Dear Everyone,

It's about 9:45 a.m., Sunday, in Moscow.  I guess the sun has been up for about 30 minutes.  At least the sky is light.  It's 10 F and snow flurries are flurrying.  When we got here in late December, just a few days after the winter solstice it was pitch dark until about 10 in the morning and then turned dark again at about 4:00.  That season, thankfully is behind us.

I hope to post a bunch of pictures this morning with just a little explanation, because I am short of time but would love to 'catch up' and show you where we live and some of the surrounding parts of the city/neighborhood.

Our apt building.

A little playground.  the boy playing must be cold.  It's about 12, but winter does not stop kids.

The front door and the babushka.

Just inside the front door.  The ramp-like things are for the carts people use to carry their groceries.

One of our supersized elevators.

Just inside the corridor.  Four apts. per opening

Our front door.

Our hallway inside the apt., leading to the bedroom/living room.

About four inches thick with many bolts.  It sits in a steel frame.

NY's Eve at the Walkers with a batch of very nice missionaries.

Johnson's and Walker's.  They are from Weiser, ID.  Sis. Walker grew up  in New Plymouth.  Katti.

The missionaries again.

A particularly ornate stop on the Metro.

Some of the stops are gorgeous.

I think Arnold Freiberg did this statue.  Kidding.

StarLite diner.  A must stop place in Moscow.  $10 hamburgers.

A very ornate shopping mall.  Beautiful.  Expensive.

Marlene relaxing.

For Uncle Doug.