This will all blow over

What will? Oh, just my apartment complex. At least that's what it felt like a couple nights ago, when the wind blew so hard that the curtains over my CLOSED windows were moving. And every crack in the doors or windows created a nice high-pitched wistle that woke me up every 20 min. in the night. I don't think they have sealant over here... We have these roller shades that we can roll down over some of our windows and over our balcony, and so we put them down over the balcony in hopes that it would cut down the wind that was blowing through our closed windows. But they didn't help a bit. The next morning as I walked two steps forward and blew one step back all the way down to school, I was nearly blown over by the strength of the wind. It was taking tiles off the roofs. Kind of dangerous, if you ask me. When Mary and I got back to our appartment our shades over the balcony were completely torn about and off the tracking system. They are apparently not strong enough to withstand 70mph wind. After great struggle and much time I was actually able to fix them, so they are back to functioning, but just not in the great condition they were in earlier. Oh, and this is the day after 1) I dropped my jelly jar and scattered glass all over my feet and the kitchen floor, 2) Mary fried our vacuum cleaner (it started on fire and has been rendered useless), and our shower hose tore, so we have little pressure and very erratic shower streams. When it rains it pours. When it blows, lean into it.

Ok, so yes, there were two allusions in the last post, one intentional, and the other was just an attempt at humor, but I also immediately thought of Amelia Bedelia as well. I LOVED Amelia Bedelia books when I was little, so I guess she has influenced me in ways I don't even realize! I'm so proud of those of you who recognized the mark. And then the quote from Bambi was just so appropriate, as snow is such a rare thing these days in Budapest.

"What's all that white stuff?"

I woke up this morning thinking it was going to be yet another overcast day based on the lack of light penetrating our curtains. But once I drew the curtains (I used compressed charcoal on recycled paper) I was shocked to see a white world outside. Right now it's just a thin layer, but it is still gently coming down. At last! We are getting the long-anticipated Budapest winter. I'm excited, as I love snow. I just hate being cold...

(...do you recognize that quote?)

Lisa in Pisa

These are my good friends Joni and Shannon, with whom I met up with over Christmas break. I was able to spend a most fabulous time trekking through Italy in their company for a bit. It was so great to see them again. It was great to see Italy, but I think I mostly enjoyed just kicking back with these awesome women of God. This was actually taken at PFO last June... I'm really bad at getting pictures, so Joni and Shannon, if you have any of the three of us, please send it my way!

I think the person taking this picture was a little thrown off by the tower, as it is not completely level =)

Roman forum ruins
you should recognize this one

O sola mia!

the "streets" of Venice

charming Sienna
Florence's Porte Vecchio

My homemade Vanochka that I never got to taste

I made two of these traditional Czech Christmas loaves, as this sweet bread is simply my favorite. Spread a little slice of butter over it, and it tastes heavenly. I am proud of myself (if you couldn't tell by the picture), because I was working with foreign ingredients and a risky oven, AND because I have only made it once before. I was quite relieved to see they came out of the oven looking spectacular. How they tasted I will never know, alas, as I took them as hostess gifts to some social gatherings, hoping that we would cut into them while I was there, which we didn't. I missed out on my vanochka... I would throw the "Christmas tradition" label aside and make it again if it didn't take 2 plus hours...