It's Spring!

     Hip, hip, hooray!  I haven't had to don a jacket outside all this week.  I have been so cold for so long...  And now, it's warmer.  I told Brent, though, that come this August, when I'm complaining about how hot it is, all he has to do is say, "May 1st" and I will be quiet.

     But, truly, Ukraine is beautiful this time of year.  I showed a few pictures last week of our trek to the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life.  Here are a few more.

These two pictures are of houses typical of the Bukovina area.  They reminded me of dear Sis. Appel, since she was born in that area.

 

     There are two exhibits of windmills.

"It's just a little further!"  Famous last words.

And a beautiful old church

     As I mentioned last week, there were not a lot of people, so not a lot of workers to explain things.  Not that we understand that well, anyway.  But they try, with their broken English to explain, and I try, with my broken Russian, to understand.  It's amazing what a little willingness on both parts can accomplish.

     Then, Saturday, we went on a hike to a park near here that our taxi drivers always pass when bringing us home.  We don't take taxis often, but occasionally, it's necessary.  All the parks here have playgrounds for the grownups as well as for the kids.  And the grownups use them.  We didn't want to take a picture of someone who might not want to be in my blog, but I doubt that a child could reach this pull-up machine without help.

Note that I still have my jacket on here.

     When we arrived here, President Packer assigned us to go to Cherkassy at least once a month to act as member and leadership support.  We've been trying to make it twice a month, but some weekends have been too crazy.  But this weekend, we made it, riding with Pres. Packer, who gave a wonderful fireside -- in Russian, which he speaks fairly fluently.  But one of the missionaries translated for us, so we got a good deal out of it.  President went home after church Sunday, but we stayed so that Brent could look at the medical facilities in Cherkassy to see if they could handle an emergency if one of our missionaries needed it.

     However, Monday was May 1st, which is Labor Day in Ukraine.  None of the administrators or doctors would be at work if they could help it.  And, Sunday morning, the branch president decided that there would be a branch picnic on Monday.  So we stayed for the picnic, to socialize with the members, and the Lord sent a local doctor to answer Brent's questions about medical facilities.  She also gave us her name and number to help when he returns visit them.

Building the fire for the hotdogs

Making the salad and other condiments

And we all had a real good time!

     Then, the lilacs started blooming.  We had been hearing all winter about the beauty of the National Botanical Garden, especially when the lilacs bloom.  Eld. and Sis. Palache and Eld. and Sis. Mitchell and we got together Friday after work to go look at them.  

White lilacs DO smell different from purple lilacs!

To look at when I listen to "Into the Woods"

     They have left an extensive area of natural woods in the park.  I don't want to go into them, though, without covering myself with DEET.  More than 50% of ticks in Eastern Europe carry Lyme disease.

     Then we found the hillside FULL of lilac bushes.

Kay and John Mitchell

Overlooking the Dneiper River

Azaela gardens.  Also had their close cousins, the rhododendrons.

     It was so beautiful, and we didn't get nearly the time there we wanted.  And not all the lilacs were out, anyway.  Most of them were still in tight bloom.  We're planning to go back this week and spend all day, if we can.  So there will probably be more pictures next time I get around to writing.

     The Lord has made a beautiful world, and I'm so grateful that we have been privileged to see so much of it!