Here is a link to a video showing a Latvian scything contest following a brief ad.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/latvian-scything-contest/uful7r9d?rel=msn&cpkey=2b45729e-2b0f-4999-b9bb-8e422e5df950|diagonal view contest|msn|

Pretty impressive!!  And hard work that is!!  My mother’s friend who lived in Limbazi and worked on a farm had to cut the grass with a scythe all the day long!  And we complain about having to get out our riding, self- propelled motors to mow our yards. 

Irena

Some 30 or 40 years ago actor, author, illustrator and a real nice person, Reinis Birzgalis, demonstrated hay cutting with a scythe in Piesaule. It is not easy unless you practice or have had previous experience.

Lauris

Irena,

I would have liked to see your mothers friend’s
biceps.
All day long?

Aivar, I never did check out his biceps, but you know, many of these ol’ time Letini, were ‘strong like bull’!  And that certainly applied in his case; there were many other chores to do on a farm, other than mowing the grass, using the scythe, but depending on how much land there was, it was quite time consuming, could very well take up a whole day or more.  I have a deep respect, admiration for these people, farmers, whether Latvian or not.  I’ve noticed that knowing what hard work is all about,  they are often very adept at adjusting to all kinds of new situations, not necessarily related to farming.  I’m sure it has much to do with learning organizational skills, multi tasking, which is a must.

Irena

Labvakar Irena,

I applaud your appreciation of the old time farm Letini and all their accomplishments.
As a kid,my parents would send me from Riga to spend the summer at my
grandfathers farm in Gaujiena.
They worked hard and managed to send their three daughters to the U of Latvia,all
graduated,my mother becoming a dentist.
I recall standing in line with the cousins,waiting for a glass of milk,delivered straight
from the moo,moo.
Your post touched some pleasant memories,thanks.
PS.The farm also belonged to my grandmother.