Some moments in nature feel almost magical — the ones you dream about for years, but never really expect to happen. Today I had one of those moments. This beautiful bird is a hoopoe (Upupa epops) — or pupuķis in Latvian. Seeing one is quite rare here. There are only a few hundred hoopoes in … More A Rare Visitor: My Unexpected Encounter with a Hoopoe
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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)
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 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)
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
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
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!
As expected, we had a lovely time the night before. Jānis had his special moments with Oto, and I enjoyed the conversations around me. The next day was all about getting ready for our 15th wedding anniversary celebration. We started with lunch at our house, followed by cake, and then continued at Jānis’s parents’ place, … More Vacation Day 14 – Anniversary Celebrations
Yesterday, I saw them again—the doe family that had visited throughout the winter. It was a quiet and peaceful sight, one I had almost forgotten in the bustle of everyday life. They had come regularly when the ground was covered in snow, searching for food, their graceful forms blending into the stark landscape. But by … More The Return of the Doe Family
Friday morning, we woke up to a thick layer of snow—silent, unexpected, and beautiful. Just when it felt like spring was near, winter had other plans. The trees stood heavy with fresh snow, and our house looked even cozier against the white landscape. None of us were thrilled, a thick snow blanket covered the road … More A Morning Surprise: A Blanket of Snow
Yesterday, I shared a blog post about the pig fat stealer, and guess what? I was lucky again! This time, I managed to capture some lovely pictures of my favorite bird — the Raven. It feels like nature keeps rewarding me with these little glimpses of wonder, and I am so grateful for every one … More Nature’s Unexpected Gifts
Today, a flock of Bohemian waxwings came to visit! These birds always catch my eye with their sleek feathers and striking markings, but what amuses me most is how angry they look. Their sharp gaze and confident posture make them seem unimpressed with the world around them. Despite their grumpy expressions, watching them was a … More The Birds at My Feeder: Bohemian waxwing
Finally, a sunny and relatively warm day! After so many gray skies, it felt so nice to be outside, breathing in the fresh air and feeling the sun on my face. I love snow—not just because of how beautiful it looks, but because it tells a story. With every step, I can see the tracks … More A Sunny Walk in the Snow, Finally!
As winter sets in, my bird feeder has become a busy spot, but none are as bold as the Eurasian magpies (Pica pica). These black-and-white birds often arrive in groups, their loud calls signaling their dominance. When they swoop in, smaller birds like sparrows and finches scatter—magpies make sure they get first pick of the … More The Birds at My Feeder: Eurasian Magpies (Pica Pica)
Berries! That’s all I can think about… Berries! Every time I head to the store or the local mini-market, I’m on the lookout for any sign of berries… Berries! Berries! Where are you, my beloved berries? If I were living in Riga, finding berries would be a breeze. I could simply stroll into any large … More The Berry Chase: A Rural Tale of Desire and Delight
“Rape” is such an unfortunate name! I have feeling it’s canola?! Now all the canola fields are in bloom and they look so good against the blue sky or other “green” fields! So far it’s – GOOD! But then there is something I hate about these fields!!!! I really DO HATE! And that is SPRAYING! … More Field of Rape
We sometimes like to take small detours around the countryside we are living in. Yesterday I spent the whole day learning photoshop and editing baby Freijas pictures so I felt like I need to change the ” view what’s around” and have a detour. It ended with a surprise – horses. Very friendly horses! Girls … More Small Detour