September 13th to 16th

September 16
Marija's 91st birthday - Wallie came over. Quieter than Alise's birthday last year. In the afternoon, Baiba and I went to Pavilosta, a little fishing town south of Jūrkalne.

Word..................dzimšanas diena = birthday

Dish....................kuka = very sweet cakes that Marija picked out, with whipped cream and syrup and fruit and who knows what else.

Highlight...........

Lowlight...........Marija kept trying to make me eat more cake and put rotten whipped cream on it. I didn't give in.

Random observations:

September 15

Baiba and I went shopping in Alsunga for Marija's birthday gift - we got her a basket to use for mushroom picking and a pretty scarf. In the afternoon, a pigeon flew into the house and entertained us for 40 minutes as we tried to shoo her out. Baiba kicked my butt at Yatzee.

Word..........grozs = basket

Dish............kvass = a fermented, carbonated drink
Highlight....being silly with my mom at the lake in Alsunga.
Lowlight.....
Random observations:


September 14
Baiba, Alise, and Marija went to Kuldiga
I went running on the beach

Word...................smiltis = sand

Dish.....................sklandu rauši - rye pastry with a sweet carrot and potato puree filling

Highlight.............getting some exercise was very nice
Lowlight..............

Random observations:

September 13
Baiba, Alise, Marija and I went to Pop's grave at the Mežs Kapa (Forest Cemetery). Afterwards, we went to eat lunch in Kuldīga. An afternoon walk with Marija in the woods while Alise made Latvian cheese cake/bread. In the evening, Baiba and I went to Pilsburgu Krogs to check out the guest register.

Word......................pīle = duck

Dish........................sauteed fresh broccoli with rice noodles (can you believe it! - delicious)

Highlight...............we planted a few plants on Pop's grave last year and they were still alive.

Lowlight...............after lunch, we were going to stop by Sasha's house but everyone kept yelling out directions in Latvian and then got mad that I didn't understand them (and was driving too fast) and then we went home.

Random observations...........Latvians think the louder you are, the more people will hear you, but actually, the louder you are, the less I listen.