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Rhythms and rites of approaching spring (X/X):  pruning the orchard, Tsjerablichy 2016.  Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (Х/Х):  уборка саду, Цераблічы 2016 г. No matter how attached one becomes to certain trees, the time comes — usually just before spring — when one has to cut them down.  In the late 1930s or at the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 14, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (IX/X):  self-cleaning beehives.  On the verge of spring, honeybees clean their hives of dead bees. Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (ІХ/Х):  самаўборка вульлёў.

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (VIII/X):  building and repairing fences. “Good fences make good neighbors,” as Robert Frost noted in his laconic, ironic New England voice.  Fences in Belarus show the homeowners’ pride in neatness and order — prized general values in a village — but also their individuality. Рытмы й абрады надыходзягай вясны… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 12, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (VII/X):  preparing the fields for planting potatoes.  Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (VII/X):  падрыхтоўка палёў да пасадкі бульбы.   Guarded by two fierce geese.  Гусы на варце.

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (VI/X):  incubating the cucumber seedlings and preparing the hothouse ground.  Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (VI/X):  падрыхтоўка агурочных расад і хлебы для насаджэньня.   Vjerka tends this year’s cucumber seedlings.  Tsjerablichy 2006.  Спадарыгя Верка падрыхтуе агурочныя расады да насаджэньня.  Цераблічы 2016 г.   When not teaching mathematics, Vjerka’s husband… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 10, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (V/X):  new hothouses for cucumbers.  Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (V/X):  новыя парнікі для вырошчваньня агуркоў.   This year Vasil’ and Katsja decided to rebuild their hothouse in another part of the farmyard.  Сёлета спадар Васіль і спадарыня Каця вырашылі перабудаваць свой парнік у іншай частцы двара.   Carrying… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 9, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (IV/X):  new hothouses for cucumbers.  Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (IV/X):  новыя парнікі для вырошчваньня агуркоў. Eastern Stolin District in the central Pripet Marshes (Polesia) has been renowned for private farmers’ production of cucumbers since the late 1980s.  In March villagers of the area get to work repairing hothouses… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 8, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (III/X):  tapping sap, Tsjerablichy 2016. Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (III/X):  збор бярозавага соку, Цераблічы 2016.   A sudden return of freezing weather to the southern region of Polesia created icicles of birch-tree sap.  Вяртаньне марозу на Палесьсе стварыла лядзяшы бярозавага соку.   Vjerka and her niece Chesa collect… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 7, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (II/X): tapping sap.  In March Belarusians throughout the country avidly collect, flavor, and drink tree sap, especially birch sap. Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (II/X):  збор бярозавага соку.   Kijavichy (Kapyl’ District in central Belarus) 2016.  Кіявічы (Капыльскі р.) 2016 г.   Tapping tree sap, Tatarshchyna (a hamlet off… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 6, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (I/X):  spring flood in the Pripet Marshes (Polesia) 2016.  The extent of annual spring flooding depends on the amount of winter snow and rain in the upper basin of the River Prypjats’ (Pripet) and the amount released from the river’s headwater region in Ukraine.  In contrast to 2013, 2008… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 5, 2016