The constant of change

If there's one constant in Sekier, that is change. We all know that the universal law of change is everywhere, but one is especially aware of it here in our little hamlet on the slope of the Javorie Mountains. Today, the fog clung to the hill all day as the 5 or so cm of snow from 2 days ago slowly melted. I especially like looking at the forest through the mist as this frozen water sublimates into the air. There's good reason why mysticism sources itself from mist(though I'm no linguist; only an educated guess). I suppose I should introduce myself here in blogland. I'm Ch,is, from Minnesota, but I lived some years in Canada and was born in England. I decided I had had enough of life in the metropolis after living in Prague for four years and last December made the move to Zajezova, from the so-called Golden City. Ale ta vyhoda je, ze umim Cesky vice mene a mozem pobavit v Slovencine.

Whats happening around here? Well, us guys have begun the project of erecting a fence around the garden. That meant pulling out some trees recently cut down by the forest service from beyond Pastieren. Now we're at the stage of peeling the bark off the trees(loupat kuru od dreva). This can be strenuous work, but we enjoy it.

I'm reminded of what Reuben(he's visiting for the week) said regarding the tool we're using to peel it when I asked him what this tool is called. I, a little embarrassed, named it 'peeling thing', then said that the Slovaks undoubtedly have a technical word for this that everyone knows. We both marvel at the common useage among Czechs and Slovakians of technical verbs and nouns for very specific things when it comes to practical and farming vocabulary. I thought it may be because Britain was the first country to take up the Industrial Revolution, while kicking most of the farmers off their land to work in the factories, and were later very quick to replace it with the post-industrial office job and the rise of the two income family. And with it disappeared the vocabulary for nature and the means of maintaining it. A few weeks ago Peto Banas was explaining to us our task for the day at Polomy, which was to 'hoblovat'. When Axel asked me the word in English I didnt know. Now I know the word is plane- what a boring word, eh? If things don't improve with my language, we'll soon be describing a wonderful day in English as 'double plus good'.

The black kitchen has become white! Through Hanka's hard work and initiative it's almost finished. All thats left to do really is for her to do the mosaic on the floor. The wall over the door(over which there is a debate over whether or not to throw out the door) has a surprise colourful mosaic involving light bulbs! I helped her a bit by making some natural straw plaster(omitka) and slabbing it on the wall. Its amazing to me how easy it was. Throw in a bit of this and that from the earth and harvest and voila! Hanka's definition of ready was when it feels like pla-do. And believe you me that this plaster was much better than any pla-do in a shop!

Chris Coleman