My First Cinnabon-Style Cinnamon Rolls for Cinnamon Bun Day

October 4, 2026

On Cinnamon Bun Day, I embarked on my first baking adventure with an innovative recipe that uses a flour-and-liquid starter, resulting in soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls. The buttery, cinnamon-sweet filling and cream cheese frosting were delightful. Celebrating this lovely tradition inspires me to explore more variations in the future. Happy Baking! … More My First Cinnabon-Style Cinnamon Rolls for Cinnamon Bun Day

An Autumn Morning Walk

October 3, 2026

While I’m waiting for an important email, I went for a walk. Such a lovely morning walk today. Everything was covered in a thin white mist. The trees, fields, bushes — the whole landscape looked a little dreamy, as if someone had put a soft veil over everything. Autumn mornings really have something special about … More An Autumn Morning Walk

Rainbow vail

October 2, 2026

A few days ago, I experienced a rainbow. Not an ordinary rainbow, though. It was only a short piece of one, but it was wide, bright and incredibly colorful, almost like a delicate veil hanging across the sky. It didn’t last long, but for a moment, the sky looked completely different. Never seen such rainbow … More Rainbow vail

Update: Straw Flowers

September 25, 2026

Back in June, I planted straw flowers around the pool. At the time, they were still small and easy to overlook. I just wanted something cheerful around the edge — flowers that could handle the sun and, hopefully, give that slightly wild, summery feeling I like so much. And now, at the end of September, … More Update: Straw Flowers

Old Mondamin Cake Tin

September 7, 2026

I recently found an old tin baking dish, and instead of simply putting it back in the box, I started wondering: What cake was this actually made for? The answer was hiding right on the tin. It says “Mondamin” and “Wiener Nuß-Kuchen.” I don’t understand German, but I could work out one important word — … More Old Mondamin Cake Tin

Saving Seeds for Next Years

September 4, 2026

There’s something so satisfying about collecting seeds from my garden to save for next year. A little piece of this year’s garden, carefully saved for the next season. I love the thought of planting these again and watching the cycle begin all over. Ilze

Oxygen Drops to 76%

September 3, 2026

This post comes with some pretty pictures of my straw flower and a little fly. Enjoy! Yesterday, I did a sleep apnea test at home. I’ve suspected for a while that my sleep isn’t really restful. I wake up tired, foggy and exhausted, even after sleeping for hours. Then I started looking more closely at … More Oxygen Drops to 76%

I Broke Myself Apart

August 28, 2026

I think I spent years slowly breaking myself apart. Not intentionally. Just little by little. Putting everyone else first. Ignoring what I needed. Pushing through exhaustion. Forgetting the things that made me feel like me. Until eventually, I realised I had become very good at functioning — but not necessarily at living. I broke apart. … More I Broke Myself Apart

Struggle

August 21, 2026

This is not a beautiful blog post. I’m a real person, and sometimes my reality is a struggle. Right now, I can’t sleep. I can’t concentrate. Some days, I feel like I can barely live normally. I’m trying medication. I’m trying stretching, relaxing, resting, taking things slowly. I’m trying all the things I’m supposed to … More Struggle

My Lost Recipe Box

August 17, 2026

I think I’ve finally realised I’m never going to find my recipe box. For the past year and a half, I’ve kept hoping it would somehow turn up. I’ve looked everywhere — more than once — but it’s not coming back. And that makes me really sad. It wasn’t just a box of recipes. It … More My Lost Recipe Box

16 Years of Marriage… and a Forest Full of Chanterelles

August 14, 2026

Sixteen years of marriage. ❤️ We had a plan for our anniversary: dress up a little, go out, sit in a restaurant, have a nice dinner, and properly celebrate 16 years together. But it doesn’t feel like me… or Jānis. So why do it? Instead, we ended up in the forest, hunting for chanterelles. There … More 16 Years of Marriage… and a Forest Full of Chanterelles

Going Back to My Roots

August 8, 2026

Third week on sick leave. Of course, this is not exactly ideal… but I’ll survive. I hope. For now, I’m spending time relaxing and loving. And doing things I would normally never do — like making colour swatches for all my coloured pencils. Or… sorting seed packets. 🌱 Anyway, I hope you’re all having a … More Going Back to My Roots

A Slow Day

August 7, 2026

I wandered around the garden, enjoyed the flowers, checked on everything growing… and had a little visitor — a stork stopping by for a moment. There is something magical about these quiet encounters with nature. And then I noticed something funny — my dress looks almost exactly like my zinnias! 🌸 Apparently, even my clothes … More A Slow Day

Finally Putting My Fermentation Course to Good Use

August 4, 2026

About a year ago, I took a fermentation course. I was so inspired, learned a lot, and came home full of plans… and then life happened. Somehow, an entire year slipped by without me fermenting a single thing at home. Renovation, work, family, gardening—you know how it goes. There was always something more urgent waiting … More Finally Putting My Fermentation Course to Good Use

An Evening with YŪT at Jaungulbene Manor

July 22, 2026

Some evenings are simply magical, and this was definitely one of them. The Latvian band YŪT performed in the beautiful surroundings of Jaungulbene Manor, and I can’t think of a better setting for their music. There is something special about listening to live music surrounded by history. Jaungulbene Manor, located in the Vidzeme region of … More An Evening with YŪT at Jaungulbene Manor

AI Is Making Us Dumber

July 14, 2026

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

Back to Watercolors

July 10, 2026

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

Summer in a Gravy Boat: Peonies & Foraged Bilberries

July 8, 2026

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

Stealing a Few Minutes

July 6, 2026

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

Rainy Sunday

July 5, 2026

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

A Day on the Road

July 4, 2026

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

Garden in July

July 3, 2026

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

A Yellow Peony

June 27, 2026

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

A Rainy Day in Salacgrīva and a Field of Lupins

June 17, 2026

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

My Go-To Breakfast

June 16, 2026

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

I Couldn’t Resist

June 14, 2026

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

A Visit to Litene

June 10, 2026

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

How to Build Self-Confidence (According to Someone Still Looking for It)

June 8, 2026

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)

A Rainy Day Gift

June 6, 2026

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

Pool Season Has Begun

June 5, 2026

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