With Maxim gone (home to see his family for Paska (Easter) there was a rapping on our window at 4:30 in the morning. I poked Garry- he went outside thinking there was a problem with a sick cow (the ladies are out starting the morning milking) but it was Oleg number one wanting to buy milk for the market sales so he'd be in the city early. Apparently this is the biggest sale days of the year, just before Easter, for the making of Paska bread. By the way, Oleg's current problem with the government inspectors is over- the employee died from a heart attack, he was not electocuted. He is still thinking of quitting the business because of the problems with inspectors (Victor says most inspectors come around before the major holidays to raise funds.)
So Garry decided to spread more manure before the inspector came since it was getting light. He did this until his toes were too cold (around 7?). I followed the fate of the Flyer final 10 minutes of losing to Buffalo via the internet- the sports channel seems to really like the Rangers-Washington series- I've at seen least one game of every NHL matchup except the Predators vs. the Ducks and of course my team the Flyers. It was frosty outside in the morning- good thing I didn't plant Garry's super tomato plants he bought at the market last week. Then he went back out to do more, coming back in when he broke the dump trailer- something about how there should be something to keep them from lifting too far--it will need welding.
The boys were hard at work on schoolwork by 8:30 (we officially start around 9) and I was busy (with the assistance of the cats) with a little crochet project I hope to send along to Canada for Havi's birthday- people are heading to Canada next week. Victor got here by 9:30 (still no inspector- the paper in the mailbox Maxim read said Thursday at 9) and helped Garry with stuff at the barn. They came in for tea around 10 am, and talked about what happened while Victor was away with the orphanage team from Canada that had worked in Kirva Rog and the merits of fences. gates and locks to keep out inspectors. Victor also said that the De Laval guys had called him last Thursday when everyone was gone but me and said that there was an inspector there . Then they were off for more work while I worked on dinner. The boys brought the kittens inside to play while they did math and science.
After an all-American lunch - hamburgers, potato salad and corn from the garden (frozen from last summer.) Garry had to go to the city for a dentist appointment, and to drop off their weekly milk purchase- (only 20 liters this week) and I went along to pick up groceries (and candy- the only things for sale here like Easter candy at home were regular peanut M and Ms and kindersurprise eggs and gummy things) He got back to the store sooner than I expected- sneaking up behind me in the cold meat room, so we finished shopping and he told me that our son Josh had called while he was waiting at the dentist.
We drove home, unloaded groceries (Garry took a 20 minute nap- he's not used to such short nights) and Victor told me he tried to work in the strawberry patch but the ground was like cement (the sun and wind had baked the top layer) Garry said he was going to get the boys to help feed the cows, but they got out or it because Victor helped instead.
I made pancakes for the slightly delayed pancake and McGyver night (normally Tuesday or Wednesday) and put them in the oven to stay warm. Victor read the letter (the guys had put in the milkhouse) and discovered that they had wanted him to come to their office to discuss the fine instead at 9 o'clock. All that manure spreading for nothing (at least its done- Garry said it was too wet to do earlier to prevent complaints about mud on the road- some things are the same as Canada, but I don't think anyone worries about piles of manure on the road when the cows are heading for pasture!)
So everything was put off for another day, so they loaded milk in the van to go back for Victor's neighbours to buy. About 7:30 pm we sat down to pancakes and season 4 episode Blood Brothers which had a familiar looking teenager- turned out he went on to star in the original 90210. I finished the last point of a purple crown- the girls love dress-up, and grandma misses them.
Garry showered and headed to bed at nine because Oleg was going to be back for more milk at 4:30 again in the morning.
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