Kaz dinner

Dinner
in Kaz!






Hello---no blog yesterday...we had a very windy storm with snow and the power was on and off through out the day. Apparently any accident or anything involving the heating system means that the power needs to be turned off to repair. All of the heating pipes are above ground, all along the highways and byways. I'll try to get a picture. Today was calm and clear, temp of about 32 F. Life is good again!
The apartment building has 3 floors, and 9 apartments. The elderly lady next door, I think her name is Seryka (sp?) has taken quite a shine to Zhanna. Since we are now a package deal, she has begun to prepare some meals for me. I have no idea what it was....see picture...some type of meat and crepe like things. Sorry Dee, but even if it was horsemeat, which I don't think, it was really pretty tasty!! The beet salad is very familiar, my grandmother was from Ukraine and prepared it often, but the other was new to me. One quandry I am having though, is that my mother taught me to never return a dish empty. Wonder if she likes her pasta plain or with boullion (LOL)!?! Mom will be here in the morning..maybe she can advise.
Today was a very big day....grocery shopping. This time Lena went, and was able to tell me which can was tuna. I know, now that I have lived through the real Kaz food, maybe I'll branch out, maybe have tuna with my pasta. She showed me which fish looks like a tuna, but really most of the fish looked the same to me. Also--point of fact--I bought a small (quart?) bottle of vodka, just to try...and it was 214 Tenge..about $1.62, and the individual jars of baby food were 232 Tenge...go figure. Vodka is cheaper than baby food here!! Also generic cigarettes are 60 Tenge a pack...yes--really, which is about $.40 cents!! I don't smoke, but I think they are about $4.00 a pack in the states! Living the good life they are!!
Mom will be here in the morning...her train arrives at 5:15am. They will call on the cell phone from outside, as it takes 4 different keys to get in here..2 outside doors and 2 locks on my apartment door. Have never felt so secure! Can't wait to see her... I kind of miss the adult conversation. Talking to Zhanna is wonderful, but somehow not the same. I'm trying to teach her to say Mama...but all I get is a big laugh and a raspberry. I thought I had about 13 years before we got to that point (LOL!). We'll keep working on that, and Lynne, thanks for some new song ideas. Now we can sing "I knew a farmer had a dog and Jakey was his name-o".
Anyway--thats enough for today...more tomorrow!!