April Fool's Day Macedonian Style!

This morning some ladies and I met for breakfast at a favorite restaurant in the mall and periodically would see unusually dressed people and munchkins walking by outside. At first I didn't think anything of the two ladies that were dressed in the white and blue Mother Theresa style habits (you see them occasionally as this is where she was born)... but then a guy with Bozo hair passed by.... then a class full of little munchkins dressed up in everything from a princess to a cowboy with wands and guns waving.

Then it hit me.... Aha! That's right! It's April 1st and "Maskinball" here in Macedonia.

On my way back from breakfast this morning I stopped into my local burek place just to say "hi" and just in time for the owners daughter to arrive in her costume. So after taking a picture of mom and daughter, the little girl persuaded me to put on her mask and hat for a photo of my own!

Ha ha... I stopped writing for a moment because I heard a large group of teenagers passing by on my street.... they were gathering together to line up in formation so that they would arrive at school in "style"... several were dressed up as professionals in suits, others as flight attendants, a soldier, a "tourist" wearing a huge sombrero, a couple flamenco dancers, a beach bum, lady bug, Tweedle Dee and so many others.... I wish my batteries hadn't chosen this moment to die because it would have been a pretty funny picture to share!

Welcome to just another interesting day here in the Balkans! =)

Среќен Осми Март! Happy Int'l Women's Day!

It's Осми Март and the annual celebration of women young, old, single and married. As a colleague mentioned earlier today, she likes this holiday better than Mother's day because it includes her too (she's single like me). It's funny, but according to Macedonia language rules (and thus cultural) you're not a жена (woman) until you're married... so even though I'm 40, I'm still referred to as a девојче (girl). So, I must confess that I'm liking this holiday as well because even us девојчиња get to celebrate it along with all the жени! ;)

The fun thing about days like today are that the men around town are more likely to be courteous and open doors and such. Infact, a colleague up in Kosovo was given a ride home by her language teachers husband in honor of the day. It's a distance she normally walks, even in the snow and ice, but not on this day! It's also typical that various parties or celebrations be held around town. It's International Women's Day (IWD)!

An interesting tidbit about this day is that it's not a strictly "American" or "Macedonian" holiday. It's actually celebrated all over the world. Infact, it's been around for 99 years! Here's some text from the IWD website: "International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD is a national holiday."

OK, so all that said, I must confess that I didn't even really celebrate it today! Yeah, shocker! But it was snowing all day and I just didn't want to go out. Yes, I do admit to having an irrational fear of falling on the slippery uneven sidewalks. I did get a couple of surprise phone calls, though, from some Macedonian friends. It'd been a while since we'd talked and so it was really nice to hear their voices and to make plans to see each other when I get back from Switzerland at the end of the month.

Anyways, to celebrate International Women's Day, I've posted this picture of some Springish daisies that I bought to cheer up my apartment a couple of weeks ago. And yes, that IS snow in the backdrop.... gotta love the contrast... =)

Happy International Women's Day!

Epiphany

"I live in the Balkans." Sometimes that realization makes me catch my breath.... or pinch myself. Standing on the bank of the Vardar River with a few thousand of my neighbors to watch a cross be thrown into the river on a chilled January day known as "Epiphany" I was again caught up in the wonder of it all.

This California girl who took high school Spanish with Mr. Marelich, but never really applied it, was now bundled up listening to the priest bless the river in Macedonian... and actually understanding more than a fair bit. Most of my days are spent communicating in a strange mix I refer to as Makaenglish: Macedonian in stores, taxis, on the street, with friends and English just as often.

Then there's the cultural learning... somehow after living here for several years I've learned to live with the constant state of cultural stress and ambiguity, knowing that there will always be things, cultural subtleties, that I won't understand. To be honest, there are some days that the stress really wears on me and I'm tempted to pack up and go back to the familiar of "home" in the US...

But then there are conversations over turkish coffee, shared meals, the human connections that happen in the sharing of lives, hopes, dreams, joys, fears..... and days like that cold one two weeks ago where I find myself simply soaking it all in: the people, the language, the culture, the.... the unfamiliarity of this place where East and West converge that somehow has become so familiar in my heart. My personal epiphany I suppose you could say. Yes, I love the people here, the place, the culture.

I live in the Balkans.

Hope is Shattered but Peace Remains

In the process of taking down the Christmas tree today.... Hope just slipped from my fingers and, in a flicker of caught breath, shattered at my feet! Crash! I just stared in disbelief as the sounds of small shards of glass spun and tinkled across the floor boards. "Hope" was part of a set of Christmas decorations that were given to me by a roommate several years ago when she moved back to the US. All that remains now is "Peace". I am so grateful that the hope I have in Jesus is not so fragile as that glass ornament. And like the Peace that remains, so remains peace in my heart because of Him. No matter what things may shatter at my feet. :)

O Christmas Tree.....

Now that Christmas is over it's time to take down the tree, pack up the ornaments and move the furniture back to their proper place. Sigh. It's a sad time. There's just something so charming and home-warming about a sparkly tree decorated with items I've collected over the decades: a saddle from Wyoming, a decorative egg from Budapest, a hibiscus from Hawaii.... And it seems so empty after having been such a fixture in the living room for over a month. Even as a kid part of me longed to hold onto the holidays and to beg Dad to wait just "one more day" before he sawed up the tree into pieces perfectly sized for the fireplace. But he was right. It was time. And thus today it's time as well to, in this case, take the tree apart and to stow it away for another year...

Среќен Божиќ! Merry Christmas from Macedonia!

The highlight of Christmas day here in Skopje was the Christmas Concert put on in the center. There were new and delightful songs and old ones with jazzy and creative arrangments. So cool! Two of my favorites were "We Three Kings" and "O Come Emanuel". Also there was a delightful dance by a cute little pixie and the sharing of a Christmas message. :) Please enjoy some of the photos and a video clip from the night. Merry Christmas!

The Incessant Buzz Buzz Buzz of a Christmas Eve Morning....

This morning started really early. 6am to be exact. Buzz! buzz! buzzz! as a finger incessantly pushes the button for my apartment so I'll get up and buzz them into the building. I sleepily looked at my watch, turned over and pulled the covers over my head.

Then the sound of young voices began to echo up the stairwell and down the hallways of my building, in ever increasing volume, "...Kolede lede padnalo grede.... ke koleme tele tele vika 'le le'..... Kolede!" (a really horrible song, btw). Over and over they sang the song as they trolled each level of my building and ringing everyone's doorbells just hoping for someone to open their door and give them nuts, fruit, coins or candy.

Yes, in the past I've gotten up and handed out tangerines or chestnuts, but this year I decided not to. As a foreigner here, learning about the culture and traditions is important.... and I must say very interesting. The tradition of the children going door-to-door does have it's roots in pagan folk religion, most similar to Halloween, but still it's a part of the culture and important for a guest like me to learn about. And to be honest, I really enjoy learning about other cultures. And the traditions around Christmas are definitely something to experience. However, having experienced it several times since living here, I decided this year that I'd not answer the door and sleep in instead.

Sleep.... well.... I didn't get much of that regardless of how hard I tried. However, I was luckier than others whose doorbells rang and streets were filled with children's voices singing the verses in a sing-songy melody reminiscent of "Ring Around the Rosie" as early at 3 and 4am!!! Eventually, though, sleep eluded me enough that I simply got up and began the day.

On another note, it's Christmas Eve and it looks like it won't be a white Christmas after all. The snow melted today. =( The bit we did have, though, made for an ironic sight yesterday that had me laughing when I was in the city center. It's one of those random pieces of art that have gone up around the city. This one is called, "Chance meeting." Take a good look at the picture and try to guess what I found so funny. I'll give you a hint... that puff of white is NOT a hat on her head! ;)


Doorbell image credit: http://thesophisticated.wordpress.com/2008/03/

Snow! It just may be a White Christmas this year!

Last night I went to bed very late after a very full day exploring all around Skopje with friends, shopping, enjoying the lights, restaurants and cheeriness of the city bedecked in holiday enchantment. At the end of the day I Twittered that the only thing that could have made it even more picture-perfect was if there were snow. Unfortunately the weather forecast was only for rain.

So you can imagine my surprise (and JOY) to wake up this morning to a fresh blanketing of snow over the city, piling up on rooftops and clinging to trees! This is a site I've come to really look forward to just after the New Year... I was hooked three years ago when it snowed right on New Years Day. Then last year it was January 2nd. This years New Year dusting happened a little later, but JUST IN TIME to fulfil a childhood dream of a "White Christmas." Can you hear my girlish squeal of delight???

White Christmas??? Yes, I did say Christmas. That's because Macedonia celebrates the holiday according to the Julian calendar, so January 7th is the day. You might find it interesting that "Santa", Christmas trees and gift-giving happen for New Years. I've recently learned that this transition happened during communism where New Years, being smack in the middle of the "Catholic" Christmas and the "Orthodox" Christmas, seemed the right compromise. The happy by-product of this is that Christmas is just about Jesus' birth, which is pretty cool.

Christmas in Macedonia is celebrated a bit differently as well. I've shared some of the celebrations and traditions in previous years' blogs and so will try to take a different perspective this year. The festivities start tonight with the Kolede bonfires, which have their roots in old Slavic folk religion, but like the Christmas tree, have taken on new meaning over the years ("Christ's light coming into a dark world."). Still, though, the locals tell me they go just for the fire, dancing, food, rakija and visiting with friends and neighbors. With the new layer of snow today, it should make the fires a bit more inviting. :) Anyways, as the tradition unfolds this year I will try to share some stories and pictures along the way.

Until next time, here's a pic of the pile of fuzzy snowflakes that I awoke to this morning....

Happy New Year!

2010. Wow! When I was a teenager I'd wonder what the year 2000 would be like as I listened to Prince's "1999." But 2010? It was so hard to imagine... first, because I'd be 40... yes, I did that F-O-R-T-Y. Funny, though, I'm sitting here on warm and sunny New Years Day 2010 in Skopje and can't help but feel the best years are ahead. Honestly, it kinda boggles my mind what I've seen in the last 40 years.... and I can only imagine what amazing things are ahead. One thing is for sure, though, I'm happily taking each day as they come. So enjoy last night with me as you peruse some of the photos from the celebration in the Плоштад (Skopje's center square).

Forgiveness Day

Yesterday was Forgiveness Day here in Macedonia. It's the Sunday immediately before the beginning of Great Lent in the Orthodox church (the traditional fast from dairy and such until Easter). In preparation for the Lenten fast, the faithful are encouraged to seek forgiveness from those they have wronged as well as to forgive those who've wronged them. Church services will center on Jesus' teachings on forgiveness and fasting as found in Matt 6:14-18.

For a really good explanation of this day and the intent and meaning behind it, I highly recommend following this link to an article by Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann. Here's an excerpt:

"Now, forgiveness stands at the very center of Christian faith and of Christian life because Christianity itself is, above all, the religion of forgiveness. God forgives us, and His forgiveness is in Christ, His Son, Whom He sends to us, so that by sharing in His humanity we may share in His love and be truly reconciled with God. Indeed, Christianity has no other content but love. And it is primarily the renewal of that love, a return to it, a growth in it, that we seek in Great Lent, in fasting and prayer, in the entire spirit and the entire effort of that season. Thus, truly forgiveness is both the beginning of, and the proper condition for the Lenten season."

This is also the time of Carnival celebrations and the best known in Macedonia are held in Strumica. Christopher Deliso, who is a travel writer and lives in Macedonia, wrote an interesting Lonely Planet article about those celebrations back in 2006, and again I highly recommend reading it for some insight into this cultural event and its origins. Here's an excerpt.

"The Strumica Carnival... [also] has pagan origins and, as can be attested to by some of the more titillating costumes, has not entirely lost its ancient associations with virility, fertility and ruddy bucolic health.

The five-day carnival coincides with the beginning of Orthodox Lent...It was originally associated with Trimeri, a three-day period of Christian fasting for engaged girls. Such piety has long gone out the window, but the tradition partially lives on: Costumed processions visit the homes of engaged women, where each must guess which ofthe masked men is hers..."

Now you may be wondering why I'm talking about Lent a week after everyone else started talking about it. Well, this is because Easter in Macedonia is celebrated according to the Julian calendar... that means that this year Orthodox Easter will be on April 19th, which is one week later than in "the West" on April 12th, which is according to the Gregorian calendar. Confused? Well, here's a link for those wanting to learn more about the Julian vs Gregorian calendar history.

The "Day of Forgiveness" as well as the many comments, posts and Facebook statuses regarding the season of Lent have got me doing some deeper ponderings of faith. If you're interested in these personal ponderings, I will be posting them soon to my new blog: TrstngHm. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed reading and learning some more about life and culture here in the Balkans. =)

The Calf Yells "Le Le!" Kolede!

It's 6:45AM on Christmas Eve, January 6, 2009, and I am awakened by the first batch of children making their way through my neighborhood singing the Kolede Song. This year there is lots of icy snow on the ground and the children are bundled up like Ralfie's little brother.

Oops, there goes the doorbell. Hmm... it seems this group of children has added a drum to give the song a beat lively beat. lol. I must go answer the door and hand out this years treat: mandarins and chestnuts this year. =)

Here's a VERY rough translation of the song:

One icey Kolede

a tree limb fell on grandpa

grandpa was in agony.

Grandma incubates [sits on] 4 goose eggs.

Crazy happenings, Kolede!

Today is Kolede
tomorrow is Christmas

We're going to kill a calf
but the calf yells, "lele!"

I won't kill the calf
I'll give you veggies

and we'll make pita
for all of us to eat. Kolede!

It still gets me that the children are bundled up and out the door so early in the morning. My friend on the other side of town had them ringing her doorbell at 5AM this year. When my language teacher first told me about this I'd assumed that the children would come in the early evening like in the US for Halloween. So you an imagine my shock my first year here when my doorbell rang and children were singing this Grandma-got-run-over-by-a-reindeer-ish song at 6:30AM! It took me 7 years, but I was awake, dressed and ready for them this year! (See last years post for more on Christmas Eve in Macedonia.)

Happy New Year from Skopje

New Years in Skopje was something I'd been looking forward to this year, as we had such a great time last year hanging out with friends and having dinner, games and then heading downtown to watch the fireworks. This year, however, I was in bed or huddled under a blanket most of the day thanks to dry cold air, asthma and a nasty cough.

That said, I did still bundle up in as many layers as possible to head down to the center with a friend because an ABBA tribute band named "Arrival" was slated to bring in the New Year. Come on, you know you'd be bundling up too for the chance to shiver to the beat of "Dancing Queen" and to see the night sky lit up by sparkly fireworks. ;) It was a fun night and we had a great time (though I am paying for it a bit with a cough that won't quit that is making my voice sound like that of a frog).

Here are some pics as well as a video... (gotta love the Santa drinking Coke just like the commercial). lol. Happy New Year to you from Skopje, Macedonia!!!!

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.

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!