So Many Relatives, So Little Time

keeping up Arturs' mother's grave in Aluksne's cemetary

Typical country home

Silvija's dad and cousin in conversation at Alus Seta in Vecrīga

Silvija's dad and (nearly family) Iveta at Alus Seta in Vecrīga

"Snaggletooth" at Alus Seta in Vecrīga

Silvija at Alus Sēta in Old Rīga, "Eat, Drink, and be Merry!"

Something catches Silvija's attention at Alus Seta in Vecrīga

Laura, Gaida, Brigita and Silvija in Bolderaja

Dagni (Silvija's mom's childhood friend), Inara, Silvija, and Dagni's granddaughter in Kandava

Koknese, wildflowers in the birch woods, another view

Koknese, wildflowers in the birch woods

Koknese, where the birch trees grow tall and straight

We stop at a restaurant in Koknese (guess who the designated driver is)

Koknese, the house where Silvija's dad grew up, Robezkalni

Silvija's dad with an old school friend in Koknese

Koknese, the sign for Robezkalni

Kuldīga's Rumbas waterfall… not the highest, but the widest in Europe

Inara, Silvija, and Peters on the brick bridge crossing the Venta in Kuldiga

The mill, the old turbine is being taken out

The mill house is slowly deteriorating

The mill, the old turbine bypass water tunnel has collapsed

The mill house's new porch simply doesn't have the character of the old

A view of one of the lakes from the cemetery

Cross in the Muižnieku cemetery

The gravesite of "Mīļā māte", Peters' mother's name for her grandmother

Wild flowers stand as sentinels in Muižnieku cemetery

A small platform juts into the lake for washing and toe-dangling

heading out to Mordanga with flowers to plant

Garden flowers

A quiet scene on the lake

Storks nest by the side of the road

The mill, turbine blades

The mill, the turbine Peters's grandfather installed

The mill house kitchen

Riga, Silvija's namesake

Dancing 'gator

the cat checks out the birthday spread

Furby fever

Petie the talking parrot

Blowing out the birthday candles

Suburbs, sunset through the white birches in Vecaki

Suburbs, White birches

Vecaki, greeted by the big dog, friendly to family; current dog bites his own

the kids at dinner in Vecaki

the kids, a bit coy, in the doorway at Vecaki

Suburbs, a Vecaki sunset

Anda being bashful

our soon to be casino "buddy" for the night talking with Silvija's dad

family, old friends, and new friends visiting

Princess Diana fervor extends to Latvia, as well

Silvija's dad enjoys her run of bad luck at gin

beautiful flowers from Gaida await us

Silvija, Kristine, and Peters