The last remnants of ice (& the cold, very cold) are melting from my memory...

It is a gorgeous sunny day- Zdeněk has volunteered to do the florbal drop-off AND pick-up (where he'll, of course, be productive & fit in a long run) - a perfect opportunity to engage in my favorite spring activity- flowers!

Now that it's spring (no longer dark & cold), I'm able to freshly appreciate our neighborhood- & that we have a nursery about a 5-minute walk from our house.  I am slowly trying to acquire pots & dirt- no small investment- so that I can plant.  Today I bought some feel-good plants: lavender, jasmine, hydrangea (I feel like I've missed my sweet pea opportunity!)- & the prettiest little freesia. Unfortunately (because of the expense- not the work), I'll need about 50 more trips for my terrace to even begin to look as lush & green as I'd like it...

*and here is a bird that flew in disguised as a bee. It was at least 2 feet long, maybe 100lbs.

The Secret's in the Service

On Monday, after we'd returned from the village, I got a call from a traveling CrossFitter.  He explained that he & his friend were here from Washington, staying at the Hilton, & they'd like to come work out.  Always pleased to have people visit, and especially from our home state, I asked him where exactly he was from- he said his CrossFit was in Arlington- I was a little surprised because I didn't know there was a CrossFit in Arlington- & I told him we were originally from Mt. Baker CrossFit.  I didn't get much of a reaction to that, which was fine.  That was that.

The next day, after Zdeněk got back from the gym, he explained why: they aren't from Washington State.  They are from Washington D.C. (okay, there are more important Arlingtons, I get that)- & are secret service agents here with President Obama (well, will be with him once he arrives).  They gave Zdeněk some cool little secret-servicey doodads & bought some CrossFit Praha t-shirts.  I hope they come in again, or at least send us a photo of them in their new shirts (standing next to the president, of course, with him sporting one as well)...

Because Nothing Says "Easter" like The Whipping Stick.

We decided that the kids were ready for a Real Village Easter, so we packed up & headed to Dejvice on Saturday evening where we caught a bus bound for the village (or, as near to the village as the bus gets).  In the Czech Republic Easter is Monday, which left us Sunday for some village time (fresh air & work). We chipped/sawed/cut. The kids got to practice with beloved not-to-be-used-around-people weapons.  Build a structure. Play with fire. The important things.  

To prepare for Monday, they also dyed eggs & braided willow branches into switches, which were then adorned with ribbons.  Lily, as a girl, was initially not welcomed into the willow-switch club- but she was having none of that & ended up with the largest & most decorative switch of them all.

On Monday- after waking to American-style Easter baskets & an Easter egg hunt- some village boys & men (& a mother or daughter here & there) started coming around for the traditional "whipping" of the women & girls.  They were then given eggs & coffee or shots of alcohol for their troubles.  An obvious pagan spring awakening/ fertility ritual- sweet in its tradition, & yet, awkward & strange.

I missed the gathering of my family & our lavish brunch (& mimosas & Sees chocolates), but I was glad the kids were able to participate in a traditional Czech Easter- because, in the end, one really needs to experience it to (maybe someday) appreciate it.