It is the New Year and or actually as I write this the end of 2016 and we look forward to 2017. Hard to believe that I have lived this long and get to see 2017…

Tonight the Russian kids get visited by Santa Claus or Ded Moroz as they (Russian) call him…

Just read this below link…

Therefore, it all starts with Thanksgiving and Sveta and I always have a nice special meal on that day. Then by the time Western Christmas comes around the games begin…

Have a happy New Year…

Boza and I will be staying warm and comfy in our Tiny Russian Village home. Svetochka will be with her mother and her son and his family and since Russians love fireworks; I get to watch them from our mountain as the nearby villages shoot and shoot and shoot… 😉

Happy New Year and may peace on earth prevail…

WtR

Today is basically a picture day. This is a record of the Tiny Russian Village at the end of 2016…

Firstly a new birdbrain to the family! A Wren Eurasian nuthatch or wood nuthatch…

Then lets grab the snowshoes!

Snowshoes

Lets tour the village as Boza and I walk and walk and walk… -10 degrees by the way…

That is our village and it is a Tiny Russian Village…

WtR

“We regard the recent unfriendly steps taken by the outgoing US administration as provocative and aimed at further weakening the Russia-US relationship. This runs contrary to the fundamental interests of both the Russian and American people. Considering the global security responsibilities of Russia and the United States, this is also damaging to international relations as a whole.

As it proceeds from international practice, Russia has reasons to respond in kind. Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration.

The diplomats who are returning to Russia will spend the New Year’s holidays with their families and friends. We will not create any problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anyone. We will not prevent their families and children from using their traditional leisure sites during the New Year’s holidays. Moreover, I invite all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas children’s parties in the Kremlin.

It is regrettable that the Obama Administration is ending its term in this manner. Nevertheless, I offer my New Year greetings to President Obama and his family.

My season’s greetings also to President-elect Donald Trump and the American people.

I wish all of you happiness and prosperity.”

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And this is what you call the bigger man….

Respect and thank you Mr. Putin…

WtR

I woke at 4 a.m. and Boza and I walked in the -10 degree cold. Blood sugar was 5.2 mmol/l, blood pressure was at 106/65 and heart rate was 65 bpm. All was good and calm. Boza and I walked over an hour in -10 degrees weather. It was actually a blessing and -10 is called the Bahamas by me in a joking way…

I did some thinking as I walked. Sometimes that is not easy, for I have to keep an eye just on Boza as we walk. He does not see well at all and can get in trouble fast. But I let him get as close to trouble as he can and then save him. It is good for him and too much coddling will not allow his other senses to develop…

Then as we came home and I looked at what is happening in America, I realized how lucky I am…

I also realized many other thoughts at the same time; I thought about how it is time for asylum to Russia. I realized that I will never go home again to America, even if it is a body bag. I realized that my past will always haunt me, but it can no longer hurt me. I realized for the last ten years in Russia, I have been free and that is a freedom that I (or you do not have or) never had in America for a very long time…

I am of the old ways and those old ways are almost gone in America…

That is good or bad according to how you perceive life as it unfolds in front of your eyes..

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I’ve learned that fear limits you and your vision. It serves as blinders to what may be just a few steps down the road for you. The journey is valuable, but believing in your talents, your abilities, and your self-worth can empower you to walk down an even brighter path. Transforming fear into freedom – how great is that? — Soledad O’Brien

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I believe that the US has stepped past the point of no return. With a twenty trillion “admitted” debt, with wars on many fronts, with chaos ruling the government, with half or more of the populace only able to see the nose on their own faces and fear as your companion daily. You are now watching the sunset of what was once a beautiful Empire, and empire that had potential to be what all other empires never could become. Therefore, as the saying goes, “History just repeats itself!”

We watch another empire die, through its own greed, faults and desires…

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The steps I take each morning are steps of a baby. A newborn learning to walk, to talk and to see the world as it is. We must wake to that process daily, for if we do not! We never learn to see life for what it is. Life is ever changing and it flows around us. Life does not repeat itself. Life changes to become stronger as it ebbs. Life is ever lasting as is energy, unable to be destroyed. What happens is that we pull the comforter tighter around us and hope the boogeyman stays under the bed…. All the while we should crawl under the bed to confront that which assails us… – Kyle Keeton

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We need to be as brave as this Teddy Bear…

And one day I will be that brave!

WtR

By John Stanton

And so it came to pass that on the 1^st month of the 20^th day in the year of our Lord 2017, Emperor Twitteritus Trumparonious, born in the 6^th month of the year of our Lord 1946, improbably snatched the reins of the glorious American Empire from Queen Hilliarious Clintoniosis whom the empire’s military commanders, media propagandists, and many citizens hoped would rule over them. Queen Clintoniosis was guaranteed victory by all the most powerful soothsayers of the land and the court jesters of the day variously known as ‘comedians and journalists.

So it is recorded.

The political philistines labeled Trumparonious a buffoon, sorely lacking the appropriate temperament and manners to govern the most powerful Empire the Solar System has ever seen. Trumparonious had emerged from the dingy swamps of New York City’s real estate underworld, conniving his way to fame and fortune. The Emperor fell hard too. His fame and fortune crumbled under him and he loathed having to meekly appeal, through his legal counselors, to the powerful money changers for credit.

But alas! The Emperor arose from the ashes, denounced his naysayers and joyfully entertained the Empire’s citizens through television shows making many millions aware of the Trumparonious brand prior to his divine run for the seat of the American Empire.

Master

Little known to Queen Clintoniosis was that the Emperor was a master of the communications medium in all its forms and had many millions of followers who eagerly flocked to him. ‘Experts’ in the seats of power in Washington, DC, and New York City would come to decry these citizens as uncivilized and racist troglodytes who were best left to rot in West Virginia; Detroit and Flint, Michigan; and the baleful hinterlands of the Empire.

But, oh! Emperor Trumparonious came to the suffering in their hour of need and promised them rebirth and rejoicing if they would place their souls in his hands and elevate him to the throne. Those same souls had previously given themselves over to the Obamites, Busholites and to the Queen’s husband, Emperor Billious.

And look! How Queen Clintoniosis, proconsuls, the rich and legions of the Empire did underestimate the Emperor Trumparonious. He now rules the land and the world!

And it came to pass that once on the throne, all of the Emperor’s scurrilous  enemies and vengeful ‘experts’ came to kiss his feet and ring at his tower kingdom in New York City. See how they endear themselves to him now, to serve the one they mocked as a fool. Who, now, has the last word?

Look at his disciples! How pure they are! Disciples worth billions and millions and some of the finest former military commanders from the Empire’s legions now follow, work for him. Nay, the wealthiest should govern, should they not? Is this now not the world of Plato on whom the Emperor is the expert? And see how the Emperor is troubled by Plato’s 5 regimes. He seeks Oligarchy but knows that the benefits of Tyranny are many, particularly law and order.

Would not Crassus rise from his grave if he could and praise the Emperor? Would not Crassus tell Emperor Trumapronious to turn on the disillusioned precariat of the land and crush them as he did to Spartacus and his minions?

Beast 666

The facts are these: The Emperor was born in the 6th month of the year in the 6^th year of the 1940’s. When in oration he moves his forefinger to the thumb making a circle with the other three digits in a vertical position revealing the 3^rd six completing the beastly number 666. Further the Emperor was born on the 14^th day of the 6^th month of 1946, a day marked by a total lunar eclipse.

No one in the Empire dared utter the words, “The Emperor is the anti-Christ and his disciples the anti-Disciples.” The foolhardy journalists who have questioned the Emperor’s beliefs and judgement have come to a bitter end or have vanished.

And woe unto those who say that Putinious of Russia contributed to the Emperor’s ascendancy! Look how the political philistines in the US Senate and House play their treacherous anti-Putinious game. A pox on their houses!

The Emperor is wise, indeed. Hundreds of gold plated statues of the Roman God Jupiter now dot city parks and community centers around the land. In 2017, Trumparonious decreed that Jupiter should be the state religion as it was through much of the Roman Empire.  So it was written and so it was done.

But there were troubles and whispers of plots and conspiracies during the Emperor’s rule. Perpetual wars and class, economic, and cultural fragmentation weighed on the minds of the citizens. But know this! The Emperor Trumparonious is studious and knows well of Caesar’s end.

And it is said that someone with indestructible words caused the Emperor and his disciples to tremble in fear.

The one who said centuries ago, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God,” returned.

It is not known how the Emperor fared and history flowed on.

John Stanton is a Virginia based writer.

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Hee Hee, I like it!

WtR

Looks like Boza and I have to get ready! In about a week or so, it will hit somewhere around -40 and below…

-40 Centigrade (C) is -40 Fahrenheit (F) and in anyone’s book, that is damn cold. I hope it does not hit that low, but we have to get ready regardless. The cold spell will last two or three days. This will test us as bear and doggy!

Lets hope the wind does not blow!

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Next few days will be devoted to stocking wood and winterizing even more. I think I will cover the inside of the windows with a plastic sheet. I have lots of duct tape and this will stop the wind from getting us too bad! I just looked at the long range forecast and see that it will be +12 kph winds. That makes -40 seem like; -62 F and – 52 C, respectively…

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Old Man Winter is kinda grouchy this year!

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I am going to fill the wells today or tomorrow and check to see if they are doing okay! I would imagine that they will freeze solid, thus we need to fill everything in home as full as possible…

I guess you could say that this post is a thinking post and I am using it to decided what is needing to be done…

WtR

Tvorog…

Tvorog is most likely the most important food in Russia. It is better known as cottage cheese and this morning, I am eating a bowl full of this most wonderful substance…

For me a morning is not complete unless I eat cottage cheese and have a cup of coffee. Russian cottage cheese is very dry and I usually pour milk on it and or hot water. This morning I used hot steaming water, salt, pepper and stirred it well. What a meal…

I am eating it now as I write this and sipping a cup of coffee…

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I broke out the snowshoes yesterday; it snowed about one and a half feet. Needless to say, we are snowed in and will not be able to leave the village for about two months now. Well, we can get out on foot if necessary. But, not worth it and Boza and I have lots of food to eat. We are prepared…

I am cooking chicken breasts this morning and Boza is guarding the hot plate as it simmers the chicken. I will cook it about three to four hours at a low temperature and Boza and I will have three days of delicious chicken to munch on…

Svetochka and I also found some precooked hamburger patties at the store. They were on sale and ran four patties for about a hundred rubles. That puts them at 25 rubles a patty and that equates to .40 cents each. They are huge patties and Boza and I ate a few the other day. They are good and make great sandwiches. As always they are spiced like a cutlet that Russians love so much, but I am accustomed to the flavor now, they taste just right… What kind of meat are they? Who knows? I just love them and they are good… Probably a little of this and a little of that. Who knows?

Lots of dill and other spices are mixed in them. I just love dill in the food now in Russia. It is all in what you get use to. Dill is easy to grow and considered an important vitamin source in Russia…

I have learned to accept that labels are not accurate and you smile and eat happily at what is cheap and actually very good, if you give it a chance. Russian food may be “Who Knows” but it is healthy and always tasty…

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Speaking of food!

Svetochka bought unsalted salo and today I will put some out for the chickadees. They need the salo to stay healthy, wealthy and wise…

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Last night was one of those bad nights and Boza had to go walk at midnight. It was hard on me, but we always make it. The snow was flying and drifting very deep and this morning it was impossible to tell where we had even been…

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I am taking Flemoсlav Solutab®…

My ear infection is starting to clear up and I feel better with that aspect…

I want to thank several people for donations, these donations went to these pills that I am taking for the next few weeks. So thank you very much…

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I have to work on the upper well. Someone broke off the plug in the fill pipe and it is stuck fast inside. I have to cut the pipe off and reset the fill line back in place…. Always something…

Nina the Babushka living near the monastery church, has told Svetochka, “If I need medicine, she will walk to the buss stop three kilometers away and go to the Big Village to get it for me!”

That is what I mean about Russians, “They will do anything for you, if you need them to!”

An 80 year old babushka would go twenty kilometers to help me. Friends like that are what makes the world a better place…

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I have lots of thoughts on my mind, but actually they are too grouchy…

I will say one thing though… (It is getting out of hand and will come to you sooner than later!)

At Least 14 Malls Shut Down Across US on Monday Due to Large Planned Fights: MASSIVE PLANNED MALL FIGHTS Broke out across the US on Monday forcing many of the malls to evacuate shoppers and close their doors. December 26 is one of the busiest shopping days of the years with after Christmas specials. At least 14 malls were shut down in the US due to massive fights.

I will simply ask, “Why?” and then I will ask, “Why we accept this?”

Have a nice day…

WtR

Christmas Eve and Christmas day was sweet potato pie days. Svetochka brought some sweet potatoes from Moscow and I turned them into a holiday treat. This has become a holiday favorite for us and she made sure that I had the main ingredient…

Pumpkin pie would be just as good, but a pumpkin is too big for her to haul from Moscow and it is hard to find this time of the year in the tiny villages. Sweet potatoes are a great substitute for pumpkin and when I am done, Svetochka cannot tell the difference… (I picked up whip cream at the local market! Had spices from last year when I made the same…)

The little oven we have works great and we enjoyed a traditional western holiday treat. I would imagine that we possibly were the only ones in all of Russia to eat Sweet Potato pie!

Boza waited patiently for his Christmas meals as Svetochka did also. Except Boza waited in the middle of the floor. Boza has treats to munch on and he guards them to keep bear (me) from getting them. 😉

Poor Boza thought he was in trouble as Svetochka took his picture with a white snow beard! But he soon realized that mommy was just doing what she does best and taking pictures of anything of interest…

It was a fantastic Christmas and being in Russia, we have the Russian New Year coming. I will spend it with Vova at his village home and Svetochka will spend the New Year with her mother…

With the weather we are having, it looks like it may just be Vova and I bringing in the New Year…

Got to walk the doggy, it is snowing like crazy and the wind is blowing to beat the band! (30 kph right now and the snow is drifting!)

Have a great day…

WtR

Sweet Potato Pie… (Recipe)

Boza and Bear are kinda sad today!

We always get that way when our sweet Pea leaves us. Boza ate good this morning and I am cooking chicken back soup and oven baking four pork chops. I use the chicken for Boza and the broth for me…

I have to start taking some antibiotics today for a inner ear infection. Having balance issues and sickness when I lay down. Lots of pain and itchy ears, but we got some antibiotic drops and pills for taking care of such an issue. Life just keeps on pissing in the wind at times and an inner ear infection is a pretty bad piss… Well, except when I have a kidney stone! I use vinegar water to solve that though…

I had to stop the writing of this post, Boza reminded me to do his eyes! I had forgotten and he wants that done to help him. He understands that we are trying to help him and the drops sooth his eyes. I do it normally after a long walk and then he sleeps for awhile. Boza is a good doggy…

Therefore, Boza and Bear are doing great, the birdbrains have been fed and they number in the hundred or more, of little birdbrains and three regular big birdbrains, who are Jay birds…

Life is good in the Tiny Russian Village and tomorrow I will post images and some thoughts, with a cup of delicious coffee…

WtR

Funny first…

Вы извините, но эта музыка просто создана для этого видоса pic.twitter.com/k3GJqY713F

— Новости. Как есть (@nourlnews) December 22, 2016

Retired policeman under the influence of drugs took a shortcut through the terminal of Kazan airport. The reaction of security is just mind blowing…

Could you imaging this happening in America and the guy would not have been shot full of holes?

Would not happen. But as we see, they got him and all was okay! But what a ride…

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Номер в исполнении 64 участников ансамбля им. Александрова, погибших при крушении Ту-154. pic.twitter.com/YvBfSQlxhj

— Новости. Как есть (@nourlnews) December 25, 2016

Номер в исполнении 64 участников ансамбля им. Александрова, погибших при крушении Ту-154.

Number in the performance of their 64 participants of the ensemble. Alexandrov, who died in the crash of Tu-154…

Could just get pissed, but it will not bring all the deaths back! I know what happened, but do you? Some of my friends have guessed and or understand what is going on…

Instead, I will be sad and wish them to RIP…

December 26 declared national day of mourning

Vladimir Putin declared December 26 a national day of mourning following Tu-154 crash in Krasnodar Territory…

WtR