And Then There Were None...

Agatha Christie...Talanted and, definitely, not an average person.

I can honestly say that Lady Agatha is my all-time favourite writer for sure.

I found out about her and her works when I was pretty young, I think I was still going to the kindergarten. I was watching the movies based on her novels with my BIG BIG family not quite understanding what's going on there. When I grew a bit I became interested in different kind of puzzles, secrets, detective stories...One world: quests. That was the time when I got back to Agatha Christie's bibliography.

The first novel by "The Queen of Detectives" that I read was The Mysterious Affair at Styles

and than the "obsession" started.

I love most of her works, I have some that I single out...But my most favourite novel is, definitely, "And Than There Were None" (Ten Little Niggers).

I read it when I was 13. I still remember the process. I was home alone, laying on the sofa, the weather outside was severe. I was really scared, I had the feeling that something horrible is happening behind my back, goosebumps all over my body...Yeah, although I was at home, the atmosphere was creepy. But all this feelings didn't prevent me from reading the book. Maybe they even made me finish it as soon as possible:  it was too interesting to pause.

I find "And Than There Were None..." genius and I don't pitch it strong. 

First of all, I love the "Locked room" detective stories. There is always an opportunity for the reader to pursue his own investigation (I mean this is why I love reading that kind of stories) . The plot is simple and extraordinary in the same time. The characters are so different. I feel like they're alive...I feel their fear, confusion, suspicion. But I don't like them as people...Who would like cruel people or murderers? 

Lady Agatha loved using the nursery rhymes in her stories. This one is no exception. And the way she used the "Ten Little Soldiers" makes the novel even more interesting and exciting. Killing the way it's said in the rhyme was the most shocking part.

Did I have my own suspect? Yes. I think all the characters where my suspects through the story. Several times I even thought that there is a stranger on the island. In the end when there were 3 people left I thought "Where all this murders supernatural?! No way, it's Agatha Christie! I'm sure she has and explanation!" When there was only Vera left...well, all I can say it was a massive brain attack! :D I was super confused, I couldn't understand what just happend...I thought that maybe I've omited some very important details! But the letter in the end made everything clear...At the begining everything seemed impossible, in the end - extreamly simple! That's what I call genius! Show me one person who would tell you that the "serial killer" was Justice Lawrence John Wargrave, especially after he died in the middle of the novel...So...

The ending was super unexpected, mind-blowing, ingenious...And really creepy (Walking Dead,huh?).

And special "Bravo!" for the details. 

Bon Appétit

On 15th August Julia Child, a famous American chef who brang French cuisine to American public, had a birthday. Thank you, Mr Google for telling me this fact. :)
That's why I decided to view some of her recepies and even try them in my free time.

But before that I remembered one nice period of my life.

It was last year, I think in August,  when there we REALLY BIG fires in Russia. Because of the smoke me and one of my best friends were stuck at home (well, noone would like to go out, right?). We were sooo bored because, basicly, what can you do in summer AT HOME? Right.
So one day, my friend (that ADORES cooking sweet things but never it them) offered me a cooking session - one week cooking something new everyday! That was a great idea and was pretty original as I've never had something like this.

So here are some photos (don't have all the week-photos):

1) Pie with cherry jam

After that my friend got a proposal for marriege. That means the pie was delicious!

2) Banitsa - traditional Bulgarian food!

Wup, now I'm a proud Bulgarian woman because I know how to cook this one! :)

3) Russian Honey cake "Medovik"

4) HOME-MADE pasta 

So proud of it!

Had to use my dad's white wine..oops.

My dad didn't even understand it was home-made. He thought we bought it. I guess, it means "nice work, girls!".

P.S If you really want to cook your home-made pasta...

...but it doesn't dry quickly...

...you can always try some wonderful equipment...like hair dryer!

It worked great for me :)

And I will always love you...

Good movie night + good music..What can be better? 

Enchanted by the movie, Whitney Houston's voice (again) and Kevin Costner.

Song of the day\night\week\month\year - obvioulsy "I will always love you" by Whitney Houston.

There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Few weeks ago I was spending my weekend with all my relatives in our "dacha" (Russian countryside house). The weather was amazing - sunny, not hot but warm enough, with just few clouds in the blue sky. That's why we decided to spend our evening outside, on our green field between the apple trees. As real Russians we have our own tea drinking ceremony (I even made a big biscuit cake :) ). When we got out m grandfather decided finally to teach me the art of making a tea in Samovar.

So basicly, Samovar (Rus: самовар) is a Russian traditional metal container that is used for boiling water and making tea. The samovar is, in some way, a symbol of Russian traditional life. First historical record about Samovar was in 1778 when Lisitsyn brothers registrated the first Samovar-making factory.

A traditional samovar consists of a large metal container with a faucet near the bottom and a metal pipe running vertically through the middle. 

Now there are new types of samovars like electric or kerosine samovars but we like the traditional ones like the one we have.

So, what new did I learn and what facts did the lesson recall about samovars that day...

1) Always put pipe so the output doesn't face the wind...Pretty logical, huh?

2) First you start the fire by burning old newspapers (Yes! Real Samovars work ONLY with old newspapers :D...Ok, ok, you can use any paper thet burns well). And don't put anything before the fire is steady!

3) After that you throw  lots cones in the pipe and run far away beacuse fast and dense smoke starts running out from the pipe. Or just place a chair behind the pipe, sit there and hope that the wind won't bother you. :) 

4) When the water is boiled, put your favourite tea herbes (mine is jasmine with mint) in the cup, cover them with hot water. 

5) Better to drink the tea from the sauser (Granny's method, as I call it) A) it cools faster B) It's much more delicious! :)

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~Author Unknown