Blueberry Picking

The Poles have an experimental agricultural station where they are learning about American blueberries. Since there's no one to pick and sell the resulting fruit, the director invites the Americans from the embassy to a yearly picking session. Then they charge us a nominal fee per kilo.

We ended up with more than 10 pounds of blueberries for only about $22! The freezer is full and we plan to eat blueberry pancakes, muffins, pie, cobbler, and smoothies for many months.

Since bugs were present, this is where Katy spent her time during the excursion! This is a step up from last year's apple picking fiasco when tears were involved (tall, dry grass and flying grasshoppers in the apple orchard- so much for passing on traditions and memories from my own childhood)!

Condi Comes for a Visit!

For those of you who don't know his right ear as well as I do, this is Tim shaking hands with Condoleezze Rice. She had just come from signing the missle defense shield treaty with the PM of Poland (Donald Tusk). She stopped by the embassy for a meet-and-greet. This was my first VIP photo op and I don't think I'll be hired to do it professionally! I think Tim already emailed the group photo to all of you. Debbi wanted to know why Tim had his hand on Magda's butt!

First Day of School

Michael, Kyle, and Katy are ready for their first day at the American School of Warsaw. They have attended various orientations and feel comfortable and eager to begin at this new school (fifth in five years and yes, I feel very guilty about that). A van from the embassy will pick them up right in front of the house and take them and several other neighborhood kids the five miles to school. In the afternoon, they can come directly home or stay for activities and take one of the two late vans home.

Moving Day

All our worldly possessions had been packed out of Virginia the week before Memorial Day weekend in May. Today, two and a half months later, is moving-in day. With joy (familiar beds and pillows!), trepidation (in what condition will everything arrive?), and dread (oh God, do we have to put all that stuff away AGAIN?!) we greet the movers and begin one very long day.

This is a view of the dining area and living room BEFORE the chaos begins.

DURING the move, a lovely team of 11 Polish movers unpack 18 crates off two trucks. We were told that we more than doubled the previous record for number of crates for an American coming to this embassy. Tim and I are both competitive people and enjoy setting new records!

Katy

AFTER- stuff is piled everywhere because we wanted the movers to take away as many empty boxes as possible. The result is a mess.

These pictures were taken three weeks ago. As of today, all furniture has been placed, all boxes unpacked, and the drapes hung. Unfortunately, I cannot say this about the third floor. And nothing has been hung on the walls. But, we are having a party here on September 7 so we WILL be done by then!

Martha Jane Burke O'Brien Adds Another Candle!

Today is Martha's birthday so call, email, or leave her some birthday wishes in the comments section! Congratulations to Martha from us on another stellar year of successes in both her personal and professional lives- we love you!