Bulgaria Update

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It is getting colder in Bulgaria, but even though the leaves are all starting to fall to the ground it is still just as beautiful as colorful trees. The rolling hills, trees, villages, and back roads have Chris and I driving and driving, just wanting to see more. Each village has such an individual personality, and the houses vary in slight ways from village to village. We are now staying in a village about 6 km from the last village we were staying at. It is a very small village named Osikovo, with a single road in and out. Every morning at exactly 8:30 one of the villagers walks the goats of the village that he 'nannies' past our door and into the hills for food, water, and roaming space. It is a simple, yet very foreign way of life compared to anything we have seen in the states. As winter closes in huge piles of wood appear in front of houses and slowly you see more and more people out cutting and storing away wood for the winter. Many houses go through anywhere from 5-10 tons of wood a winter, and wood stoves are all that is used aside from a rare electric heater in a house that can afford it. Villages thrive on supplying themselves and the nearby villages with what everyone needs. Bulgaria itself is very proud of the fact that it does not import much, if anything, and is much more involved with exporting goods as well as supplying itself with its own goods. Springs are clattered all over the country side as well as in ALL the villages. And the natural water springs are never barren of people! It is a gorgeous site, we love the springs here.
Almost every house has its own garden and animals that provide them with the bulk of their food, and what people don't have they trade among themselves for. Bartering is very huge in the villages, trading your home grown tomatoes for a bit of cnpnhe (pronounced "Seer-i-neigh") which is goats cheese, is much more common then paying for it. Walnuts are in abundance everywhere, and every tree that is not on personal property (and sometimes even the ones that are) is free game for anyone gathering walnuts, which is most of all the villages. There is a tree right outside from the land we are watching over and about twice maybe three times a day people come by with bags searching for fallen walnuts. Here in the villages the residents collect walnuts and sell them for 1-2 Lev (Bulgarian Dollar) a kilo, which works out to equalling roughly 50 cents to a dollar U.S. money. A friend of ours who also lives in Osikovo takes care of his Baba (Grandma) and his cousin by collecting walnuts, finding odd jobs around the village, and cutting and stacking wood for people. He comes by regularly and gives us Bulgarian “lessons”, drinks beer, and teaches us little things about the nearby villages and villagers.
Chris and I have enjoys the local wine and beer, home made and store bought. Beer here is dirt cheap and rather good so we have had to restrain ourselves and practice self-control :D.
As for the kids Soeren is loving all the animals that he sees EVERYWHERE and is learning Bulgarian as well as expanding his ever growing english, the Bulgarians and English folks that know him call his language 'Soerenski'. Ave is growing like crazy and took three steps on her own the other day! She is loving all the friendly Babas and guys the love to pick her up, give her massive amounts of attention, and talk nonsense to her.

I will update more as soon as we have a more steady supply of internet. Which will be within the next month or so, fingers crossed!Photos on Facebook!