Best Gifts Ever

A close high school friend of mine asked me to photograph him and his brothers a couple of weeks before Christmas. The boys wanted to present some nice photographs to their mom as a Christmas gift. The photoshoot was very informal. It was quick and in the fog, literally. The boys organized the prints into various frames themselves.

After Christmas, my friend contacted me and said that when his mom opened the gift she was so happy that she teared up. She said it was the best gift of the season, even beating out the Kindle her husband bought for her.

I was a VERY frequent visitor in their home during high school, so I was glad that "mom" enjoyed the gift.
My favorite gifts this year were the hats my sister knitted for me and Lucas. They are SO beautiful and comfortable. I love the yarn she chose and the colors.


And the gorgeous quilt my mother-in-law gave me and my husband (technically it was a late wedding gift). The details are so intricate and I absolutely love the fabrics she chose. I can only imagine the hours of work she put into it. (I will take and post a photo tomorrow)

The best gifts are things that people can't buy for themselves no matter how much money they have. You can't buy a thoughtful gift of photos that your sons think of and prepare especially for you. Or a handmade hat that your sister makes with love for you and your son. Or the quilt made with love as a wedding gift that I will be telling my own grandkids about. These are the best gifts.

Oh White People

I was not excited to see Avatar. Why? Probably because I'm not much into sci fi and violence and I generally don't enjoy movies over two hours long. I wanted to be open minded and earn some cool points with my husband so I went (and was the only female member of the family to do so).

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the movie. The three hours flew by and I was glued. It was generally entertaining, interesting, and technologically impressive.

However, on our drive home from the movie, my husband, brother-in-law and I started poking holes in the plot, discovering a few loose ends, and commenting on how the natives of Pandora undeliably and obviously resembled Native Americans.

Talking about Native Americans is a very sore topic for me. During the discussions I usually get unreasonable, passionate, and even angry. As a kid, growing up in Ukraine, I had only a few images of what these "Indians" are like: sharp hunters, respecters of nature, chanting, running, feather wearing, dancing around the fire, riding horses, independent, couragous, loyal. Yet when I first moved to the US as a 12 year old I lived in Rapid City and my image of "Indians" was totally blown. All I saw was drunken, homeless, and hopeless people sitting on the ground, leaning against the walls of the local "Super Duper Market". This reality shock has had a lasting effect on me. I know that I too am white and I am embarrassed and sorry about some of the things white people have done, but I also come from a people that have been oppressed; our language and customs almost wiped out. It's not a fair comparison by any means... but still, I feel so horrible about all that was done to Native Americans.

What rubbed me the wrong way about Avatar was that although Sully, the main character who is human (and white), does respect and love the "natives", he ultimately becomes their most courageous and powerful leader. Awesome. Once again, the white guy is the saviour of the colored people. AND he gets the hottest, coolest girl.

Last minute gift ideas

If you are looking for a last minute gift idea for a woman in your life, let me suggest a year subscription to Real Simple magazine. My sister got it for me last year and I cannot tell you enough how much I have enjoyed it. It is full of helpful suggestions, interesting products, yummy recipes, absolutely beautiful photographs of everything, articles I truly enjoy, and inspiring quotations. I look forward to receiving it each month. What low cost gift have you enjoyed in the last few years?

I suggest buying the current copy of the magazine at the news stand and including a nicely printed or written card in it telling the recipient that they can expect a new copy each month and why you think they'd enjoy it.


And these chocolates, Ferrero Rondnoir. My dad gave me a box for my son's birthday and they are SO delicious! Much more tasty, in my opinion, than the classic Ferrero Rocher. Can be found at most grocery stores.

I hope you have been good this year!

A Ukrainian holiday stamp showing St. Nicholas and children.

As a child, one of the most anticipated days of the year was St. Nicholas' Day, December sixth (19th in the old calendar). In Ukraine, tradition has it that a long time ago there was a rich young man who had a very generous heart. Once a year he gathered all kinds of wonderful toys and treats and load them into a huge sack. Then, in the middle of the night (tonight!), he visited the poor children of the neighboring villages and secretly put goodies under their pillows. The children then woke up to wonderful surprises (if they were good, of course, if not, they received twigs).

Now, I don't know the logistics of breaking and entering, but as a child I was sure that he was real. How else, if not magic (or a saint), could anyone lift my pillow in the middle of the night, slip presents under it, yet not wake me up? Oh, it was so wonderful.

I know that there are many other traditions surrounding St. Nicholas (some where children leave out a shoe by the door to be filled with presents... I much prefer the pillow area, as it can accommodate a larger gift than a shoe -- I have small feet). And he was, of course, the model for the modern Santa Claus (from Dutch Sinterklaas).

I wonder what he'll bring Lucas tonight!

From fam

From fam

Happy St. Nicholas Day to all! If you haven't lately, try giving an anonymous gift to someone, it feels so good.

We will live by Communism!

I just started organizing and restoring some of my parents' old photos. This one is a classic. My grandpa is in the foreground with a cynical smile and my dad, probably no more than two years old, riding on his shoulders. Every year each town had a huge parade on my birthday, November 7th (as a kid I thought it was for me), to commemorate the Russian revolution and celebrate the wonderful life papa Lenin and communism brought.

From fam

I hope you enjoy these. Maybe I'll post more as I work on them.