I was laughing the other day when I was talking to my brother in the States. He asked how everything was going with the expecting to be, and I said “just fine.” He asked what we were up to, and I said that the wife is making some drapes.

Our room without the drapes on the far wall.

He stopped. He laughed. He doubted that it was true. I said, “no really, she’s making drapes right now.”

He replied and said that every single one of (4 or 5) of the pregnant women he has come across in the last few months have made drapes. I’m wondering… how in the hell does that come up as a topic? I mean, it’s not an everyday question, is it?

Did he find that the first one was making drapes, thought it to be highly unusual, and then asked each and every subsequent expecting mother what she has done to prepare for the baby? At the time, I was also dumbfounded, and didn’t think to ask. These questions are somewhat rhetorical in nature, as I doubt I will get an answer unless my brother reads my blog and wants to chime in.

He, he… maybe I’ll subscribe him to my blog notification He’s my brother, I can do that.

Shopping for Drapery. Has anyone seen a shrubbery around here?

So as you can see, the “making drapes” thing was for real. And after Bro mentioned it, I thought it would be good to document our drape production, if for nothing other than posterity. Plus, I can then show it to you!!! How, utterly, exciting!!!

Walking the Drapery Aisles

We had to choose one pattern, and this is it! It matches the room OK, I love the BLING, and it's pretty thick so as to not allow too much light through. You should see the back side!

Layed out and ironed, we (used overtly proverbially) measured, and made final preparations for sewing. No, I'm not exactly sure why the picture is squashed.

THERE SHE IS --> hard at work. She's damn good at it too!

Here's a close up of her fine needlework. Where's the damn ring I bought you?

The drapes are hung and opened (night time)

Here is what it looks like in the daytime, with the drapes drawn. However, we open them during the day, and close them at night, usually!

That’s all for now. Exciting stuff going on here in Kiev!

Is it really the middle of February already? Yikes!

OK, Fall is unofficial again. It’s back to Summer-Fall.

It is supposed to rain a bit today, but it has been beautiful recently. Beautiful enough for some FANTASTIC Mushroom hunting –> keep an eye out for a post coming to a nearby blog sometime soon.

But today I wanted to touch on a fact of life around here. Everyone is bracing for winter. Evil, cold, blustery, bitter, winter (зима). You can see it on the faces of the people wandering around the market.

But perhaps more obvious than peoples expressions, which clearly reflect their discontent with the disappearance of Summer/Fall and the arrival of the looming winter, is the characteristic clothing that people are now wearing. A few weeks ago we had a cold snap (less than 10°C for almost 2 weeks). The winter jackets came out; the rain gear came out; the umbrellas, boots, and dark and heavy clothing. In a fortuitous twist of weather fate, for the last week it has been beautiful –> touching 21°C or more on the Centigrade thermometer (70°F on Fahrenheit, for you English Types). Hell… that’s practically summertime!!!

Yet, people are still wearing their heavy clothing. Sure, maybe the summer clothing has been put in a box in the closet or something… but dude — bust that shit out again, I say. I was thinking to myself that if this were July (and 21°C or higher), people would be outside shirtless, meandering around the liquor stands in flip-flops and shorts, drinking beers and smoking cancer-sticks, and pretending to be loving the summer life in Kiev. The fact that it’s 21°C in July doesn’t make a difference — they are enjoying the temperature.

So what IS the difference?

O’ –> for October.

Crazy, but I think it’s true. Just because it’s October nobody even thinks about wearing shorts! No, it’s not windy. No, it’s not cold. Very interesting Daniel-san – the psychology of living in a place with real seasons. People interpret the weather differently depending on what month of the year it is!!!

This being said, I think I’m gonna wear some shorts today — and everyone can mock the crazy American (if I actually leave the apartment). What’s the difference between July and October if the weather is the same? Why not try to re-invigorate that fading tan on those arms and legs? I’m pretty sure I’d be wearing shorts in Santa Barbara right now.

Funny how the knowledge of the impending cold has the capacity to influence attitudes and behaviors

Whoa…

where’d she go? I lost Mom.

Baby, where did Mom go???

Oh… there she is… it was so hard to spot her with her big cat camouflage on.

but seriously, this is one of her favorite outfits. She wears it all over the place. Here’s a pic from last night, in the kitchen.

And trust me… she’s not the only one in Kiev to dawn such patterns.

I routinely see hot chicks (thankfully), grandmothers, kids, moms, peasants, and businesswomen… seriously, it’s quite funny. They love the animal patterns. The BIG CAT patterns. I think they see it as sexy. You know, like Farah Fawcett kinda sexy.

Not only that, but you see this dress everywhere. In the country, in downtown center, at the market, at the open-air markets, restaurants, shops, bus stops, beaches, airplanes, park benches, etc… It really cracks me up when I see what must be a 90 year old lady at the bazaar wearing all leopard. I’ll try to snap a pic next time.

Cheers!