Pig slaughter...

I got to take part in my first pig slaughter party in Ukraine...

Ermak and I are cleaning Masha (the pig)...
It really turned out to be quite the party.
Immediately we fried up some liver.
Boiled some meat and had ourselves a fresh feast.

I love spending time with Ermak's family.
Here are 4 of their granddaughters...
Tanya, Sveta, Me, Vita, and Anya....
They are the sweetest girls ever.

Anya reading to Dave.

All in all it was a pretty wonderful day.

Jubilee...

Sister Valia's 60th Birthday!

The cake she made to celebrate...

submitting to the culture....

Barb and I modeling our newly purchased Ukrainian clothing...
( from the Spring 2011 -at home/ gardening collection)

(Barb with her dead on- Ukrainian smile)

(I just can't keep it together)

amy experiences balta....

It was so great to have my dear friend Amy Peterson visit me.
Once again, another visitor just when I needed a little encouragement.
We had such a wonderful time!
I hadn't seen Amy since she dropped me off at the airport!
She got to experience my everyday life in Balta.
Here are a few snapshots of our time together...

I spy with my little eye...
(a hamburger in the middle of the street in Odessa)

By the graffiti wall near the black sea... (odessa)

Amy at the rinok (open market)

Amy looking so proud to be in Ukraine....

Amy's first taste of salo...

an up-close shot
of freshly baked Balta bread
with a rich slab of cured
salo (non-rendered pork fat)
topped with a slice on onions