Picketts in Poland: Spring Days to be Remembered…2014

I have come to the conclusion that my most favorite season in Warsaw is "wiosna" (Spring)... the days of Spring have been so beautiful!

I especially want to remember this Spring….as it will most likely be our last in Poland.

This year we hardly had winter, and yet when the spring days started….they were still warm, colorful, and welcoming.

An old proverb says, "No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow". The weekly changes have been enjoyable and renewing….and I want to forever capture this beautiful time of year in my mind.

A brilliantly yellow bush on the property of the American Ambassador's home. One day I said to Mark, "Why haven't we ever noticed this brilliant yellow bush before?"

In a blink of an eye….it was green once again.

Across the street from the Ambassador's home were these hot pink trees.

I pass these trees practically every day....and was so surprised when I looked up and "wow" they were filled with color!

White blossoms bloomed from the trees in the neighborhood….so beautiful!

Though white, the blossoms reminded me of the beautiful cherry tree blossoms in Washington D.C. during the springtime.

Walking in and around our neighborhood was a daily treat!

Since we did not have much snow this year, it was especially fun to see the trees bathed in white against so much green.

Large pink and white blossoms popped out on this tree….

....caught while looking out the window of the Family History Center.

Walking through another park on the way for a hair appointment, I saw rows of these beautiful spring trees!

I did not grow up in an area where springtime became so brilliant and beautiful….

....truly Warsaw has been treated with a beautiful spring this year! I feel so thankful that we were here to enjoy it.

Springtime activities….

Polish soup

My Polish teacher Ula taught me how to cook Zurek soup. She was so kind to invite me to her home while she showed me the steps in making this very popular Polish soup.

It was a good tasting soup….maybe because I learned something new and enjoyed being taught by my wonderful friend and teacher.

This traditional soup is common all year round, but also is a traditional dish to be eaten on Easter in Poland.

Gardening

As the days started to get warmer I decided to do my own spring planting....pulling out used pots and creating a bit of springtime on my front porch!

I love my little container of "Forget-Me-Nots"….

Goodbyes

Springtime also means saying "goodbye" to special people I have come to know and enjoy.

My dear friend Malgosia became a grandmother for the second time. We attended her church branch's service one Sunday to see the baby's blessing. It was a sweet day.

Malgosia will soon leave for the U.S. for three months to help another daughter with grandbaby #3! I will miss Malgosia.

Elise was an intern at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. Mark and I met her one day early in January while eating at the Brooklyn Burger restaurant in Old Town. She had only been in Warsaw for 3 or 4 days, and just happened to sit next to us, and we started up a conversation. During the course of the conversation, we found out that Elise is a member of our church and was planning to go to the same church congregation as us the next day.

Elise was a delight to get to know. We treated her to dinner on her last night here in Warsaw. Elise will be missed…but returning to school in the U.S. will be good for her also.

Wendy has lived with her husband in Poland for almost two years. They have also been members of our church family here in Warsaw and she has been active in the same international women's group that I am a part of.

A few friends gathered on a holiday weekend to say our "goodbyes" to Wendy….Stefany, Wendy, me, and Liz…. American church friends in Poland.

More of the friends that gathered for a goodbye lunch for Wendy.

She and her husband returned to the U.S. in May.

Out and about
Springtime also brought a 4-day weekend on the first weekend in May. We enjoyed our long weekend together, whether there were blue skies and warm days…or cool, rainy days…..

Bike riding in the spring….

May 1st is Labor Day in Poland….and all stores were closed. The weather was perfect on this first day of the 4-day weekend, and we decided to take advantage of it.…

....by going on an early 2-hour bike ride from our home up to Old Town....the same route we took together once before last summer.

Once in Old Town, it was nice to ride on this street where only taxi cabs and busses are allowed to drive.

Approaching the Royal Castle, we immediately noticed a Polish flag atop the famous Sygmunt column monument….how did it ever get to be held in the hands of King Sigismund?

I loved that we were able to be in Old Town on this beautiful spring day before the streets were filled with walkers and bike riders like us.

Coming home, we rode through our neighborhood Park Arkadia.

We love this park in any season…walking or riding a bike through it is absolutely lovely!

Speaking of riding a bike through the park, the pond above is the one that Mark rode his bike on when it was frozen during the winter....that was in a previous blog post.

Typical of Spring in Warsaw, the weather changed the next day and we were in hats, gloves, and scarves….no blue skies but we still enjoyed our spring walk.