We put a few things into the ground a couple of weeks ago, back when we were still wearing our winter jackets and wondering if the seeds would freeze. This year I am being conservative, and have chosen things that can survive with little weeding and are good value in terms of yield: sorrel, dill, sweet peas, sunflowers, peppermint. Jem did most of the work, digging up the soil - with two trusty helpers - while I had the pleasure of just putting in the seeds. It's exciting to think which of them...

I remember one of the first times I had a proper cup of Latvian herbal tea. I had just started singing in my Latvian folklore group and we used to meet at one of the members’ – Aija’s – house. She had a big glass teapot. The newest member came to rehearsal one day with some herbal tea that she had collected and dried over the summer. It had an assortment of flowers and herbs in it, she said, and listed an number of plants that grow wild in Latvian meadows, only few of which I could actually...

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Down comes the scaffolding, now all it needs are the trimmings.....and a do...