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19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Old Russian-style houses of village Barantsevo april 2021 Nikon D7500 13

On Saturday the 17th, 2021 I was inspired by an excellent weather conditions near the city of Chekhov, where the famous Russian writer worked as a doctor and lived. These places are well-known for typical Russian flora, which starts to wake up from winter and bloom early in spring: snowdrops, daffodils, and crocuses. Later, the lilac bushes bloom in all colors and shades-planted in rows in the alleys with sweet fragrance with ambrosial enticing intoxicating notes. But not only blooming flowers “catch” the eyes, also houses in old-Russian style with the sense of well-planned household, reminding us of totally different from ours lifestyle – much more challenging and requiring lots of physical strength: when one had to bring water from the public well by the road; the water closet was usually located outside of the house; big barn full of cattle (horses, cows, sheep, pigs), hay and firewood was built near the house with the garden at the back of the house and the yard full of flowers with swings and seesaw at the front. Those with chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits had many mobile grass cages to let animals migrate all over the garden and summer shelters for birds (pigeons) one could see far from the house. Also, the proximity to water, in this case to river Lopasnya, added motivation for grows, reproduction, cheerful coexistence. Fresh crawfish and crucian carps (Carassius) did not spoil the meals, which depended mostly on a well-heated hand-built brick-and-cast-iron stoves. One can notice many heaps of fresh soil, river sand, humus, and manure near by the houses, which are used by the owner for greenhouses and flower beds. Modified and rebuilt old Russian houses were also easy on the eyes: with added modern second halves made with new materials and designs for new families with kids; with built into the fence pet kennels; with fixtures of TV antennas, cable dishes, and other technological novelties.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2021
Date Uploaded: 04.2021
Photo Location: the city of Chekhov, the Moscow Region RUSSIA Grid reference: 55.074989, 37.623124, Russia
Camera: NIKON D7500
Copyright: © Olga Abrashkina