democrat and to vote for Obama. When I went to the post office to airmail my official absentee ballot, the workers handled it with such care, with a sense of great import, and then they too began to pepper me with questions as to who I voted for.

Tonight as I locked up the office and headed home I could not help but reflect upon all this and the keen interest this election holds worldwide. Some countries, like Bulgaria, even held mock elections today while people in other countries are having all night parties to watch the election returns. It's a bit strange to see such great international interest in the US Presidential election and then a bit humbling to realize that I actually had the privilege to cast a ballot. The world seems so small at this moment and no matter who wins there is a sense that we are all living in a vastly historic moment, a world moment, and the excitement of all is palpable.

As I write this I confess that I've got CNN International humming in the background, and no, I'm not going to divulge who I voted for. My answer to you is the same as it was to all those previous askers: it's between me, God and my ballot and I ask you to please respect that. I will, however, say this: Let us be in prayer for our President-elect, no matter who he may be, to be a strong, wise, grace-filled and discerning leader. Likewise, as this election does hold such worldwide interest, let us remember that in broadened prayer as well.

Notes from a Sunday

Today was a day off of sorts for me. Basically I'd had the week off from singing on worship team. I did, however, do the clicker this morning for the overhead slides and I must say "hats off!" to all those that do this each Sunday. It's hard to sing and click at the same time. Kinda like walking, chewing gum, patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time--especially on a Mac because if you click just a second too long the "One Note" advances to the end and then there's the quick clicking forward to get back onto the right slide. Then there was the one point where the slide wouldn't advance at all! Have I mentioned recently that I'm not a Mac-fan? ;) The wonderful thing, though, is the graciousness of the congregation. :) If they knew the song they kept singing with boldness and those who didn't waited patiently for me to get the Mac to respond.

After service a couple gal colleages and I went to the city center for lunch, one was down visiting from Kosovo and so it was nice to catch up with her. We ended up eating at a fun place on the center square called "Dal Fufu." Yes, that really is it's name. Great pizza, pasta, meat and potatoes dishes. :) Afterwards we went to a new coffee place that is the closest thing we have to a Starbuck's... my carmel macchiato was amazing. They even had Nutter Butters, Oreo cookies and Snapple... though very expensive. Still, not something we can normally find here. Later we found our way to my apartment and chatted some more before parting ways as the waning sunlight brought the day to a close.

Skopje, by the way, has some of the most spectacular sunsets that I have ever seen in my life. Today's was no exception. The only odd thing was that it was happening at 4pm! But that's early compared to a month from now when it'll be dark by 3:15. Anyways, the picture up top is from this evening that was especially beautiful.

It's now well into dusk and a sliver moon is beginning to set above Mt. Vodno. An end to another lovely day here in the Balkans.

An Autumn Day in Skopje

Saturday is usually my day to cook, clean and do laundry, but I got a bit distracted on the way to the market because it was simply a gorgeous day. It seems most of the city got sidetracked as well as the walking street and surrounding restaurants and cafes were literally teaming with people enjoying the warm "Gypsy Summer" day. I found myself enchanted by the activity:

• the light cool breese sending colored leaves descending towards the cobblestone
• fathers carrying their young children on thier shoulders
• friends walking arm-in-arm and laughing about some inside joke
• the young couple stealing a kiss underneath a majestic tree colored in greens, yellows and oranges
• a group of young adults carrying signs offering "Free Hugs" to passersby
• the strains of the theme song from "The Last of the Mohicans" giving melody to days activity by men in native dress
• the venders selling fresh roasted chestnuts, mini-krofni (aka "American" donuts) sprinkled with powdered sugar and chocolate surrip, or hand-crafted jewelry, belts, or tourist items
• a little girls surprise when her balloon pops and her mothers reassurance that she'd get her another one
• the news crew setting up to interview the "Free Hug" kids and to take video of the general activity of the day

What a beautiful day is was here in the city.

Day of the Dead - Macedonia

Halloween, something my nephews in the US are dressing up for as we speak, is not celebrated here in Macedonia. Tomorrow, however, is observed and is known as the "Day of the Dead" (aka. "All Soul's Day"). On this day families will go to the grave sites of their departed loved ones, clean the headstone, clear away debris, light candles for prayer, place flowers and have a meal. It's believed that the person's spirit is able to come and partake with them.

It's interesting to me the many traditions that are associated with the death of a loved one. I read on Wikipedia that in Orthodox tradition it's believed that from the moment of death that the person can visit the living for 40 days. Then on that 40th day the family again goes to the grave site and serves the same traditional meal items that were served graveside the day of the funeral (bread, wine/drink of some sort, something sweet, etc.). Again, it's believed the loved one's spirit partakes with them one last time before heading away from the living and into the afterlife.

As I ponder these traditions my thoughts go to those who are still in or just ending that 40-day period... I imagine this time is especially difficult for them, and I wonder if the traditions are as well, like tomorrow and the"Day of the Dead." I lost my own father several years ago and can keenly identify with the heart-ache of losing someone you love. Yet, there is a Hope that comforts us in our loss far more than anything else ever could. The hope of eternal life found in the One who has triumphed over death and its sting. As I consider this "holiday" and what meaning it may hold for so many, my heart is tugged to pray for them. Will you join me?

Recipe: Old World Apple Cake

I've always thought that October is the best month in which to have a birthday. The air is crisp but still carries hints of the summer gone by. The trees, parks and wooded paths are colored in various shades of greens, yellows, oranges and browns. Тhen there are the numerous seasonal items like squash, sweet potatoes and, of course, apples. And with apples comes the best game ever for a kid's birthday party: apple dunking (or bobbing)!

For those who aren't familiar with this, imagine a big barrel or ivar-making-tanger (танџер) filled with water and dozens of bright red harvest apples bobbing on the surface. Then the children hold their hands behind their back and try to pick up an apple with just their mouth. :::giggle:::


[Apple-dunking picture source:
http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/apple_day/ ]

Unless there's a decent stem, the participants will end up dunking their entire heads all the way in to wedge an apple against the bottom and sink their teeth in. Coming up they send splashes of water onto everyone within a 5 foot radius. They are soaking wet from head to torso but with a triumphant apple-filled smile. Ahhh... memories. :) (My Macedonian friends are probably cringing at this moment at the image of children being outside with wet hair in October.)

Now a days I don't go dunking for apples anymore (though the kid in me would love to!) instead I bake. And that's just what I did this weekend with the big bag of organic apples that a friend gave to me on my birthday last week. It's an old family favorite of mine and a gem I thought worth sharing. It's from my Mom's well-worn and loved 1966 copy of the Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery (Vol. 1, Fawcett Publications, Inc., New York, 1966, pg. 102).

Old World Apple Cake

Ingredients for Filling
3 Pounds cooking apples
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 slices of lemon

Ingredients for Pastry
2 Cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift before you measure)
1-1/3 cups sugar (about)
1-1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 egg yolks (room temperature)

Method

Peel and slice apples. Cook with sugar, water and lemon until tender but not mushy. Drain and cool. Remove lemon slices.

Mix flour, 1-1/4 cups sugar and baking powder. Cut in 1/2 cup butter with pastry blender or work in with fingers until mixture is crumbly. Mix in egg yolks. Reserve 1 cup four mixtrue for top. Pat remainder on bottom and sides of greased 9-inch spring-form pan. Fill with apples; sprinkle with reserved topping; dot with 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake in preheated moderate oven (350F) for 1 hour. Serve warm or cold. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

OK, now for my Macedonian friends who have asked me for this recipe...сега ке пробам да ви го кажам рецептот на Македонски (благодарам на моите учителки кои што ме помогнаат со овој рецепт).

за полнење
3 кила јаболка за печење
1/3 шолја шеќер
1/2 шолја обична вода
2 парчиња лимон

Излупете ги и сечете ги јаболката. Ги варете сите парчиња со шеќерот и лимонот ċе додека не омекнат. Исушете ги и се изладете ги. Вадете ги парчињата од лимон.

процедно (за тесто)
2 шолји приближно брашно
1-1/3 шолји шеќер (околу)
1-1/4 мала лажица пециво (прашок за печиво)
2/3 чаша путер или маргарин (околу)
2 жолтчки (соба темпетура)

Загрејте ја рерната на 177°с.

Во среден сад го мешате брашното, 1-1/4 чаши од шеќерот и пецивото. Само 1/2 чаши од путерот го сечете заедно во смесата со вилушка. Додадете ги жолтчките во садот со смесата и мешајте дури не стане хомогена смеса. Ставете една чаша од смесата на страна и ставете го другиот во една тава. Ставете ги јаболките или овошјете од ваш избор и на крајот ставете ја смесата на врвот на обошјето. Сега, со голема лажица, ставете го шеќерот на врвот. Печете ја тортата на 177°с за еден саат.

Prijаtno јадење! And have an enjoyable and color-filled fall season! :)

A Haunted House, Church and Fellowship

This Sunday, after an extra hour of sleep (yipee!), we arrived to find the school where we meet bedecked with a scarecrow and several school childrens' uniquely carved pumpkins. Saturday night had been the schools annual Fall Festival and inside the gym the left-overs from the haunted house needed to be cleared before we could set up for service. No worries because we had several extra helping hands thanks to the "fall back" time change! :)

As usual worship practice was full of last-minute tweaking, laughter over silly little things, vocal warm-ups, guitar tuning, sound-checks and proofing of slides on "One Note." Even with the necessary detail that is "practice", it was an especially nice practice as it seemed this Sunday we got past the logistics more quickly than usual and entered purely into worship, focusing on the One for Whom we sang.

Come beginning of service, the gym that had been a haunted house the night before was transformed into a hallowed house as we prayed, worshipped through song and received a message on Jesus' resurrection and faith. As summer is now fading into memory the seats are fuller each week as expats from all over find there way here, finding a church home. After service the fellowship, laughter and deep and light conversation continues next door in the schools cafeteria that is more like a delightfully quaint cafe.


In breaks between my own conversations I simply took in the sights of candid moments:

• two ladies engaged in light conversation about their week and how their children are doing
• three little girls sitting around a small table, legs swinging in joy as they sipped their milk or juice and mused little girl musings
• a little munchkin perched on the bar (coffee) totally amused by the barrista making silly faces for her
• the box of homemade ginger-snaps disappearing with each blink of the eye
• discussions and planning for the weeks homegroup meetings: when, where and open invite to new attendees
• a ladies easy laughter a something her husband said
• two men in deep discussion of theological import
• a proud father holding his little baby who squeals in pure delight in his daddy
• the group of adults crowded around the counter ordering macciato's, cappuccino's or "sour water" (aka. bubbly mineral water)
• children scampering around and through the adults legs, playing in the school yard or on the schools Foosball table
• people from literally all over the world drinking coffee, eating cookies and enjoying one another's company and fellowship, forging friendships

Little by little the groups disbursed to head home, to other points of ministry, or to continue the conversations over lunch. For myself I walked out with a couple friends to the main street where we mused about the detour down the road and if it was for the motorcycle race and yes we'll see you at class. Bidding them farewell I decided to enjoy the day and walk home rather than hailing a taxi. Just around the corner I ran into one of the people from church who invited me to join their family for a скара lunch (aka. grilled meat... something Macedonia does awesomely). What a lovely time we had talking about all sorts of things (including a little cheer for Liverpool's win over Chelsey)!

Several full and delightful hours later when I set out for home, it was darker than I'd expected for 5:30pm, but then again a time-change will do that. The streets were quiet and colored with fall leaves, the night air a bit chilly... but my heart was full. Yesterday was a great day. A day that started with church in what had been haunted house the night before, and ended with full and candid fellowship moments.

A Night at the Symphony

When I was a little girl my parents used to drag me to the symphony each week... inevitably I'd curl up in my chair and sleep, too young to appreciate the experience. Now almost 30 years later, living in Skopje, I enjoy going to the symphony and I can assure you that there is no sleeping--especially last night.

The Macedonia Philharmonic opened the season with a night of Beethoven's Fives: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 and, my all-time favorite, the famous Symphony No. 5 in C-Minor (aka. Dah dah dah daaaaahhh.... or "fate knocking at the door."). It was a wonderful concert! Of course it was even more fun because one of my friends is one of the musicians (though I confess I'm a little envious that she gets to be literally in the middle of the music.) :)

The pianist featured for the Concerto was Tzimon Barto of the US. He didn't look like a typical pianist... in fact we thought he looked a bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger... and the way he played! He was on fire pounding away at the ivories with such force that I thoroughly expected to see strings fly! (And apparently they did in practice!) Yet at the times his touch was so light and flowing it was as if the piano whispered... amazing. Bravo.

And as far as Beethoven's Symphony No. 5?? Words escape me. Bravo seems too inadequate. The conductor, Janush Pshibilski of Poland, was quite enjoyable and did a wonderful job. And what a joy it was to finally hear my favorite symphony live! I got chills and caught my breath several times!! And by the final movement I wanted to jump to my feet and cheer! Alas, I held back my ovation until the end, joining many others. :)

After the concert some friends and I went to the local Mexican restaurant, Amigo's, and enjoyed a great meal with great company. :) Ah, such was a wonderful night spent with friends at the symphony.