Busy Saturday

The students with their teacher and Garry and John in the back row

Garry and I, with his brother John, who is visiting us, headed to Dnepropetroesk to talk to Lena's English classes today. Since John and Garry had put together a simple launcher for paper rockets ( John took it with him when he visited an orphanage in Donestk earlier this week) They had assembled some rockets this morning before breakfast with tape and computer printing paper, while I looked for a craft with a space theme on the internet.

After talking and making the paper airplane-like space shuttles- I had only printed out about 20 and we had a much bigger group than other months we came, about 30 kids, so some did not get one to make- we went outside to shoot some rockets off.

Garry and John set up and test one

Where did it go?

Dima takes a turn pumping up the pressure 

I got it !
They had as much fun chasing them down as firing them off

Where is it? 

Lots of kids wanted to pump the hand bicycle type pump

The guys sitting on the ground in red took over firing them off
by touching the wires to the battery

This guy pumped with his space shuttle in his hand

 After the kids had a snack party and then Lena had invited us to come see some of the Europe Days activities downtown, We followed her to Shevchenko Park, where there were many displays, crafts for sale, music and people in costume. Lena's two sons came with her, the little guy Maxim, will be two in September.

Little Maxim

No ramp for strollers 

There were guys playing chess at tables in the park

Hands on clay class

Garry and his brother John 

wheat weaving

Lena has one of the sweet bread baked on a stick
 they sell at these events- it tastes like a cookie

Dressed as a Cossack

The city of Nikopol (not to be confused with our village of Nikolipolia)
 had English on their display also

Wondering what they make in this region of Ukraine?
Us too!

These ladies sang and had matching outfits with red boots-
 the gentleman played accordion

There was a large police presence and guys patrolling with dogs, too, due to last month's bombings I assume

These ladies were selling the bread on a stick 

Ready for Euro 2012

We stopped at the grocery store on the way home, I noticed we were running low when I got home on Wednesday! When we got back the village, Garry discovered Maxim was baling the hay for the guy at the corner, and our hay that was cut on Tuesday (part of the field- they have been bringing some home to feed the cows everyday) was being raked. So he came in with the groceries, changed and they baled it up. Only broke one bale, it fell off the wagon and hit the wagon tongue, maybe that pricey used baler was worth it! Maxim went to work cutting the rest of the field down, with any luck they will get it in without getting rained on. The bales from today will be fed in the next couple weeks, since they are a little wet. At least they won't have to pick up the stuff they cut everyday with pitchforks, like they have been doing to feed the cows.