Immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world through stunning photography and explorations of wildlife, landscapes, and outdoor scenes
Since we had long, long drive through Poland and we all were tired we decide to drive “slower”. Making more pit stops along the way. We didn’t want to develop disgust for traveling to our girls… It was hard. It seams that I also need time “off the car” and we stopped every 30-50 km 🙂 … More Crossing the border and pit stopping a lot
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
Primula veris I love to forage for tea! When I was little we did it together with my grandmother – Agafija. I thought it was hard work. The basket was too big and flowers were too small or not enough. Yesterday I did it with my girls and their grandma (my mom) and suddenly I … More Foraging for Tea: Cowslip
About a year ago I saw two wood pigeons flying away from a fir tree. And for me, it’s not easy to identify the bird from the back! Since it was my first time saw Common Wood Pigeon. Today I was lucky – they were there again! And I made it to the camera and … More Wood Pigeon / Columba Palumbus
Finally, I stepped out to see what’s blooming around our house. We don’t have flower beds (ok, one small with daffodils) so all the beauty is from wildflowers. Like these ones… … I called my mom to ask the name. I know there are such flowers white and yellow (we had them in my grandma’s … More Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)
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
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
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
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
A few weeks ago we went for a longer walk with all our girls (Nelle, Linna, and HelmÄ« Saule). It’s not easy for us to went for a longer walk. Nelle doesn’t like walking, she likes to go with a balance bike. Also, if Nelle has a balance bike, Linna wants it too. But she … More Coltsfoot is blooming
Common hazel is blooming. I woudn’t notice it few years ago, but know my oldest doughter is almost 5 years old and she shows me everything: birds in sky, blooming flowers, bees and buterflies and few days ago she showed me “Wierd things are coming out of those branches! What is that?”. So it’s a bloom … More Common hazel / Corylus avellana is blooming
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 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
I should walk to that pussy willow tree again tomorrow… or whenever the sun will come out! This is the first tree, that is blooming here in Latvia…. and one of the first plants that are blooming: snowdrops and pussy willows… what else? I can’t recall. Coltsfoot?! But I guess that’s later. So…the pussy … More Pussy willow tree in bloom
Bird watching is something interesting. And you can do it no matter if you have a whole day or just an hour. This time I took my camera and run out for few minutes to capture the Mother Natures beauty. Spring. I like to run out for few minutes to be alone. These 10 – 20 … More Common chaffinch / Fringilla coelebs
Finally, I can say I’m cured and the spring is here too! Finally, spring greens are coming out and we can make green smoothies, juices, and elixirs to get back on track. I’m low on iron as every spring and spring greens are essential for me to feel energized and healthy. Do you feel tired … More 3 Edible Spring Greens
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 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
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
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)
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
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
Cutting practice is what going on in our house right now. Nelle loves to cut. I’m surprised how she can do that with right arm, she is left-handed. I bought here left-handed scissors but still cutting with the right arm. Well – let it be! Maybe it’s not too late to teach her to write with right … More Scissors Cutting Practice for Preschoolers
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
I thought of sharing some birds we have here in Latvia in the winter time. We have feeders near a window but in distance, so we don’t disturb them. Mostly tits are coming to our feeder, sometimes woodpeckers. I love to watch them eat and sit in the nearest trees and sometimes we are lucky to see … More Feeder Birds: European crested tit
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
We bought set of wooden blocks for girls to play a few years ago. They still use them when playing with other wooden sets but not that much anymore. I don’t like throw away toys (nor other things!). That old set has cubes in it and now it’s time to use them again. Since Nelle (will be … More Wooden Cubes Pattern set
Yesterday we had s busy day by making and using popsicle stick pattern cards. I found few popsicle stick pattern cards on the Internet for Nelle to try out. Every new card was greeted with such an enthusiasm and happy face ready to start to match the pattern on the card with the colored popsicle sticks… After … More Popsicle stick pattern cards
All my girls are home cause I’m still not sure if HelmÄ« (>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?
Last two days are busy for me. My two bigger girls are having a day off from kindergarten. For them, it’s sleep til 9:30 am and having fun all day without napping! And going to bed at 11:30 pm. Â For me, it’s a had time especially when it comes when I’m not prepared! And by … More Who’s working and who’s having day off
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
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
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