Pickle time!

Pickle time is slowly starting in Azerbaijan. Vine leaves have already been pickled for dolma (will need to write about dolma in future) and other fruits and vegetables also rush to be eaten, pickled and preserved :)

Here is picture I took in Sheki bazaar with jars of pickled, marinated and preserved products for those women who don't have time/desire to do things on their own (few in the regions, many more in the capital :)

Have you ever seen white cucumber? :)

Let me boast of this sort of cucumber but I just know that Sheki people prefer it to green ones :) We, people from Sheki often may find ourselves boasting that white cucumbers grow only in Sheki :) I do not know if this is true but it doesn’t grow anywhere else in Azerbaijan and I am not sure about the rest of the world. Have you ever seen/come across? It would be interesting to know. I don’t know the origin of this sort of cucumber but I just know that Sheki people prefer it as white cucumber’s skin is thinner and more gentle…they prefer to pickle white cucumber instead of green one as well and in general Sheki people go for white cucumber :)

Today I am proud :) to post pictures of Sheki white cucumber :)

Photo session from Sheki bazaar...I (one)

People in Sheki do not go to supermarkets for major grocery shopping. For that they go to bazaar. Usually they do that on Sundays. During my last trip I also went to bazaar and took some photos (in addition to shopping:) that I thought I would share with you.

Lets start from nuts, raisins and like products...

Have you ever tried mulberry?

Have you ever tried mulberry? (I found this word in dictionary only today as I have never used this word in English before!) Blogging is educating me further ;)

Starting end May (until end June) everyone in Azerbaijan is getting ready for mulberry season. Mulberry is considered as a very healthy product for heart and body in general therefore everyone is waiting impatiently when mulberries get ripen. Mulberry can be white and black...black is also very rich and is excellent for blood, immune system and as a natural vitamin.

In our garden in Sheki we have white mulberry tree. My father is ready to travel 360 km to Sheki in order to enjoy mulberries...Mulberries grow in Baku too of course but he just enjoys going back to his garden...:)

Today I am posting photos that I took when he was gathering for everyone mulberries while we were in Sheki...

Mulberries...closer look...

Can you see mulberry on the tree?

Mulberry tree...

On my way to Sheki...

I am just back from Sheki. Thanks to blogging I am rediscovering everything that I saw so many times before…and this is fantastic!

Today I am posting two photos that I took on my way to Sheki… I have another nice photo but that will come tomorrow…be patient…

isn’t this beautiful?!...I don’t think more words are necessary…:)

Sheki fortress wall

We are having a long weekend this week and I hope to be able to go to Sheki (I reside in Baku) and bring lots of new photos! :) This photo is also fresh and taken by Autumn (please see below post). This is Sheki fortress wall. The thought that comes into my mind every time I see a fortress or any grand construction built many centuries ago is that people were/are able to build with their bare hands anything. Amazing...Many people must have sacrificed their health for these constructions...But it shows that quite often people pass away...memories about them vanish with time...but things they create live for much longer...

Have a good day...

Amenities of blogging

Dear All, today I am posting two photos.

One photo is with wonderful young lady, Autumn Cutter from Seattle, USA who is visiting Baku for forum and who found me via this blog. Isn't this amazing? She has also visited Sheki when travelling back from Georgia. Isn't it amazing (I won't be tired of asking :) to see how internet can connect people and how people residing so far away can meet up and spend great evening together. I think it is amazing!! :) The view behind us is Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Second photo is the photo that Autumn took in Sheki. I like the idea that horse and jeep are sharing the same road and seems like both the drivers of horse and the car feel quite comfortable!! Colourful XXI century in Sheki :)

...Thank you and forwarding the award...

Don't you think that this picture is beautiful! I have taken it from Farida's Azerbaijani Cookbook, excellent blog on cuisine and cooking with professional descriptions and amazing photos. When one reads through Farida's blog desire awakens to prepare something beautiful and delicious...I am not telling all of this in order to subjectively praise Farida and thank her wholeheartedly for "Thoughtful Blogger Award" she has passed me...but because I am truly fascinated by her passion and skilfulness. Please make sure to visit her blog and enjoy beautiful recipes that she shares with us from US. Farida will soon publish a book in US with her wonderful recipes. I am wishing her the best of luck with her project.

Today I am passing "Thoughtful Blogger Award" below, to Abraham Lincoln, who keeps an amazing blog on Brookville, USA. His wisdom, professional photos and writing is a continuous inspiration to many people, including me. Thank you for being who you are, Abraham, and thank you for your continuous support and guidance to my young blog. It is my pleasure to give you today my small token of respect with this modest award. My best wishes to your spouse, Pat.

...Good influence...

Have you ever noticed that when someone interacts with a positive person this influences positively the other person. Maybe not long term but at least for awhile. Positive, kind, happy influence creates a chance for the other person to also be/behave better and vice a versa when someone interacts with someone greedy, negative, nervous, envious, one can notice unpleasant changes in the person close with the negative person as well. I am not sure if I was able to write what I meant...sorry if this is too confusing...

This is a picture of a cappuccino cup that I was served at Kiev airport in Ukraine. When waiter brought the cup I saw that he drew a heart on cappuccino. That was nice :) It had a positive, nice effect/influence on me :) Today I decided to share this nice gesture with you, my dear readers.

Have a nice day.