Rain, photos, questions, etc

I'm afraid that if I had written earlier, you would have heard complaints about the heat. But yesterday morning we finally had rain! Up until then, I wasn't the only one wilting; even the weeds looked a little sad. Do keep praying. Apparently the heat is coming back and staying all the way until the end of September. I'm praising God for the break, though! Oh, and it wasn't just rain. It was RAIN with thunder and lightning, and it went on and on and on. I wish I could tell you how much rain fell in that one morning, but I don't know exactly. . . a lot! And because this came on a Sunday, I was able to go to church for the first time in quite a while. I've been staying away, because it's just been too hot. (We meet in a one-room apartment, and when 20-30 people are crammed in there, it gets stifling.)


Lightning! and thunder!
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

They inherited my love of thunder storms.

Will keeps telling me to post lots of photos, so here goes. . . .


Jaan shows off some of the week's harvest
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

My helpers
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

Collecting seeds

Bringing water
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

This time with Raia, too.

Watermelon
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

Who knows?
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

Maybe her bottom was hot? Toddlers do the strangest things!

Jaan napping
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

They seem to sleep better at nap time when it's this hot out.

Raia napping
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

With Nastya
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

Nastya (Ilyusha's Mom) came to visit. Jaan loved her bike seat! She took him on rides all around our area. Now that she knows how close we are to their apartment, I'll think we'll be seeing more of her.

We spent a lot of time in the pond this week. It has turned very green, but at least every other day they pump in spring water, so the water underneath the gook stays nice and clear and icy cold.


Cold water!
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

Bathing beauty
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

. . . or bathed beauty drying off?

We also made a trek to the nearby river. Someone said it was only ten minutes away. It took us an hour or so to get there, but it was so worth it! We had a wonderful time swimming. I wish I could have gotten some photos of all of us in the water, but the splashing would have been a bit much for the camera, and I was having too much fun myself.


To the river!
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

Scenic shot
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

River Nerekhta

Cheesy grin
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

We were laughing because after swimming and missing her nap, she was wobbling down the road like a drunk, with her eyes half closed. However, when Will turned around to get a picture, she perked up and gave him this grin.

Worn out
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

She fell asleep on the way home.

Health food question: Several people have mentioned rye flour and black bread to me. Is plain rye flour any better than white flour? It seems like the rye they use here is every bit as refined as white flour, just maybe not bleached. Is that right? The ingredients in the usual loaf of Russian black bread start with "enriched rye flour, 1st class wheat flour. . . ." (1st class flour is the finest ground, most refined, most useless health-wise. ) So is there anything good left in that rye flour? Sometimes we buy Finnish healthy crackers, and they specify that they're made with a certain percentage of whole rye flour and a certain percentage of refined rye flour. I don't think there's anything like that whole rye flour here. Or am I wrong? Is it good, just because it's rye, even if it's refined?

Related cultural notes: As famous as Russia is for rye bread, it's hard to find rye flour here. The black bread is delicious, but it all comes from factories. Most Russian women are excellent cooks, and many bake incredible desserts. But no one makes bread at home. Also, it's interesting to note that most Russians believe that no one in America cooks at all. They're usually amazed to find out that I can do anything at all in the kitchen. Sure, America may have more of a frozen food and restaurant culture, but most Americans that I know actually can cook.

Also, I was trying to get a video clip for Julie and Candie. Jaan and Raia stopped cooperating as soon as they saw the camera, but if you want to see them being completely silly, take a look. (Julie and Candie, are you reading this? There are a few times where you can still hear what they were saying, if you listen carefully.)