The weather was virtually perfect for the time that Sveta was in the village. It warmed up when she came and tonight after she leaves, the arctic blast will come back. It is as if Old man Winter likes Sveta and allowed some warmth to invade, just to keep Sveta a happy girl…
Therefore in counterbalance, by The New Year, it will be -25 below and wicked payback weather. Looks like half of January will be deep and deeper freeze… 😉
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Yesterday, The three of us walked for 3+ hours. We walked deep into the woods, we walked to the water source, we walked to the cement pond and well, we walked everywhere. One thing interesting happened as we were walking…
I heard a puppy yapping and this was while we were deep in the woods. Sveta did not hear it and Boza seemed to not hear it. But I did, therefore, I thought I was hearing things and when I heard a raven make its funny noises; I decided that I was hearing just a raven…
Then as we sat upon the bench at the Holy Water Spot! I heard a noise in the woods and as Boza and Sveta ignored all around themselves. Out of the woods popped two young guys and a puppy!
I was vindicated, for I knew I heard a puppy or a small doggy yapping. Sure enough, I tell Sveta to grab Boza by the collar and here comes a little puppy bouncing around as all wonderful puppies do and wiggled himself up to Boza to say, “Hi!”
The boys were looking for a fir tree (not a pine,) for New Years and they had a hatchet in hand to accomplish such a feat. I recognized them and they are from our village. Believe it or not, we have several homes with people going to stay the New Year and that is really great…
They were looking for Bald Mountain and Sveta told them just up ahead, that they were almost there. I could see the look of relief on their faces, for I know they thought they were lost. Then since the puppy wanted to stay with Boza and us. They had to pick the little guy up and carry him away as he whined in protest of leaving his new friend… 🙂
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- Big Bear (me) grumbling through the woods…
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- Boza checking out the path ahead…
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- Back to our river: Para…
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- Christmas Dinner…
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Tonight I drop Sveta off at the Elektrichka (train) and Boza and I are bachelors again, at least until Sveta comes to keep an eye on us. For you know, we are just guys; You Know?
Fact is that I am almost healed again. My feet have become healthy again, my diabetes is under control again, my heart is 100% more stable, the only thing that expresses itself with me in the village is my arthritis and it is really bad. I just ignore the pain and keep keep going. In the village I am much much healthier…
Another fact is, we miss our girl and she is the bright spot of our lives. Someday she will be here permanently and that I can feel in my heart, for she misses us also…
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia (WtR)