To Andrey- happy father's day

To Dad From Mom on Father's Day
I'm sure, like me, you often feel
When all is said and done
The job of raising kids today
Is not an easy one.

I'm glad you're there beside me
To counsel and advise
And help me find the answers
To their never ending "whys?"

I'd be lost without your shoulders
So much broader than my own
To lean upon when problems
Seem to big to solve alone.
As long as we're together
We can weather storm and strife
And take in stride the ups and downs
That go with family life.

And someday when our little ones
Are old enough to stand
Straight and tall without the need
Of any helping hand -

We won't recall how hard it was
We'll just be proud and glad
We happened to be chosen
For the roles of Mom and Dad!

Happy Fathers day!

Who's the Boss?
While having their evening dinner together, a little girl looked up at her father and asked, "Daddy, you're the boss in our family, right?" The father was very pleased to hear it and confidently replied, "Yes my little princess." The girl then continued, "That's because mommy put you in charge, right?"


The Drink Of Water
A small boy is sent to bed by his father.
Five minutes later...."Da-ad...."
"What?"
"I'm thirsty. Can you bring a drink of water?"
"No. You had your chance. Lights out."
Five minutes later:"Da-aaaad....."
"WHAT?"
"I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??"
"I told you NO!" If you ask again, I'll have to spank you!!"
Five minutes later......"Daaaa-aaaad....."
"WHAT!"
"When you come in to spank me, can you bring a drink of water?"


Today nearly 100 years have elapsed since the first father's Day was celebrated. Fathers of 1900 didn't have it nearly as good as fathers of today; but they did have a few advantages:
In 1900, fathers prayed their children would learn English.
Today, fathers pray their children will speak English.

In 1900, a father's horsepower meant his horses.
Today, it's the size of his minivan.

In 1900, if a father put a roof over his family's head, he was a success. Today, it takes a roof, deck, pool, and 4-car garage. And that's just the vacation home.

In 1900, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived. Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and make sure film is in the video camera.

In 1900, fathers passed on clothing to their sons. Today, kids wouldn't touch Dad's clothes if they were sliding naked down an icicle.

In 1900, fathers could count on children to join the family business. Today, fathers pray their kids will soon come home from college long enough to teach them how to work the computer and set the VCR.

In 1900, a father smoked a pipe.
If he tries that today, he gets sent outside after a lecture on throat cancer.

In 1900, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, "Wake up, it's time for school."
Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 4 a.m., shouting: "Wake up, it's time for baseball practice."

In 1900, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table.
Today, a father comes home to a note: "Jimmy's at baseball, Cindy's at gymnastics, I'm at adult-Ed, Pizza in fridge."

In 1900, fathers and sons would have heart-to-heart conversations

while fishing in a stream.
Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons' ears and shout, "WHEN YOU HAVE A


The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get. -Tim Russert

My borcht recipe

I lived in Ukraine for 11 years, and so I learned to make borcht. The one I make now evolved from many different ones I was shown how to make, and from personal experimenting. I am happy to have had so many people show me their variation.

Ingredients:
Makes a medium size pot (6 liters)
1 kg of beef w/ bone (or 2 big chicken legs)
1/2 cup white beans (soak for 2-3 hours)
1 big beet root
5 medium potatoes
1 big carrot
1 big onion
1/2 medium head cabbage
1/2 big red bell pepper
2 bay leaves
3 peppercorns
3 spoons tomato paste
1 can crushed tomato (or equivalent is chopped fresh tomatoes)
5 heads garlic (you can use less)
100 grams salted salo (pig fat)
dill
1 cup sour cream


Cut the meat into pieces, put them in the pot & fill with water. Put it on high heat til it starts to boil, then lower the heat. Skim off any foam from the surface. Add beans & cover to cook for @ 30 min. Peel the beet, cut in half & put into the pot. Continue cooking.

Take the beets out after @ 30 min (the meat can just continue to cook on low heat). Put on a plate to cool off, while you peel & grate the carrot, chop onion, thinkly slice bell pepper, and 3 heards of garlic. Fry with sunflower or vegetable oil til the onions are done. Take the frying pan off the heat. Grate the beets & add to the frying pan. Put back on the heat & fry together, adding the tomato paste and crushed tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes). Put all of this into the pot.

Peel potatoes & add to pot, add bay leaves. Fill a little water in the pot if necessary (the soup level at this point should be about 5 cm from the top of the pot). Thinly slice the cabbage (thinly!), add in the pot. Slow cook about 7 min. Turn off the heat (check first that the potatoes are cooked).

Now the final finishing touch. Cut the salted salo into tiny cubes. Chop the remaining 2 heads of garlic and the dill. Grind together. Add to cooked borcht. Wait 10 min. Now it's ready to serve. Add a spoon of sour cream to your bowl of borcht. Serve bread along side.
Enjoy!