Crazy… but love it!

Two months as an owner of my own business! My first business :). I haven’t been in my comfort zone ever since! The journey so far was crazy enough. I love it! Perfect balance between workout (photoshoots) and time at the computer (photo editing). On Sunday I saw a squirrel – hanging upside down and looking … More Crazy… but love it!

Misty Mornings

Beautiful misty mornings are here! I love those mornings but don’t like the fact that autumn is coming! And by autumn I don’t mean colorful leaves, sunny days and stunning views! What I don’t like is rainy weeks, muddy roads, blues and sneeze that comes with it… Am I the only one struggling to smile … More Misty Mornings

End of July

I was away… I was BUSY (hate that word)! I can’t explain my absence in other words! Maybe CRAZY, RUSHing, MULTITASKing!       Well, that is not why I’m blogging at the moment! Sitting in my kitchen sipping decaf coffee with cream and eating macadamia nuts. And these past weeks (months) was NUTS! Still is! … More End of July

Photoshoot #3

I’m learning to let go and be me behind the camera. Plan, direct, shoot, edit and learn. Repeat. The internet is full of pictures, the world is full of cameras and Gulbene is full of photographers… Still, this is my dream and will be a reality for upcoming few years. Dream big! Even you think … More Photoshoot #3

Busy!?

Busy is a strong name I don’t like to use! Usually, I would say – in hurry, don’t know how to prioritize, need to set my goals, deal with this/that… I’m never busy! Busyness kills and won’t give joy and certainly not an inspiration! Yesterday I had to sit down and plan my day, cause … More Busy!?

Baby Freija

Yesterday I spend whole day capturing baby Freija! She is so adorable when sleeping. The problem was she wasn’t sleeping! She cried or ate. I was there for pictures but she didn’t want to model :). I hope one day we will meet again! Sweet dreams, Freija! Ilze

Sunday: Birthday Party

Sunday we were at a birthday party for Linna’s kindergarten colleague Lizabella. That was fun! Girls enjoyed inflatable attractions while I took my camera out and start to capture kids and moms with kids… Loved it so much Ilze  

Gauja National Park – Ligatne: Cliffs and Nature

Those who follow me since the beginning know that I’m not interested in seeing cities and museums. I love nature! We opened our caravan season on Friday, 4 May by heading to the rural property of our friends’ family near Līgatne (Latvia) in Gauja National Park territory. All the property is suited along the cliff and … More Gauja National Park – Ligatne: Cliffs and Nature

Away from blogging

Sorry I got you worried! I’m OK and I’m away from blogging cause I got an opportunity to write a business plan and get some money to start it from the government. So, it’s should be a high-quality business plan to win the concourse. All my time goes there and I miss blogging but have … More Away from blogging

Marley and Tulips

I wanted to capture the beauty of tulips in an old enamel jug. This old enamel jug is from my grandma… It’s special! I did few shots and Marley jumped in. And I used it! What do you think!? Ilze

Yesterday’s walk

It feels right to live here in the countryside of Latvia! So, so right! I like to walk and observe all the beauty Mother Nature can give to us! A beautiful day was yesterday and the new one is coming today! I promised myself to walk a bit every day. Since it’s so beautiful feels like … More Yesterday’s walk

New picnic spot

We found a new picnic spot in the nearest forest. I know it’s not much, but really, what you need if you get there by car!? You can take your own picnic table and stools, right? We love short picnics in forests! Ilze

Lucky day

I was so lucky to capture strange white frozen growths on treas around foxholes. At first, it looked so weird that I didn’t allow girls to touch it! Actually, we didn’t touch it at all! Later I found this article:  Mystery of HAIR ICE solved: Strange white frozen growths found on trees are engineered by fungus Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3171935/Mystery-HAIR-ICE-solved-Strange-white-frozen-growths-trees-engineered-fungus.html#ixzz56hkwhlH6 … More Lucky day

European Greenfinch

These birds are silly! They like to visit our feeder and they always stick together. I saw them in the cherry tree near the feeder. Grab a camera and run out. Silly Greenfinch flew away to the nearest tree when saw me with the camera. Ilze

Walking in the winter wonderland

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening In the lane, snow is glistening A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight Walking in a winter wonderland And later on, we’ll conspire As we dream by the fire To face unafraid, the plans that we’ve made Walking in a winter wonderland. Ilze P.S. More about the song here.  

Enchanted forest

We can’t imagine a better way to entertain kids and awaken their imagination than a walk into an enchanted forest on a sunny day as it was this Sunday! I call this forest (that is actually more like woods 50 meters away from our house) enchanted cause I and also my girls believe these 100-year-old trees … More Enchanted forest

Cones, Spruce cone

Saw something in the top part of the electricity pole… near our house. Just lead by curiosity I went out and took my camera with me. What can it be? Finally, the closest spruce is having wonderful cones this year. I don’t know if it’s planted there, but it’s not very high 2,5 meters.. or … More Cones, Spruce cone

Very Free Range

A few days ago we were visiting Janis uncle and talked about how easy/hard is to keep free range chickens for eggs. I know I’m not that type of person who can remember feed animals every day, and clean after them… As kids, we have rabbits at my grandmother’s house. Me and my brother we … More Very Free Range

Dark & Unpleasant

This pond is in the Janis parents property. In the spring I love to walk to the pond and sat in the swing and watch how Nature wakes up. Few days ago I took my walk and can’t believe my eyes. It was so dark, so mystery, so unpleasant…. I took the picture and walked away … More Dark & Unpleasant

Just an apple!

I’ve been amazed by Mother Nature many times before. This one is something I needed so much! I walk outside to take the picture of snowman – shared yesterday! And saw this! That the only one apple in the tree (this year we had only a few apples, wasn’t a good ear for apples!) made me … More Just an apple!

Frosty & Cold Morning

Brrr…. this was a surprise for all of us when we opened our eyes on Saturday morning and saw frost! Unexpected! Completely unexpected! The previous evening was beautiful and warm. I’m happy I was outside capturing all the beauty! Cause it was the last time this year we could enjoy the beautiful Latvian autumn colors. … More Frosty & Cold Morning

Full Moon

I don’t like full moon. OK. I don’t like full moon in the autumn. … especially when it’s raining outside and the moon is hiding behind dark clouds…. … and when  I’m the only one grownup in the house! And last night all THAT came together! I was home alone with Helmī, outside was raining, dark clouds … More Full Moon

Woolly Milk-cap

I can’t resist foraging for mushrooms this year! Especially when there are a lot of mushrooms everywhere. I don’t like forage for mushrooms in big/unknown forests alone. But this year to get wild mushrooms you don’t have to drive to the forest. I can forage mushrooms near home. Only 10-minute walk from my home! How can you resist … More Woolly Milk-cap

My favorite wild mushrooms

As you know I love to go foraging for mushrooms and also you know that this year mushrooms are all over the place. Or at least where we live :). What’s my favorite wild mushrooms? These! – Suillus luteus (Slipery Jack) – Leccinum aurantiacum – Boletus reticulatus Schaeff. (Summer Bolete) – Leccinum variicolor Watling – Lactarius torminosus (Woolly Milk-cap) – Lactarius pubescens … More My favorite wild mushrooms

Silly Owl!

Imagine that: Night. Dark and cloudy night. You are driving a car on one of the Latvia’s main roads that are not lit. There’s nothing around, just forests and meadows. You need to turn left on the smaller road that leads to our house. It’s not lit and it’s gravel road. You slow down and make … More Silly Owl!

Randu pļavas

Yesterday we were celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary. We left our three girls to my mom for an hour and a half and had a walk in the Nature reserve Randu pļava. The Randu pļava is a nature reserve covering the area of Vidzeme seaside from Ainazi till Kuivizi. The 200 ha area is home to approximately 600 Latvian … More Randu pļavas

Permaculture festival 

It’s hot here in Permaculture Festival! It’s +31 degree Celsius! I don’t want to build walipini or rocket stove.  I spent time with my girls at kids tent…. and attended lecture about compost. We painted with all natural colors like curry, blackberries, peppermint, beetroot juice and much more… Ilze

Permaculture Festival…

Today we are driving to Permaculture Festival. It’s 4th Permaculture festival this year but I never heard of it before. What is permaculture festival? It is a great event where people meet with smiles, trade knowledge and ideas about how to live in beat with nature. Will see. I’m interested in soil regeneration and compost building and Janis … More Permaculture Festival…

Moody Moon

I never thought I could tell the Moon phase by watching my kids! And I mean that FULL MOON phase when kids don’t want to go to bed and jumping around till 1 am! And, YES! I’m informed about those reserches that show that the moon doesn’t affect the behavior of children the way we thought … More Moody Moon

Jasmine tea

I remember my first time drinking green tea with jasmine. It was terrible and I needed some time to try it again but after that, I was completely in love with jasmine. I don’t know if jasmine that grows here in Latvia has all those benefits that Chines jasmine does but this is the only tea … More Jasmine tea

Yarrow tea

We were on the bike ride and found a field full of Yarrow. The good old Yarrow! It’s been used in our family as a cold treat for ages. I remember how my grandmother collected it in the nearest fields and picked every single flower cause there wasn’t plenty!Since we moved from city to countryside … More Yarrow tea

My happy place

As you know we were in the Berlin for a few days and the main reason was to see Viola – Nelles Godmother and to celebrate Nelles 5th birthday. We decided to leave the caravan near family friend’s house and drive all the way (more than 400km) to the Berlin just by the car. That … More My happy place

Nelle turns 5!

Nelle turned 5! She had her birthday in one of the Berlin’s park. The day started early and Nelle got here birthday crown from Godmother and called herself a princess. We woke up early – had breakfast and went to the park to be sure we had the BEST spot in the whole park. And … More Nelle turns 5!

New staff

 Today I had two knew employees in my kitchen…. or should I say outside the kitchen! Girls saw me washing dishes outside and took the job over. I don’t know if they will show up tomorrow but today they got upset when I told that all the dirty dishes are clean. Happy Latvian mom, Ilze … More New staff

Finger painting

We (me and Janis) need free time to fix/install electricity in the caravan so I decided to delight my two oldest ones with finger paint and finger painting. I brought a garden table inside to be sure that it is easy to clean afterward. While the youngest one was napping the biggest sisters was able to do … More Finger painting

Hometown

Yesterday we packed first two suitcases for upcoming caravan trip… and packed two more bags for small get away to my hometown: Salacgriva. We decided to visit my mom and  “change the decorations”. About Salacgriva: It’s a small town located near Gulf of Riga (Baltic Sea), close to Estonian border. See here. If you ask me – … More Hometown

Easter bunny

This year my Easter bunny left sitting on the top of my vintage cupboard. This bunny is special. It was delivered to our home at the day when Linna was born. Why?! I don’t know. I was so carried away by the easter bunnies letter and all the activities for the girls, that decoration wasn’t … More Easter bunny

Our deer friend

  End of the April. And deer family is still visiting us?! It is so cold this year. I might say, that spring isn’t started yet. Three weeks ago we had a bit of a sunshine and now it’s snowing. Terrible! A few years ago we had plum trees blooming at the moment. But now… … More Our deer friend

Snow, freeze, and Christmas… I meant Easter!

Winter is still standing behind springs shoulder. It was snowing yesterday! Easter snow?! Never happened before (or maybe I can’t recall…) Yesterday the ground was wet and warm and snow didn’t stay for long. But today I woke up to the white ground…. and it is freezing cold outside! -7C! The lowest temperature on April 18 … More Snow, freeze, and Christmas… I meant Easter!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to you all! We are having fun making greeting cards. I love “Fingerprint activities” book by USBORNE. So many ideas how to paint using your fingertips. And girls love it too. Ilze

Scissor Cutting Practice: Shapes / Free Easter Printable

After all the scissor cutting practices are finished, a child might want to demonstrate his/her cutting skills. And what’s a better way then easter greeting card for a dad or a grandma?! I made few greeting cards for my oldest girl to cut out to show dad how good is her scissor cutting skill. Learn more about Scissors Cutting Practice … More Scissor Cutting Practice: Shapes / Free Easter Printable

Scissor cutting practice: Simple Shapes / Free Easter printable

Scissor cutting practice is important for developing the fine motor skills that young children need in order to hold pencils, pens, and crayons. Children should start scissor cutting practice before learning how to write. About the Scissors cutting skill development you can find in my previous post: Scissors Cutting Practice for Preschoolers.  Practice sheets for short and long … More Scissor cutting practice: Simple Shapes / Free Easter printable

Our Natural Remedies

This weekend wasn’t as planned! Definitely wasn’t! So… as you might know, we wanted to start our first small travel trailer trip to visit my mom. We didn’t! Why? Girls were ill but getting better (on Friday morning). So we thought that we will go… We tried our caravans Truma gas heating system for the first … More Our Natural Remedies

Learn Numbers, Sequence & Counting: Ice Cream Scoops (free printable)

I’m so obsessed with nice looking materials for my girls to play-learn. I really enjoy the process of making them and the smiles on here faces to use them!  And my math related roots says that math is something that we need to learn and it could be so enjoyable and fun activity too! (At least for … More Learn Numbers, Sequence & Counting: Ice Cream Scoops (free printable)

European pine marten

Oh! That was a surprise! Something in the apple tree.. jumping… from one to another… squirrel! But wait! It is not a squirrel! What is it!? It is a European pine marten I guess! Can’t see! I stood quietly at the window and looked at the “pine marten”. That was all I can do, had … More European pine marten

Scissor Cutting Skills / FREE Easter Printable Worksheet

About the Scissors cutting skill development you can find in my previous post: Scissors Cutting Practice for Preschoolers. For better results and faster learning start with tearing paper by hand and the cut short cuts and end with wavy lines. I made Easter themed worksheets…. because, why not!  I’d say this a Preschool Cutting Activity for 3-year-olds … More Scissor Cutting Skills / FREE Easter Printable Worksheet

Unused Medicine

Finally, I did it! I opened my “first aid” box and took out all the medicine boxes with an expired date! Before I got pregnant (~10 years ago) I didn’t think about the cause of illness, I deal with the results of it. So did my family doctor. I used pills and liquids, emulsions and steroid … More Unused Medicine

Visitors

It’s been a while since I saw a doe in my garden for the last time. Finally, they are here once again! I love these animals. They are so beautiful, majestic, and free animals! The way they are eating, the way they are jumping, the way they are walking. I love it! Our living room … More Visitors

Chicken pox?

All my girls are home cause I’m still not sure if Helmī (>1 year old) has Chicken pox or not! We visited doctor yesterday and she said it is not the Chicken pox but she can’t say what it is!!! The diagnose was “Unknown allergic reaction”. OK, I might say it is fine – we ate few kiwis … More Chicken pox?

Eurasian treecreeper

Can you find the bird in the picture bellow? So small, so quick and likes to look under our old pine trees bark.  I think it is Eurasian treecreeper (oh, what a name!). I hope you find it! Never seen before. But maybe the reason is excellent camouflaging technic and teeny-weeny size of it! Nice, I … More Eurasian treecreeper

Foggy Winter Morning

I woke up and opened my eyes.I couldn’t believe what I saw!I got up and walked to the window…And there it was — a foggy winter morning. The girls were still asleep, so I grabbed my camera and rushed outside. Okay… not before putting on my down coat, scarf, hat, and mittens! 🙂 Today reminded … More Foggy Winter Morning

Our New Friend

I wanted to share this moment captured in our old apple garden—it’s not something we were used to seeing! Just a year ago, around this time, our view was filled with cars and crowds in Riga. Now, we’re surrounded by nature and friendly animals. I feel truly blessed to be here with my family, enjoying … More Our New Friend