Category: Russia

I called Sveta and told her what I saw; I was watching two people walk across the lake bed. It is -25 below zero and the two people were an 80 year old babushka and her granddaughter of around 18 years old. They belong in the White Home as I call it. The granddaughter is here for winter break…

They were on their way to get groceries and such. They came from the top of the hill and followed the exact path that I cut yesterday, even all the way across the lake bed. They followed Boza and I’s path all the way to the river. Then they disappeared as they went to the nearest village. This is Monday and it is milk day for the babushka. They had a sled they were pulling and it was full of goodies to barter with…

Mind you, they were walking! Not driving, walking, I watched the old babushka all but disappear in a snow drift. The same one I dug Boza out yesterday…

I told Sveta that it was wonderful to see a youngster plowing the way for grandma and pulling the sled for her. Then Sveta said something that made me think and I am writing this post because of what she said…

Sveta said, “That is the future of Russia!”

Meaning the teenager is what matters and if raised right is the best future that Russia can have…

Kids raised to respect the elder and to work with the elder and help them. I tried with my kids, but society was too much to overcome. Too much; TV, government, you have rights, you have feelings, you do what you want, you can’t trust adults, tell us what you see, tell us what they do, never spank, never yell, never nothing and never discipline, immorality A-OK and politically correct yourself to your death. In a society that is going to work and raise good kids, you have to have all adults on the same page and all adults discipline as needed. Then again, you have to have a good group of adults to begin with and that is a big issue…

I saw too much; me me me in my world and here in Russia it is the opposite. I see mainly; you you you and do you need help?

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I saw something interesting; I was looking at an article in the western news and it talked about how terrible Russians hate their government. They used the fact that only around 20% of Americans thought their government was too much, compared to 44% of the Russians who think their government is over the top when it comes to being too much government. This they said was why America was so much freer and better. The government in America is so good and nice… 😉

Then it hit me; I have said that the Americans are too far gone (I pray I am wrong,) and when only around 20% think that the US gov is too much. Then something is seriously wrong. Russians fall into what I think would be a correct percent…

I live in Russia and know first hand at how free they are. I know first hand at how many liberties they have and I know first hand at how they scoff at and ignore gov. and other rules. So yes; Russians would dislike any governmental intrusion. But when I think about how low the percent of people in America see the US gov as intrusive. It rests my case as to the state of the USA…

Think what you want and bad mouth me all you want; but if you spent one year in Russia and live like a Russian does. You would experience freedom, freedom like we use to have many many years ago in America. In Russia it can still be said, “The ones who do not fit in, are truly the rotten apples in the basket!” The percent of rotten apples is low and for some reason the west grabs on to those rotten apples to promote about Russia…

I compare the basket in Russia to the basket in America and I find the basket in America to have lots of rotten apples. You should think about that…

Thus when Sveta says, “That is the future of Russia!”

I realize how true what she says is. That teenager who is helping grandma, drag a sled, walk three kilometers to the store and in general be by grandmas side in the middle of winter, is a very important thing. This is very normal for most Russians. The elderly are respected and supported. The elderly are not put in homes very often and people take pride in helping grandma or grandpa have a good elderly life…

That is the future of Russia…

WtR

Really it is not, but that is what everyone wants to hear. I get e-mails wishing that I would die and or freeze to death. Sad really…

I am so happy; Sveta is coming the 14th and it looks like she will have to take a taxi to the bus stop out on the main road, just a couple of kilometers away and I will walk to meet her. I have to blaze a trail there and then she can follow me back and that will make it easier for her. We talked last night and she will stop in town in the taxi, after she gets off the train and pick up some food items. I have lots of food, but there are things she likes to have and such… (Besides, I would love some Tvorg!)

Boza is having the  hardest time. He is still struggling with how to do his doggy duties. We finally found a clear area by the bell tower. The wind had swept the ground clear and Boza immediately took full advantage of the situation. We will go back this morning and allow him to do the same again. Snow higher than your butt, kinda makes things different…

I had to pull Boza from a snow drift. He leaped and landed in the middle of a drift. All I saw was his nose and he froze in place. Boza knows to allow me to help him, if he is unsure of what to do. He trusts me that way. I pushed my way to him and picked the guy up and carried him to safety. Then he was off and hopping across the snow again…

It got cold last night, but not as cold as it will be tonight. We got lucky last night and the weather changed. But it is still threatening and now they are calling for at least three days of warmer weather. Right around -2 and that is when Sveta will come. See, Sveta brings joyful weather with her. She is such a sweetie. Old Man Winter likes Sveta…

Well it is getting light outside and Boza and I need to walk. Then I will get my paths cleared again to the well and other areas and I have in mind to cut a path all around the fence line. Boza then can run and check on things as they catch his interest during the day. The more paths the better…

WtR

It is going to get brutally cold by tonight, looks like it might hit -30 out here in the wilderness. I have to stack wood and shovel two feet of snow that fell last night. Boza decided that it was not fit for man or beast this morning and after taking a pee at the nearest fence post, hightailed it back to the front door and waited for me to catch up. Boza is now sound asleep on my side of the bed and has decided that this Sunday is a day for rest… 😉

The reason it is going to get really bad is that we have a southern warm front moving in and it is building all the north frigid air up in a ball right above our heads. In fact I feel that it might actually get colder than -30 tonight (my body tells me -35 C (-31 F) at least,) so I have to have lots of wood inside, to keep the fire going all night. Then after tonight is done, tomorrow will slowly warm up and it will actually hit 0 degrees on Tuesday, before flopping back to -18 on Wednesday. Damn roller coaster…

Therefore, when the daylight hits, I will be busy until dark comes again. That is quick here in the Tiny Russian Village and I need to get it all done. I have learned to rely upon my internal feelings and tonight is going to be a bad night for man or beast. With the wind blowing as hard as it does, it may just test the abilities of the home tonight. This is good, for I need to know what to fix for next year and Sveta has sent me some ideas and they are the same as we use to do on the farm. Build a barrier around the home. We use to use bales of hay to insulate the homes in the Midwest as I grew up…

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I am going to break out a package of chicken breasts today. I decided it is time to make real chicken soup and try to stave off a nagging cold I seem to be trying to develop. I think one whole chicken breast, two small onions diced up, a diced garlic toe and lots of salt and black pepper. I also have two big fat oranges and I may eat one tonight. I was trying to save them for Sveta, because she loves oranges and such…

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Well need to go. I still have to walk the dog, before I start all my work and I bet Boza will decided that sleeping while I work is the best option today… 🙂

WtR

Just a typical day at the Tiny Russian Village… Just -5c and I can take pictures today…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia (WtR)

The comments from the western world about this video are disgusting. But what do you expect from a bunch of heathens in the western world. I posted it, because I like it, also to get it away from the scum commentator trolls and and it shows Putin doing what Putin does to keep in shape. Except this time he meets a girl who kicked his butt. She is having way to much fun in the video and who wouldn’t; she gets to toss Putin around, maybe she likes him… Hmm…

Putin is a leader and seriously she whooped him at the end…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia (WtR)

Woke this morning and it was a blizzard. Boza and I took a walk and found ourselves deep in snow. Boza when standing had snow half way up his body and drifts swallowed him whole. I had on my medium boots and if it goes much longer, those boots will not do the job. I will then progress to the tall boots…

We have plenty of food and water, so that is not an issue and wood is still in abundance. The issue I am worrying about is that Sveta wants to come for my birthday and if this snow keeps up, I doubt I will be able to drive to get her. I will start the Volga today and try to move it to higher ground, but unless the snow stops, nothing will help, but a 4X4 and that, Sammy the Volga is not!

Still five days for Sveta to come and a bunch happens between now and then. Got to make a decision about her coming, but it is getting deep out there…

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I was finally able to take some pictures with the bigger camera, it still froze a couple of times, so I had to keep it close to my body as I walked. That makes it difficult to take quick images, but I do not want to destroy the camera. Today is only going to be -2, sounds good huh? But tomorrow it will be something like -19 during the day. I call that roller coaster weather. -2 brought tons of snow with it and I prefer super cold than snow…

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I have to say something; Sveta bought me two kilos of dehydrated banana chips for the village. I waited until I was out of fresh bananas and now that I am snowed in, I am eating the banana chips. I need potassium because of my medicine that I take daily. It leeches it out constantly and I exercise a lot. Sveta also brought me two jars of peanut butter. Now this morning, I dip a banana chip into the peanut butter and wallah, I have a perfect winter pick me up and or meal! Full of everything good for me…

I take potassium pills, but they do not work the same as natural potassium…

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I received an e-mail and the guy gave me some prices that he was paying in America. The perfect example of price difference and this seems to hold solid across everything he told me about is a single egg. He is paying 18 cents an egg…

It is easy to compare, for in Russia they sell eggs most of the time; per each! The most expensive egg I saw the other day was Magnet store and it was 3.9 rubles per egg. That is 5 cents each for you Americans. And that price is way too high. I complain constantly about the egg price in Russia and I do not buy eggs…

Why are you paying that much?

Yes we have inflation in Russia, but seriously, it is nothing like the inflation in America and you can hide it all you want, but in the 10 years that I have been in Russia. The food costs in America are up 50% + in many cases. That is true inflation, not gas price, not TV prices, not alcohol prices, but the price of food is where it counts and where it hurts the most, in the year around picture of life…

Yes illegal sanctions by the west hurt, but things look a whole lot better on this side than your side does. Seems dumb to hang yourself just to try to destroy a country like Russia…

I will give you a hint; stop buying the crap and eat less. Once they see that you will not pay for the exorbitantly ridiculous price, the price will drop. Russians walk away from high price and walk kilometers if need be, to get a better price. Last year the egg producers tried to gouge the people for Easter egg prices. I noticed that the tune changed quick, when no one bought the eggs. The big store had a huge stock pile of left over eggs and the price dropped to sell them. People have to give a little to get a little and if you always take the abuse, you will always be abused…

Try walking a little farther and buy from someone who gives you the price that is fair for the prevailing market…

Kyle and Boza at the Tiny Russian Village…
Windows to Russia (WtR)

My buddy Vova! New Year celebration, he loves to perform and I told him I would put it on the internet. He was happy…

Go Vova! He is playing his spoons…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia

A year ago in December of 2014, I posted food prices in Moscow. Someone has asked by e-mail what they are now. “Now,” is pricing from a Tiny Russian Village and prices are better in Moscow. But I will compare what I have…

Last year…

Loaf white of bread, uncut – 4.5 rubles… (down 50% – to 8 cents a loaf)

100 grams coffee – 89 rubles… (down from 106 rubles to $1.57 a can)

Red beets – 5 rubles a kilo… (9 cents a kilo)

Whole Russian chicken – 78 rubles per kilo… ($1.38 a kilo)

1 big fat yellow onion – 3 rubles…

Boza’s Pedigree dog food in a pack – 100 grams, 13.9 rubles…”

I just went to the store a week ago still in 2015… (Thus Dec. to Dec.)

This Year…

Loaf of white bread, uncut – 7 rubles… (Bought from local bakery!)

100 grams of coffee – 79 rubles… (Different brand! But hundreds to choose from!)

Beets – 7 rubles a kilo… (Winter prices are higher!)

Whole Russian chicken – 82 rubles a kilo… (I do not buy whole in the village in winter. Too cold to cut up outside! I now buy chicken breasts at 128 rubles a kilo!)

Yellow onions – 10 rubles a kilo…

Boza’s Pedigree dog food in a pack – 100 grams, 15 rubles per pack… (I buy lots at this price and Boza eats 15 + a day! Expensive dog! But Happy and healthy!)

I want to add: 100 tea bags – 48 rubles, Navel Oranges large – 48 rubles a kilo. Bananas – 47 rubles a kilo. Milk liter – 32 rubles. Kielbasa – 148 rubles for 250 grams. Cottage Cheese – 48 rubles half kilo per bulk. Black Bread – 15 rubles per 2 kilo loaf (just bought two loaves of black (plus two loaves of white) for my buddy Vova,)  soup noodle packs – 5.59 rubles each, frozen cheese burgers and frozen roll wraps – each 49 rubles, can of beef meat stew – 69 rubles… (I buy at times for Vova; cigarettes – 40 rubles a pack, vodka – 185 rubles a liter!)

I could go on and on, but prices are good and not much worse than in Moscow a year ago. Now if I desire to spend lots of money; there is much more expensive items of each above that I can buy to waste money. Yes people do buy and waste money, but I shop and go to several stores to buy what is priced good…

Example; carrots from Israel – 100 rubles a kilo compared to 20 rubles a kilo for Russian. Beets from Belarus 30 rubles a kilo and such as that. Why buy when higher? But people do, so do not complain of high prices…

No shortages, no excessive prices and only too many people in lines, because the Big Village is so crowded. That is with three large chain type stores trying to keep up with all the people shopping. No lack of money around this area… (The poor one is me!)

Glad I have a Tiny Russian Village to go to when I am done shopping! 😉

Kyle and Boza at the Tiny Russian Village! Soon to see Sveta on the 14th…
Windows to Russia (WtR)

Boza and I walked for an hour and a half this morning. It was Christmas in Russia and the snow was falling. A very magical snow and Boza and I walked to the river. We crossed the river and walked all over the surface, being very careful to watch for ice near the current and deep channel….

What a Christmas; The air was charged with energy this morning and Boza and I had a wonderful walk. Now we have eaten and will take a nap…

Kyle and Boza in the Tiny Russian Village…
Windows to Russia (WtR)

PS: In a week Sveta will be here! Yippy…

It is Christmas Eve for the Orthodox Church and Boza and I were walking in the fields, Father Pavel came by on the road and stomped through a foot of snow to greet us, just to say, “Hi” and he wanted to make sure that I was doing okay! I told him I feel wonderful and life in the village is perfect. He kinda looked at me like, “Crazy American!” Then he hugged me and told me if I need anything to call. He was cold and had been up at the bell tower ringing the bell and having a service at their tiny church and three other vehicles were stopped behind him to leave also…

Russians have yet to figure out this strange American, I am not the normal American they have seen or know about and someone like him (Father Pavel) has dealt with youth from America and Britain and they definitely are not like me. I am coming to understand that how I grew up and how I think and how I was raised is becoming a lost way in the states of America. I guess that is how you convert society, allow the collapse of standing on your own two feet. I was raised to get up no matter how many times I am knocked down and then get up one more time on top of that. Forget someone helping you, get the hell up and keep going…

I was raised to contemplate bad things before I leap; like a broken bone, think about it, how bad is it, is it a break or fracture, is it worth freaking out over should I adjust and adapt to what has happened. Now a compound break is bad news and lets hope you do not have to deal with that. Then you might want to panic peacefully to get it out of your system and then figure out what to do about it. Panic never helps and I have had several compound fractures and or breaks in my life. I have a huge knot below my left knee from a bad break many years ago. I was deep in a jungle and a ratter tunnel collapsed and snapped my leg. It had healed way to much to worry about after we finally crawled out two weeks later, to have it reset properly. I was lucky that a friend knew what to do to pull it and set it close enough. Damn that hurt. Those kind of things remind you of the fun past…

Thus no matter what happens in life, stop and think about what just happened to you. Just like the other day when I fell on the lake bed. I was hurt and hurt bad, but I laid there for a long time trying to understand what shape I was in. I did not wish for help, I wished to do the right thing instead of making it worse.I knew that if I was hurt really bad, I could make it much worse by over reacting. I figured out what to do and how to deal with it…

I also know that you have to react at times to keep from being killed or hurt (once again panic does not help) and you also must be able to think on your feet. That takes instinct and learning. We have to be able to see, sense, feel and hear what needs to be done and allow ourselves to take care of us. People do not have the ability anymore to adapt quickly and or think properly about what is needed for the given situation. At one time, man in America was weeded out if weak. You died early or never was born in the first place. But that has changed and the weak have taken over…

Is that good or bad?

Side thought: People attribute meek to weak; For God says “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” and I seriously do not consider the meek weak. Try being meek for a week…

I consider meek a strength that has its place in a proper world…

I see a whole world of people from my country, who simple spend life waiting until someone tells them what to do, gives them food and or a cell phone and computer. I see people in America that have more money than I have and they have never worked a day in their life. Unless you call fill out paper work for government assistance work. I suspect if we really had a Zombie Attack, 90% of the people would simply die from inaction, waiting for the governmental services to tell them what to do. Sorry, but there would be no government… 😉 That is not meek, but weak…

Russians are not this way. The Russians are in my eyes meek; meekness meaning restraining one’s own power, so as to allow room for others to flourish and or righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering, long suffering; Russians do not understand a life with a governmental nipple feeding them and or tell them what to do. The government may try at times, but the people simply ignore what is told to them. They do not fear the government, they support the government to a fault, but they do what they want in the end. For a government is a basic necessity and your life is up to you. A Russian gets up from the ground when knocked down and will do what it takes to survive. They will feed someone in need and not worry if they ever get paid back, for one day, someone will feed them and they will be paid back…

Darn that is why I love Russia. The independence and freedom is so plentiful…

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Time to go! I have rattled enough and Boza and I have things to do. I must bring in firewood and I want to work on dual booting Linux and Windows. Besides Boza and I walked two plus hours, so maybe we need a nap! 🙂

Kyle and Boza in the Tiny Russian Village…
Windows to Russia