Away, birds, away!
Take a little and leave a little,
And do not come again;
For if you do,
I will shoot you through,
And there will be an end of you.

Mother Goose (The Bird scare)

Seeing an artisan cobbler at work is a very rare moment. Most of the shoes today are a product of a mass production, a product with no soul.

Once upon a long ago, it was much different. My grandfather was a cobbler, a master of the profession. As a young girl, I remember watching him making a new pair of shoes. For him, everything was important step, starting with a moment of choosing a leather for shoes. He was even thinking about the personality of the person who would be wearing them!

Slovenia, once a part of Yugoslavia, gained its independence on June 25th, 1991. Today it is a state with a parliamentary system in which the most important role is played by the parliament as the legislative branch of power.

The democratic approach to lead the nation has a long tradition among Slovenians. A French jurist and political philosopher Jean Bodin with his works and mentioning a mediaeval ceremony from Carinthia inspired Thomas Jefferson when writing Declaration of independence. Slovenians in Cleveland are so proud they even put a plague Slovenians, Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of independence.

The month of Roses

June - the 6th month in a year, is called after ancient Roman goddess Juno: goddess for love and marriage. Most of Slovenians call this month JUNIJ. However, some of us, still remember old, Slavic name of June - ROŽNIK.

Roža in Slovenian language means a flower and often one very particular one- the ROSE. June meadows are generally full of colourful little flowers. However, our gardens are mainly decorated with scented blooms of most popular garden plants, the flower of flowers - roses. Slovenian roses are mainly a decoration only. We do not make rose oils or rose water- maybe for a personal use only. From time to time you will find a rose brandy or rose liquor, jam or marmalade or maybe as a decoration on your plate.

The hay storage was one of the most important farmer’s works, if they wanted to have enough food for their animal throughout the cold and snowy winter. All around the world you would find similar ways, however in Slovenia they are very unique.

When you are out of the city, on the countryside, very soon you are going to notice interesting, free standing, vertical, wooden, and open and roofed constructions in the middle of the fields. They look as a goat and that is how they have got their name: KOZA or a goat in Slovenian Language.