A Return to Normal Weekend...

Beautiful weather.
Playing some soccer.
A Farmer's market.
Lunch with my goofy kids and husband.
A little shopping.
Chinese takeout.
A walk through town.
Riding bikes.
Lunch on the patio.
Paid some bills.
Some chores.
Some homework.
Dinner and a movie in front of the TV.

Sounds kind of dull doesn't it? But it was one of the best weekends we have had here in Prague. We are starting to find our groove!!! It finally seems like life is settling down into normal!!! And then you have the added bonus of discovering new things and exploring our new hometown.

The boys and I went for a walk/bike through our village Saturday and then all four of us headed off to the famer's market. Caleb and Peyton found a booth of apple juice slushes. Apple trees are every where here and everyone sells them but a very enterprising person has created slushes out of fresh fruit juices. And I have to say they are fabulous.

We ate lunch at a Lebanese restaurant which is Peyton's new favorite thing. He can't seem to get enough baba ghannouj. He and I met the owner of the restaurant and found out his brother lives in our village. He also lived in Tulsa for some time and then gave us his number for delivery. I will have to hide it from Peyton!!

      

All three of my boys at the U Cedar the Lebanese Restaurant. 

Caleb has an abrasion on his cheek from a soccer collision at school.

We have also started a picture collection of buildings.  We are copying Chris and his bug photo collection.  Below is a building that Caleb wanted to add. 

 

Brunch with Caleb

Caleb and I had a lovely meal on Sunday. We went to a cafe named Giraffe. We were sitting outside and it ended up raining but we were under umbrellas and the wait staff handed out blankets and it was perfect!! Caleb had hot chocolate and we were very cozy sitting in the rain. It was also a first for Caleb - he ate escargot for the first time. You can see him holding a shell with one of those special clamps in the picture. He was very sweet and held the umbrella over me as we walked to the car. On the way home he told me, "thank you for the very nice lunch, Mom". I want to just wrap up moments like these and put them in my pocket. The boys are growing up so fast!!!

Tramming Day Courtesy of Peyton and Caleb.

The boys did not have school on Monday, September 12, and Bret was in Belgium so they wanted to go tramming. Both of them prepared with maps and scheldules that Peyton had researched and off we went.

What we did:

Bought extra tickets at train station since this is the only place I have found them but need them in our remote village if we need to take the bus somewhere.

Found a very cool memorial statue to the victims of communism. But the boys were disturbed by the naked man.

Ate at the "best" Mexican restaurant in Prague

Rode the tram around town for four hours

Ate some great ice cream

Found many more mosaic sidewalk designs.

Had a break in a plaza with a beautiful church turned museum.

Both boys did a great job navigating the city with the different trams and reading schedules. It can be quite confusing but they are already pros!!!

My Country, tis of Thee...

All I could think about yesterday was America and the tragedy of 9/11. Obviously, every one of you did too. We were isolated from all of the remembrances here in Czech and had to rely on the internet articles and pictures. And for the first time my boys asked about that day and what happened and where Bret and I was when it happened. We discussed different aspects of 9/11 throughout the day.

A strange quality of our day here in Prague was that we happen to live in the flight path of the Prague airport and heard up close planes flying in all day. I kept thinking that was what the people in New York and Washington must have heard on that day. Additionally we had to put Bret on a plane to fly to Belgium. He has flown on 9/11 before and it is not comfortable but bearable. However, this year seemed worse. I don’t know if it was because of the 10th Anniversary or because we are so far from home. He landed safely and will be home on Wednesday.

My prayers are lifted up for:

America

the ones we lost that day

the survivors

the loved ones left behind

the first responders (of that day and today)

the soldiers who continue to fight for our freedom!

God Shed His Grace on thee…

Shopping Opportunity Knocks!

You have to have patience to get what you want in Czech Republic. There is a small grocery store in Nebusice, Prague and this is where I shop often. This store is located in the same village as the boy's school and I will stop by after morning drop off to pick up a few items. It is small and about the size of an average Racetrac or 7-11 and does not carry large amounts of items or the same thing everyday but still very useful for milk, bread, eggs...

Right next door is a small vacant lot. Every other day or so a pop-up market will appear. I have noticed different items exhibited but never stopped before. A common offering from this market is bras. As I haven't had the need yet or spied a dressing room I have not indulged. Shoes, clothing, home decor and household items are additional possibilities I have seen. But I wheeled in the other day when I noticed what looked like dog supplies. And sure enough, it was a pet store. I was able to buy the flea and tick treatment for the dogs and a new dog bed for upstairs. Also available that day was a sausage store. I passed! Not ready to buy meat off a truck yet! And the ironic connection was not lost on me! Dog supplies and hot dogs???

While I still would love a Wal-Mart I suspect I will find all my needs here eventually.

What do you know...I miss Wal-Mart!!!

Light bulbs.
Toilet brush.
Flyswatter.
Lighted makeup mirror.
Flea and tick spray for the lawn.
Dog food storage container.

This was my shopping list for today. Not too bad, right? One quick trip to Wal-Mart would take care of everything.

Oh, how I used to curse Wal-Mart, laugh at the Wal-martian pictures that circulated via email and just generally avoid the store altogether unless there was no other way around it. My kids and I used to joke that Wal-Mart was a black hole. It would suck you in and you would come home with 10 times the stuff you went in for and spend a minimum of $100. And in today's economy it would be closer to $200.

I would almost sell my soul for a Wal-mart store right now! I went to three different stores today and still did not get everything on my list. I don't think the Czech Republic has even heard of a lighted makeup mirror. And just forget the flea and tick spray for the lawn. I tried translating labels but I don't think they have the same bugs here that we do in the States. And you would think that with all of the flies here that you could easily find a swatter. Wrong. I came home with light bulbs and toilet brushes. And not the brushes I needed or wanted but at least I can clean my toilets now. And don't get me started on the light bulbs. That took forever and I finally just grabbed 3 of each kind I "thought" I needed and said a prayer!

So, the next time you curse Wal-Mart, think of me and consider yourself lucky!!!

Isn't my Sweetie, handsome?!?!?!

Bret is standing at the corner of a very beautiful tram stop intersection, Malastranka Namesti (I think that is how you spell it). We were on our way to the American Embassy. I was playing around with a new app on my iPhone called Photo Collage. Fun.

The close up of the sidewalk shows that they are made of 3 inch square granite blocks put together in a mosiac design. That is done all over the city and different designs are in different areas.

Back in the Saddle!

We are back at school and I am back into the volunteer mode. I think I either have "Sucker" or "Ask me, I don't know how to say NO" written on my forehead. I was sitting alone in a newcomers meeting and somehow got approached to be:
6th grade Rep.
Halloween Carnival Chairmen
Secretary to the Board

Which one should I choose? I told them that I would think about it and let them know. I will keep y'all posted.

In the meantime, Vienna. We drove thru Moravian Wine Region to Vienna, Austria when my Mom was still here and stayed a few days. It was lovely.
Stayed within the "Ring"

Stuff we saw while we were there:

St. Stephen's Cathedral - I don't know if you can see it in this picture but they were in the process of renovating the Cathedral and there were very detailed pictures of the Cathedral printed on fabric panels covering the areas that were under construction. On the right of my picture you can see one of the panels.





World famous Schönbrunn Palace (Summer Palace). This is the courtyard in front of the palace.

The above two pictures are of the rear of the Palace. The Fountain is magnificent. I wish you could have heard the boys discussing it. They saw that the horses and men were coming out of the waters and were in transition from fish to men and horses. We called them Mermen. And they began telling me all about the guy in the center - Poseidon. And then of course a lengthy discussion ensued about all of the other Greek gods and who was the strongest, etc.

The building in the distance is called the Gloriette and was built in 1775.

The Palace gardens also had a large maze and the boys had a blast chasing each other through.

I think I will stop now. Vienna Part II to follow.

A Strong Texas Lady...

Moved away from home at 16.
Married three times.
Worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" Inspector during WWII in San Diego.
Raised one son.
Gave me my first grown up glass of wine when I was 16.
Was Hell on wheels.
Could charm the pants off you.
Our very own Christmas Angel!
Goodbye Francis Christine Greene.
Our world will not be the same without you in it.

12/25/1920 - 08/14/2011

Two Weeks Have Just Flown By!

I have been out of touch for awhile. Life got busy here in CZ and the lists got longer!!!

We did get out and see a few sites here in Prague. The Summer Palace and Royal Gardens at Prague Castle. It was stunning and very interesting.

What we experienced:
a movie being filmed
a wedding
a singing fountain

And finally some pictures!

This is the famous Singing Fountain at the Royal Summer Palace of Queen Anne. The construction of the fountain was completed in 1568 and as the water pours out of the spouts and falls down into the copper basin you can hear sounds like music. The music is best heard if you sit underneath the fountain like the boys are doing.

NeeNee, Peyton and Caleb are standing in front of Queen Anne's Summer Palace. This is also where the we saw the wedding couple dancing. Check out her shoes: platform acrylic six inchers!!

Aren't they beautiful! And what a venue!

Finally site seeing today!

Today's agenda:
1. The Summer Palace
2. The Royal Gardens
3. Post some pictures
4. Unpacking clothes and "trying" to get them in some semblance of order.
5. A/C Fan repairman

Mom, where is...?

This is my new occupation: searcher and finder! The packers and movers were great but if they had a little spot in a box they would just fill it with anything. My wardrobe box of bras, panties and miscellaneous delicates also contained the boys camping lantern and a dog leash. I wonder if they were trying to tell me something? Just not sure what! Anyway, this makes it difficult to find things and I appear to be the "only" one who can locate anything! So my daily list will always have #1.


Monday:

1. Find________________! Just fill in the blank!

2. Pick up bike from coworkers house. They shipped it for us because our sea container had already gone.

Has anyone ever seen the Friends episode where Ross is trying to get a couch upstairs? He keeps yelling out "Pivot! Pivot!". This was me and Bret's coworker's wife trying to get my bike into the trunk of our little car in the middle of the street. I started laughing so hard I almost peed my pants! It was quite a sight.

3. Go to Ikea for the fifth time since we have been here. (we have only been here a week).

4. Remember to take reusable mug to Starbucks next time. I think they are so ecoconscious here that the plastic lids start to degenerate when you put them on the cup. I have dribbled on my shirt every time I go. There is a Starbucks next door to Ikea - do the math.

5. Go to bank again. They were closed on Friday after we went to the VIP currency exchange.

6. Post office. Mailing a video to someone here in Czech for the Video Station in Waxahachie. I went in just before moving to get DVDs made from videos and they had a DVD to send to an exchange student that attended school in Midlothian. So we bartered.


By the way, found the poop scooper. Now I just have to find small trash bags to dispose of said poop. They do not have aisles of Glad bags, etc. like we do.

The Czech word for Beef = hovězí maso. My mom is making stew for tonight's dinner and I am so excited. I am so glad she is here!

na shledanou = see ya later

Tricia

Bread, cheese and eggs! Oh, my!

It's Sunday and we have just had a great breakfast of egg sandwiches. Of course we have eaten this for several meals because that is what we recognize at the store. Bread, cheese, and eggs.

My list for today:
Look up Czech words for beef and pork. So we can tell the difference at the meat counter.
Go to grocery store. We have been almost everyday.
Find the poop scooper. The dogs are now here.
Find Bret's work clothes. He is going back to work on Monday.


We went to the grocery store last night but it was near closing time. And the Czechs don't mess around with closing time. An employee was walking ahead of us about fifteen minutes before the store closed and was pulling down covers over all of the shelfs and refrigerators. And here we were these crazy Americans trying to decipher the labels. So we go back again today armed with new words.

An unexpected pleasure here in Czech: the tomatoes are fabulous!!!

I Didn't Realize I Made So Many Lists!

I started this blog as a way to let my friends know what I was getting rid of before my move to the Czech Republic. It was a play on Craig's List. But now I am going to write about my time living in Czech. As it turns out I am a list maker and everyday I have created lists. Lists of new words, lists of words to look up, grocery lists, items needed from America lists, items to find in Czech and so on. I think these lists are very telling and help describe our new life. I am keeping the name and will share my lists and my story of life in Czech Republic.