Cassie Gets Sassy

Life has become livelier since Deb's parents arrived. Her dad is working on the house with Bruce, and her mom is doing things that grandmoms do...cuddling grandchildren during movies, delivering treats, cleaning up, etc. etc. I'm getting to know Uncle Neil and Auntie Noline, as I guess I'll be calling them, since that's how it goes around here.

Uncle Neil and I are getting along swimmingly. He called me a cheeky beast, and I suppose that's what I'm getting to be, under his provocation. It all started yesterday when he announced to the household that girls are only good for two things: Cleaning up and making food. On hearing that edifying comment, all the females, thus degraded and demeaned, sat down to play cards and did not clean up OR make food, even though it was ooching on toward supper time.

Then, when we did go to the kitchen to make curry, who showed up to interfere with the "girls' work" but Uncle Neil, showing us how to cook the chicken. Since he and Deb wanted it two different ways, I sort of did my own thing, which he dubbed "rebellion" or "the R word." THEN he started in on my hair twisting habit, which has worsened as I grow more and more uncertain about what to do when. Whenever I'm trying to make a decision, I twist my hair. And he insisted that I stop. Every couple of minutes he insisted, until I was forced to go into hiding just so I could THINK straight. They all ganged up on me (at least Deb joined in) and now they're on a campaign.

Well, I think, (not that they care what I think) that I'm entitled. It's not their hair. And if the Count of Monte Cristo can do it, then I jolly well can too! Sass, rebellion, and cheek! Straight on my way to becoming a cheeky beast.

I was a little uncertain about the relationship until Uncle Neil handed me a red utility knife this evening and set me to work on the carpet. I told him maybe he shouldn't be giving me a utility knife after all those provoking things he had said to me, but apparently he trusted me. We got along well, although every time I stopped to think (and twist) he rebuked me as if I were a naughty puppy. I've never been fond of being treated like a dog, but I'm getting used to it. I can still twist when his back is turned. I think I might be getting a little sassy.

We made some progress on the carpet, but there's still a ways to go. Since Bruce and Deb had already cut the carpet and padding, and we worked on trimming and setting it, and then Deb came over and we glued the seam. I got to learn how to strike a line on the carpet with a chalk coated string so we could cut a straighter edge. It's a very engaging activity for perfectionists. Thankfully I'm not too perfectionist, so it was just engaging enough to be fun.

We've stopped now, and Auntie Noline showed me how to make rice pudding. It's just out of the oven and we're drowning it in cream and marmalade. It feels like a Christmas holiday. Quite different from last night when I woke up at 3:30 thinking distressing thoughts and couldn't go back to sleep. Just when I think I've adjusted here, life kinks like a writhing water hose. And just when I think things are getting bad, new, undeserved joys get dumped in my lap.

I think I'm on an I've-had-more-caffeine-and-carpet-glue-and-less-sleep-than-usual high right now and need to break this cycle so I can get some rest...

Oh, check out the shirt I got at the Perpetual Ukrainian Yardsale this morning! (Featured in new profile picture) It's got my birth year on it AND it just happens to be my favorite color...a safe, comfortable, cozy, wintery dark gray...how could I resist, even if it does have a slight hippy flair with the tye dye there. Hehe.

A Few of My Favorite Things

(Aug 30)

I can’t believe August is almost over! At the same time, it’s hard to believe it’s August with the chilly weather today. It’s been rainy and overcast off and on, with gusty wind and chilly temperatures. Maybe in the 50’s? I can’t tell. I’m resisting putting on a sweater…I have to get used to this, right?

It’s becoming more and more keenly evident that we don’t have gas or hot water :) Not that we would turn the gas on right now, but this just reminds us of what’s to come. Hey, we have a tea kettle and all the tea we want, so who’s complaining?

Today we had such a nice time visiting with the Micah and Christy Claycamp, who came over to visit with their four young kids. Three more boys and a girl to add to the mix! They kept each other happy the whole time pretty much.

We ventured to make apple pie with the fresh apples from the trees in the yard and oh man…it was amazing! There’s something so satisfying about making a pie. I don’t think I’ll ever be too homesick as long as there is pie to be made. With limited dishes right now, I’m learning to be creative. I used a Pringles can for a rolling pin a few days ago, (yeah, can you believe there are Pringles right here in little Rzhishchiv?) and today searched around and found the stainless steel camping thermos Mrs. Burklin gave me in a traveling kit she made for my graduation gift. Being long and smooth, it worked quite well for a rolling pin, and the crust didn’t stick! Thanks Mrs. Burklin! :)

So the Claycamps came about ten and we made lunch and sat down and ate it, then enjoyed pie and ice cream and tea for quite a while…it was just a nice leisurely visit and I enjoyed getting the know some more people from the area.

When they left and Deb and I were cleaning up, I commented, “People are always asking me what I like to do and I don’t know how to answer them. Well, this is what I like to do.”

“What? The dishes?” she asked with a grin.

“NO!” I returned. (We have an ongoing joke that doing dishes is my “default” and that that’s what I do when I can’t think of anything else). “No, not dishes. Having people over and fellowshipping and having good things to eat together.” I realized with pleasure that it reminds me of so many Sunday afternoons at home having people in our house for a meal and sharing with them. I’m amazed at how my family life has, in many ways, prepared me for being here. Something I treasured so much at home is being carried out right here in Ukraine, just with the Crowe’s family instead of mine. So I can hardly even feel homesick!

Meeting the Neighbor Girl (Yay!)

Hey, I'm so excited! I just got to meet the neighbor girl, Ira. She's 20, and going to college in Kiev, but she's home on weekends and speaks Russian, Ukrainian, and some English. Bruce met the family when they were out gardening a few days ago and said they had a daughter and that I shoudl meet her. I wanted to, but I felt anxious because i wondered how in the world it would happen. Was I jsut supposed to go knock on the door or what?

Well, I've been praying about it. And just a bit ago, when I was walking here to the Gollans to use internet, I noticed that the mom was raking in the yard. I thought "Maybe I shoudl just walk by that way, just in case we start talking..." but I was REALLY wanting to get on the internet, and was taking the short cut to save time. But I kept feeling that nudging. I thought "Ah, I'm probably just making that up." But finally I thought, "Ok God, I don't know if it's You or not, and but I'll give up my way just in case." It was a little and a big thing at the same time.

Well, I walked over there, and just then both the dad and mom walked up to me and tried to talk with me! We couldn't communicate too well, but they were really friendly. And then the dad said "Let me go get my daughter, she speaks English" or something like that. I don't think they even knew whether I was speaking English or not.

So out came Ira! Score!!! God is so amazing that way! We didn't talk long, and she said she understands quite a bit of English but can't speak it very well. I told her I was hoping to learn Russian, so maybe we could meet again and help each other. I told her she could come over and we could talk...and then she said I was welcome to come over some time too.

We parted ways, and tears jumped to my eyes. All day I've been so weak and not feeling that well (Ukrainian bacteria is finally catching up with my innards), and I've been draggy and not that great of a human being, but God answered my prayer anyway and gave me a very open door.

Now I just need courage to go knock on Ira's door. Maybe I can take her some cookies.

For Deb's birthday we made a raisin chocolate oatmeal cookie cake...it was crazy because I used a modified snickerdoodle recipe, that being the only cookie recipe available. They say not to tamper with baking recipes, but there was no choice in the matter...and the experiment worked! So there was something to put the candles in :)

I'm praising God for His faithfulness and praying for strength to keep following Him.

New (and Old) Food, Bee Sting, and Tucker

(From Aug. 23)

It’s afternoon and ya hochu pit stakan moloko…or something like that. I want to drink a glass of milk. Actually, I am drinking a glass of milk, except, I don’t know how to say that because I don’t know what to do with the verb “to drink” yet. Actually I think I said the whole sentence wrong and no Russian or Ukrainian person would understand me at all, but I try to boost my linguistic moral by stringing words together as if I really can speak Russian :) And of course, to try to impress you all. Do say you’re impressed.

Anyway…the glass of milk. We finally found some good milk. And I do mean GOOD milk! Like the little girl who had a little curl, “when it is good it is very, very good, but when it is bad it is horrid!” Isn’t “horrid” an expressive word? This milk was so fresh from the cow it was still warm when Deb bought it at the market. The dairy products go bad very quickly here, though, so you have to watch it. Last night I dumped three bags of the store milk down the sink because it reeked. (That word is for you, Connor.)

Since I’ve been here I haven’t tried a lot of new foods, although I have acquired a taste for marmalade on cheese, which is probably not a Ukrainian thing, it just happened to be in the fridge. Oh, and I’ve been enjoying the kefir! If you’re like me and hadn’t heard much about kefir before, it’s like yogurt’s robust older brother. Strong and healthy and alive with all sorts of wonderful bacteria. I’ve been told it’s very good for you, and can help calm you’re tummy. I tried a little back at the apartment, and the taste was so strong I could only drink a few sips. But it’s easy to get used to after a few tries and it’s almost addictive. I think it really does sooth your stomach. I haven’t really had stomach problems since I’ve been here, but the few times when I felt a little odd, it was soothing.

Kefir also very refreshing when it’s hot out. Yesterday I walked to the post office, and I really don’t know how far it was…it took about 45 minutes, but I was going at a leisurely pace, soaking up the sights and trying to get some pictures while there weren’t a lot of people around (it was mid afternoon) by the time I finished at the post office, I was warm and thirsty, so I went into the store next door, which carried an assortment of beer, scary looking fish, candy, juice, bread, cookies, and dairy products. And some sausage, I’m sure. I asked for some kefir, and after correcting my pronunciation (it’s ke-FEER with a rolled “r,” not KE-fur...yes, I’m from east Texas thank you…) the lady went to the fridge and brought out a bag of it like the bags they keep the milk in. Well, nyet, spasiba. I couldn’t very well drink out of a bag, so I settled on a small bottle of juice.

And one more thing that is absolutely delicious (but not Ukrainian, as far as I know) is fried banana. Deb made them yesterday and they were so good! I had always been curious about fried bananas but thought they were probably a little on the nasty side. But when I found out the kids liked them I thought maybe they’d be worth trying. If you haven’t had them before, definitely try! They would be especially yum on pancakes.

Deb just sliced the bananas (sort of older ones) long ways and laid them in the skillet with some melted butter, and fried them until they were mushy and a little brown. They get very sweet and syrupy without having any sugar added to them. Mmmm! I thought that’s a great, cheap way to satisfy a sweet tooth! You could even make it an official dessert with a little whipped cream and maybe chocolate syrup…

So, those are my thoughts on the food of late. I don’t know why I always find it necessary to explain what I’m eating. It’s not even anything that Ukrainian (well, maybe the kefir is). The staples of the Ukrainian diet seem to be rather predictable: bread, cheese, sausage, potatos, carrots, cabbage…other produce when in season. Right now there are lots of fruits and veggies, but I don’t know what it will be like in the winter.

The electricity has gone off twice today for short periods. It’s not really a big deal, except that when there’s no electricity there isn’t any water, either, because we’re on a well. But I don’t think it’s a normal occurance. I mean, I almost feel spoiled. My “morbidly cheerful” side kicks in and I always think “it could be so much worse!”

Today Bruce is laying the padding that goes under the living room carpet. The carpet has been cut and laying there, but it’s not officially down yet. It’s very nice gold colored carpet, and I like seeing the whole room bare with just that in it and the sun shining in. It’s nice not having too much to fill up the room. On the other hand, I think we will all be happy to sit on a couch again when the container comes!

I’m nursing a painful bee sting on my left arm. Earlier I was sitting on the floor in Bron’s room, trying to sew up a worn place in my jeans, and minding my own business, when I felt something crawling in my sleeve. It just tickled a little and I figured it was just an ant (which don’t bite here) so I foolishly left it alone, and then, ZAP! Wild stinging and a quick run to the bathroom for the vinegar, which Deb had told me would help if I got stung. There are a lot of bees around the house because the windows have been open, and there are no screens. The vicious stinger was still sticking out! Youch. I’m glad that none of the kids have been stung.

This morning I went outside and Tucker (5) came along, and we had some stimulating conversation about why trees have seed pods, why fuzzy things fly through the air, and how come leaves fall off the trees. Got a head full of thoughts, that one. I think he’s the fix it guy of the family. (Which they will desperately need here!) Even at five years old he’s always checking out the dryer and trying to figureout which buttons to press, how the lint filter opens, etc. And saying things like “Mom, I think the fan isn’t working because…” while examining the ailing fan.

When we go for walks, he’s always dragging and lagging behind the rest of us, head a million miles away. As Broderic said one day in Kiev during yet another Tuck delay, “It must be nice being the slow person in the family!” It can get to be a bother, but for the most part, I just find it endearing. Especially when he ambles along, gazing at the trees and flowers and sky, muttering Russian words to himself. :)

Anyhow, we were talking about the path in the woods, and he said “I saw a motorcycle and a holly dog on this road.” “And what’s a holly dog?” I asked. “Holly dogs are just light dogs that pass by and don’t bark,” Tuck replied, “well, some of them are dark, just kind of light dark, not black.” So the nice dogs are holly dogs.

A lot of the dogs here are NOT holly dogs, and they bark and try to come after you. Cheryl told me the other day to simply reach down as if I were picking up a rock to throw (and if I need to, pretend to throw it) and they’ll turn tail and run. Well, I tried it when I dog started running toward me barking, and it worked quite well!

There is not much going on today after the big week we had. So we’re doing the Ukrainian thing…taking a rest. Well, Bruce is still working on the carpet padding. I still wonder about what to “do.” I’m never sure where the line between laziness and relaxation is. And here in Ukraine, that is magnified. My Western mindset says that it’s what I do that counts, but here, getting things done is not that important to people. I think there are pros and cons to both mindsets, but I’m not sure how to know what the good part is. I feel a little lost in that today, because I feel pretty lethargic, and I don’t know whether I really should rest or if I’m just being a bum and using the tired excuse not to meet new people, work on Ukrainian, or something else.