Wow, it’s getting even colder! Look, Marge is in her winter hat again! My hands were freezing and became totally red while I was clicking. I was sorry for not taking gloves and scarves outside. And of course, it was just yesterday when I put away winter accessories.

I was terribly bad at updating my blog lately. And it’s not even summer, when we mostly will be living outside (which means no technology except my camera and phone with us through the whole days). I like the idea, but I do wish I had some more time to be able to make more records here. There are so many untold stories that, I’m pretty sure, would be fun or at least nice to remember.

So, the spring is finally here to stay. Not only the beautiful picture with budding flowers and new leaves, but also with a nice warmth in the air. This winter was so long and the coldness was so stubborn, that even mother-nature refused waiting any longer and started to beautify everything around here despite of the chill.

We woke up to this beautiful scene yesterday. Snow in March? Nothing unusual for us. Though, we would prefer it in December and January.

Back in November, I planned a personal project for December 2015. I asked local fellow photographers on my personal Facebook page if they would like to exchange a photo shoot with me. I offered them one hour meeting, when both, them and me, would be a model and a photographer. The truth is, I failed to make the project in time. The project evolves much slower than I would like it to, but the good thing is that it didn’t stop at all. And now I’m ready to show you the second part of it. I’ll remind that the first part was devoted to Yuliya Shumskaya.

This time I was meeting with a photographer, based in Salaspils, but working with her clients mostly in Riga, Yulia Kovalchuk from ArtMelange Studio. I’ll start from telling you how we almost didn’t meet. Like I usually do it, I had been recharging the camera battery pack before the shoot. But this time, I forgot to insert it back! I swear, it’s the first time something like that has happened to me! The moment I realised that it had been left at home I was ready to get on the tram.  So I had to return to fetch the battery pack. Luckily, Yulia agreed to wait for me for another 40 minutes!

Wow, this post took me so long! I haven’t mentioned it on my blog, but there was a project planned for December. I made a call for my local photographer friends on Facebook and offered a free session in exchange for their free session. I had 3 requests (yeah, I’m not that popular and/or I don’t have that much local photographer-friends or acquaintances). I was really worried about how it would go and if it was a good idea at all. I named the project “A shoemaker without a shoe” (there’s such Russian proverb).

My youngest totally monopolises my time right now, so I’ll be quick. I’ll only say that I have no clue where Veronica left her nice gloves that match her outfit. Though they did match great these violet flowers.

There is a place in Riga where spring always comes first. I would even say, it never leaves this place. Something is always blooming there any time of the year, as far as I know. Have you already guesed what place am I talking about? No, I’m not speaking of the flowerbed of our neighbour old lady (though, if she had a winter house for her plants there, it would be another correct answer). The place is the Botanical Garden of Riga. I was in some other botanical gardens in other countries and I must say that after comparing it with the others, I am quite proud of ours. Maybe it doesn’t have such a variety of plants, maybe it’s old. But it’s treated with a big care and it’s really neat, beautiful and stylish. It also has some benches, so you can make a picnic there.

Riga is a city of contrasts. The key of it lays in its eclectic mix of architecture. Riga was built by German barons. Riga was built by Swedish and Russian kings. It was built by Soviet government. It was built, cherished and… also ruined by Latvians themselves. Because people wanted to see real “Latvian” Riga. Well, as for me, I don’t think Latvian Riga truly ever existed. There is an old legend that is passed through the centuries. It says that when Riga will be finished, a huge monster will rise from the river Daugava and ruin the city.

School holidays have started today (hooray for the company at home!). And today we had to go downtown to fetch our Christmas cards. Yeah, I know, it’s a bit too late for Christmas cards, but it’s me and my time-feel and my organisation skills. And it’s better late than never, isn’t it?