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?

Have you already decorated your home? I haven’t, aside of the Christmas lights on our kitchen table, that actually were left there pretty much accidentally a few days ago, but fitted so well, so I decided to leave them there. The coldness and greyness of outside just have to be counterbalanced with winter-holiday-inspired decorated rooms and a sweet vanilla smell of a home-made baking. By the way, speaking of baking, I would suggest you to visit this treasure page with a pile of specially selected recipes of home baked cookies.

8 PM. Gorgeous skies with clouds like chips of cotton wool.

Now that Anastasia’s school adaptation days are over, and she is starting to have longer classes, I have a little bit more time for myself. Today I spent this time getting downtown, having a stroll through Riga parks and visiting a yarn shop.

July rewarded us for our patience with a lot of sun and we finally got some really hot weather here after a rainy June.

All these reflections just fascinate me!

Yes, our little baby girl is two month old already! She grew a lot, we spent past month under a sunshine of her smiles. She likes to talk and also learned to cry when she desperately needs something. It’s not like she hasn’t cried before, but this cry is somehow different from the one she did in her first month. So this is also a sign that she is getting older. Past few days of her life are also remarkable for Marge’s discovery of her fists. She stacks them into her mouth and intently munches her fingers with a unconcerned look. It seems that I have to hurry with a mobile I wanted to make for her, or I’ll miss the right time.

As Marge grows her sisters change as well. Their intention to help me with Marge is so huge that I can step aside and just watch their energy flowing in a right place. I haven’t seen so much initiative for months! They wash dishes (even though it has been my prerogative before), help me cook, hang clean clothes, through away used diapers. They even don’t mind entertaining Marge for a little bit if I need to leave the room for a moment. I am really proud of my girls!

I’ve started a new crochet cardigan for Marge lately. I’ve searched for a nice and not so common pattern for it, but haven’t found any. So it was decided to make one by myself. I actually have already started bringing to life my idea and crocheted four rows, but then realized, that I had made a mistake in the very first stitch of the first row! Can you imagine my disappointment when I had to rip it all out and start over my project!

Though May is almost over, it is still enough time for mayflowers to bloom and May thunderstorms to moisturize the air through nights. I saw a great thundercloud through kids room’s window yesterday. I hardly had time to take a picture, the cloud had covered all of the skies and it started pouring. However, it didn’t rain too long, not more than a few minutes. Now i’m looking at my daughters’ paintings of a rainy day from their art class and feeling really inspired to paint one by myself. I wish I had a time for this!

Oh, I love summer rain with it’s warm puddles!