Old Tbilisi

We were amazed at the beauty of Old Tbilisi
Here are some pictures

Georgian Puri (Bread)

While visiting Georgia we ate enough bread to keep someone in business for a very long time! Georgians make there bread like no other country in the world...at least from what we have researched. They begin by making a special yeast dough. They spread this dough onto a tool that looks like a small pillow covered with stretched leather. This allows the baker to reach inside of this kiln-like oven (made of clay and shaped like a dome with an opening at the top and a fire built inside on the bottom) and plop the dough onto the inner oven wall. The dough hangs on for "dear life" as it rises and bakes. When the bread has finished baking, the baker than grabs two sticks, one with a hook to grab the baked bread and the other with a blade to help pry the bread off the inner wall. The timing of baking is especially important since the bread will fall off if overcooked and can be undercooked if taken out too early. If taken out too early, the bread cannot be simply stuck back in the oven...unless there is cooking glue?!

As far as taste, consistency and texture...the bread is slightly chewy, risen due to the yeast, lightly crusty on the outside and tastes AMAZING!

Check out the pictures that we captured as we experienced this unique and original way of baking bread....Sorry we did not capture photographs of us actually eating the bread since our hands were very busy and our brains completely overtaken by our olfactory glands: ) You'll just have to take us at our word!

Visiting the Turtle Lake and the Ethnographic Museum

As a little girl my mom would often take me to the Turtle Lake which is located in Tbilisi in the mountains. So one morning, Stephen, Tommy, Deda, and I headed toward the lake. We traveled up the mountain in Deda's rundown old Ford hoping that it would not break down on its way. We made it and we had a wonderful time. We even stopped at the Ethnographic museum which is the open air museum first of its kind in the Caucases founded in 1966. The museum represents natural, cultural, and intangible heritage of Georgia. It represents a miniature model of the country displaying Georgia's ethnic culture in its diversity. The museum represents 70 exact copies as well as original dwelling houses and subsidiary buildings from the several regions of Georgia.

Trip to Tbilisi, Georgia Part 1

Our trip to Tbilisi was unforgettable. So man memories made....and so many pictures taken. Here are some highlights....

Tommy and Deda (mom) at the restaurant

Deda and Bebo (grandma) at home

Stephen and dad

Anna and her friends from the elementary school

Our Fourth Wedding Anniversary

Wow, it has been four years since our wedding...

September 4, 2004




Lots have changed since then.
PA school, green card, Wilson Fullbright, Stephen's event planning, Zuka, planning a trip to my country (have not been there for 9 years), etc.
But God's Goodness and Grace has always been abundant!

We celebrated our anniversary by going out to the lovely restaurant and then to the beach

Of course, Stephen wanted to test his photography skills here...

Zuka and Meg

Zuka is thinking: "I cannot wait when Meg drops the ball"

oh, she still has the ball...

oh, I think that i can get it now...Yahoo...

Meg was very smart in learning how to feed Zuka when nobody else was watching..No wonder my child was smelling like salmon one night....

Sprunger Family Photoshoot

Mark Tubing

More Pictures from the Lake House Vacation

At the Lake House with the Sprunger Gang

Lakehouse vacation has been adventurous....

Fairy Land----I would have loved one of these homes when I was a little girl!



Stephen having fun in the water!



Zuka being our boat captain~



and fishing....But did we catch anything? No Does Stephen seem to be bored? Yes


More pictures to follow!

A Visit from a Wonderful Sister!

So the company keeps coming and Stephen's Sister Faith came for a 3 day stay! Outings consisted of a trip to Beufort, SC; hitting the beach on Sullivan's Island; and much discussion of life in between; ).....it was nice to spend time with Faith since she will only be able to attend one day of the Sprunger Family Vacation. Here are some pics of us at Sullivan's Island.

Our Parenting Skills Being Tested by Zuka...

Finally, we bought a crate for Zuka. That should keep him from jumping into our bed, or messing around the house in the middle of the night...Poor fellow....Look at his sad face!

God's Glory.......

Seen through these beautiful flowers....

Fun at the beach.....

Springtime in Charleston

We have been enjoying the flowers in our yard. The palm trees are beautifying the place but it is taking lots of watering to keep them happy!

Nathan's Graduation Party

Stephen did a fabulous job on Nathan's graduation party along with all the help from our friends who did a marvelous job on the food

Stephen's Event at the College of Charleston

Fabulous event at the College of Charleston...Just couple pictures to depict some moments...

Cooper River Bridge Run 2008

No, we did not run the 10 kilometer race.... But it was fun cheering on the participators including two of our friends












Some were very creative in how they presented themselves during the race....














Zuka seemed to enjoy the race as well-but he preferred to rest and watch













At the end of the busy weekend, we had fabulous time hanging out together

Trip to Miam

Stephen and I spent several days in Miami, FL where I attended a medical conference. Our adventures included

1. First night-ghetto Brazillian restaurant found on the internet. We were the only non Latinos....Everybody was staring at us....

2. Second night-we moved up a little bit...Found a local "best" Cuban restaurant. Still we felt like we were back in Puerto Rico...but there cafe con lache was excellent

3. Third night-Newly found friends (2 Russian physicians) who took us out to a nice restaurant and a harbor tour.

4. Fifth night-Finally, a romantic dinner at Touch a famous restaurant in South Beach were we enjoyed lobster and tuna tar tar.....

Pictures will follow!

PS Our recommendation: never depend on the internet to decide for you what is a good restaurant in town...Ask somebody who has been to that city....I am being so profound....

Vizcaya

While in Miami during Anna's Vein Conference, we visited Vizcaya which was the winter residence of American industrialist James Deering during 1916-1925. The gardens were breathtaking....there were several brides getting their portraits. The house was intended to appear as an Italian estate that had stood for 400 years and had been occupied and renovated by several generations of a family. It had 34 decorated rooms. The expansive gardens combined elements of Renaissance Italian and French designs.

Gift from Stephen to Anna

Stephen keeps on suprising me....I woke up on the Easter morning and found this package waiting for me at the door.. He is so creative...I love that about him!

Imaging Center Open House

Open house was a lots of fun. Fireworks, jaz band, oyster bar, delicious food, and lots of fund with my friends from work.

Philip, Sarah, and Meg Visiting Us

What a delight to have Philip, Sarah, and precious Meg visit us for a whole week. We had lots of fun. Zuka found himself somewhat jealous when Meg was getting lots of attention but he was not (I wonder what I am going to do when I have kids :)

Anna's 30th Birthday Festivities

Wow! My Husband is amazing-When I woke up this morning, there were bouquets of flowers with sweet notes all over the house...He took me by surprise when he sent my good friend Temple, Hope, and I to the Sanctuary spa where we enjoyed the amenities, and where I got a 60 minute massage. Well, we all forgot to take our cameras thus I had to put this pictures of a stranger from the Sanctuary website.....Afterwards we headed out to the Moroccan restaurant and we had marvelous girl time. Truly it was a fabulous 30th birthday.