minats_zone

Hey there, Here we're eating Pancakes and saying 'Good Bye' to frost and winter. On this day we usually make Russian pancakes and eat them with sour cream, caviar, salmon or jam/honey. They are really tasty and are especially good on the weekend before the long period of Great Fast (Lent) before Easter Day in April. Today we've had Marina, Stas and Kostya visiting us. So we spent some time eating pancakes and wished Marina all the best at the President's Election on March 4. She's the head of the election committee at her school... Love and hugs to all of you...

The Valentine's Day is already gone but the censequences are here to stay. The days have become longer and warmer. The freezing weather is gone... People in the streets and on metro are smiling more frequently. Marina has celebrated her birthday on Feb 14. Nanka, my sister in Tibilisi, on Feb 16. So spring is coming... Nun Ann has just called and she sounds good. Thanks God for this!!! Sending Loveeeee... to all of you...

Oh dear, sad news is here; On a very frosty Sunday morning, Jan 29 Marina, after visiting us on Saturday, called and said that her father (my ex husband Vladimir Kashin) was found dead in his apartment in Dzershinsk by Marina and Kostya when they came to see him in the morning. But he was already dead. She called Ambulance and police and they confirmed that this happened in the early morning on that day. He had been immobile for almost three months and had had many diseases related to liver problem and his drinking all life. So sad...:(( It seems he'd lost interest in life and killed himself intentionally as he did not do anything to be cured. Marina helped him to undertake surgery on his eyes in the summer and he started watching TV. At least, this had been his only entertainment lately. Today I visited his grave (all funeral arrengenments were made by Marina and Kostya)and took some pics which are now the only reminders of him...

Hey there, Here we are in Moscow for almost 2 weeks already after the USA. First week was awful, almost sleepless, but now it's OK and we feel fine. The only problem is the frosty, freezing cold weather which set in Moscow. It's really cool at dacha (9-12C) so we use electric heaters to warm up. Today Stepka and the family have visited us. Stepka is not speaking yet and makes few sounds. He undestands everything but his silance does concern us:(. We're doing well and sending you as usual hugs and kisses

Hi there, The week of the most fantastic vocation has come to an end and we got back to SF. It was so wonderful there! The Mexican Pacific holiday (Cabo San Lucas) is very different from any other beach holiday as you can feel the power of water and the depths of the endless ocean. Another thing I liked there was pelicans, they are flying in skools just above the water or sit on the rocks. So everything was amazing, especially the sunsets and the horses walking along the shore with Mexicans riding them in big sombreros etc... Have a look at some pics following the links as I'm posting from my iPad. Love and hugs..

This is my post

Hey there, here we stay in Los Cabos Mexico. It's amazing here. Pasific Ocean is just in front of us. We're staying in a three- story condo on the third floor and have 2 bedrooms so it's very comfortable. The ocean is warm enough for swimming, but the waves are pretty high and they are rotating you with sand from the beach. I only swim near the shore as there are no lifeguards or any security. The pools are good but incomparable with the ocean. Olia and Andy are on the beach all day long but we stay till 1pm. There are horses ridden by people enjoying beautiful sunsets. We want to rent a car for 2 days to drive around the whole area. Love and hugs from all of us. I also added some pics. From New Year at Olia's restaurant Skool. http://db.tt/cd7kpkiw http://db.tt/jiMFzpBZ http://db.tt/jfOvjYC9 http://db.tt/q0yL7nFN http://db.tt/8eGz4pyt http://db.tt/pzknVywH http://db.tt/aoxhgGWo

minats's Fotobabble This is my post

Hey there, Here we are in SF CA. Everything is fine and we've spent Xmas with Andy's family and had a good time altogether. John called me with Xmas greetings and it was really nice to here it. They are in San Diego now. I'll call him back with NY greetings. We took a drive to the Mount Daieblo National Park near Wallnut Creek, where Olia lived when she moved to CA US. We picked up huge pinecones there and want to take them back to Moscow. New Year is coming so we're looking forward to it and the flight to Mexico.

Hey there. Tomorrow we're flying to LA and then to SF. Long,long journey but it's OK as it's a long awaited one. After all the fuss and busy days at work by the end of the year 2011, it'll be a very nice change. Posting a photo of myself next to Gogol'at the theatre where we were three days ago. It's a really good one and the actors are young and smart. I'll keep you informed about how things are in US (SF). I hope to send a parcel to Nun Anna with Chrismas gifts and do some good shopping in SF before their Christmas (25 December). Today it's actually the first day of very heavy snowfall and Moscow is covered in white blanket everywhere. It's nice and beautiful but fog is very thick and this concerns me. Love and hugs to all of you...

This is my post

Hi there, Sitting at dacha, watching TV and reflecting on what is going on around. After elections (Dec 4) we've had few meetings and some unrest in society and on the Russian Internet. Many people are not happy with the results as many of them voted for Kommunist Party. Marina was in charge of elections at her school and she noticed this tendency. But still, we have what we have...I personally voted for 'Yabloko' (Yavlinsky), but he is not among the four major leaders. Well, we've had Stepka and Marina with Kostya visiting us today. Stepka started saying 'Yes, no' or some other simple words. I hope he'll start speaking soon, He's very cute. We're flying to LA on Dec 23. Miss all of you and want to see you... Dima, can you be in California after Dec 24??? Would be really great!!! Love and hugs.

Dear all, It's late November and the Eve of Thanksgicing. Do you think people in Russia don't know about it? You are very wrong! At least, my students in school 1359 are even going to celebrate it. They made some funny figures at school and you can see them on the photo. Russian people respect American holidays, at least, teachers and students... Well, the Vergin Mary's Holy Belt from Afon is now in Moscow, in Christ the Savor's Catherdral, and thousands of people from all over Russia are queuing for long hours to give it their love and respect. I wish I could go there, but it's not realistic as on November 27 it's going back to Greece. We go to theaters quite regularly, which makes our life more interesting. Stanislav got his American visa so our trip to the US seems to be quite real. Love and care to all of you...

Hey there, It's long time since I last posted, but nothing special happened in my life. Marina, Kostya and Stepka a week ago moved to the rented flat in Dzerzhinsk, outside Moscow but close to Marina's school in Mar'ino. There are 2 rooms in the flat so, hopefully, they'll feel comfortable. But God knows how they are going to pay as Kostya doesn't have a permanent job. So it was the right time for them to move as is's now snowing in Moscow and the temperature is below zero. So living at dacha would be impossible as we don't have heating system in the old dacha-house. I'm fine and looking forward to going to the USA for Christmas. I already got a visa, but Slava is still waiting... Hugs and love to all of you

Hi there, I decided to post this blog as I feel really happy looking at Olia's Facebook updates. They were uploaded from her mobile phone and taken at their restaurant in San Francisco. Dima was visiting SF on those days and they met with Olia to see each other. It's a great present to me as I haven't heard from Dima for a long time. He looks good and happy, so now I know he's doing really well. God, bless our family in America...

Hey there, Here I am at dacha all alone as Slava is in Vietnam. He's coming on Saturday as there were no tickets for Saturday. He's doing well there with his business associate from Amsterdam, who is first time in Vietnam and wants to set up relations. Marina and Kostya are still at dacha as they have no money to rent a flat in Moscow for winter. Good news is that they have just bought a new car Ford Focus. My old car (Colt) went to Lipetsk, they sold it. Autumn is becoming brighter and colder, but still there is no snow. Yesterday Andy had the second surgery on his leg, God bless him as he really deserves it...Olia supports him and runs the business on her own. She is strong and must be strong in this situation. Anyway, my favourite tripical flower started blooming just 2 days ago and it's a Good Sign!!! Love and hugs to all my nearest and dearest:))

Hey there, Here we are, at dacha altogether. Marina and Kostya've come back from Astrakhan where they spent one week. They brought fish and lamb so now we have sth new to sample. The weather there was windy but they look fresh and Stepka is happy as he was sitting around with his Granny Masha. It's so beautiful in autumn here that I took some pics to show you the touch of slow and lonely but somewhat romantic days in mid Russia. Stanislaw is flying to Hanoi on Saturday so he's packed his suitcase already... Love...

Hey there, It's long time since I last posted. We're OK and the autumn this year is really good and sunny. Now we are alone at dacha since Marina and Kostya have gone to Astrakhan for an unexpected week vocation. Kostya is doing a kind of business there and Marina had taken some days off for joining him for swimming and fishing on the Volga river. So Stepka is staying with Granny and us (when we are at dacha). Granny is rather old but she allowed them to go as she always wants to please Kostya and Marina. She really has a heart of Gold!!! So have a look at some pics I made these days... Love and hugs to all of you