Every home and family has certain traditions they follow when dyeing eggs for the Easter holiday. Perhaps it's time to try a different technique? This time, without delving into the symbolism of the egg or its connection to the spring equinox or Christian church festival, I invite you to share ideas on how to make this holiday more colourful and appealing.
On Monday evening, 30 March, we went to the New Riga Theatre to attend a concert by the celebrated piano virtuoso Jautrīte Putniņa. The musician's mastery is remarkable - her nimble fingers and ability to convey different moods to the audience are extraordinary. Despite her considerable age of 80, the piano virtuoso holds extensive sections of the score in her memory with ease. I must say, if the belief that music can heal is true, then I genuinely underwent a course of recovery.
On the evening of Saturday, 21 March this year, we attended a solo concert by Andris Kārkliņš - Latvia's only flamenco guitarist - at the Riga House of Art Workers. Listening, I thought that for a Latvian soul on such a grey and damp spring evening, it was almost too rich - that one could initially become bewildered by such a dense bouquet of sound. But when the guitar fell silent, you immediately wanted to listen more and more. Urged on by the audience's applause, the artist had to return to the stage at least three more times after his performance, as everyone was left with a certain taste for more.
A dream of a large and bright bathroom. With a window - why not - and flowering potted plants. Stained glass and richly coloured tiles. A niche built into the wall that handily serves as a shelf for various bath cosmetics - bath foam, shampoos, body lotions, and aromatic oils, etc.
The place where homemakers spend much time preparing meals - that is the traditional purpose of the kitchen. I must admit I am not among the sworn housewives whose core principle would be the three K's - Kinder, Küche, Kirche (children, kitchen, church). I cook when inspiration strikes. In any case, ideally a kitchen should be equipped with every possible appliance that makes the cooking process easier and faster.
The most intimate room in the home. The walls hold the cosiness of togetherness, passion, and long evenings of conversation watching the sunset. Or else - filled with solitary, proud, and lucid dreams. In my view, the most serene, most subdued in terms of colour, and the least cluttered, most unencumbered room in the home.
The heart of the home, a place for conversation, contemplation, and hosting gatherings and celebrations. I always imagine it with a large, capacious sofa, an armchair, and striking wall décor or a painting. The living or sitting room could be combined with a library; a cosy spot by the fireplace and a luxurious rug would be right at home here.
This time, about a study in a house or apartment - where, in my view, the longest stretches of time are spent. At least definitely in our home. :) Before we tackled the renovation and fitting out of the study a couple of years ago, we formulated a few criteria that were important to both of us.
Primary colours dominate - blue, red, white, gold. Something from the 80s is visible. Platform shoes, fishnet stockings, colourful scarves around the neck, round sunglasses in plastic frames are back. Trousers - long, short, mid-length, wide. Nautical motif - horizontal stripes, fabric patterns with sails, anchors, life rings, sailor's knots.
On Saturday we visited Spain's sixth largest city SARAGOSSA (Zaragoza). On this very day preparations for the Fiesta del Pilar were in full swing there. The streets were full of locals and the city's guests. We went to wander through the city and mingled with the crowd. Here are a few views from the sidelines.