Two walkers in the snow

I'm always intrigued by people using umbrellas when it snows. For me, umbrellas are just for rain, but then a bumbershoot IS perhaps practical for snow. Try as I might, I just can't get the smaller walker shown here to carry an umbrella.

Through my windshield

It's snowing, snowing, snowing, and it's the wet kind. This photo was taken a couple of days ago when I ventured out by car with Bibi to the river park along the Danube. This is a view through my windshield, but of course I was parked....otherwise you'd have gotten a close-up of tree bark.

ABC Wednesday "E" is for "expectations"

These workmen are looking at a billboard of the complex that will occupy the plot in front of them where one building is already going up. After many years of stagnancy, new buildings are mushrooming all over Belgrade. Some are locally financed, while others like the one you see her, are from foreign investments.

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Big, broad Branko's Bridge

This is such a classic shot, but I couldn't resist snapping away. Branko's Bridge that you can read about in my very posting here is the main bridge that links the older part of the city with New Belgrade, from where I took this photo.

An upcoming celebration....

My daughter got engaged this past weekend to a great guy she's been seeing for some time now. Her brother and I are so happy for her, and we know her father is somehow watching over her, too. In this photo along with the champagne bottle and glasses is my husband's wedding ring, which I keep where I can see it every day. May she and her future husband have many, many happy years together, as her father and I did. Stay tuned for a wedding photo sometime this year. (Most Serbs celebrate a happy occasion with rakija (RAH-kee-yuh), a strong brandy made usually from plums, but I find it too strong, and prefer champagne.)

My photo in a museum...sort of.

Snow has recently fallen quite heavily on Belgrade, making driving (at least for me) quite difficult. This weekend is part of a three-day one, Monday being a holiday (40 days after Serbian Orthodox Christmas.) Except for some long dog walks, I plan mainly to just squirrel up and look at the snow outside, sort of like the folks in this photo are doing. They're gazing at the same scene I have from my kitchen window. If you'd like to create your own museum photos and some other fun ones, see here .

I need a Valentine!!!

People who wear their heart on their sleeve do not hold back their emotions, for good or for bad. It is clear how they feel in each moment. I don't see a heart on this young man's sleeve, but he's sure got one on his left cheek, and he's obviously looking for a Valentine! This is an on-the-sly photo, and I left a bit later without seeing if he had a matching heart on the other cheek. I wonder if he had any luck in finding a girl!

Friday the 13th!

"Don't walk under a ladder" is a superstition that has a base in reality, for something from above could fall on your head. I wouldn't be so worried about anything falling from above this ladder, but you needn't be superstitious to realize you probably shouldn't climb on it.

This photo was taken last summer in the town of Vranje in southern Serbia, but I thought it was appropriate for today. Note the wall behind and its various layers--paint, plaster, and a kind of adobe (mud with straw.)

Note that today is the first of three Friday the 13ths this year, the other two being in March and November. If you are paraskavedekatriaphobic, you'll be watching out for those days.

Silhouette of spring

It's been warm and cold off and on, and on Tuesday when I took this photo, it was cold and gray. But you can see that new buds are bursting out, while there's still a dead leaf hanging on. Symbolic.

ABC Wednesday "D" is for 'dangerous'

Isn't this a lethal-looking display? I took this photo on a Sunday when this "oštrač" (sharpener's) shop was closed. I love the sign that reads (literally translated) "Sharpener of tailor's and hairdresser's scissors." Just below that it reads "manicure." Hmm.... I think I'd prefer to go to the salon a few doors down.

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Snowdrops

Snowdrops are known here as 'visibabe' (VEE-see-bah-bay) and are among the first bulbs to bloom in spring, although certain species flower in late autumn and winter. I didn't find these growing in the woods, but bought them on the green market, roots and all. I think the little peasant lady who sold them hadn't dug them up either (or at least I hope not,) but had grown them herself.