Windows to Russia

This is borscht done my way and I call it “Bear’s Borscht,” I know a certain young lady named Sveta in Moscow, who is going to see this and start wishing she was here right now. The ingredients are all from our garden and I will eat this borscht without meat, maybe tomorrow (?), I will add a chicken breast, but tonight, it is veggy borscht. Also to the above images, salt and pepper according to your taste…

I bought smetana (sour cream,) for it is not borscht without sour cream…

So you need potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, garlic, salt, pepper and whatever else you like. This is not an official recipe from Russians, but a recipe from Bear and it is his version of borscht. 😉

Put the pot on a low flame or heat and ignore for awhile. Let it cook and watch just to keep from boiling over. I will explain something; I peel my beets before I cook them, Russians do not. I like the purple to saturate the water and I use the same water to cook beets as the soup. Russians will cook their beets, chill them, peel them and make soup from the peeled and chopped up beets in fresh water. Russians also, dice everything into small bits, I am a grouchy bear and just cut things up to make me happy. You do it the way you like, but I like my beet soup…

Oh, see that carrot? That is the small one in the garden and it is so sweet to eat. I am stunned at the carrots we grew this year…

Will update after the soup is done…

Soup is a mainstay in Russia. A meal without soup is virtually not a meal and many meals are nothing but soup. I make my soups with much more ingredients than a Russian would use and your soups are just that, a thin runny food, with small pieces of products. Real soup, not more veggies than water…

Cook until the biggest chunks slide back off a sharp knife. This pot was done in about an hour…

I am going to eat two bowls of this soup. It is so good and sweet. I really had to salt it heavy to keep the soup from being a candy taste. The beets and carrots are very sweet from this garden and the beets would be incredible pickled. That may just be a great idea, pickled beats for the winter time!

By the way, it does not need any meat in anyway what so ever and if you do not like sour cream, then maybe do not make the soup. It has to have sour cream to make it Russian… 😉

Have a nice day, for I will, you see my dinner tonight…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

PS: The garden has produced the most wonderful vegetables. The beets are sweet, huge and not woody at all. The carrots are like eating a sugar cube and they just keep growing, the onions are just right and do not seem to be hot, even after drying and the potatoes are perfect for any dish…

When I was young, before the war, before the marriages, before the grinding work load, before the kids, before my soul was hurt and torn twenty times by various effects of life; I listened to Classical Music and in that remembrance I have downloaded thousands and thousands of wondrous songs, of shear sense delights…

Then I found the song of my soul; written in 1680 by Johann Pachelbel it is a German Baroque of one of the greatest composers, in my mind, in history. This in not the hour and one minute version, it is about four minutes long, do not worry…

Just listen and enjoy…

Sometimes I wonder what we do to ourselves and why?

I want to thank Svetochka and God for allowing me to full circle back to catch my soul before it left forever. I read once that women are the way to heaven and lately, I have discovered that a good woman is heaven, heaven for your soul, heaven for your mind and heaven for your body…

I have been allowed to gather and still gathering pieces that had fallen off as life took its toll. These pieces are not all easy to find; in fact many are damaged beyond repair, but with a little love and care, the pieces fit back and it seems that other more substantial pieces fill in the gaps left by time…

Many call Johann Pachelbel a one hit wonder of the German Baroque’s, but if true or not, in their eyes, I find the one hit to be enough to settle my soul and allow me to sigh in peace. In my eyes it is perfect to listen to…

Have a nice day…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search-post.cfm?country=Saudi+Arabia#f16-2

Saudi Arabia has just reached 110 individuals being beheaded. That is the office 7 month number and that puts them on a record pace for chopping heads off. Just like the ISIS does, except we do not give media coverage, or at a very very low level, if we cover the Saudi head chopping at all…

Though, we give 10,000,000 articles or actually the same western media article regurgitated 10,000,000 times, if the ISIS chops a head off. Actually we fake the ISIS head chopping and as par for reality in Saudi Arabia, we do not cover it at all…

It seems that we play god with the media, we condemn, we try the crimes, we point our fingers and we simply guide the public to a decision, even before someone is proven guilty. We have allowed the media to be come the jury, the partial witness, bearer of the sentence, the lawmaker in many cases and we allow the media to tell us what happened even before it happens many times…

Saudi Arabia: Chop Chop…

Life is full of discrepancies and we are the maker of such disparities ourselves, plus we have no desire to correct blatant variations and ignore them like they never happened…

What do I always say?

“Time to think people!”

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

On the last nail, the last stroke of the hammer, I smashed my finger really good. I let my mind wander to how wonderful it is to have the place; Boza proof and smash! I only said one bad word and then yelled a bunch of nice things as tears came to my eyes. I am near a monastery you know?

So I used what we used as a kid and what Russians use all the time, iodine, for the skin was ripped all the way to the bone and fingernail. I will most likely lose the nail, but that is not the first time in my life. I put iodine on it, then after making many really sour faces, I cut off the huge flap of torn skin and packed it with antibiotic ointment, after more iodine of course. Then since it was obvious that I would not bleed to death or die from any form of shock, from such a massive injury… 🙂 I went out and took a picture of the fence…

It is terrible not to have someone here to say, “Oh, how terrible, are you going to live?” Us guys need that kind of stuff when we are hurt, we are big babies you know?

Oh and I did go back just now and finish that last nail. It still had to be bent over (That was the last stroke of the hammer!) to pull the fence just so perfect tight…

Have a nice day…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

Yesterday was strange, no one cut grass, no one hammered a nail, no one sawed wood and no one worked. Sveta said that Moscow was normal (If Moscow has a normal?), but here in the village, we goofed off. Therefore, our village did not burn to the ground and we are not in village hell. Today I will work, because, it is safe to do so. I will finish the fence today… Zippy Yippy…

* * * * * * * * * *

Yesterday was also a day for Kyle to meet village families. Families who came to see their eldest living in the little Russian village all alone. I will tell this next few paragraphs according to how I designate the people living here…

In the yellow house, a good man who has even given us zucchini, his wife, kids, grand kids and a dog showed up. I drank tea for 10 minutes and was introduced to the whole family. Last year they ignored me, but this year, since I did not go away, they seem to feel that befriending me is the better of the evils… LOL…

In the blue house, I was introduced to the brother of the guy who owns it, he offered chai, I accepted and after 10 minutes, I was on my way. They were happy as two pigs in a mud waller for I am most likely the first American to set foot into the home. I hope that is a good thing? The home was still standing this morning… (Again with the yellow home above; I was most likely the first American to set foot in the house!)

In the new roof home; I had a detailed discussion about rain and thunderstorms, plus chai was on the menu, as I met the brother of the old babushka that lives there. He is a very nice man and is actually an older brother to the 83 or 84 year old babushka…

Then later in the day, Vova’s family showed up and I had no choice but to go to see them, for Vova was yelling Coli, Coli, Coli everywhere, until he found me, hiding under a tree, ignoring the world. He saw me from a distance and then he really started to holler. I knew it was time to go meet the family and make Vova happier than a “Pig in a Mud Waller!” (I am also the first American, though granted months ago, to have set foot in Vova’s home.)

I have been blessing homes a lot lately, I need to find a new path to walk… 🙂

* * * * * * * * * *

I want you to meet Miya. Miya is one huge dog and belongs to Vova. Miya is a big baby and has no idea that she is as big as a horse and she scares Boza to death. Miya just loves Boza, but Boza sees a monster. Miya is three maybe four times the size of Boza and unlike a Chihuahua would do, Boza is not going to tell Miya that he is boss…

Caucasian Mountain Dog or Caucasian Ovcharkas and she is one huge dog…

Though, I am upset, as she is underfed and I have been buying her dog food. Vova, as almost all villagers do not see dogs as important and as friends. I on the other hand, see dogs as a good buddy and treatment is as such. Vova, understands that Boza and I are friends, but he is unable to see Miya as a friend, she is just like any other animal on his small farm. She earns her keep by barking, but since you do not eat her, she is not worth the food outlay that a rabbit needs to be fat and worth lots of money to sell at the market. It is all finances…

I will keep buying her food, it is only 1000 rubles for 15 kilos of dry dog food. But that is a 1000 rubles that Vova does not have, thus she eats only what is left over and that is after it has been served twenty times. Boza and I will take care of Miya, she is our friend… 🙂

* * * * * * * * * *

It is time for me to go out and finish the fence. I have to dig out a compost pile that Sveta placed on the fence line and helped rot the fence away… 🙁 Sveta, sheepishly admitted to being the one to do that… 🙂

I hope to finish this project, for when I leave for the Big Village tomorrow, I can leave Boza outside in the beautiful day and air, as I go to the market. He will be safe within a fenced yard. Better quality of life for Boza…

Once the fence is done, I will finish cleaning the back yard and then I can start on the back lean to, chicken coop and storage shed…

Have a nice day…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

A reader sent me this link to some artwork he just did. It is in response to Vova and his waving at America as a friend…

The reader (Jim_D) said, “Thought I would reply in kind; except I didn’t have a rock, so I used a wooden wheelbarrow I made instead. Most of the artwork was drawn by hand, then scanned into a computer, and made into a vector file; which is available free, at this link: https://openclipart.org/detail/224298/hello-vova-greetings-from-usa-to-russia“

So I have this image in my mind of a guy standing on a wheel barrel and waving to Vova in Russia…

Yes as I always say, “Why can’t we be friends?

Thank you Jim_D, I will make sure Vova gets your message!

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

I was told by Sveta that today is a day that I should not do any work. It is some important holiday in some form somewhere, that says if you work on this day, today 8-2-2015, that you will bring the wrath of God? and be hit by lightning and thunder. Then because you worked, not just you will be burned up by the heavens thunderstorms, the whole village will go up in flames with you…

Therefore, after contemplating such a demise, I decided that working on the fence and other stuff outside is not going to happen. I may play around inside as I am doing now, writing this post, but I will not work. I will sip coffee and think and write, for that is not work! Right?

Boza needs to have several walks and I am hoping that these walks do not constitute work. I also like to throw a ball around and let Boza play! Is that work? I am going to be very careful today… 🙂

The thought of being fried by a lightning bolt, because I worked, is a terrible image floating in my mind, but the fact that the whole village will go up in flames with me, is a burden that I do not want to shoulder at all. Can you imagine all these people pointing their fingers at you as you and them burn in Hell?

ALL BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO WORK ON A DAY THAT YOU SHOULD NOT WORK!

Not me! I am easy to get along with and if everyone wants a day to not work! Who am I to question such wisdom?

Have a nice day and maybe you should not work this Sunday also…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

PS: I just heard thunder…

American Hegemony will not just quietly dissolve like the Soviet Union did. The more pessimistic and fearful the US becomes the more dangerous and unpredictable it will be, ready to do “stupid stuff” out of desperation to hold on while it can or poison the waters of the well (so to speak) if it can’t undermine the expressive powers . (The US expected the Soviets to act the same way though they didn’t because they had better things to do, like ensuring their own post-collapse survival) That means the US, (in denial of its decline) can and likely will (try to) continue to exercise its full capacity to create misery and inflict destruction on its “opponents” ….

There’s a reason it’s called the Empire of Chaos, The Great Satan, The USSA and as well as The Empire of Death. It seems the converging unifying east understands this well and have made their policy to simply thwart the moves the US makes, in order to stymie it, (Bombing Syria for example). This line of policy by the east became prevalent with the lie about Libya and what the west wanted to accomplish there, using the UN as a tool of deceit. Russia was burned by a flagrant in your face lie, in that situation. A lie that cannot be forgiven…

But alas, even a simplistic policy of Chess movements by the east, playing defensively, will be interpreted by the US as intentional offensive provocation, not of her doing, nor her flawed decisions and makings. Such as recent escapades proclaiming China as the terror of the “cyber world” and the only recourse is the US as the savior…

Although it saddens me to say it, I suspect we are entering very volatile and dangerous times until a new effective cold war style “balance of power” that the Americans will “accept” is achieved…

Thus, with the continual American chant by her people, “We are number One! We are number One!”

The world seems to be in for a very long, winding and bumpy road…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

I became grouchy yesterday, for we have a large family in the village (actually two large families) and they, as all large groups, abuse everyone everywhere. They take all the water, they scream, they yell, they party all night and most of all they try to tell everyone what they can do and not do. So after twice being told, that “I” was too noisy and can not work, for people are sleeping during the day. This is not at night, but during the day, like 4 o’clock in the afternoon. This statement is after I spent all night being kept up listening to a party and children screaming most of the night, decided to leave and walk to Vova’s and complain. These people will be here for a month, this could be a long month and a grouchy bear to boot… 🙂

The water issue is the worst problem. It takes tons of water and our pump is dying, thus they empty the wells as fast as we can fill them and they even station guards to grab water when it gets full enough. The term, “rude, crude and socially unacceptable,” comes to mind…

I got up at 3 a.m. and went to get water. At 6 a.m. they emptied the well again. Nikolai is smart also and he grabbed his big water cart and filled it up at 4 a.m. Nikolai is the one who gave me water when the party group stole it all…

I just a few minutes ago watched the group from above higher in the village, get cranky with the group near me. The well on top of the village is out of water also, they came down to steal our water and the guards of our well for “their water” tried to interfere. Water war anyone?

“The wars of the twenty-first century will be fought over water.” Ismail Serageldin Just do not taint the wells with blood!

This has made me think and as I sip coffee, I realize that water is what people will kill for. Not money, not gold, not silver but, water. Water to bathe, clean, drink, and most of all have my coffee. I am cool though, I have two huge barrels full of rain water and will have my coffee, thus the neighbors will be safe from war with me… 😉

* * * * * * * * * *

The fence is only 12 meters from being finished. I had lots of clearing to do and still have a mess for the last 12 meters. This is the scariest part of the fence, for I had to cut through a jungle to get it put in. Actually my brave Sveta, helped me to slice and dice the jungle; I think she did a great job…

The windows on the side of the house are officially done. I will now cut some new glass and putty the window panes. I do not have to do this, but I want them fresh and new for the winter. I have the windows sealed in place with foam and secured with screws and nails. I am not a carpenter, but I still do the best I can. Painting the house around the windows is next. I have white paint and will do with that…

Zucchini: Our neighbor has grown incredible Zucchini and he gave Sveta and I two of them. I have eaten one of them and have my eye on the biggest one in the next few days. Oh yummy yummy for my tummy…

The garden has carrots that are almost three inches across at the top exposed from the ground. These carrots are huge and when I pull them, I will take some pictures. The beets need to be harvested, but I am trying to figure the best way to store them. I will study a few more days, I am thinking of pickling a bunch of them for the winter. I simply love pickled beets…

In that garden is five potato plants and I still have plenty of time to get a good crop of potatoes. If you look close, you will see two of the potato plants right in front of the carrots. This is an experiment and we will see. The last potato plant was a success… (Link)

* * * * * * * * * *

Some last thoughts for today…

I eat nothing but Russian black bread now. I am not able to eat white bread anymore, unless it is doctored up, like in making a pizza bread, garlic bread or something. It just does not taste right and Russians do love white bread also. Black bread is just better for you and me…

I also have stopped using two slices of bread for a sandwich. I am now officially making buterbrot as the Russians do. They take a slice of bread and put something on it and eat it. That simple and no extra bread on top. What a way to cut calories instantly and easily…

I also have stopped using butter and cook with very little oil, just water mainly. As per butter, you have to be an avid consumer of it in Russia, or do not buy it. Butter has no preservatives, like almost all food in Russia, and as such, it always goes rancid when I buy it and not use it. I watch Russians use butter and when they use butter, they slab it on their bread in a thick layer. So butter does not last long doing that. Sveta use to do that also and she has stopped eating butter too… Good girl…

It is raining today and has put a halt upon my fencing escapades, maybe I will just read a good book today, for the rain is pitter-patting in the leaves of the rose bushes and sings a sleepy tune…

Have a nice day…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

The Washington Post’s descent into the depths of neoconservative propaganda – willfully misleading its readers on matters of grave importance – apparently knows no bounds as was demonstrated with two deceptive articles regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin and why his government is cracking down on “foreign agents.”

Source: Why Russia Shut Down CIA Front Groups