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
The strawflowers had been waiting patiently for me to plant them outside. They sat in their pots for longer than planned, and I knew I had to find them a home before they outgrew their temporary one. I would say they did outgrew these small plugs… After walking around the property and looking for an … More A Home for the Strawflowers
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
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
Today is the 1st of June, and just like that, school is over. The kids are home! I’m happy for them. Summer holidays always felt magical when I was a child — long days, freedom, adventures, and not having to think about school for a while. Now, as a parent, I see it a little … More June Has Arrived
There are times when we make sushi at home… and then there are times when I simply say: “Let’s order sushi.” Living in the countryside means food delivery is almost nonexistent here. No delivery apps, no endless restaurant choices, no late-night cravings magically appearing at our door. So whenever our local bistro announces sushi offers, … More Sushi Night
This afternoon we received a cell broadcast warning on our phones — a message telling people in several regions of Latvia to stay indoors because of a possible drone threat in Latvian airspace. Not war. Not missiles falling around us. But still something frightening enough that schools moved children into safe places inside the buildings … More Today felt different. Heavy. Disturbing.
Congratulations to all the mums and grandmothers around the world on Mother’s Day. ❤️ This Sunday turned out to be really lovely this year. In the morning the kids brought me flowers, which already made the day feel special. But what surprised me the most was something their teachers had prepared at school. Each teacher … More A Slow and Lovely Mother’s Day
And honestly? I’m not even sure I like Mother’s Day that much. This year I bought our family tickets to see Emīlija Bērziņa in concert (I’ve also been listening to her music on Spotify lately), and I’m genuinely looking forward to that. I didn’t know it’s on Mothers day! Music, time together, an evening somewhere … More Tomorrow is Mother’s Day.
Terrible 24 hours… My breakfast this morning — couscous, pesto, tuna, and Fetaki cheese.My husband’s breakfast this morning — a hospital meal. Yes… I had to call an ambulance for Jānis last night. He is coming home at the moment I’m writing this… But not because everything is sorted out — because they HOPE it … More Not Out of the Woods Yet…
The final warm days are here, then back to +8℃. While we’re working on bigger things around the house—the kind that take weeks (or months) and, in the end, somehow don’t even look that big—I felt the need for a small, visible win. So I decided: enough thinking… it’s time to choose a color and … More A Small Project That Feels Big
So… we had a decision to make. Stay home and watch every little detail, or go and live a little — carefully. We chose to go! It was Niks’ birthday (Helmī cousin) — he turned 7 — and it was one of those parties you don’t want to miss. The kind that happens outside, with … More April birthdays: Part II
I was never a huge IKEA fan, but… it turns out I’m spending quite a lot of money there and even all of our holidays building their furniture. My first real encounter with IKEA was last summer, when we decided to buy temporary bedroom furniture. It turned out to be easy to install and looked … More Our Holidays, Apparently, Are for Building IKEA
Our youngest turned ten today! 🎉 Helmī has always been full of surprises — she’s the kind of kid who won’t just do or say what you expect, and that makes her truly extraordinary. She’s fun, clever, and has her own way of looking at the world. Right now, she dreams about being a clothing … More Today is Helmī’s 10th Birthday!
The sofa pillows finally got their zippers! I’ve been slowly working through them, one by one, and after a few hours of careful sewing, almost all of them were done. There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing a row of neat, functional pillows ready for the couch. I had to cook dinner. The kitchen kept me … More Sewing, Zippers, and Little Surprises
It’s not every night you get woken up at 2 a.m., and usually, when Janis does it, it’s because something serious is happening. In our 15 years together, it’s only happened twice—and both times it was because I needed to call an ambulance. Kidney stones are never fun. But last night… last night was different. … More Woken Up by Magic
The first day of school is here! The kids are going back, and as always, it feels a little bit crazy for our family. You know how it is – we work from home, and usually we don’t have to go anywhere early in the morning. Suddenly, September arrives, and everything changes. Now it’s time … More First Day of School!
I just realised it’s the last day of June!!!!June brought steady rain and moments of celebration — a month of quiet wins and the familiar chaos of real life. Here’s a look back at the goals I set at the start of the month and what we managed to accomplish. But first June gallery! How the June … More What We Achieved in June
Today was the last day of school – May 30th! No more early mornings, school emails, or homework. The kids came home smiling, ready for summer and finally free. We will celebrate with ice cream and some well-earned laziness. And we’re not slowing down — tomorrow is Nelle’s birthday party, so the fun rolls right … More Summer Break! One day till Nelle’s Party!
Today, my sweet Nelle is turning 13. Thirteen. A teenager. I can barely believe I’m writing this. Not because she’s not ready for it—she absolutely is—but because somehow, the time flew. And that’s something I never thought I’d say. People always told me “Enjoy it while it lasts, they grow up so fast!” And honestly? … More Nelle is 13! 3 Days Until the Party
It’s been raining non-stop lately, and of course, we’re trying to get the yard ready for Nelle’s party. Not ideal timing, right? The grass has been growing wild, and the ground is still bumpy since this is our first year mowing it. Today, though, we got lucky — no rain! It’s a bit cloudy, but … More Prepping for Nelle’s Party: 4 days to go
Last week felt like a whirlwind of everything but home. We were constantly on the move—errands, appointments, work – community days in Riga, quick visits, spontaneous plans… I barely had time to catch my breath, let alone sit down and rest. Now that a new week has started, I can feel the tiredness setting in. … More No Time to Lose: 5 Days Until Nelle’s Party!
A few days ago we went to the hairdresser’s! With the weather still teasing us between spring and summer, it felt like the perfect time for a little refresh. So off we went: Nelle, Linna, and me, each with our own little mission. I went first. Nothing dramatic here, I needed a bit of cleanup. … More A Trip to the Hairdresser: Trimmed Ends, Fresh Looks, and a Bold Surprise
It’s hard to believe, but Nelle’s first graduation is just around the corner. She’s almost 13 (turning on the 28th of May!), and this feels like one of those big milestones that sneaks up on you—even though you’ve seen it coming on the calendar for months. Dresses are being chosen, hairstyles imagined… and the very … More With or Without Socks?
I just realized I forgot to share a little glimpse into our Mother’s Day this year—and it was too lovely to skip. I want to remember it forever. Kids grow fast! Sunday started with a surprise: breakfast in bed, lovingly made by my girls. It was the sweetest gesture, and a quiet moment just for … More A Quiet, Lovely Mother’s Day 💛
I can hardly believe it – my oldest girl is turning 13 this month! And not only that, she’s finishing her years at the art school. Our first big goal has been officially reached. It feels like just yesterday she started, still so small, brought there when she was still in kindergarten. And now here … More Nelle and the Art School 🎨💫
March flew by in a blur, and while I never set official goals for the month, plenty still happened! Looking back, I realize that even without a plan, we made solid progress in different areas—home, garden, and personal life. So, let’s go through what we actually got done in March! Let’s start with the gallery … More What We Achieved in March
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
Just when I hoped we could contain it, the flu has claimed its second victim—Helmī is now sick too. Fever, chills, the same exhaustion… it’s all too familiar. Now, I have two little patients at home, and I can only hope it stops here. We’re doing everything we can—ventilating the house, keeping the air fresh, … More Flu: Two Patients at Home…
After a day of fever, chills, and exhaustion, we decided to take a test—just to be sure. And there it was, clear as day: Nelle has the flu. No more guessing, no more wondering if it’s just a bad cold. It’s official. Honestly, I’m still wrapping my head around it. In 12 years, we’ve managed … More Confirmed: It’s the Flu
Last week was a whirlwind—work was hectic, home was just as busy, and the weekend didn’t bring much rest either. On top of everything, Nelle got sick with a very high temperature, which made things even more exhausting. It’s always tough seeing your child unwell, and those sleepless nights don’t make things any easier. Despite … More A Busy Week & A Big Move
On December 20, 2024, I wrote about walking the middle path when it comes to vaccinations—about balancing research, personal beliefs, and practical needs. Today, that path continues as Jānis and the kids are in Riga for their next round of shots. Jānis is the one handling the logistics. It’s a relief because I don’t have … More Continuing the Middle Path: Our Next Steps in Vaccination
As I look back at this year, I’m reminded of all the moments—big and small—that have shaped me. It’s been a year of personal growth, health challenges, and continued efforts to balance family life, work, and home renovations. There have been highs and lows, and lower than the low… Health Scare: The year began with … More A Year 2024 in Reflection
Yesterday marked the Second Advent, and we spent it together as a family. It was cozy and heartwarming to share a meal and enjoy some time together amidst the chaos of renovation. I also made a small but meaningful improvement to our living situation: I laid down temporary flooring in one part of the house! … More Second Advent and Small Victories
When we first bought our house, we weren’t exactly thrilled about living next to a dirt road. The dust would roll in every time a car passed by—especially in the dry summer. But we loved the house and the land, so we decided to stick with it. The dust is still an issue, but I … More Life by the Dirt Road: Unexpected Joys and Challenges
For a while now, it felt like everything was piling up—work, renovation, family commitments, and life in general. I’ve been juggling so many responsibilities, and it has become overwhelming. It felt as if I were trapped in a series of dark tunnels with no end in sight. The weight of it all pressed down and … More Sunday: Finding the Light in One of Many Tunnels
Ilze reflects on the passage of time since capturing a cherished photo of her daughters, noting how they’ve grown more independent and less willing to pose for pictures. While she misses the ease of past photo sessions, she values their memories and seeks advice on getting older children to cooperate for family photos. … More Capturing Real Moments: Tips for Family Photos
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