More chocolate

This is nice addition to the cup of coffee I posted few days back.

Winter sunset

Monochrome landscape

Well, in fact, this is coloured photo but it looks exactly like black&white one. That's the peculiarity of Moscow winter: it makes everything seem monochrome.

The weather in Moscow is hesitating whether it should turn finally to spring or stay in winter a little more. Meanwhile, here is an undoubtedly wintry photograph for you.

Quoi de neuf?

This curious coffee-set of mine I use on week-end mornings, and it cheers me up exceedingly. Why, doesn't your coffee cup ask you questions? Mine does, as you see. I should be careful, though, while talking to it so that any occasional witness wouldn't take me wrong.

So, what's new? :)

State Museum of Fine Art

State Museum of Fine Art n.a. Pushkin is one the best known in the world. It hosts a breath-taking collection of paintings, graphics, sculpture and other pieces of art. Besides, every now and then the museum presents guest exposition invited from various contries.
Museum of Fine Art was, probably, the first museum of arts in Russia built for that very purpose - unlike Tretyakov's Gallery, for example, or Hermitage. The building was found in 1898, generally constructed by 1904, and it took 8 more years to complete teh decoration and gather the initial collection. The museum was planned as a public storage of copies of classic arts and as a study guide for students.
GMII (that's Russian abbreviation for modern name) consists of several areas, each presenting a major stage of art history: Egypt, Anciets Greece and Rome, Renaissance, and so on. There are copies of most beutiful and famous sculptures from a number of Europinian museums and quite a few originals.
After revolution just found museum of Western Painting ( which included masterpieces of French, English, Italian and other foreign artists - unlike Russian painting collection of Tretyakov's Gallery) joined Museum of Fine Art and a little later recieved its curent name. Nowadays GMII possess so many brilliant specimens of Flemish painting, Italians, impressionism and other styles, that you spend day by day meditating among them.

Yesterday I went there to see the guest exposition - a collection of JMW Turner's works provided by Tate Britain gallery. What an exquisite beauty I had a pleasure to witness! It was definitely worth standing for an hour before getting in :)

To get an idea of collection possessed by GMII follow that link.

Winter sky

City sunset

It felt like spring this morning. The air was dump with melting snow and it smelled of sudden warmth. I'm looking forward to real spring..

The light-time of the day in Moscow area is supposed to be lenghtened by 1 hour (comparing to the shortest day of the year) by now. Frankly saying, I haven't noticed any changes yet. The worst thing about winter is the necessity to get up before daybreak and to be outdoors mostly after sunset. There is something good, no doubts, like opportunities of photographing snowed tree-trunks.

Wnter trail

The Artistry

If you don't know what to do with tons of presscake after you drunk your juice or your children are tired with every other activity - well, just give them the pomace and let them be as creative as they can! Though, you can leave it for yourself if you wish for it's absolutely absorbing! :)

I shaped this 'piece of art' out of carrot presscake and was quite pride with myself :)

The week-end was snowy and it was still snowing this morning. Perfect weather for winter walk, but unfortunately I've got to work till the evening. However, there is that photo I took in the wood to remind me of something beyond the office.

Cooking 'Russian Cheese-cakes'

Is it too much food in my blog lately? Sorry about that but I found it extremely entertaining to photograph the things I eat or cook.
So here is a stage in the process of cooking 'Russian cheese-cakes' I posted some days back. I liked the intense colour of yolk and the way it contracts with white curd.

By the way, I published the illustrated recipe for those on my extension site.

Moonset, sunrise

My husband took that photo a few days back. He caught the moment when the sun nearly rose but moon was still seen. I just love that pinkish shadow all around the wood!

It's been snowing all night long, and I took that photo as I left home for work this morning. The playground was empty and the snow was untouched yet.

Let's talk about...

After holidays my home is full of chocolate. Though, I don't mind at all, for I'm a big fan of that. My daily portion of sweets was a little 'extended' lately, and here is the box of candies which is currently 'in use'. These are by famous Russian confectionary Babaevsky, and from my point of view they make the best chocolate in Russia! Besides, I'm also extremely fond of Lindt and Cote D'Or (and other Swiss or Belgian brands), and Ferrero will do as well.

Oh, you know my weakness now!..

Back to winter wood

To bring some light into your working week I decided to post the photo I took on past holidays. Let your eyes rest on it for a little while.

Russian cheese-cake

Hope you have had your breakfast/lunch/dinner? :)

Well, to tell you the truth, this simple food has little to do with traditional cheese-cake but 'cheese-cake' is the exact translation of Russian word for it. In fact, it's a kind of pancakes made of curd (it's something like cottage-cheese but rather indiscrete mass, more or less dry, and unsalted). We eat it with sour-cream, honey, jam, marmalade, chocolate spread or nut-butter.

You can see more photos on my extension site.

The Old Man and the Gold Fish

Here is another 'fairytale fontain'.
There is a story about lonely old couple living by the sea. Once the old man went to catch some fish and after few fruitless efforts pulled out his net with a single fish - the Gold one. 'Ask for whatever you wish but let me go!' - cried the fish. 'I don't need anything,' replied the old man and threw the Gold fish back into the sea.
However, when he got home and told his wife about what had happened, she turned furious. 'We are so poor and still you asked for nothing! Why didn't you claim, at least, a new pan for me?! ' burst out the old woman. 'Go back to the Gold fish and ask for new things!' The old man was disappointed but went back to the seaside and called for the Gold fish. It appeared on the wave top, listen to his story and told him to return home.
When the old man came home he saw his wife with a new pan. 'Are you satisfied now' he asked. 'No, I'm not!' replied the old woman. 'Why didn't you ask for more? We need a new house and good food. Go back to the Gold fish!' So the old man went again, and told the Gold fish of his wife's wished, and once again the fish sent him back.
When the old man returned, he saw a new house and the old woman in new clothes. But she was angry again that the old man didn't ask for more. And he went again to the sea side. And then again. And again. But every time the old woman told it wasn't enough.
Finally, she expressed a wish to be a mistress of the sea and to have the Gold Fish in her service. When the old man told the fish about that, it didn't answer, turned away and was gone. On coming home the old man found his wife with her old pan, sitting in her old clothes by their old house.

Well, holidays were nice but they're over now. We have to work on Sunday because of all these 'makeshhifts' about New Year, and it seems extremely unfair! Does it happen to me only that holidays are never long enough?

Hope you're having a great week-end!

Last day of holidays

Trail

The winter is still here: temperature is below -10C, it's windy sometimes and snowing. I mostly stay home, having hot tea and watching TV - they show great many of my favourite movies on holidays. I hope you're having nice time, too.

Snowed

Frozen

Here is one more photo from winter wood.

I would like to thank you all for your seasonal greetings and good words you found for me. I was really moved my your kindness. Thanks.

Winter sunset

It's been few days now since weather turned really wintry and frozy: the temperature is about -10C, and now and then sun shows in the sky. I took an opportunity and went to the nearest park named Losinyi Ostrov (means 'Elk Island'). I really enjoyed my walk among snowy trees, taking deep breath of crispy air.
And here is a photograph for you.

As you might know, eastern astrology associate an animal a year - if you will, there is the 'guiding creature' assigned to every year.
For some reason, this tradition became extremely popular in Russia during last 15-20 years, and now the most usual New Year presents are chocolates and symbols of upcoming year.
I receieved my share of cows and bull which are symbols of 2009, and here is one for you :)

A bit of winter tale

We are having 10 days long public holidays, and it's a great opportunity to enjoy nice company and good foog (and drinks :)).

How does 2009 treat you?

Theme Day: the best photo of 2008

It became a tradition to start a year with the best photo of the previous one, and I chose that picture of far June days. I really love its clearness and the air of summer wormth about it which is so great to remember in the middle of winter!

Don't forget to check out other cities participating in January Theme Day!