Backyard Shashlik

Maxim is teaching his Polish friend, Veronika, to play chess.

Someone said this was a good picture because I have red slippers from Kyrgystan, and Obama sweatshirt, and gloves. Man, this thing was HOT!

On the left under Maxim is Shimon, 12-year-old son of Aaron and Leah, from the US, going clockwise are Gary, Aaron, Leah, Edna (from BC), Andre (from Poland), Maura, Dave, Louisa (Polish), John, Oskar, Kyla and Cody (Davd and Edna's), Veronika (Andre and Louisa's), Ruby (Aaron and Leah's)

The wood burns in the funnel-type area. The white coals are spread out along the flat part.

In the pic to the left is John, the high school principal, and Gary, a New Zealander we met in Baku who is teaching here now. I have no idea what happened to Gary--maybe he ate something? They are standing behind the cooking skewers of meat.

I have 15 healthy strawberry plants growing nicely. Behind will be pumpkins.

Here is our backyard. The house in the distance is the house we lived in for the past eight years. We upgraded by moving across the fence.