I spent the past weekend at my grandfather's plot, helping him with various chores around the yard. We started the morning with a delicious Serbian-style breakfast - fried homemade sausages and eggs, along with freshly baked bread and cheese. We enjoyed our meal while being watched by our faithful dogs, to whom we later threw bones so that they could enjoy the meal as well.
After freshening up, we got down to business. While grandpa prepared the chainsaw for cutting down the trees, I grabbed the rake and started collecting the fallen leaves. The wind blew it all over the yard, but with persistence and effort I managed to collect it in piles and burn it. The dogs curiously followed us, ran around us and sometimes happily ran into piles of leaves, making an extra mess, but that only added joy to our work.
While I was clearing the yard, grandfather had already started cutting down the old trees. The sound of a chainsaw filled the air, and the smell of freshly cut wood wafted around. My next duties were collecting the cut branches and splitting the wood into smaller pieces, so that they could be stacked for firewood later. The work was not easy, but the feeling of satisfaction while looking at the tidy yard and neatly stacked wooden logs was priceless.
After we finished with these difficult tasks, we dedicated ourselves to something a little more creative - transplanting a plum tree. Grandfather found a young seedling, which we transferred to a better place with our joint efforts. We dug a deep hole, carefully placed the plum and covered the roots with soil. In the end, we watered it well and hoped that it would take well and one day bear juicy fruits.
The day spent working with my grandfather was tiring, but also fulfilling. I felt proud because I helped him, and at the same time I learned important lessons about nature, work and community. These moments spent on the plot remain etched in my memory and remind me how important it is to appreciate hard work and love for the country.
