I cut all the tops of the pumpkin plants, hoping they will grow strong and be ready soon. Tops look so beautiful, full of promise—I’m even thinking about putting them in a vase just to enjoy them indoors for a little while. There’s something magical about seeing the garden transition from summer to autumn, and … More Vacation Day 23 – Autumn Whispers in the Garden
I didn’t feel great yesterday, so I stayed in bed and let myself sink into the soft, predictable comfort of Hallmark movies. I know, I know… but sometimes you just need that. While curled up, I ordered a few missing things for my sewing machine — a hidden zipper foot, measuring tape, needles, and scissors. … More Vacation Day 9: Lazy Day
One of the containers I planted tomatoes in had a few holes at the bottom—nothing fancy, just enough for drainage. But with all the rain lately, it flooded a few times. Turns out, the roof rain collector was clogged, and all that water ended up pouring straight into that one unlucky container. My poor tomato … More A Surprise Under the Tomato Container
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!
One of the most satisfying experiments I tried this year was winter sowing—and I’m happy to report that some of those little seedlings are now thriving in the garden! Back in the colder months, I sowed several types of seeds outdoors in containers, letting nature do its thing. I wasn’t sure how many would make … More Winter Sowing Update: The Calendula Surprise
I can’t recall a spring quite like this one—so cold for so long! These past few weeks have felt more like late March than May, and it’s starting to wear on me. By now, I’d normally be busy in the new garden (at least in the greenhouse), hands in the soil, finally planting out my … More A Cold Spring and Tomato Troubles
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
Remember this post? Yesterday, I finally made time (though I had absolutely no will) to prick out the tomatoes. It was one of those tasks I kept putting off, but I powered through… and now I have around 120 tomato plants. That’s 100 too many. I only need about 20—some for my garden, and maybe … More The Great Tomato Overpopulation of 2025
I had already seeded enough tomatoes for this season, so when I found an old packet of seeds—expired four years ago—I was ready to throw it away. They were so old, I didn’t even think they had a chance. But at the last moment, I thought, Why not? and decided to plant them in the … More A Tomato Surprise: The Ones I Almost Threw Away…
This summer was like a juggling act gone wild! Between renovations and work, my greenhouse turned into a jungle, but surprise! My little yellow tomatoes flourished amidst the chaos. They’re so tasty that the kids can’t resist munching them straight off the vine. As it turns out, chaos can be delicious—who knew? Note to self: more tomatoes next year! … More Summer Chaos, Renovation, and the Tastiest Tomatoes
Something I whipped up in the kitchen a few days ago. Chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach. I added spinach to have a color in my food, cause before it looked… too sad. I bought a cast iron wok pan a few years ago and didn’t use it until this dinner. Actually, it seems better than … More Juicy Chicken, Mushroom & Spinach Dinner
a day in the life of a latvian mom 