Home for the Holidays

Home for the Holidays

I’ve been in my house for just over six weeks and the holidays are now upon us.  I received a package from the States and got some decorations, so I have them up.   As you can see from one of the pictures, I don’t have “chestnuts roasting by the open fire” or “stockings hung by the chimney with care” but I do have socks drying on the peç.

Socks on pec

 

Last night, Nunu and I baked Grandma Nell’s Nursery School Cookies, while having our language class. My best knowledge of words has to do with food. They came out pretty good, even though I didn’t cream the butter and sugar.  I sent some home with Nunu and the rest I took to work today.  I did eat a few myself. 

The weather turned colder a couple of weeks ago and I’m improving my heating skills on a daily basis.  My landlord brought me soup yesterday and indicated that I should block the opening in the chimney for the big oven that my one room house is built around.  She said that I should stuff the opening with plastic bags.  So tonight on my way home I bought a roll of packing tape and started my insulation project.  My tools and supplies included, scissors, a leatherman, tape, bubble wrap, plastic bags and cardboard.  Below the finished product.  I may make some improvements over the weekend when I will move a table.  I now need to figure out how to plug the hole in the ceiling where the exhaust pipe for the peç exits the house.  I have some ideas.  I’ll let you know if they work.

When I got home about an hour an a half ago the temperature was in the mid-40’s and I’m now up to the mid-50’s.  I’m heading for the mid-60’s.  Only three more months of winter to go.  Long winter underwear and a heavy sweater works.  Also I have plenty of blankets and am toasty in bed.  The Baku area is quite windy and I think without the wind it would be easier to warm the house.  Don’t worry, in the summer I will be talking about how hot it is. 

We lost electricity last night about 7:30, so I didn’t do my dishes until tonight.  My site mate, who recently went back to the States, used to say that it was a good day when we have two out of three utilities….so yesterday was a good day.

 

Happy Holidays from Azerbaijan - Patti