Photos

This was taken in the kitchen, at a dacha in the family. The location was in Dubochki, at 30 miles (50 km) southwest of St. Petersburg. Many of the things in the photo came from the immediate area: the flowers, the cucumbers, the radishes, and the compote. The dinnerware looks as if it has a history, even a look of exile from the city. The walls are of pine boards, and a forest dominated by tall, slender pine trees was only a short walk from this kitchen. The vegetables, I might add, were much more tasty than what I get from supermarkets in America. The summer nights were usually cool enough to enjoy a fire, and filled with chirping crickets, barking dogs, and an abundance of stars (unobscured by city lights). At worst, if overcome by the tedium of these summer visits, I could look forward to the train ride back to St. Petersburg. But, even when people returned, they often had something to bring back: freshly picked flowers, vegetables, or a basket of mushrooms.