Christmas is fast approaching. It's time to start thinking about gifts for family, close ones, colleagues, friends. I always enjoy making something by hand, so this time I'll show how to make a fragrant decoration from natural ingredients - fairly simply.
We had not been to Turaida since our student days (last time about ten years ago), yet it seems nothing has changed. The same Gūtmanis Cave, Dainu Hill, Turaida Castle, Rose of Turaida's grave, church with the rooster on the tower, paths leading up and down, springs, and so on. This time in an atypical season - winter (4 December), though the hills are almost lushly green and the wind howls in the bare tree branches.
A "Romantic Cinema Evening in Sigulda" package, gifted by colleagues from the Dāvanu serviss gift experience service, was used this weekend. It included two tickets to a chosen film at KinoLora, an overnight stay in a semi-deluxe room at Hotel Segevold, dinner at the restaurant, and champagne in the room.
This Saturday we headed off to Pärnu with a rather prosaic aim - to buy different and cheaper products, as well as pick up some clothing. Below are a few observations and recommendations for those who are also planning a similar shopping trip.
Today I stopped by Kr.Barona iela 2 in Riga to see the contemporary art exhibition "Women's Inner Space". The creators describe the exhibition's core idea as the world of a modern woman - a space filled with a woman's strength, wisdom, longing for love and closeness. The exhibition is conceived as a captivating journey into the worlds of various women, capturing the felt sense of life of Latvian women today. A woman's beauty, wisdom and talent to create and inspire are values that generate life and shape Latvia's present. The exhibition features works by both established and emerging women artists - paintings, photographs, sculptures, installations and textiles. An interesting and thought-provoking photography series by Monika Pormale, „Miss World", where each woman's image reflects her individuality, and each woman is beautiful and unique - each one a Miss Uniqueness.
.jpg?w=690&mode=16x9|crop)
Without delving into the history of democracy's development and without analysing its advantages and shortcomings, but contemplating democracy and capitalism (even such as it is in Latvia), one can very quickly arrive at a break in the thread of thought, followed by - "yes, but...".
Our kitchen renovation saga for the year has just come to an end - it lasted a good 8 months. Everything is looking lovely, new, and in working order (well, the only thing still missing is the finishing touch - two anthracite-coloured stools). A pleasure to spend time in and cook in the new space. But for those of you approaching your own kitchen renovation, we'll share our experience, recommendations, and ideas.
Mārtiņi in Latvian annual folk customs marks the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. It is also a joyful celebration, as this is when the quiet time of the dead ends and the mummering season begins. In modern urban life we are unlikely to slaughter a cockerel, but we can certainly prepare a roast chicken or goose.
For those who care about our future well-being and health - you are invited to a residents' meeting about air pollution from the company MAN-TESS! The meeting will take place on Sunday, 6 November 2011 at 16:00 at the stairwell entrance of the building at Tvaika iela 50. The invitation has been circulated by activists from nearby buildings - Tvaika iela 48 and 50, and Gaujienas iela 1 - and can be found on the notice boards in those stairwells. Although MAN-TESS provides employment for many local residents, those living nearby are no longer willing to tolerate the unbearable smell that apparently arises during the handling of petroleum products. The strikingly frequent appearance of the unpleasant odour also points to inadequate work by the supervisory authorities.
One evening I decided to help a good person with buying a new computer and installing the necessary software. The computer was intended for work purposes, so both objective needs and capabilities were carefully assessed. The installation went fairly smoothly until the realisation hit that a Latvian language spell-checker was also needed.