Prizes for You: My Favorite Russian Pottery

Dear Blog-reading Friends, Just to thank you for being there, for swinging by and saying preevyet from time to time, brought some little gifts for you back from Russia. Oh, they're just little bitty things, but they're a few of my favorite things. For you. . .and You. . . and YOU!


(Click photo to enlarge.) Here are a few pieces I very seriously considered packing. The tea cups and the sugar bowl got nixed. . .

See, this dinnerware is made in the Rostov area. It's called Semakarakorsk, or something very close, named after the village in which it's made, several hours south of Rostov. I've come to love it and have scads of it. This is just my back-up stash, for when company's comin'. I did consider bringing a few pieces of my stuff to pass along. . .

But, in the end, I packed the usual, a big ol' bunch of these little salt dishes. And one's a prize for a lucky winner. You're not obliged to use it for salt, you know, it works great for jewelry. Or stray buttons. Or salt, especially if you use coarse-grained salt and like to sprinkle it on your food.

And then there's this little thing. With an Orthodox cathedral, a Cossack horseman mounted on his trusty steed. This is made to be hung. But you can use if for a spoon rest. Or for paper clips.

Then there's this that I'm sacrificing from my personal stash. Haha. Actually it's been in a box but it deserves a good home. It appears to have been designed to serve as an ashtray. But who smokes, anyway? Certainly not me, so let's call it. . . a button dish. Or a spare change dish. Hey, we could call it a cash stash. Kinda rhymes.

So, here's the drill to enter the drawing: 1) Leave a comment with your name or nickname. 2) Indicate which prize you would prefer ~ wish I could guarantee that you'd get it. . . but. . . 3) Share something about your interest or connection with things Russian. And that's it.

I'm hoping to draw three winners on Monday. I'll do my best! And dear friends, this is just to say thank you ~ spaceeba ~ спасибо ~ for your faithful support of From Russia with Love through thick and thin! When you come to Russia, you'll see this pottery lots of places, it's quite popular.

Boot-sandals: A Trend for You?

Are you a fashionista and out there on the leading edge? Are you an early adapter of the latest? Well then, you might be considering a pair of these boot-sandals. They're the hottest thing in Eastern Europe this summer.

But who wants hot for the summer? Well anyway, admittedly, I might be missing something. But the rationale for this sort of footwear escapes me.

If you're a trail blazer of fashion, please explain these to the rest of us. . . Say, dear blog reader, have you spotted these in the city where you live? Do you see yourself indulging?

Super Power Presidents Get Hungry Too

As you know, Russian President Dimitry Medvedev is in the US and getting the full dose of Americana.

A hamburger lunch is requisite, of course. Fun to see the presidents ordering lunch and interacting at this little mom-n-pop place in Washington D.C . President Medvedev offered to pay for lunch in English, good for him. Soon translator(s) joined them at the table but still his English would be miles ahead of President Obama's Russian. Still, Mr Obama earned a gold star for his efforts. During a joint press conference yesterday, sounded as though the president greeted all with a Russian Dobri dyen, or good day.

The White Nights of St Petersburg

Congratulations on the White Nights of summer! Tonight in St Petersburg, the sun sets at 11:25 - that's just 10 minutes from now! It's the longest day of the year ~ in the northern hemisphere, that is.

Here in Rostov-on-Don, we're 1000 miles south of St Petersburg, as I recall, and our sun is loooong set already, at 9:20, in fact. Say, dear blog reader, have you ever been so far north in the summer? How about in St Petersburg? Do share, please do!

A Sister for Savannah: An Adoption Story

Fairly often, I'm allowed a glimpse at something heroic, the adoption of a child. (Blog still in progress ~ watch this space for updates!)


Recently, Debi, a young woman from the Dallas-Fort Worth area came to Rostov to adopt her second child. Debi learned about little Natasha and her special physical challenges. And selected her quite deliberately.




Here's Natasha in action. You see, there's not much stopping her!



All this attention and TLC being lavished on her ~ why little Natasha is just trying to process the very idea.



At the orphanage, Natasha enjoying the big room, reserved especially for holiday programs and visitors. In this case, Natasha's there with her mama!




Debi teaching Natasha how to drink from a cup. Although Natasha is 3 years and 9 months, there are skills she's busy learning, including drinking from something other than a tea cup. (Debi, right or nyet?)


Enjoying the fresh air, bundled up as per local custom, even in May.


Debi came to the Rostov Public Library and talked with our Thursday evening Reading Club. Group members were thrilled to hear the experiences of a foreigner adopting a Russian child and comparing that with Debi's earlier experience of adopting a child from China.

With Nina, 5/31



Yuri's BDay 5/29


at Nina's 5/29

Sun - church 5/30


Sun - church
5/30



Rod dom, wide
The evening before Debi and Natasha departed Rostov for Moscow, we visited Hospital #20, where Natasha was born. Here they are in front of Labor and Delivery.

rod dom, close

security

security