After thoroughly stuffing ourselves with delicious homemade Italian pizzas, we decided that a little walk was exactly what we needed. Right next to the pizzeria is a wonderful park—although “park” doesn’t quite feel like the right word. It is more like a peaceful patch of forest, where nature and creativity blend together beautifully. As we … More A Walk Through Art and Nature
This weekend we joined the Home Café Days here in the Gulbene region, and what a lovely tradition it is. For one weekend only, farms, family homes, gardens, and small businesses open their gates and transform into cosy little cafés. Instead of visiting restaurants, you travel from place to place, meeting local people who have … More A Weekend of Home Cafés
I almost forgot to share this little garden update! More then a month ago, I decided to plant strawflowers next to our pool. I had no other pace. At the time, I wasn’t completely sure if it was the right spot, but now I’m convinced it was a great idea. The plants have settled in … More Strawflowers by the Pool
Nelle and her friend both recently earned their cycling licences, opening up even more possibilities for summer adventures. They have already discovered how much fun it is to explore by bike, and this week they set off on another little road trip together. They cycled about 14 km (9 miles) each way, making it a … More A Little Summer Adventure on Two Wheels
There it is — the rain we desperately needed! It poured heavily for about 10 minutes, then continued at a gentler pace for another 30. It wasn’t a long storm, but it was enough to give everything in the garden a lovely, much-needed drink. The timing couldn’t have been better for the girls. They were … More Nature Took Care of the Watering
Sometimes a blog post doesn’t need a big story. Today, it’s simply me in my new dress, wandering around the garden. The dress made me feel happy the moment I put it on. It’s comfortable, feminine, and perfect for a warm summer day. The kind of dress that makes you want to slow down, stroll … More Just Me and My Garden
Technology has changed incredibly fast. I grew up with dial-up internet, simple mobile phones, and film cameras. Today, AI can write, draw, and help solve complex problems. So what will technology look like in 20 years? I don’t dream about flying cars. I think we’ll simply make today’s technology even smarter. Artificial intelligence will probably … More AI Is Making Us Dumber
We had terrible winds, so we decided to escape to Salacgrīva this weekend. We had problem, the road was blocked, but we know other way around. In Salacgriva I think I almost melted. The weather was absolutely beautiful… if you’re a lizard. The sun was so strong that even standing still felt like an activity … More A Summer Weekend in Salacgrīva
Yesterday I wandered around the garden with a basket in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, just checking on how everything is doing. I was happy to discover that my mint hasn’t started blooming yet. That means it’s still the perfect time to harvest it for tea. I always try to … More A Little Tour Around the Garden
Yesterday evening we had dinner with a beautiful view. The weather was calm, the kind of evening that makes you want to stay outside just a little longer. After dinner, I wandered over to the vegetable garden with a handful of seed packets. It might be July, but there’s still time to sow a few … More A Little Bit of Hope for Autumn
It’s been a while since I last opened my watercolor paints. I wouldn’t call myself a watercolor artist. Most of the time I have no idea what I’m doing, and if I’m completely honest… I’m not very good at it. But every now and then I stumble across a subject that somehow works, and that … More Back to Watercolors
Yesterday evening, Jānis and I declared it a sushi night. No special occasion. Just one of those evenings when neither of us felt like cooking, and sushi sounded like exactly the right idea. Sometimes the simplest plans turn into the nicest memories. After dinner, we went for a walk. The weather couldn’t quite decide what … More Sushi, Storm Clouds, and a Stork
Summer is officially half way through, and with it comes the fleeting magic of the last peony blooms. A few days ago, I visited Jānis’ mother’s garden to gather the very last of her magnificent peonies. There is something heartbreakingly beautiful about the final flowers of the season—they feel like a quiet farewell to summer’s … More Summer in a Gravy Boat: Peonies & Foraged Bilberries
There has always been one wildflower that has felt a little more special to me than all the others. In Latvian, it’s called ilzītes. My name is Ilze, and ilzīte is the affectionate, diminutive form of it—the kind of name someone uses with warmth and kindness. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved the fact … More The Little Flower That Shares My Name
Lately, I’ve been eating peas every time I walk outside. It’s become my little summer ritual. I’ll step away from my computer for a few minutes, wander into the garden, and pick a handful of fresh peas straight from the vines. They’re sweet, crisp, and somehow taste even better because they come with a short … More Stealing a Few Minutes
In the age of AI, my favorite bloggers are the people who write about their own lives. I love reading about ordinary days, gardens, family traditions, travels, and little moments that no AI could ever truly experience or tell. It’s raining. And I love it. Everything looks greener after just a few hours of steady … More Rainy Sunday
Today felt like one of those summer days spent almost entirely in the car. We got up early to pick up our youngest daughter from CampIT, where she had spent the past week. She had such a wonderful time! It’s an IT camp with exactly the kind of attitude I love—encouraging curiosity, creativity, and hands-on … More A Day on the Road
June is one of my favourite months in the vegetable garden. Everything suddenly seems to wake up and start growing faster every single day. The leeks are getting bigger and stronger now. They still have a long way to go before harvest, but it’s always satisfying to see them thriving after such a slow start. … More Garden in July
This year, I decided to try something a little different. We tipped the hay rolls onto their flat sides, covered them with a layer of compost, and planted cucumbers and pumpkins right on top. The hay underneath should slowly break down, helping to retain moisture while feeding the plants over time. So far, I have … More A Little Gardening Experiment with Hay Rolls
It’s so hot here in Latvia today — +29°C (84°F for my USA friends). I don’t think I’m built for this kind of heat! 🥵 On the bright side, it’s the perfect weather for everyone who needs to cut the grass and make hay. ☀️ This evening, the temperature finally dropped to +20°C (68°F), and … More Heat, Hay, Sweet Peas & a Friendly Stork
This morning, before I even picked up the watering can, something caught my eye on the greenhouse floor. A snake skin. For a second, I just stood there looking at it. It was much bigger than the one I found last year. Last summer, I only noticed the old skin after I had already watered … More A Snake Has Been Visiting My Greenhouse Again
I’m sorry for being a little quiet here lately. I actually have plenty of stories waiting to be shared. Photos to sort through, little adventures to write about, recipes, nature walks, and moments from everyday life. The only thing I’m missing is time. Life has been moving quickly, and by the end of the day, … More A Quiet Sunday Beneath the Apple Tree
Can’t wait to eat first peas Ilze
It’s peony season again. My mother-in-law has so many different peonies growing in her garden. Every year they put on a beautiful display, but this year one flower completely surprised me. My daughter brought me a single yellow peony. I had never seen a yellow peony before. Pink ones in every shade? Yes. White and … More A Yellow Peony
Four years ago, I made dozens of beeswax candles. Most of the beeswax I used was bought from my friend Aija, but until this Līgo, I had never actually seen where it came from. I absolutely loved visiting this place. Surrounded by nature, this is where Aija brings the honey frames after the harvest. Here … More Where My Beeswax Once Came From
I’m still not quite ready to leave our Līgo memories behind. ❤️ There were so many little moments that made the celebration special. Nelle had her own little photoshoot around the abandoned houses, where she looked right at home exploring every corner. She made two new furry friends, had plenty of fun, and even decided … More Still Sharing Our Līgo Celebration
This year’s Līgo was wonderfully simple. We celebrated right next to the Baltic Sea, listening to the waves, watching the sunset, and enjoying time together as a family. No big plans, no rush—just fresh sea air, good food, laughter, and the feeling that sometimes the simplest celebrations are the ones we remember the longest. I … More A Simple Līgo by the Baltic Sea
Today is Līgo, one of the most special days of the year here in Latvia. This year we decided to celebrate it a little differently. We packed the car, gathered the kids, and set off on a journey across almost the entire country to visit our godson (krustdēls, as we say in Latvia). The drive … More A Līgo Journey to the Baltic Sea
Around the summer solstice, when the days are at their longest, it’s time for one of my favorite little traditions – collecting wildflowers for tea. The exact timing depends on the weather. Some years the flowers bloom a little earlier, and some years a little later. This year, after a few days of hot sunshine … More A Solstice Tradition: Gathering Tea
I was inspired by my blogging friend Maria from Sweden and her beautiful post about lake to share what my brother is up to right now. As I’m writing this, he’s somewhere deep in the Swedish wilderness, completely off-grid. Tents, campfires, no electricity… no extras … just nature. This isn’t a one-time adventure either. He … More Off-Grid in Sweden: Chasing Wild Salmon
This is a wild animal. No one feeds it. No one pets it. No one tucks it into a cozy bed at night. And yet… I have to admit, I would absolutely love to give this adorable European hare a cuddle. 😊 Of course, I won’t. Wild animals should stay wild, and that’s exactly how … More A Wild Visitor I Always Love to See
From Monday until Thursday, I felt completely overwhelmed. I won’t go into details about work or what exactly was happening because that’s not really the point. Some weeks are simply heavier than others. The funny thing is that I refuse to work late. Once my workday is over, I close my laptop and I don’t … More Romanticising the Crazy Workweek
On This Day 2020. Ilze
This week is terribly busy at work! It feels I have no time for anything else! I can’t wait for this week to be over. The drive home from Salacgriva was absolutely spectacular. The first summer night fog of the year had arrived, quietly covering the land like a soft white blanket. I always look … More The First Summer Night Fog
Sometimes the weather has a way of testing our patience. This weekend we were in Salacgrīva, my hometown, for a birthday celebration of a lovely boy! Unfortunately, the weather decided not to cooperate. It was cold, rainy, and windy, and since the celebration was outdoors, we spent most of the day trying to stay warm. … More A Rainy Day in Salacgrīva and a Field of Lupins
This is one of those breakfasts I make when I open the fridge and nothing really catches my eye. Luckily, we always have eggs from free-range hens, and that’s usually enough to get me started. If I find some cheese, I grate it and mix it with the eggs. Then I spread the mixture onto … More My Go-To Breakfast
It’s monday morning. My inbox is full, my task list is long, and I’m wondering how I’ll get everything done. But that’s a problem for one task at a time. I want to share something much more impressive than my workload. A few days ago, just before a thunderstorm arrived, I looked up and saw … More Right Before the Storm
Some evenings are simply too beautiful to let slip away unnoticed. This sunset was one of those moments. The sky was painted with soft colours, the clouds catching the last light of the day, and everything seemed to slow down for a little while. I stood there looking at it, knowing that a single photo … More I Couldn’t Resist
I walked past my rhubarb today and immediately noticed something wasn’t right. The leaves have turned a bright purple-red color. Not the whole plant—just parts of the leaves, mostly around the tips and edges on a few leaves. The rest of the plant seems reasonably healthy, which makes the whole thing even more puzzling. Now … More What Is Happening to My Rhubarb?
This week I had the chance to travel to Līgatne for a work meetup. Most of my workdays are spent at home, sitting behind a screen, so it was a nice change of pace to get out, meet people in person, and spend a day somewhere different. The meetup took place at Zeit, and I … More A Lovely Day in Līgatne
Today I pushed myself a little bit outside my comfort zone. I went for a walk. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, does it? And honestly, it wasn’t. But at the same time, it was. Sometimes the smallest steps are the hardest ones to take. A day ago, I probably wouldn’t have done it. … More A Small Step Outside My Comfort Zone
Today we visited the former Latvian Army camp site in Litene. The forest was peaceful, birds were singing, and it was hard to imagine how much history this quiet place has witnessed. Before World War II, Litene was one of Latvia’s largest military training camps. Thousands of soldiers spent their summers here learning military skills, … More A Visit to Litene
Yesterday’s sunset was one of those moments that made me stop whatever I was doing and simply look. The sky was painted with beautiful shades of orange, pink, and gold. Soft clouds drifted across the horizon, catching the last light of the day and turning into little works of art. They looked almost too perfect … More A Colourful Goodbye to the Day
The internet is full of advice about self-confidence. Stand tall.Think positive thoughts.Look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re amazing. I don’t know about you, but if I stood in front of the mirror every morning declaring myself amazing, my family would probably schedule an intervention. So I started wondering what self-confidence actually is. At … More How to Build Self-Confidence (According to Someone Still Looking for It)
The strawflowers had been waiting patiently for me to plant them outside. They sat in their pots for longer than planned, and I knew I had to find them a home before they outgrew their temporary one. I would say they did outgrew these small plugs… After walking around the property and looking for an … More A Home for the Strawflowers
Back in 2017, we had a favorite picnic spot. It wasn’t anything grand or famous. Just a place deep in the forest where a huge stone stood among the trees. Someone had built a simple table and benches nearby, and there was even a small shelter for firewood. We always talked about making a fire … More The Stone That Stayed
Yesterday I had plans. I wanted to go for a walk after lunch, stretch my legs, and get some fresh air. But then the rain arrived. And honestly? Thank goodness for that. Instead of heading out, I sat inside with the door open and watched the rain. No mosquitoes buzzing around my ears. No pressure … More A Rainy Day Gift
It was finally time to clean up and set up the pool for another summer. Unlike many sensible people, we didn’t clean it properly in autumn. We emptied the water and left it outside all winter. With temperatures regularly dropping to -20°C here, I was too nervous about leaving water inside and hoping for the … More Pool Season Has Begun
A few years ago, we installed the windows in our old house. At the time, it felt like a huge milestone in our renovation journey. The house suddenly looked more complete, more protected from the weather, and a little closer to becoming the home we had imagined. Now we’re preparing for the next stage: finishing … More Important Life Decisions
The greenhouse has changed quite a bit over the past few weeks. The first photo shows what it looked like when I finally decided it was time to tackle it. There were boxes, bags, old cardboard, and all sorts of things that had accumulated over time. After a good clean-up (apart from washing the greenhouse … More Progress in the Greenhouse
Yesterday I was in the greenhouse, continuing the endless task of taking care of the tomatoes. While I was there, I decided to finally clean up one corner that had somehow become a “later” place. There were mostly cardboard from IKEA furniture and a few empty potting soil bags. Nothing exciting. Or so I thought. … More Surprise in the Greenhouse
Today is the 1st of June, and just like that, school is over. The kids are home! I’m happy for them. Summer holidays always felt magical when I was a child — long days, freedom, adventures, and not having to think about school for a while. Now, as a parent, I see it a little … More June Has Arrived
This morning, I stepped outside with one simple goal — to see what food I could find in the garden. To my delight, there was plenty. I picked fresh rocket, radishes, dill, spring onions, and salad leaves for breakfast. There is something incredibly satisfying about gathering food just a few steps from the kitchen. It … More Shopping in My Own Garden
Some photos are special not because they are perfect, but because they capture a moment that can never happen again. Recently, some relatives spent time going through old slides and photographs. I can only imagine how many boxes, memories, and tiny pieces of family history they sorted through. And among all those slides, they found … More A Photo Found Among Old Slides
Yesterday, Nelle turned 14. Fourteen feels strange to say out loud. Somewhere between a child and a young woman. Old enough to roll her eyes at me sometimes, but still young enough to laugh at silly things and disappear into her own little world. Time really does move in the strangest way. The days often … More She’s 14! Already?
Lovely evening sun… Ilze
Being in Riga for a work conference feels a little strange in the best possible way. It’s work, yes, but also not really just work. It’s one big mingling event between colleagues and clients — conversations flowing from reports and dashboards to travel stories, coffee, and life in general. Yesterday evening I had such a … More A Few Days in Riga for a Work Conference
There are times when we make sushi at home… and then there are times when I simply say: “Let’s order sushi.” Living in the countryside means food delivery is almost nonexistent here. No delivery apps, no endless restaurant choices, no late-night cravings magically appearing at our door. So whenever our local bistro announces sushi offers, … More Sushi Night
It was time. For a while I dreamed about renovating it. In my mind it was going to become one of those cozy little caravans with curtains, soft blankets, tiny shelves, and warm summer evenings somewhere in nature. I even started thinking about colors and little details. And I started to renovate it … But … More The End of Our Caravan Chapter
In the weekend, me and Helmī spent some time gardening together, and honestly, those are the moments I want to remember. We planted beans together — the kind you eat whole with the pod. I made the holes in the soil with a poker, one by one, and Helmī carefully dropped the beans inside. Such … More Little Garden Helpers and Hopeful Foxgloves
After spending hours planting tomatoes in the greenhouse, carefully trying to fit every plant into its “perfect” place, I stood there looking at the remaining empty spaces between the beds and thought… “Well… surely I can still squeeze something else in here.” And that is how I ended up scattering calendula and marigold seeds all … More Companion Flowers for My Tomatoes
I spent almost the entire afternoon in the greenhouse on Friday — around 2.5 hours cleaning it up, planting tomatoes, moving things around, and trying to calculate what else I can still squeeze in there this year. A while ago I even wrote about it here: And honestly? I still have a complicated relationship with … More My Greenhouse Tried to Kill Me Again
I published a post yesterday and closed my WordPress. But today I noticed something I haven’t seen in a long time. Achievements! Many years ago I remeber there was trophies/badges in WordPress and then they disapered. Do you remember? Now today – two new achievements! And honestly… WOW. I had to pause for a second … More A Small Surprise Inside My WordPress Stats ✨
This year’s experiment is about melons and watermelons. Usually, people here start them indoors early, carefully growing tiny seedlings on windowsills and protecting them from every cold night. This year… I did not do that. I simply dropped the melon and watermelon seeds straight into the greenhouse soil and hoped for the best. I started … More This Year’s Melon Experiment Begins in the Greenhouse
This afternoon we received a cell broadcast warning on our phones — a message telling people in several regions of Latvia to stay indoors because of a possible drone threat in Latvian airspace. Not war. Not missiles falling around us. But still something frightening enough that schools moved children into safe places inside the buildings … More Today felt different. Heavy. Disturbing.
You know I went outside for the fox, waited there for almost 20 minutes, enjoyed the beautiful view over the dandelion field… and in the end, the fox was gone. The wind was blowing from me toward her, so of course she smelled me and chose another way. Smart fox. A little disappointed, I started … More The Unexpected Surprise
Yesterday looked out the window and saw a fox crossing the dandelion field! Just like that — quietly walking through all the yellow flowers. Of course, I rushed outside with my camera and waited for the fox to come closer. I sat there for probably 20 minutes, simply enjoying the view and the evening silence. … More A Fox, a Dandelion Field, and an Unexpected Surprise
My very first harvest from the garden this year! I stepped into the greenhouse and suddenly realized how much the salad had grown already. And dill! And the best part — it had self-seeded. Without much planning or effort from me, there it was: soft green salad leaves and dill. Peaked at my rased beds … More My First Harvest This Year
Jānis decided that, considering the situation in the world — living next to an aggressor country and having Donald Trump as the president of the USA — we should plant potatoes! Honestly… fair enough 😅 My answer was simple: “No problem. Talk to your dad — he has a tractor and knows what he’s doing.” … More We Planted Potatoes 🥔
The first residents have moved into our new raised veggie beds! First, I planted out the leeks I’ve been growing from seed since February 21 — DE CARENTAN. They are still very small, but I hope they’ll love their new home and grow strong over the summer. I already can’t wait to harvest one for … More First Residents in Our Raised Veggie Beds
I got a question recently — why raised beds? The answer is simple: heavy clay soil. Our entire property is covered in it. If I want to plant something directly in the ground, I need to dig a hole by hand, bring in compost or better soil, fill the hole, and only then plant something. … More Let’s Talk About Soil
A week ago I mentioned that we were working on something bigger outside. Well… now I can finally show you what it was. Can you guess? Three long raised beds. Not pallet collars this time — proper wooden raised beds built from real planks. And honestly… it all started because I realised I needed more … More We Were Working on Something Bigger
The journey with my rhubarb started on February 25th, when I decided to sow rhubarb seeds that I got as a birthday gift. 🙂 Someone probably thought it would be a funny joke… but clearly they forgot who they were giving them to. I absolutely love growing things from seed, so of course I took … More Rhubarb From Seed
Congratulations to all the mums and grandmothers around the world on Mother’s Day. ❤️ This Sunday turned out to be really lovely this year. In the morning the kids brought me flowers, which already made the day feel special. But what surprised me the most was something their teachers had prepared at school. Each teacher … More A Slow and Lovely Mother’s Day
And honestly? I’m not even sure I like Mother’s Day that much. This year I bought our family tickets to see Emīlija Bērziņa in concert (I’ve also been listening to her music on Spotify lately), and I’m genuinely looking forward to that. I didn’t know it’s on Mothers day! Music, time together, an evening somewhere … More Tomorrow is Mother’s Day.
Yesterday I saw a strange little bird in the garden.At first glance, I honestly thought it was a sparrow that was bleeding 😅 I quickly grabbed my phone and took a photo and a short video to send to the local birding group. And decided to grab my camera. I was lucky to get two … More A Bird I Almost Mistook for an Injured Sparrow: Common Linnet (Linaria Cannabina)
Terrible 24 hours… My breakfast this morning — couscous, pesto, tuna, and Fetaki cheese.My husband’s breakfast this morning — a hospital meal. Yes… I had to call an ambulance for Jānis last night. He is coming home at the moment I’m writing this… But not because everything is sorted out — because they HOPE it … More Not Out of the Woods Yet…
I walked into the greenhouse… and I had to pick the nettles. They were growing everywhere. I didn’t really have a plan—just a feeling that they shouldn’t go to waste. So I paired them with what I had: fettaki, cottage cheese, and a sheet of store-bought puff pastry. And honestly? I was surprised how good … More Recipe: Nettle & Cheese Puff Pastry Triangles
I can’t believe I’m back at the office. The last four days were just so good—warm, calm, and exactly what I needed. A little pause in the middle of everything. With Labor Day on May 1 and Independence Restoration Day on May 4, and a weekend in between, it felt like the perfect stretch of … More Back to the Office
I don’t have many photographs from my childhood. Somehow, those moments were lived but not captured, or maybe just lost along the way. That’s why this one feels like a small treasure. It’s the only picture I have with my grandmother. I wish there were more pictures like this. But maybe… this one is enough. … More A Rare Photograph
The final warm days are here, then back to +8℃. While we’re working on bigger things around the house—the kind that take weeks (or months) and, in the end, somehow don’t even look that big—I felt the need for a small, visible win. So I decided: enough thinking… it’s time to choose a color and … More A Small Project That Feels Big
I walked into greenhouse… and I had to pick the nettle! They were growing everywhere. I tried something a little different today—hand pies filled with nettles, fetaki cheese, and quark. It started with a simple idea: I had nettles, I had pastry, and I wanted something warm and comforting. The kind of food that feels … More Nettle & Cheese Pastry Triangles – Experiment
The first dandelion always catch me by surprise. One day the grass still feels tired and colorless… and then suddenly—there it is. A small, bright sun, glowing quietly close to the ground. They are survivors. Healers. Dandelion is one of those plants that looks simple—but nutritionally, it’s surprisingly rich. Almost like a wild multivitamin growing … More Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
After what felt like an endless stretch of cold, ice, and even snow, today finally brought a little bit of relief — a warm 17°C (62°F). It almost feels unreal to step outside without that biting chill in the air. Check the pic of Marley 🙂 This change means more than just comfort. At last, … More Finally, a Warm Day
Walpurgis Night celebrated on April 30, is an old European tradition rooted in pagan spring rituals and later connected to Saint Walpurga. Last year, I wrote about this night as something magical and in-between seasons. This year, I feel it’s simpler than that. I celebrated it in my own quiet way. I walk through our … More Between Spring and Summer: My Quiet Walpurgis Night
There are days when I don’t really plan what I’m going to eat. I just open the fridge and start building something from what’s there. This tuna & egg open sandwich came exactly like that. Simple ingredients, nothing fancy—but it turned into a really satisfying lunch. The kind you don’t overthink, just eat and enjoy. … More Tuna & Egg Toast – My Quick Comfort Lunch
Lately, walking hasn’t been simple. My legs start to hurt, and I can’t just go . It seems that around 5000 steps a day might be my sweet spot. Not painless, but manageable. I need to get up to 10000 steps a day… But not sure when and how I would do that. This walk, … More Finding My Distance, Nature Inspired
I got busy potting out my tomatoes. And yes… I did it the way I always do — sowing them all together in one container instead of carefully placing one seed per pot like a more patient gardener probably would. I know the “right” way. One seed, one pot, neat and simple. But somehow I … More Potting Out Tomatoes and Seeding Flowers
Oh no… this is not what I expected to feel today! We chose to live here for a reason. Not for convenience, not for perfect roads or quick access to everything—but for the quiet. For the space. For the feeling that nature is allowed to just be. All around us, there have only been natural … More When the Field Across the Road Began to Change
Thirteen years since I first pressed “publish” with WordPress. I blogged before. Back then, I didn’t know this space would grow with me. It has seen everything — my early creativity, the busy years with little kids, the experiments, the pauses, the returns. It has quietly held my thoughts through different seasons of life. Somewhere … More Happy Anniversary
We planted 350 strawberries. Yes—three hundred and fifty! My in-laws decided it was time to start a new strawberry field, and suddenly there we were, with boxes of tiny plants waiting to go into the ground. It sounded exciting… until we stepped outside. It was freezing. Only +8°C, but the wind made it feel much … More One Freezing Day, 350 Strawberries
So… we had a decision to make. Stay home and watch every little detail, or go and live a little — carefully. We chose to go! It was Niks’ birthday (Helmī cousin) — he turned 7 — and it was one of those parties you don’t want to miss. The kind that happens outside, with … More April birthdays: Part II
April always feels full in our family. Helmī godfather, then our friend Mario, then Niks (kids cousin) and Ilze – Jānis mother. Usually it means cake, flowers, getting dressed up, and those long evenings filled with laughter and stories. This weekend was two celebrations planed – first Grandma Ilze’s birthday. At 6 PM we started … More April birthdays, four in a row
I was lucky enough to spent some time with Līga from Cēsis Medieval Castle garden. It was two-hour lecture about raised beds and kitchen gardening and seed swap. It all happend in Gulbenes Library. And somehow, it felt like a piece of the Cēsis Medieval Castles kitchen garden had travelled to us. Līga Eglīte’s kitchen … More A Medieval Castle Garden Came to Gulbene
The storks are back. I noticed them a week ago. They always return quietly, and at the beginning it looks lonely. For me it’s a small shift. A sign. In Latvia, their arrival means something deeper than just birds coming home. It feels like the land is waking up again. Spring is here for sure! … More Storks has returned!
Some things in the kitchen carry more than just coffee or biscuits. My green cups with the golden rim were never just cups. They always reminded me a little of France — french bistros. The kind of places where cups are sturdy, used every day, and part of life rather than decoration. That is Apilco! … More Apilco: Green Cups, Gold Rims, and a Memory
The raised beds are ready. Weeded, mulched, and quietly waiting — just like me. Now it’s that in-between time where everything looks prepared, but not much is happening yet. The sun teases a little, but I know better. The last frost here usually lingers until late May, and anything not frost-tolerant still has to wait. … More Waiting for Warmth
The 100th day of the year has its own quiet rule in Latvian garden — peas go into the soil. No discussions, no overthinking, no checking the forecast for the tenth time. No matter what, the peas are going in. Some years the ground is still a bit cold, some years it’s perfectly ready. It … More Peas Go In on the 100th Day
UPDATED: Here is the estimated average age of attendees Coachella ~26–28 young, trendyPinkpop ~30–40 mixed, relaxedGlastonbury ~35–40 all ages, communityBurning Man ~35–45 oldest, most intentional I’m sorry, I peeked into the wrong festival! That is why I felt old and didn’t get it! _______________________________________ I had heard of Coachella before, of course — one of … More Coachella – Justin Bieber
I’ve written about coltsfoot so many springs now. About waiting for them, about picking them, about drying them carefully for tea. It has become something like a rhythm — not a strict ritual, but a familiar return. 2017: https://latvianmom.com/2017/04/21/coltsfoot-is-blooming/2018: https://latvianmom.com/2018/04/25/coltsfoot-finally/2025: https://latvianmom.com/2025/04/02/coltsfoot-the-hidden-guardian-of-spring/ But this year feels… different. I have changed. And somehow, I feel like I … More Coltsfoot hasn’t changed. I have.