Well, I made it to Latvia yesterday. Those of you who have made long trans-continental flights and are familiar with jet lag, you know how I feel at the moment, and those who’s done that with a toddler on board, know what I am up against even better, ha-ha!

Aside from jet lag and tiredness, I’ve been enjoying a beautiful and sunny weather here, which is a hit or miss in Latvia at this time of year. The luck is on our side this time. We took a stroll from my parents’ apartment down to the nearby river, the Daugava. My parents own a small plot of land right by the river where they’ve set up a beautiful vegetable and fruit garden (such gardens are very typical for Latvian families to own). We spent some time under the shade of the apple and cherry trees and enjoyed watching the river flow by. Here are some pictures from the walk—I love all the blooming lilac; it’s been a while since I’ve seen it bloom since it doesn’t grow in Florida; I just love all the rich shades of purple! I am already picturing a beautiful still life that I can set up and paint some time soon.

And my lilac shots...