countryside life – a day in the life of a latvian mom

Coltsfoot hasn’t changed. I have.

April 8, 2026

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.

Vacation Day 19 – Hay, Zucchini, and a Busy Yard

August 23, 2025

Finally, the tractor arrived to collect the hay we had mowed. Here, there’s a law that hay must be properly cleared from the meadows — you can’t just mow and leave it on the ground. So it was such a joy to see the hay being gathered, dried, and then rolled into neat bales! The … More Vacation Day 19 – Hay, Zucchini, and a Busy Yard

Vacation Day 18 – A Little Visitor

August 22, 2025

I was out in the garden when suddenly I noticed a little bird landing in the sweet peas — only about four meters away from me. Moments like this make me so grateful for today’s phones. Of course, a camera would have been better, but there was no way the bird was going to wait … More Vacation Day 18 – A Little Visitor

Vacation Day 17 – A Basket of Peas

August 21, 2025

I went out to the garden just to check if we had enough yellow beans for lunch, and instead I came back with a full basket of sugar peas (and a bit of beans)! The kids ate quite a lot of them fresh, and I did too. Still, I’m thinking of cooking a stew with … More Vacation Day 17 – A Basket of Peas

Vacation Day 16 – Walks and Garden Notes

August 20, 2025

I went for a 5 km walk with Jānis. On the way, we spotted bees, a butterfly caterpillar, an overturned beetle, and even a little stream. Everything just feels more romantic when I’m walking with my husband. 🙂 Back at home, we’ve nearly finished eating through one of the romaine lettuce beds, but luckily two … More Vacation Day 16 – Walks and Garden Notes

Vacation Day 15 – Afternoon Tea and a New Bench

August 19, 2025

We said goodbye to our guests on Sunday, but the day still had a few surprises in store. For the past two years, Jānis’s mom has had this fantastic garden bench — actually, two chairs joined together with a little table in the middle. It’s absolutely perfect for my height, weight, and heart :). While … More Vacation Day 15 – Afternoon Tea and a New Bench

Vacation Day 5: Clean Sofa & Sewing Plans

August 8, 2025

I’m finally sharing the clean sofa pictures! ✨ Much better! Before: After: Yesterday was such a lovely day. Thanks to Jānis, I now have my needles, and thanks to Baiba—with her professional oil (she makes beautiful bags and purses)—both my sewing machine and serger are now ready for upcoming projects. I even ordered fabric for … More Vacation Day 5: Clean Sofa & Sewing Plans

The Storm That Almost Was

July 15, 2025

Well… we made it… (sorry for not giving an update sooner). This is about this post: We were right in the middle of the alert zone, but the worst of it swept past us on both sides. Just a few kilometers away, people got hit with massive hailstones crashing down hard enough to dent cars … More The Storm That Almost Was

🌿 Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) – A Scent of Summer and Sweet Relief

June 28, 2025

The meadowsweet has started to bloom! I can’t wait to see the whole field burst into those soft, creamy-white blossoms, glowing in the light like a dream. There’s something magical about them—how they catch the sun and seem to shimmer in the breeze. And the scent… it’s the smell of summer itself. Warm, sweet, and … More 🌿 Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) – A Scent of Summer and Sweet Relief

Our Līgo and Jāņi – Bonfire, Tradition, and Trout!

June 24, 2025

What a magical celebration we had! 🌿☀️ Let’s start with Linna’s Rhubarb pie, it was delicious. You can find the recipe here: Perfect Rhubarb custard pie. Yesterday we welcomed Līgo night with what might have been the biggest bonfire we’ve ever made – seriously, it was huge! Flames reaching high into the sky, sparks dancing in … More Our Līgo and Jāņi – Bonfire, Tradition, and Trout!

Latvian Midsummer Cheese

June 22, 2025

The scent of blooming meadows, bonfires waiting to be lit, flower crowns drying on the table, and songs quietly echoing from a speaker in the kitchen… It’s almost Jāņi, and we’re getting ready in the most traditional way we know. One of the first things on my list each year is Jāņu siers – that … More Latvian Midsummer Cheese

Wait, Wait, Don’t Run Away!

November 17, 2024

Roe deer near our house seems to have a sixth sense—one that specifically detects when I’m holding a camera. It’s like they’re on a mission to make sure their majestic beauty is never captured. Yesterday, I decided to outsmart them. I crept out of the house as quietly as possible, camera in hand, ready to … More Wait, Wait, Don’t Run Away!

	John on Apilco: Green Cups, Gold Rims,…
	John on Storks has returned!
	mjeanpike on Storks has returned!
	Ilze on Storks has returned!
	Ilze on Storks has returned!

a day in the life of a latvian mom

by Ilze

Tag: countryside life