I think I spent years slowly breaking myself apart. Not intentionally. Just little by little. Putting everyone else first. Ignoring what I needed. Pushing through exhaustion. Forgetting the things that made me feel like me. Until eventually, I realised I had become very good at functioning — but not necessarily at living. I broke apart. … More I Broke Myself Apart
Yesterday (and today) was one of those very August days — we made dill pickles and beetroot soup for winter. And Helmī discovered the ultimate trick for peeling a mountain of onions without crying: swimming goggles! 😂 Honestly, I’m impressed. She looked ridiculous, but she was the only one with dry eyes. The winter pantry … More August Days: Pickles, Onions & an Eclipse
Today is officially the last day of my sick leave. And honestly? I’m not sure anymore what the point of it was. The idea was supposed to be simple: take some time for myself. Rest. Slow down. Let my body and mind recover. Wait for the “pills to start working.” Try to find some kind … More What Is the Point of Sick Leave?
Third week on sick leave. Of course, this is not exactly ideal… but I’ll survive. I hope. For now, I’m spending time relaxing and loving. And doing things I would normally never do — like making colour swatches for all my coloured pencils. Or… sorting seed packets. 🌱 Anyway, I hope you’re all having a … More Going Back to My Roots
Some of the most beautiful things in a garden are the ones you never planned. My hollyhocks are a perfect example. I love them because they are completely free. I never bought them, never carefully planted them, and never designed this flower bed. They simply appeared, dropped their seeds, and decided to grow here. Every … More My Self-Seeding Hollyhocks
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
Summer is officially half way through, and with it comes the fleeting magic of the last peony blooms. A few days ago, I visited Jānis’ mother’s garden to gather the very last of her magnificent peonies. There is something heartbreakingly beautiful about the final flowers of the season—they feel like a quiet farewell to summer’s … More Summer in a Gravy Boat: Peonies & Foraged Bilberries
I’m sorry for being a little quiet here lately. I actually have plenty of stories waiting to be shared. Photos to sort through, little adventures to write about, recipes, nature walks, and moments from everyday life. The only thing I’m missing is time. Life has been moving quickly, and by the end of the day, … More A Quiet Sunday Beneath the Apple Tree
Around the summer solstice, when the days are at their longest, it’s time for one of my favorite little traditions – collecting wildflowers for tea. The exact timing depends on the weather. Some years the flowers bloom a little earlier, and some years a little later. This year, after a few days of hot sunshine … More A Solstice Tradition: Gathering Tea
This is a wild animal. No one feeds it. No one pets it. No one tucks it into a cozy bed at night. And yet… I have to admit, I would absolutely love to give this adorable European hare a cuddle. 😊 Of course, I won’t. Wild animals should stay wild, and that’s exactly how … More A Wild Visitor I Always Love to See
From Monday until Thursday, I felt completely overwhelmed. I won’t go into details about work or what exactly was happening because that’s not really the point. Some weeks are simply heavier than others. The funny thing is that I refuse to work late. Once my workday is over, I close my laptop and I don’t … More Romanticising the Crazy Workweek
Yesterday I had plans. I wanted to go for a walk after lunch, stretch my legs, and get some fresh air. But then the rain arrived. And honestly? Thank goodness for that. Instead of heading out, I sat inside with the door open and watched the rain. No mosquitoes buzzing around my ears. No pressure … More A Rainy Day Gift
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.
Lately, walking hasn’t been simple. My legs start to hurt, and I can’t just go . It seems that around 5000 steps a day might be my sweet spot. Not painless, but manageable. I need to get up to 10000 steps a day… But not sure when and how I would do that. This walk, … More Finding My Distance, Nature Inspired
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
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.
The weekend was supposed to be lovely… and to be fair, it really was — right up until 2am on Sunday morning. That’s when everything went downhill. I got sick. Properly sick. The kind where you spend the entire night running back and forth to the toilet. And not even in the comfort of your … More Surviving the Weekend, Starting the Garden
Ostara is celebrated around the spring equinox, usually on March 20 or 21, when day and night are almost equal. It marks the moment when the light begins to win over the darkness and the days slowly grow longer. In many nature-based traditions, Ostara is a celebration of renewal. The earth is waking up after … More 🌱 Ostara, Day & Night, and more
I think I’ve just realised where my trust line is. Recently I bought a book about canning. And while I already feel confident with water bath canning, pressure canning is a whole different level. It’s not something you casually experiment with—it’s about safety, not just taste. And that’s exactly where my hesitation kicked in. I … More Old Books, Real Knowledge
For two days in a row, I had the same quiet visitor. Almost in the exact same spot, too. A snake. I have to admit — I love snakes. Not in the “I want one as a pet at home” kind of way… but out here, in nature, they feel right. Like they belong. Like … More The Same Visitor, Two Days in a Row
Everyone seems to be making New Year’s resolutions today. Lists, goals, promises to become someone faster, better, more disciplined. That has never really been for me. If anything, I feel ready to do the opposite — to slip deeper into winter. To rest. To unwind. To let life move slowly for a while. Outside, the … More First of January
The morning started with another delicious salad straight from the garden. 🥗 I just love this daily ritual—fresh, simple, and full of summer flavor. The big news today? I finally brought my sewing machines back home. It’s been a while—I originally gave them “just for a week”… and never got them back. 😅 But now … More Vacation Day 4: Sewing Machines, Zucchini & a Rare Rainbow
This morning started with collecting the delicate flowers of the common evening-primrose. Their soft yellow petals feel like little pieces of sunshine—wild, gentle, and fleeting. Then came a lovely breakfast straight from the garden, followed (of course) by my favorite ritual: coffee with ice cream. ☕🍦 All the sofa cushions are finally dry and clean! … More Vacation Day 3: Primrose Flowers, Sofa Dreams & A Bath
My first day of vacation was… nice. Nothing dramatic, nothing wild — just the kind of slow, easy start I’ve been craving. I woke up at 9am (no alarm, thank you very much!), stretched out slowly. Breakfast was simple and nourishing — some fresh veggies, which somehow taste even better when there’s no rush to … More Vacation Day 1: Walk, Horseflies and Sofa Cleaning
After months of juggling work, renovation dust, and family life, tomorrow marks the official start of my vacation! No meetings, no emails—just time to breathe, stretch, and maybe even finish a cup of tea while it’s still warm. 🫖✨ Yes, I’ve had time off before… but it usually meant hard labor—renovating, cooking, fixing something. And … More Tomorrow It’s Official!
A new month begins—and this one feels different already. August means vacation time for me, and I plan to embrace slow living in its fullest form. I want to rest deeply, create gently, and give time to the things I love the most: watercolor, journaling, being outdoors, and enjoying the simple rhythms of home. There’s … More August Goals & Intentions
I can’t believe July is already over! We didn’t set any formal goals this month—and honestly, with summer in full swing and both of us working full time, that was more than enough. July naturally became a month of slowing down, enjoying home, and letting the simple beauty of the season unfold around us. But … More What We Achieved in July
Today, I walked into my so-called “green room” — our special occasion dining space — and was instantly hit by a wave of scent and nostalgia. There it was: the black oak table, covered with a white cotton bed sheet, herbs spread out to dry in the warmth of summer. I paused. I had seen … More The Table That Remembers
It’s the last week before vacation, and while many people are packing suitcases or making travel checklists, I find myself leaning into something much simpler: staying home. We don’t have any grand adventures planned—just a short trip to Salacgrīva to celebrate my brother’s birthday. The rest of the time, I’m looking forward to something that … More The Last Week Before Vacation
This past weekend was meant to be all about Gulbene’s birthday celebrations – the plan was simple: my brother and his family would come over, we’d all head out to enjoy the city festivities, and end the evening with a concert under the stars. But as life tends to do, plans shifted, and honestly… I’m … More Change of Plans, Loads of Fun: A Weekend to Remember
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
This morning I woke up at 11am and couldn’t open my eyes. It was so dark outside — and just as dark inside — that for a second, I thought it was already evening. You know that strange twilight feeling, when the sky doesn’t care what time it is? I tried to shake it off … More When the Forest Calls Through the Rain
I almost missed it. Honestly, I can’t believe I did. I felt it… With all this gray sky, endless drizzle, and heavy summer clouds, I hadn’t even thought to look up. July has felt like one long sigh — cold, damp, and dreary. I’ve been indoors too much, moving from one to-do to another, hoping … More The Moon I Almost Missed
Hello, July! June passed quickly — full of rain, a few small wins, and some things that just didn’t go as planned. And that’s okay. That’s life. We didn’t get to start on the bathroom like we had hoped. The worker who usually helps us had to take care of some personal issues, so that … More July Goals & Intentions
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
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
I’ve been struggling lately, feeling like everything around me is too much. Work, home, life—it’s all felt overwhelming. So, I made the decision to take 4 days off from work and do nothing at home. I ignored the chores, let the laundry pile up, and let the dust settle. Instead, I spent the time watching … More Taking a Breather
After sharing how I lost half of my tomato plants, I wasn’t sure I’d even write another post about them this season… but here we are. The second half of my tomatoes are now planted out—and I’m crossing all my fingers and toes. These are my last seedlings. They were struggling in their pots (plugs!) … More Garden Diary: The Last Tomato Hope!
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 💛
This weekend felt like a little celebration—I finally planted out the monthly strawberries I grew from seed earlier this year! Watching them grow from tiny specks in the soil (it takes a lot of patience; they grow slowly) to strong little plants has been a gratifying process. These aren’t your usual garden strawberries; they’re monthly … More Planting Out Our Homegrown Strawberries 🍓
We had a burst of summer warmth these past few days, but now it’s back to the chill — just +11°C again. Yesterday, I noticed the Prunus cerasifera in bloom — the first tree to flower on our land each spring. It always arrives too early, like a quiet whisper before the season truly begins.And … More Prunus cerasifera: The First to Bloom
Right now, I’m sitting in the living room—in our old chair, laptop on my lap. On the right, the windowsill is full of plants soaking up the light. On the left, an absolute army of tomato seedlings—around 120 in total. They’ve taken over the space, tall and cheerful, stretching toward the sun as if they … More A Nice Living Room Moment
oday is my birthday! Another year older, another year wiser—at least, that’s what I tell myself. Birthdays are always a mix of emotions for me. On one hand, I don’t like too much attention, but on the other hand, it’s a good moment to reflect on how far I’ve come. Being a Pisces, I naturally … More It’s My Birthday Today! 🎉
So, I usually take a midday stroll, but now I can walk anytime in my unfinished house area. There are cool trails nearby, and I did a nice 1km yesterday at 6am. The sunrise and fog were just stunning. It felt magical and peaceful. I really love this place! 🧡 … More Couldn’t Resist: A 6AM Walk Through Fog and Sunrise
The author discovers “cottagecore” through a quiz and learns it represents a simple, rural lifestyle filled with cozy, nature-themed aesthetics. This trend, which gained popularity during the pandemic, emphasizes vintage décor, gardening, and crafting. The author resonates with cottagecore, identifying more with country living than urban life. … More Cottagecore: The Quiz Nailed It, but I Had to Look Up the Word!
I think the pictures say it all, Ilze