Enchanting Autumn in My City (and latest update)

Hello there! It's been a long time since I posted last. Almost 2 months.

Posting is always about sharing something. Thoughts, feelings, memories, photos. And always – energy. For these two months, I’ve been saving that energy for myself.

After our wonderful holiday in the Carpathians ended, my husband returned to military service and received a new, deeply worrying posting. Then came long weeks of preparations and packing, unlike anything we’d done before. After he left, I was left alone with the solitude, the gloomy rainy sky, a cold flat, and power outages. And the realisation that he won't be back before Christmas, and I'll see in the New Year without him, too.

I’ve stopped including the constant nightly shelling in this list a long time ago, but it hasn't stopped. Two days ago, a Russian missile hit a huge warehouse here in Kyiv belonging to a Ukrainian pharmaceutical company. Is that a legitimate military target? Absolutely not.

I'm going to say something that not everyone will be pleased to hear. Ukraine is my home. Our home. We did not start this war, nor did we provoke it. And we will fight for our home, for our land, and we will not give up a single metre of it. The longer this war goes on, the more I want, not peace at any cost, but to find a suitable position where I can be useful and join the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

War is not a boxing ring, where both athletes entered voluntarily. In war, there is an aggressor who attacked, and there is a country that is defending itself. Full stop. If you don't understand this, keep scrolling. If you hugged Russians at HiveFest or anywhere else – skip this post. I do not want your comments or upvotes.

Alright. For those of you who are still here and reading on, I want to share today's incredibly beautiful, sunny autumn day.

Autumn in Ukraine is stunningly beautiful. No matter where you go, you will be enchanted by the beauty of nature, the variety of colours, and the deep blue sky. We haven't had a sunny day in such a long time. That’s why it seems all the city dwellers poured out into the streets today – they were walking, taking photos, admiring the bright colours and the falling leaves. So do I. 😊

As soon as the sun came out, I went for a walk in the park near my home. There were many people with children and dogs on the central avenues. But if you take a path deeper into the woods, you can see incredible beauty. And if you stop anywhere, within a minute you will definitely notice a squirrel. There are so many of them here.

A walnut tree grows outside my windows. Before the cold weather set in, I constantly saw squirrels from my window. They were plucking the walnuts, inspecting them to see if they were good, and... trying to hide them somewhere. Often – burying them in the ground, under the tree or in a corner.

Yesterday, after a tough night, I spent half the day in bed, skipped the farmer's market, and didn't cook anything. So today, having worked up a good appetite, I bought some fruit, and for the main meal, I went to a nearby café that serves Middle Eastern and Asian dishes. I've lived here for so long, but I'd never been there. My neighbour highly recommended their food. So, I ordered Plov and Shurpa to go.

Shurpa is the perfect soup for cold days. It's made with large pieces of lamb, whole or coarsely chopped vegetables — potatoes, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, and onions — and spices. The clear, rich broth and big chunks of meat and vegetables – it's a dish fit for the gods. Why did I only come here today?? What’s more, their prices are very affordable.

In the evening, I got a call from my husband. They had problems with connection and electricity today, and he hadn’t slept much, so the conversation was short. But every time I hear his voice, my heart feels warm and cosy. Sweet dreams, my love.

I'm glad we made it to the end together. For me, this post is a small achievement and a victory over apathy and darkness. Big Day. And a proof that I am alive, safe and sound. Thank you for your support and for still reading me.

The final touch: this is my favourite song of the season 👉 Maple Leaf Rag