Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy New Year to One and All
Tanya and I wish all of you the best for 2010. May you be safe and free from want. May your year be filled with the love and laughter of family and friends. May you and yours enjoy health and happiness throughout the year. May your hearts be filled with peace and and contentment.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Happy Faces in Ukraine
This year in Ukraine, with a population of about 46 million people, some 530,000 babies were born, a record number. Obviously people believe in the future of this country.
I had noted the number of little babies in Zhovti Vody this year and thought maybe it was just a local phenomonon but apparently it was all over Ukraine. Baby carriages (do they still call them that?) are everywhere. Good business to be in as most that I see are pretty fancy new rigs. Kids stores are everywhere too. Clothes and toys.
The economy shrank by 12% in 2009 yet people keep looking to the future. I guess that is how Ukrainians have survived the last 1000 years or so. It is "next year" country.
Speaking of which, the big grocery store was crowded today with folks buying for New Year's celebrations. The line ups at the tills were several people deep. Poor economy or not, there is money for holiday feasts.
I had noted the number of little babies in Zhovti Vody this year and thought maybe it was just a local phenomonon but apparently it was all over Ukraine. Baby carriages (do they still call them that?) are everywhere. Good business to be in as most that I see are pretty fancy new rigs. Kids stores are everywhere too. Clothes and toys.
The economy shrank by 12% in 2009 yet people keep looking to the future. I guess that is how Ukrainians have survived the last 1000 years or so. It is "next year" country.
Speaking of which, the big grocery store was crowded today with folks buying for New Year's celebrations. The line ups at the tills were several people deep. Poor economy or not, there is money for holiday feasts.
Good Things Still Happen
Good News Network is a great newsletter that doesn't cost much to subscribe too and fills a void left by mainstream media. I hope they pick up on this story from Russia.
On November 27th, terrorists derailed the Nevsky Express between Moscow and St Petersburg. Twenty-six people were killed and over 90 injured as several cars went off the tracks at high speed. An old grandmother who lived near the tracks had the front of her cottage destroyed by one of the derailed cars. She spent the night hauling all her blankets and spare clothing, other than what she wore to the people who were waiting to be rescued in the winter cold.
Today we watched on the news as she was presented, courtesy of the Russian state, with a brand new cottage in gratitude for her help that night. The cottage is lovely, modern and completely furnished, including gas and running water which she had never had before. Watching made one fell like tonight she is the "Grandmother of all Russians". All the people they interviewed talked about how good she was to them that night and how glad they were that she was recognized for her selflessness.
On November 27th, terrorists derailed the Nevsky Express between Moscow and St Petersburg. Twenty-six people were killed and over 90 injured as several cars went off the tracks at high speed. An old grandmother who lived near the tracks had the front of her cottage destroyed by one of the derailed cars. She spent the night hauling all her blankets and spare clothing, other than what she wore to the people who were waiting to be rescued in the winter cold.
Today we watched on the news as she was presented, courtesy of the Russian state, with a brand new cottage in gratitude for her help that night. The cottage is lovely, modern and completely furnished, including gas and running water which she had never had before. Watching made one fell like tonight she is the "Grandmother of all Russians". All the people they interviewed talked about how good she was to them that night and how glad they were that she was recognized for her selflessness.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Put on a Happy Face
I was using Google just now to find the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Kyiv as we need to go there on Tuesday morning to apply for a visa for me. I found this Happy Face looking up at me so thought I would share it with you.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
"Christmas" Recipes
Yesterday we had roast turkey. Tanya was nervous as it was her first time to cook one. I did the honours of carving it. It was a genuine organic farm raised free range turkey. "Eight years old", lean, narrow and tough as shoe leather. Should have cooked it in a slow oven. Next time. I even made gravy. Very good gravy, I might add. Which only I used.
Today was turkey soup day. I threw the turkey bones in a stock pot, covered them with water, simmered them for three hours, picked the meat off the bones, threw the meat and the leftover gravy into the stock, added the usual salt, pepper, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, poultry seasoning (I have no idea what I am doing), threw in left over vegetables and coloured pasta somethings. Decided it was too watery. Threw in another bag of pasta somethings. I now have pasta turkey stew; enough to feed the entire village according to Tanya.
The reason the left over gravy went in was that it is an unknown dish in this country. Mashed potatoes with lots of butter and milk, yes, but gravy from any source is unheard of. Tanya says it is too fatty. This from a woman who on a good week can use a litre of cooking oil and who buys boneless, skinless chicken breasts, dips them in egg and flour and fries them in a quarter inch of sunflower oil. I don't argue.
A favourite traditional Ukrainian/Russian dish, which I love and which everyone yesterday ate more of than turkey was liver kutletta. This is the most delicious way to eat liver ever but preparation is NOT for the weak of stomach.
1 kg fresh (beef) liver
4 large onions
4 eggs,
1/3 cup of flour (2 heaping serving spoons)
2 dollops of sour cream or mayonnaise
Run the liver and onions through a meat grinder (a food processor would likely work), add the eggs, flour and sour cream. Mix thoroughly, season to taste with salt and pepper. (Note: you have NEVER seen anything as gross as this mixture unless you have lanced a large abscess on a cow).
Ladle about a quarter or half a cup at a time into a frying pan, the hotter the better, with enough oil so it won't stick. It should make a thin "pancake". Fry it fast and flip it so it is evenly cooked on both sides.
It is delicious, trust me on that. Hot or even cold.
Today was turkey soup day. I threw the turkey bones in a stock pot, covered them with water, simmered them for three hours, picked the meat off the bones, threw the meat and the leftover gravy into the stock, added the usual salt, pepper, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, poultry seasoning (I have no idea what I am doing), threw in left over vegetables and coloured pasta somethings. Decided it was too watery. Threw in another bag of pasta somethings. I now have pasta turkey stew; enough to feed the entire village according to Tanya.
The reason the left over gravy went in was that it is an unknown dish in this country. Mashed potatoes with lots of butter and milk, yes, but gravy from any source is unheard of. Tanya says it is too fatty. This from a woman who on a good week can use a litre of cooking oil and who buys boneless, skinless chicken breasts, dips them in egg and flour and fries them in a quarter inch of sunflower oil. I don't argue.
A favourite traditional Ukrainian/Russian dish, which I love and which everyone yesterday ate more of than turkey was liver kutletta. This is the most delicious way to eat liver ever but preparation is NOT for the weak of stomach.
1 kg fresh (beef) liver
4 large onions
4 eggs,
1/3 cup of flour (2 heaping serving spoons)
2 dollops of sour cream or mayonnaise
Run the liver and onions through a meat grinder (a food processor would likely work), add the eggs, flour and sour cream. Mix thoroughly, season to taste with salt and pepper. (Note: you have NEVER seen anything as gross as this mixture unless you have lanced a large abscess on a cow).
Ladle about a quarter or half a cup at a time into a frying pan, the hotter the better, with enough oil so it won't stick. It should make a thin "pancake". Fry it fast and flip it so it is evenly cooked on both sides.
It is delicious, trust me on that. Hot or even cold.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas, One and All
May all of you be "home" for Christmas, where ever that may be. Enjoy the love of family and friends. And above all travel safely if you are on the road.
Merry Christmas from our house to yours.
Al and Tanya
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The Old Church on Christmas Eve
The old church stood where two roads met.
As evening snowflakes fell,
I heard in the silence of cold winter twilight
The echo of the old church bell.
For many a Christmas come and gone,
Had a little choir sung.
For many a Christmas to 'Silent Night'
Had the old pine rafters rung.
Many years Pastors inspired their flocks
With words of the first Christmas day,
And the Spirit of Christmas filled many a heart
In a strange and wonderful way.
Now, God doesn't dwell in old wooden buildings;
He dwells in the hearts of men.
The peace in my heart on this Christmas Eve night
Came not from without but within.
But the old country church, unused and neglected,
Wasn't empty and silent this night.
I thought I heard singing; through the window I caught
The glimmer of Christmas tree lights.
Abandoned for years for more modern cathedrals
The church stood all dark in the chill,
Yet the spirits of those who worshiped and sang there,
Worshiped and sang there still.
The original version of this poem was written 39 years ago for a Grade 9 English Class. I was working in Kingston, Ontario. The family I was boarding with had a girl in Grade 9 whose boyfriend lived across the street. I used to go to his hockey games and often took Kathy since I was "an adult and had a car". They were assigned to write poems for their English class. Roland brought his efforts to me to look at and I fixed it up for him and made it scan a bit better. Of course, nothing would do but I had to write Kathy's entire poem. There was an old church by a crossroads in northern Ontario where her brother and his family lived. I had seen it on a visit to their home. It served as inspiration.
As evening snowflakes fell,
I heard in the silence of cold winter twilight
The echo of the old church bell.
For many a Christmas come and gone,
Had a little choir sung.
For many a Christmas to 'Silent Night'
Had the old pine rafters rung.
Many years Pastors inspired their flocks
With words of the first Christmas day,
And the Spirit of Christmas filled many a heart
In a strange and wonderful way.
Now, God doesn't dwell in old wooden buildings;
He dwells in the hearts of men.
The peace in my heart on this Christmas Eve night
Came not from without but within.
But the old country church, unused and neglected,
Wasn't empty and silent this night.
I thought I heard singing; through the window I caught
The glimmer of Christmas tree lights.
Abandoned for years for more modern cathedrals
The church stood all dark in the chill,
Yet the spirits of those who worshiped and sang there,
Worshiped and sang there still.
The original version of this poem was written 39 years ago for a Grade 9 English Class. I was working in Kingston, Ontario. The family I was boarding with had a girl in Grade 9 whose boyfriend lived across the street. I used to go to his hockey games and often took Kathy since I was "an adult and had a car". They were assigned to write poems for their English class. Roland brought his efforts to me to look at and I fixed it up for him and made it scan a bit better. Of course, nothing would do but I had to write Kathy's entire poem. There was an old church by a crossroads in northern Ontario where her brother and his family lived. I had seen it on a visit to their home. It served as inspiration.
Roland got 8.5/10 and Kathy got 9/10. She was so happy she beat him.
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