Elder and Sister Patterson: MOSCOW HOME TWEET HOME

Welcome to our home in Moscow. Here's a little tour so that you can envision where we hang our coats (and hats, and scarves, and gloves, and ear muffs (commonly called "ears", etc.--you know bundling up for the winter takes lots of stuff!)

Here's the entry way and his and her's chairs for removing boots.

Here's another look down our hall towards the back of the apartment. On the left are a bank of cupboards with mirrored doors for storing all kinds of things from clothing to shoes to food, etc

This is a look back down the hall from the end towarads the front door. Bedroom door is on the left and mirrored storage is on the right. Down the hall, the livingroom is on the left and the front door is on the right.

.This wood floor is laid throughout the apartment except in the bathroom and kitchen which is tiled--bathroom in green tile and kitchen in white tile. Russians use tile extensively throughout their homes--especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Not uncommon for the tile to run clear up the wall almost to the ceiling

View of our livingroom from the entry way. A nice large room with a view of the construction. The window wells are a full 14-15" thick. The furniture belongs to the landlady who now lives in the country in what is called a datcha (country home). Right now the dining room table serves as our desk. We're hoping to find some type of table in church storage to use.

All of the rooms have chandeliers (which need dusting badly--oh joy) and are rimmed with beautiful sculptured detail around the light fixture. The rooms also have sculptured crown molding.

Our couch and chair--quite comfortable for reading or working on the computer. Heat is controlled by the government so you never know what you are going to get. Mostly our home is very comfortable in the winter and is more than warm enough.

Our china cabinet which is empty except for a beautiful glass bowl belonging to the landlady. We're getting spoiled from all of this really nice furniture.

We are becoming accustomed to "fine art" here in our home. This picture is an original painting of what we think is a building (center) that we pass on our way to zone meetings or FHE group meetings. It is near the Kremlin.

Our buffet which serves as storage area for office supplies. Pictures of the family frame the mirror and remind us of loved ones back home who are precious and dear to us.

Detail of the moulding in the bedroom and the chandeleir. Quite fancy, don't you think!

The bedroom looking from the door. Very comfortable bed--best we've had so far.

Fancy wardrobe where we store our clothing. The edges are rounded. Over here they use keys for the handles to things. No apartments have built-in storage. Everything is free-standing. That's why places like IDEA are so popular. Out the door you can see the mirrors on the wall storage.

Here's the powder room complete with jetted tub (we don't know if it works or not). Our little washer is opposite the sink. You can see dad's shirts hanging on the rack in the shower (thank heavens for a shower again). Below is dad's personal favorite--our square Italian toilet. Sure beats the one we had in our previous digs.

Our pint sized kitchen from the doorway. Again a lovely window overlooking other apartments. Fridge to the immediate left and our little black and white ktichen set. Microwave sitting in the deep window sill.

Another view of our just right for two table nestled in a corner. You can see the calendar of

Carter's pictures hanging on the wall. Also a picture of our toaster.

Ah, the piece-da-resistance and what is captivating the minds of our grandchildren--the flying toaster! It sits on a TV stand and moves back and forth. We took out the TV because all it did is catch dust and get greasy and we don't watch it anyway. So we decided to put the toaster there--easy for toast for breakfast each morning. Now, don't you all rush out and copy us, please!

Tiny and compact describes this black and white kitchen. But it works fine for us. Gas stove and oven take a bit of getting used to. And, a dishwasher is indeed a luxury we are enjoying. We needed that when we were feeding all of those missionaries and FHE people each week. Now we feed no one except ourselves so far.

Only counter space in the whole kitchen. You can see our water filer with the 3 filters hooked by blue hose to the sink. The crock pot belongs to the church but doesn't work very well. We'll give it a try and see if things cook while we are at the office sometime.