I visited the villages of Narizhzhya (population 300) and Novyi Kalkaiv (population 30) (about a 4 hour car ride from Kyiv) this past weekend and it was humbling to see how villagers live. We were welcomed with food, beds, and warm smiles.
Katya and her cat. Unlocking the basement door to take steps down to pickled tomatoes.Kitchen in the ‘summer house,’ separate from the main house.Ducks ~ качкиCheese dumplings ~ пельмені з сируTomatoes ~ помідори
BorschtCabbage dumplings ~капустяні пельменіKatya’s farmhouse.A kalunya (sp), hut, where she keeps hay.
Organic cherry tomatoes.With beetroot for the rabbits.
The next morning I walked out of the main house to this scene ~ cleaning onions Katya’s favorite cake from Kyiv, a special treat for her.For breakfast, last night’s cheese dumplings, fried. Awesome. Delicious ~ смачноBreakfast spread: coffee, dumplings, jam, sour cream, and cakeThis cabinet is over 100 years old and was a gift from her best friend of 60 + years, whose childhood home, it used to be in.
with humility and gratitudeThe doorway into another meal in another village: Novyi Kalkaiv. The husband and wife who live here, are 2 of the 30 people living in the village.A meal of kapusnyak (Ukrainian sauerkraut soup) and stuffed red peppers.In Luda’s kitchen.
