Something Russian - Wood Carving

I don't even know what to call this apart from a wood carving! This is carved by a friend using a part of the tree where there is an aberration, a kind of "tree tumor".

Here is a still of the face.

Something Russian - Banya

I decided to rename "Only in Russia" as "Something Russian", because there is very little in our modern world that is unique to just one country, so no more claims of exclusivity!

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A Banya is a kind of sauna or steam bath. The Russian version, "Banya", is much steamier than a Finish sauna, which is all I can really compare it with.

There are public Banyas where you can pay 50 rubles (probably more by now) and steam yourself with a crowd of strangers, you can also hire a commercial banya with a group of friends, the one in my pictures is at a friend's Dacha. In the many off-the-grid private houses the banya is the place where you wash yourself and your clothes.

This family have a kitchen sink in the entrance, useful for washing the dishes.

This wonderful device is simple but very useful. You fill the top part with water, which is released at the bottom by pushing up on the rod below. It means you can wash your hands without anyone to pour water on you.

This is the changing room, where you can also have a drink and a snack between sessions

in the steam room.

You can see the door to feed the stove at the bottom right, the door leads into the wash room.

Looking into the wash room, this is where you can wash when your finished or pour a bucket of cold water over yourself after the steam room (rolling around in the snow is good too)

Upper and lower benches, the higher you sit the hotter it is, also used for lying on to be beaten with birch branches. 

The stove, where the magic happens! It is fed with wood from the outside, so there is no danger of being gassed.

Hot water tank.

Stones to make even more steam, when you throw water on them.

Most banyas have a collection of silly felt hats to protect your head from the heat.

The thermometer goes up to 160 C (320 F),  I don't think anyone makes it that hot, 

100 С (212 F) is a more normal temperature. 

Our Dacha

Our dacha is 35 km (about 20 miles) outside of Krasnoyarsk.

There is one room and a "kitchen" downstairs and a second room upstairs

Downstairs room. We decorated it with lots of the kids old paintings (as a rule anything old goes to the dacha to live out it's last days)

Kitchen, from the staircase.

Upstairs room

Anita and friends painted the murals, the big picture is of the church summer camp.

This is the view from the upstairs balcony.

For most people dachas are for growing things, we look at ours more as a place to relax and get away from the city and the polution.

That's why we have a climbing frame and sand pit, instead of plant beds.

Now that I have finished building the climbing frame (after only six years) 

I am turning my hand to making raised beds.

This summer we dug out the top layer of grass and sowed clover, we used the turf to make
raised beds

There's always something to do at the dacha!

You can run around,

play in the pool

eat

sleep

take pictures

Climb a tree

In the evening we like to watch films by candlelight!

Tanya

When we first moved to Krasnoyarsk we made friends, in church, with two girls from a children's home. Tanya was one of them. She later lived with us for a couple of years.

Tanya graduated as a social worker and got a job working in the children's home 

where she was brought up.

A year ago she married Artem

Now she has two children, both adopted.

Tolik

and Artem.

Only in Russia - Sushki

These dried bread rings get their name from the verb, "to dry" - "sushat".

They come in different varieties and sizes. 

These ones are made with milk, which makes them softer, others are more crunchy.

These sushki are made at the bakery.

They have Peter's seal of approval!

 

A Botanical Walk

One of our neighbours, Ira, came up with the idea of taking the kids on a walk to learn about some of  the local plants. She even prepared a guide with pictures. 

Our band of botanists set off in search of samples.

Their labours were rewarded, richly!

Those who could not wait for the picnic, tried placing sticks on an anthill,

and licking them afterwards (I am told it tastes sour).

Berries were also sampled

At the top of the hill we admired the view, although smoke from distant forest fires affected it badly.

Then we shared a picnic,

took a group picture

and headed back down the hill.

The track comes out at the biathlon stadium, where some, 

who could not wait for winter, ski on rollers!

Tired, but happy!