Troika Rides in Sergiev Posad

This past Tuesday I went with a group of girls from the AWO out to Sergiev Posad, a town about an hour and a half outside of Moscow. It is famous for the monastery, however, we will have to return to visit that as we were busy the whole day with only a quick 10 minutes left for the monastery.

We started out with tea and blini's (think thin pancakes) at Sveta's. She runs a bed and breakfast out there and helped me to organize our trip for the day. Then we headed out to the forest where the troikas met us to carry us deeper into the forest. It is amazing how beautiful the snow is out there - the pollution of the city hasn't gotten to it and it just glowed! It was also a beautiful sunny day albeit a bit chilly (10-20 degrees F). We rode the troikas into the forest where our friends had a campfire set up for us complete with hot dogs to roast and champanski and vodka to toast!

We took turns riding the troikas and just sat around the fire trying to keep warm and chatting.

After the rides, we headed back to Sveta's, where she has a full traditional Russian meal for us. We started with cold appetizers of cheese, blinis, and fish. Then the borsh (which I did try, but unfortunately I still didn't like it! Although everyone else raved about it!), and some sort of stew.

It was a fun traditional Russian afternoon and I'm so glad I've got the opportunity to experience things like this now that I'm not working!

View into the woods - an amazingly clear day

Our two Troika's (traditionally they are sleighs pulled by 3 horses - we forgot to ask why we only had one horse pulling each sleigh)

The girls around the campfire

In the Troika

Claire and Jeff visit the Motherland

Claire and Jeff came to visit us on a last minute trip - and were even able to get visas in a 24 hour period! We have never heard of that in our entire stay over here - must have something to do with the Swiss.

They chose the coldest weekend we have experienced in our 2 winters - it never got above 20 degrees F and hovered around 0-10 most of the time!! But, they got a beautifully sunny weekend and to experience true Russia!

We had a great time and loved catching up with them! Thanks again for visiting!

On the Kremlin bridge with the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in the background

Claire "checking" Jeff's passport on our Cold War Tunnel Tour

Home for the Holidays!

We had a wonderful time at home for the holidays this winter. We were even able to spend an extra few weeks there due to Cameron's visa issues!

We were continually busy while we were home and loved catching up with friends and family.

My parents' 40th wedding anniversary was this past August. So, we threw them a big party in December when I made it home!

Karen & Dennis, August 24, 1968

Catherine and Doug arranged a horse drawn carriage ride through Fort Worth to look at the Christmas lights! What fun - even in the freezing cold!

Rocking at Guitar Hero - World Tour!

Tea with the Healy Girls

Kristin, Tara, and I at the Texas Tech - Ole Miss Cotton Bowl game - unfortunately the Red Raiders could not pull off a win, even though I did wear RED!! (the UT hat was a must as it was a sunny day and it was the only hat I had in Dallas!)

Cameron, Gary, and I ventured out to Phoenix to watch the Longhorns win the Fiesta Bowl! Hook 'em Horns! We were fortunate to meet up for lunch with the "Tri-City Tailgaters." Thanks again Adam for lunch! Sorry y'all missed it!

Gary bought the girls a swing set for Christmas. He, Doug, and Cameron took on the task to assemble it over a cold weekend in FW! At least it warmed up on day 2 of the build!

Uncle Cameron with Bailey and Chase

Dinner with the Hickey's and Friou's

AWO Party at the Spaso House

Each year after our annual craft fair, which I think really should be called an art fair - it's more artisans and such selling their goods, the AWO (American Women's Org.) has a party at the Spaso House, the residence of the US ambassador. We thank our contributors and have a reason to get dressed up and have some wine! As I was on the Craft Fair committee this year, as treasurer of course, I even got recognized during the speeches. Who knew I'd be famous in Russia?

We had a great time this year and followed it up with dinner with a group of our friends.

Me, Meghna, Amber, & Carrie
(Meghna & Carrie's husbands work with Cameron as well)

Hook 'em Horns!

Dinner at El Gaucho

Thanksgiving in Moscow

Last year I got no Thanksgivings, so it only makes sense that this year I should have two! As we are in Russia, where they don’t celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving, Thursday was a work day. A work day which happened to be my last day in the office. Unfortunately Cameron was in Budapest this year for a conference, so I was on my own. One of the groups that I lead over here is called Moscow Meals, just a group of girls and their significant others (or not) who eat out on the 4th Thursday of each month. So, I planned November’s dinner to be a Thanksgiving dinner at Starlite Diner (think Denny’s but much more expensive!). They had a Thanksgiving menu which included Turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie! My group dwindled down to 5 of us the evening of the event, and was very international – including a Northern Irish, Canadian, Mexican, and only 2 Americans! Even though they ended up running out of pie and didn’t bring our turkey for an hour after our soup, we had a fabulous time.

Thanksgiving at Starlite Diner
Me, Cara, Paola, Erika, & Ashleigh

Then on Saturday, we celebrated Thanksgiving again over at my friend Lindsey’s place. It was an afternoon full of familiar favorites, including Mary Ellen’s sweet potatoes and a homemade apple pie! Lindsey and I spent Friday night making the pie – I did the easy part of peeling the apples and let her do the hard part of the made from scratch crust and lattice work! We rounded out the evening with a few Bailey’s after the Guitar Hero sessions.

Thanksgiving Pie at Lindsey's

Lindsey & I

Lindsey, Amber, and I

Update in Moscow

An update to all our friends and family I haven't been able to speak with - I quit my job a few weeks ago! Well, technically, I'm going on leave of absence, but I will be able to be a "Lady of Leisure" these next 20 or so months we have left in Russia!

I am very excited about my new move - and have already taken on new responsibilities within the women's organizations. The girls tease me and say that I can't say "no" to anything. Which still rings true in non-work activities as it did in my working life!

Some of the fun things I have been able to do lately are a backstage tour of the Bolshoi theater, serving on the committee of the AWO 15th annual craft fair where we raised about $40,000 USD for our charity, a pediatric oncology hospital, and hosting International Cooking at my house last minute!

I'm looking forward to getting involved in many more activities, including a group called Understanding Russia - which is basically a Russian history and culture class, a Bible study, and maybe even knitting!

I have also come to realize that the life of an expat means saying goodbye very quickly to new friends! As I've had more time now, I'm getting to know so many wonderful people, and it's truly sad to see them go. But that being said, there are new people showing up all the time, and I love forming new friendships!

Cameron comes home from his trip to the states tomorrow, and I cannot wait to see him! Then we'll be home again in less than a month now. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone stateside!

Hook 'em Horns!

Last week I went home to Dallas for the weekend before I headed to Atlanta for training. As luck would have it, UT had a home game that weekend, so almost my whole family (minus Mom who enjoyed the day to herself!), drove down to Austin for the UT vs. Missouri game. We started off the day tailgating with the Tri-City Tailgaters (thanks Hickey's) and then rounded it out with a win over Missouri - maintaining our #1 spot in the polls! Hook 'em Horns!

Luckily the game was at 7pm CST for me, as we got to enjoy the day in Austin, however, that meant that Cameron had to power through the evening until 4am for kick-off here in Moscow!

It was a very short visit home, but I was so glad to catch up with friends and family. We will be home again for Christmas and looking forward to seeing all of you!

Switzerland (and a little bit of France)

Gimmelwald - small town up the mountain from Interlaken

Enjoying our wine, cheese, and bread lunch on our hike (walk)

One of the many beautiful waterfalls on our way down the mountain to Interlaken

Claire, Jeff, and us in Zurich

Vineyards in Alsace, France

to be updated...

Gary in Moscow

to be updated

Softball in Moscow??

So, who knew that there was softball in Moscow? A few weeks ago, Cameron got the "call up" to come play softball with a colleague and his team. It was a fabulous sunny day in August, so I went out the "softball field" with him. The "softball field" was actually a dry lake bed, but we had a good time anyhow. I enjoyed the sun and actually running into a few friends, and Cameron enjoyed actually playing softball!

We have been busy this fall - for those of you who don't know, I "halfway" quit my job and I'm now working part time - which is great for socializing! I have become very active with the AWO (American Women's Organization) and the IWC (International Women's Club). I have met several new friends and I'm loving that! Finally - girlfriends!! My friend Lindsey and I have started a Friday afternoon tradition of wine and Grey's Anatomy! Quite fun.