Throughout the country of Russia you can find many villages with small houses and usually a garden or farm nearby. Valera's mother grew up in such a village and Valera himself would go there every summer to stay with his grandmother. He has a lot of fond memories from there.
Below is a picture of the house where his grandmother lived. There have been some additions to the house since it was first built. Recently they added the part that is closest. It is what Russians call a banya. It is like a sauna. Many Russians use a sauna quite often and think it is wonderful.
What was it like to live in such a village? First of all you wouldn't find running water in the house. You have to go to a pipe outside and carry the water into the house. There is a sink, but no drainage. To wash your hands, dishes, etc., you first must pour water into a bucket above the sink. To get the water to come out, you push up on the stopper. The water drains out of the sink into a bucket which you have to make sure you empty from time to time.
Another antique we discovered was an old samovar which you can see in the picture below next to Valera. It was used for making tea. They would put coals in it to keep the water and tea hot.
Alexander enjoyed watching the bird Valera's aunt had there. 
Nicolas enjoyed being outside.
Zarina loved the flowers and was also chasing butterflies and playing hide and go seek. 
Alexander discovered this old ladder and kept climbing up it. This building was the old banya.
Zarina & Alexander wanted to visit the cow tied in the field. They were afraid to go too close.
Zarina with a flower she picked. Behind her are some cucumbers covered with plastic to keep them from getting too cold. We have started getting some cool nights.
This tractor was bailing hay into big round bales.
Nicolas enjoyed helping Dadushka (grandfather Motovilov) start the fire for the grilling of shish-kebobs.
Alexander liked to sit on the chair and watch.
Valera's uncle helped put the pork onto the skewers.
Valera's father helping while Babushka (grandmother Motovilov) holds Nicolas and watches.
Valera's two aunts set up some pallets to make a picnic table.
Turning the skewers to cook the meat.
Nicolas had many people to hold him.
Zarina & Alexander got tired after running all day and had to take a rest.
Pouring grape juice on the meat as it cooks to give it some flavor.
Alexander and his cousin, Artom, take a rest while waiting for the meat to finish cooking.
Zarina sitting in the doorway with onions drying in the background. When you go in the door, you will have to duck your head even if you are short. They make the doors short to help keep it warmer in the winter.
Nicolas recently learned to clap. This picture was taken in front of one of the windows on the original part of the house. The house is made of big logs. Usually they will put dried moss between the cracks to keep it warm. I'm not sure if that is what was used on this house or not. 
Nicolas enjoying time with Babushka.
Valera's uncle sharpening the scythe for his wife.
Here she is harvesting hay. Below you can watch a short video clip of it. 
It's hard for us to get everyone to cooperate for a family picture especially at the end of a long day when all the children are tired. Below are two attempts at it in front of a hay stack...
Zarina enjoyed playing with this piece of grass.
Time to eat! The meat was delicious! 
There was a little ditch that the children enjoyed jumping over.
Ready, set, go!
Valera's cousin and family came to visit and enjoy the picnic with us.
Everyone was very tired on the way home.
The hour and a half drive back was nice and quiet. 
Below are a few videos from our day. Nicolas recently learned how to clap.Babushka always sings to Nicolas this way when she is putting him to sleep. I think it is a Russian lullaby. Nicolas really seems to like it and starts singing it when he is tired. In the video Zarina is singing to him.
