aspirations for new year 2017

Dear Family & Friends

No new year's resolutions for me because it's just not effective. What I do instead is to have a wish list and hopeful projects to work for. I write it down and I tick the list as I tackle my dream in whatever little step I give to it. I aim to fulfill this within the year.

This year, I hope to focus more on making our home garden more productive, at the same time, find ways to make it efficient. I am going for a more natural gardening. If nature will be favourable and I end up with more produce, I would like to share it with others in the city, to give them the taste of a more affordable good food that we have in our village.

Just look at this picture, somewhere in eastern europe...I find it inspiring. You can see the city in the far distance. Then, there's the village houses so full and beautiful with their respective productive food source right in their backyards. I just love the idea:) There's something in it that will certainly push me to fulfill my 2017 aspirations.

Hope you have a peaceful 2017 year ahead of you and don't forget to keep working and aspiring for the better...May you have all the success as you work on it:)

Yours

Our winter weekend break at the base of the Pirin mountains

Dear Family & Friends

Our CEO at home has been treating us with a few weekend family trips! He finds the short weekend family holiday more fun and relaxing...and we three ladies couldn't fault it either! It's only a good thing...it knits the family together with much contentment in life. It's always good to work together and play together too! 

A good breakfast and dinnerbuffet choice on offer

Living in Bulgaria is a great advantage for us. It's reasonably cheap and there are so many beautiful places to go, plus, we get exceptional weather...a proper summer, autumn, winter and spring...no crazy surprises. Easy trips to seasonal sea or mountain trips to choose from. Otherwise, the daily village scene is also good.

salad buffet

For this winter weekend break, we went to a four star mountain resort hotel. It was more of an eating holiday. We were provided with a buffet breakfast and buffet dinner too! The choices on offer were good! We always try to avoid the holiday crowd by going at the earliest or latest possible part of the season, but in this case, we were caught up with early holiday makers already!

selection of  meat buffet

Even though the mountains are not ready for the skiers - just yet, the hotel was fully booked. Besides the food buffets...the hotel have indoor pool facilities, sauna, spa, that's enough to entertain us if we were not busy with eating!!

pasta, rice, potatoes - carbohydrate food buffet section

For our family of four...we got an apartment hotel accommodation. a big one! With three double bedrooms, three balconies, a kitchen with oven and washing machine, a laundry room, a dining room, lounge, and two toilets- with a bath and shower! The apartment is on two floor levels!

just one of the 3 bedrooms we got

Nope, we did not splash out...it wouldn't be as much fun if we did. You know a 'value for money' always adds extra joy. This one certainly did. For all inclusive breakfast and dinner buffet food, facilities and accommodation, it was just 20 euros per person!

and another one with a balcony facing the tall mountain view

The best thing was we all enjoyed our time together. Our little family always enjoy each other's company...we're mostly united and in agreement with everything we do. Having a short weekend holiday is also very relaxing...it's not too indulging that will lead to boredom...but just enough to have a little break to get ready for another week to come.

I was caught relaxing in the lounge with my feet up!!

Saying that, I think our super kind, loving and generous CEO is going to put us all to work next weekend...I just hope that it's not going to be too cold to do our given task. I'll let you know about that later too;P

Hope you have a good family time too. Stay united with your family unit... for there's nothing else better than that:)

Yours

Never hungry in the kitchen

Dear Family & Friends

A few weeks back, our neighbor was still pouring in more sweet pepper...I can't freeze them as our chest freezer is full to the brim by now. So, we had a lot of sweet pepper meals throughout the week and the next! Oh...no one minds...in fact, we all just love stuffed sweet pepper!

stuffed sweet pepper

I simply stuff it with cooked risotto style rice. Mix some minced meat, onion, garlic and lots of herbs. Then, stuff the cleaned and hollowed out sweet pepper. Basically, you can fill it with anything you like...I just use my imagination! Smaller sweet pepper can be filled with with scrambled egg and cheese fillings - it's YUMMY too!

Stuffed sweet pepper that is slightly pan fried and steamed, but you can just bake it in the oven too

After stuffing the sweet pepper, I put it in a frying pan to pan fry it a bit to get some burned marks , then, add a little water to further steam cook it. Or you can just bake it in the oven till the sweet pepper is cooked.

one big delicious omelet from our hens

The week was busy. So we also had a few quick meals like egg omelet which can be filled with various chopped up veggies and herbs. It's best on a hectic day.

Kohlrabi from our neighbor's garden

Our neighbor also introduced us to a root vegetable that we never had before, the kohlrabi. It taste a bit like daikon radish. You can eat it fresh as salad after peeling off the tough outer skin, but I prefer to grate it and cook it like the Jewish Latke. Use kohlrabi instead of grated potatoes, mix a bit of flour, egg, salt and pepper. Then, pan fry it like little pancakes. It is delicious.

more cabbages from the neighbor's garden - my first homemade sauerkraut

Yes, we are bombarded with so many good veggies from the next door garden!! When Boris (our neighbor) ask our girls if they like the fruits and veggies he have been passing on to us, the girls always says: 'Thank you Uncle Boris...we like them all very much'. He gets so happy and you know what will happen next...more and more fruits and veggies drops in.

Having received a lot of cabbages, I decided to try making sauerkraut. A blogger has been so gracious to post on how to make sauerkraut. You can check it out here. https://lachattegitane.blogspot.bg/2016/11/making-sauerkraut.html. I followed her guide and this year we had our own home made, healthy sauerkraut:) Yummy...they're so good and easy to make:)

Counting our many many blessings each week and we give thanks. Hope you stay blessed too:)

Yours

Buying fruit trees from lady joy

Dear Family & Friends,

Last week, I wrote about planting our fruit trees...but there was a 'before' story to that.

The last time we were at this garden shop, they didn't have any fruit trees available as it was a bit too early to be planting them. so, I promised the lady that I will be coming back later in the season. Thus, when she saw us again...she was so happy and she said in a surprising voice: 'oh...you came back just as you said you would!' Ah..you just have to love her:)

As I choose fruit trees for our mini orchard, my ever so faithful man was pushing me to hurry up as he needs to be back home at a certain time! ...I am aware of that, but this sales lady was trying her best to instruct me on to how best plant the trees and offered to trim it as I said we would plant it on the same day! She was ever so helpful...but here I am pressured in between a rushing man and a pleasing lady. I had to tell the shop lady to hurry and finish our transaction ASAP.

I quickly returned the pen I borrowed from her to write down the varieties of trees I got. 'Wait' she said, 'you can keep the ballpen' I answered 'oh, no need'...She replied:'please keep it. I have plenty of them.' That conversation took a minute!!

As I picked up and carried the bare root trees to our car, she said I must have a plastic bag to put them in. I once again said 'oh no need' as I'm being pressured with time. She insist that I wait as she searches for one! That took another minute! In the end she found no bag...and gave me a plant tray to place the tree roots on top. Oh whatever...she's just one extra thoughtful lady!

While waiting for her to give me back my money change...she asked if I would like to buy a pot of Chrysanthemum that she was tidying up when we first arrived...at half price, and she would give me another pot for free - a gift! I said 'no thank you'....because I have around 40 chrysanthemum plants already in our garden! But she took a minute to choose 3 pots of different chrysanthemum colours and insist I have them all as gifts!

It's not the usual thing people do in a developed country...but I find Bulgarian people can be very giving! My little family suspected that she must have short changed me for all the free gifts...no she didn't!  I suppose she found some joy in our meeting today for some reason. As for the man who's so in a hurry....he did had ample time, more than enough to even have a cup of tea before hand. As for me, I survived another pressure crossfire.

What a good day! I'm just taking my day at a time..and always try to stay as cool as a cucumber. Wish you do the same and always remember to chill out and have a good day! Hope you have a good one too!

Yours

It takes a village to raise a child

Dear Family & Friends

With the food abundance we experience specially at this time of the year ... we often wonder why the villagers are pouring and sharing their produce with us, knowing very well we also grow the things they grow - perhaps not as big and vigorous, but nonetheless, I try my best to grow what we can and know how in our garden for the family's needs.

the Balkans - child's painting of one of the girls

Then, it occured to me that whenever villagers shares their produce with us, they always say - 'take these for the children.' No ill feelings...not that we adults don't need to eat and share it too...but what they are saying is that children are growing and nutrition is vital for growth.

village hens - child's painting of one of the girls

There's a saying that says: it takes a village to raise a child. ..and this is very true to where we presently live in. For the years we have been living here, villagers known or unknown to us,  had been so kind to our children: sharing fruits and veggies, and even teaches them courteous manners like addressing every elderly with honour and respect as what and how a family does to each other.

the cheerful cycler - child's painting of one of the girls

Our two girls are bigger now...yet, they are still very much the children of this village. I'm so glad we have and are given the opportunity to live here. Our two girls understand these and are grateful too:)

Life is not complicated...at least not in this part of the world. Hope you have a beautiful day today, with lots of blessings too:)

Yours

Getting two new beehives

Dear Family & Friends

For two years, we kept a beehive in our garden which we bought from a local villager. Sad to say, we lost them in early spring this year. We still couldn't understand how it happened...but it was a very devastating experience. Nonetheless, we won't take it as a defeat.

our two beehives

Our fifteen year old daughter has been teaching English to a local little girl about her age. In exchange: she asked if her grandfather could supply us with a beehive family to replace the one we lost. They were pleased with the idea and are giving us two beehive families:)

To see a field of sunflowers always brings multi-joy:)

The  grandfather managed to secure two swarms for us:) For the moment, the hives are still with him as he is getting them established in their new homes. Once their hives has enough honey to sustain them, they will be handed to us to stay in our garden.

Sunflower field in our village

There's vast sunflower fields in our village area. Our two beehives are in the vicinity, so they can get and store more food as they settled in their new home. The kind grandfather visits them in the field and brings water to feed them.

This is a carrot that has bolted into flower to produce seeds for the next season:)

We are excited to have another chance of beekeeping venture. For the moment, I'm planting as many bee friendly plants in our garden, especially those early flowering ones for the benefit of the bees, and other beneficial insects which will make a happy garden - and a happy gardener:)

Hope you are keeping a happy and content - sending you wishes of a perfect weather today- one that is not too hot/and not too cold ...your way:)

Yours

A dog who loves flower came to visit

Dear Family & Friends

While doing some work outside by the roadside garden of our home, a stray dog came by. He looked hungry, so the two girls went in the house to get some food for him. He happily ate it.

a stray dog came passing by... and we served him a dainty sandwich...

He hang around for a while to watch us tend the little garden by the roadside.

afterwards, he helped himself to a stem of summer flower we were growing...

The next thing we knew, he went and grab a stem of rudbeckia flower that we grew in our roadside garden.

He stayed awhile to watch us worked, then, he got up and remembered to pick up the bloom

He carried it with him...and I think he is taking it back to where he lives. I've never seen a dog who knows how to take cut flower home...perhaps, it's for his girlfriend!

I'm sure he said thank you and goodbye as he heads home taking the flower with him :)

Glad this dog got a sandwich from the girls that day and even had a helping with a beautiful cut flower to take away:) We haven't seen the dog come by again...perhaps he got married and life got busy.

Oh...just a silly dog story for you today. But I do hope you have a good day and wishing you - all good things your way too:)

Yours

Our summer entertainment?

Dear Family & Friends

'Have you been to the seacoast?' That seems to be the frequently asked question ...at least in this part of the world. You see, summer equals seacoast holiday!! Nothing more complicated or dreamed of for our village people. Life is simple:)

Flowers that say: it's summer time:)

When the Black Sea of Bulgaria settles down in the population count of holiday makers, we'll take our turn to visit:) We opt for a quieter holiday - right here. There's just too much going on around the world recently. It's more peaceful and safer where we are.

She's about to doze off...

For the meantime, in our home garden...it's enough to see and observe our chickens falling asleep...yes, quiet entertaining LOL!

I told you...she's gone to dreamland!

Summer heat induces day sleeping - siesta - to many of us! So with our chickens too! 

Notice the two hens singing to put the rooster to sleep?

I think those two chickens were singing lullaby till the rooster on the left fell asleep! At least, that's what we thought was going on looking at this photo!

Sweet red gooseberries

The garden is giving us some fruity berries compensation at this time! We have strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries...not many, but enough for the girls to keep on going back and forth for snacking! There's blueberry and chokoberry fruit buds too (for the first time)...but still waiting for a full formed fruit! 

Although there's lot of unsettling moments in the world around us...it is best that we focus ourselves to an orderly home first and foremost - the simplest form is the best...yes no need to get anxious about everything else. I wish you all calm and peaceful week!

Yours

Summer food in bulgaria

Dear Family & Friends

The abundance of summer is always something to look forward to. In Bulgaria, we notice that people tend to eat what is in season. So, when you go to restuarants...everyone serves the same cucumber and tomato salad in their menu. It is best to go for the seasonal salad too - for it's freshness.

A plate of summer meal

We don't normally get fresh summer salad varieties during the winter season...but comes summer, we eat nothing but these...day after day. Fresh cucumber and tomato salad, mixed with yogurt - which is an all season fare, along with the white salty feta like cheese called sirene.

A local fruit market with variety of seasonal fruits

When it comes to fresh fruits...there's also a great variety...but they mostly come in season. Every homes in the village got fruit trees in their garden....abundance and surplus are always going around...we just have to eat a lot more till we're so bloated with liquid. Not complaining at all...afterall, you must understand that we do get very hot summer's days and all these fruits and vegetables are but the best choice food to bring us comfort. Yes, eating in season is for a reason:)

Our neighbours know we also grow the typical local fruit & veggies in our garden...but now and again, bags of same fruits and veggies are passsed on to us via the garden wall/or through the gate! We just got to eat more fruits and veg...Yes! salad everyday for the moment! Wishing you a lovely and fruitful summer.

Yours

Trading day by the garden wall

Dear Family & Friends

It's weekday morning, we stumbled on the idea the night before to solve the problem of two fighting roosters...but none of us can solve the dilemma. Then we thought of our faithful neighbour! So off we popped our head across the wall to our neighbour's garden. Husband and wife were out early with their garden task. Upon hearing us, they dropped everything and sorted our cockerel for the freezer.

We do have gates...but to see neighbours, we use this garden wall ...

We couldn't ask for better neighbour than this. They never expect anything back from us for any kindness...but since they love our homemade bread, we got one ready for them. They really think it is a special 'English' bread. The truth is: it's just a simple bread machine loaf.... but it is always nice to see smiles from their faces whenever freshly baked bread is passed over the garden wall.

Beyond this wall.. is our neighbour's garden

A few minutes later, a voice was calling us over to the wall again.... This time, our neighbour is passing us a big bag of their just harvested potatoes. The garden wall between us was indeed a busy trading place that day.

enough cucumber and tomato harvest - for the usual summer salad fare

By midday, all trading were completed. As for us, nothing more simple and satisfying for lunch... our fresh potato gift of the year turned into Kartofellsalat (German potato salad)! Always a great hit in our house...and paired with quick to cook Wurst (German sausage) too! No Sauerkraut but we had cucumber and tomato salad from the garden instead. Everyone was filled and felt happy:)

I wish you a good week as always...and nice, kind loving people to surround you too:)

Yours

Overcoming Summer's Heat

Dear Family & Friends

Summer in Bulgaria is hot but if you stay in the shade...it is bearable. Inside our house is cool...even though we don't own an airconditioner! Since I like being outside...so we hang a recycled net in our tiny little patio area. There - I can enjoy some garden breeze, hear the buzzing bees, without having to endure the presence of FLIES!!

my little corner for this summer

For the moment, the biggest lavender bush is just next to the patio and the buzzing bee noise is just music to my ears as I sit in the patio! Now and again I catch a glimpse of different butterflies stopping by to sniff the flowers too. 

a quiet company of mine in our garden

I'm trying to overcome the misery of intense summer heat here and I want to see and focus the summer goodness instead. Life is good...remember...in the beginning God created everything beautiful and He said 'it is good'...The 'good' still remains despite mankind's rapid growth in self-love, greed and wickedness. (Sorry for groaning again...I just have to stop reading daily news!!)

Today I want to wish you all things 'good' for this week and always be an overcomer:)

Yours

Keeping cool this Weekend

Dear Family & Friends

Our little family is great fun. We share and like a lot of simple things in life. Being appreciative and united all makes a good day. Another hot summer's day to enjoy together. Off we went to find respite...where else but the usual rowing canal.

food we can eat with our hands and a bench to sit on is all we need for party time

Armed with a  plate of 'banitsa' - a local puffed pastry filled and rolled in with white feta cheese. 

one yummy banitsa

We sat on a park bench, savouring a warm delicious snack while over looking across the canal - there's a line of men fishing! Fishing is not normally allowed ...but perhaps this is a special day for it!

just being near the water vicinity seems to bring cooling effect on us for the summer

The light breeze of the man-made lake did cooled us a bit. Happy and satisfied with our little family outing, we head back home...

all sorts of plants growing together in harmony - keeping each other in shade

Back to our beloved happy garden and the little home we love the most. Hope you have a beautiful and fulfilling day just as we did:)... despite the turbulence and chaos created in daily news propagandas, (just don't believe everything you read)...most important is to keep your home and family in order and everything else will work well. Keep calm and be wise!

Yours

Building our Mud Wall

Dear Family & Friends

Long time ago, they used to build houses and walls with mud bricks. They use mud (of course) along with straw and other organic materials and mould it one by one. It is a skill! It retains heat in the winter and keeps the house cool in the summer. I can tell you this because our house is made of three feet thick mud walls! It is a well insulated house:)

A wheel borrow load of mud bricks

These days, people uses red bricks/blocks because of convinience...but it is not the same! We found a house in our village, who decided to tear and replace their broken down property mud wall with cement blocks. So, we asked them if we could have their old mud bricks. They were just so happy to part with it and we were so happy to have this precious commodity!

Extending around two layers of mud bricks to add the height

A section of our front property wall is not high enough that if you're very tall, you could easily tip toe to see us inside our property. So, we decided to build it higher.

Layering very strong sun baked mud bricks with more mud mix to bind it together

It feels better when we have more privacy from public eyes, just by adding another two layers of mudbricks, two feet wide:) This very strong wall will last for hundreds and hundreds of years!

The wall is now higher after father & daughter worked on it for just a couple of hours 

We still got a few ready made mud bricks..so we are thinking of some good projects to put it to use. For now...we're still pondering on things.

Recycling free mud bricks that we salvaged from the village

One man's rubbish became another man's treasure. We are easy to please...but we are very convinced it is the other way around. In fact, if we haven't found the mud bricks...we were all ready to home make our very own! Phew! That would have been much harder!

All for today. I wish you a good and profitable week too.

Yours

No frill lifestyle

Dear Family & Friends

Our little family is grateful and content with our everyday simple living. We look at life with joy and appreciation. Most days we wake up and can say...it's another beautiful new day. Here's some photos taken by our two girls as they enjoy roaming around the village.

This is our handsome rooster....he got a lot to say by the look he gives you...

Around late afternoon, the villagers would have finished some of their mundane and everyday chores...and you would see them sitting outside their home bench, besides the road, in groups, for a chat. Must have lots of issues to discuss daily...because the meeting resumes again same time next day;P

daily 'parliament' meeting of the village ladies

Yes...they have worked hard. Life is a balance. To know how to work hard is just as important as knowing how to relax and enjoy too. If you peep into the door opening of a village home, you can see a glimpse of a well cleaned and tended practical food garden.

take a peep into the door that leads to a prestine garden

Animals are integral part of living here. They are cared for and they also have their share of responsibility. Horses and donkeys are used to help the villagers in their daily work too.

working horse having a break

Living in our village is a down to earth reality...it's all about the call to work and rest...only to start again the following day as part of a simple life. No frills....Life is good when we fulfill our role.

Another beautiful sunset...it looks like tomorrow is another beautiful day again:)

The sun is setting, the two girls have captured some of the beauty of the day...and we are all looking forward to tomorrow once again. Hope you have a good appreciation of living where you are too.

Yours