Storks has returned!

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!

Waiting for Warmth

The raised beds are ready. Weeded, mulched, and quietly waiting — just like me. Now it’s that in-between time where everything looks prepared, but not much is happening yet. The sun teases a little, but I know better. The last frost here usually lingers until late May, and anything not frost-tolerant still has to wait. … More Waiting for Warmth

Coltsfoot hasn’t changed. I have.

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.

In a Vase on Monday

This is my first time trying – In a Vase on Monday! Thank you, Cathy at Rambling In The Garden. So this is my vase… Yesterday I was in the forest. I gathered what summer offered me: tiny wild strawberries and blueberries, nestled among fresh green leaves. There’s something magical about arranging edible finds—like bringing the … More In a Vase on Monday

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

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!

The Longest Day – Summer Solstice in Latvia

The June solstice is almost here. On Saturday, June 21st, 2025, at 05:42 in the morning, the sun will reach its highest point over Gulbene—and we’ll be living our longest day of the year. It’s hard to ignore. The light stretches forever. Evening feels like afternoon, and morning arrives so early that the birds start … More The Longest Day – Summer Solstice in Latvia