Although this is a really quiet neck of the world, I wore earplugs to bed, because I know, I KNOW, roosters like to fire up around 4am (if they wait that long to "introduce the dawn"). Even through earplugs, I could hear them faintly at 4am, like an announcement: Cock-a-doodle-do, dawn is coming (hours away!). That's okay, it wasn't annoying. Nevertheless, I was up early anyway. With Jimmy sleeping, I eased out before sunrise to savor the perfect peace that comes before the world awakens. I was surprised to see Ibby out, too, doing the same thing.
I don't know if we decided to go for a walk, or if the walking just happened, but we made our way outside the gate and onto the narrow sidewalk, and we kept on going. We looked at houses, talked about styles and yards, gazed at gardens, and ambled along. Before long, the sun peeked over the horizon and through the trees.
Clockwise from top left: 1884, 1897, 1901, 1902, and 1899
Karanac is a small multi-ethnic community in far eastern Croatia (not far from the Hungarian border), with Croats, Hungarians, Serbs, Germans and Gypsies, according to a handout we received, with three churches (Catholic, Orthodox, and Reformed Protestant). You see a few houses above, representative of the entire town, all of them neat and tidy, and many boast beautiful and productive gardens. This is certainly a rural area; Karanac's population is only 1065.
Not sure what it says,
but the tall poster guy might be welcoming people to Karanac!
Back at the house, breakfast was underway, and it was a group effort. Everyone helped; very democratic! Lilly returned to show us how to unmold yesterday's cheese (that we made), which is what Ibby is doing, above. You see our little soft cheeses, below. I tell you they were pretty tasty, altho I preferred the one without the hot pepper bits. Added to the cheeses were fry bread, eggs, dried meats, jams, juices, fresh sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and probably more that I'm forgetting. We ate well, and when we were finished, we carried our empty plates to the tiny kitchen.
Carrying the fry bread to the tables.
Afterward, the group convened outside to chop veggies that will go into bean pots for our lunch, using the beans we shelled yesterday that were soaked overnight. Carrots, parsnips, potatoes, onions, and then the leftover debris went into the compost pile.
Check out these dudes!
Homemade tomato juice was another ingredient, and a tablespoon or so of Goca's own paprika. She put it in large pots on a fire that reached only one side of the pots. You see the finished product in my lunch bowl. Truly, it was delicious.
Hope springs eternal, you know. Mario is slicing meat for lunch. Look who's hoping some of that meat will accidentally hit the bricks! Mom and junior.
While the pots simmered on the open fire, Daniel, the pottery master, came to his studio onsite to give the group of 14 a demonstration on how to use the wheel. He uses local clay, and, oh, he made it look so easy! In a matter of minutes, he produced the pretty bowl, bottom right. He gave us a chance to make something crafty, too. I chose not to ('cause working with clay turns my hands into the Sahara Desert). It was fun watching the others as each earnestly made his/her own interpretation of art.
Bernice and Jimmy are visible at left, Renee and Suzanne at right.
Here you see their creations.
Jimmy's boots are second from left, bottom row.
Chores finished, art lesson over, it was time for more fun. Mario hopped on a tractor of sorts, with a cart attached and drove down the road a bit. Dennis (the "Mennace") in apron, above, hopped in the cart and together they "roared" through town, kinda! Dennis is a first-rate entertainer, loves to be around people and likes to make them happy. He's a natural, lovable clown.
Ah, the other doggie, who might spend all day like this, getting a belly rub.
It was time for a group walkabout, beginning under spreading chestnut trees, to learn and discover a thing or two. We didn't go far, just made a large block, past neighbors' homes, in front of the Catholic church, and out into the mown fields. With the influx of OAT and groups like ours, my thought is the village is much better off economically. Lilly sells her cheeses, and she and Goca also make their own soaps, and many of us bought a personalized chunk or two. I made sure to get a baggie of Goca and Dennis' fresh paprika. Jimmy and I like being a part of a community like this, even if it's only in a small way.
Now we know what Hazelnut trees look like.
Part of a fairly good-sized flock of chickens on the farmstead.
Making my way toward our room.
Time to gather our belongings.
Making my way toward our room.
Time to gather our belongings.
Lunch was a great success; our bean and veggie stew passed the "excellent" test. (I'm going to try to duplicate it at home). After we ate, it was time to bid our hosts thank you and adios. Dennis is a menace, and he loves his role as head of this enterprising family. Goca is hard-working and a sweet woman, happy with her choices (I think). Together they make quite a team (married 29 years, and you should've heard the stories about that!).
A photo of a group picture. L-R: back row: Jimmy, Mario, Melissa, Ibby, Jack, Renee and Don. Front, Ronnie, me, Goca, Neel, Courtney, Ann, Bernice, Susan, and Suzanne. Speaking for myself and Jimmy (and possibly for the group), we had a wonderful time in the country. Thanks for everything, Dennis and Goca. May you continue to prosper and enjoy life.
Ahhh, back on the bus around 1/ish heading overland for Zagreb, Croatia's modern capital. We're also looking forward to seeing this city ... Mario says we'll like it. He's prejudiced, though, it's his home, but I suspect he's right. We'll like it.
Ahhh, back on the bus around 1/ish heading overland for Zagreb, Croatia's modern capital. We're also looking forward to seeing this city ... Mario says we'll like it. He's prejudiced, though, it's his home, but I suspect he's right. We'll like it.
