International Women's Day

Today March 8th is the 100th celebration of International Womens Day. I admit it wasn't big on the calendar in Manitoba, but here in Ukraine it is a big deal. It was an official state holiday in Soviet times and an official holiday now- in fact many places of business were also closed yesterday (not most stores) and as all farmers know- someone has to milk the cows even on holidays!

Garry went into Dnepro mid-morning to change some money into grivna and had a tough time finding a place open- the banks were closed, and he was about to give up and come home, when Victor found an exchange place open.

Women get presents from the men in their lives- Garry went to give the milker ladies boxes of chocolates this morning and discovered that Maxim had gotten them chocolates and perfume in gift bags when he got his to take outside. Here's Maxim and Luba with her present in the milk house. Garry took a photo of Maxim presenting me with my gift (shower gel) this morning when they came back in at breakfast time.

Exciting news- the cows gave 610 liters over the last day, and they sold the preemie bull calf for 40 grivna. They were going to trade the next bull calf for a heifer calf- turns out the villagers prefer bulls- but the cow calved on Thursday- only a couple weeks after the dried her off (she has mastitis- an udder infection, which may be why the calf was born early) so maybe the next normal size bull calf will be traded for a girl.

I took a photo of the elderly neighbour lady today- she was coming back from closing her gate. I was wondering why she had someone shoveling snow out of her driveway yesterday, this morning I noticed she was setting our gate on her side on the cinderblock, so it wasn't on her side. Shortly after a older white car pulled in her drive and stayed for several hours- I assume she had hired someone to work. She works all summer in a large garden and sends stuff to a daughter to sell in the city. She also has a steady stream of visitors at her door, mostly on weekends and we finally found out she makes homemade vodka that she sells. I guess she is a good representative of the older Ukrainian woman- widowed and finding ways to supplement the small pension from the government.