Greettings from Latvia!!!

Moving on---------------

Here is another OLD Church--small, and of wood construction. Probably VERY old!

And--here is yet another OLD, Orthodox Church.
How tiny they are!!!!! I wonder how many people went there to worship?????

Keep in mind, that there was always a strong Russian Orthodox community in Latvia, as we are right next to one another.....
Of course--this was WAY before the nasty Soviet times. Russians were just neighbors living in our Country.

This message was edited Aug 4, 2008 7:39 PM

In our walks along the paths---we passed this barn where farm animals were kept.
See the troughs along the walls? Maybe cows were on one side? And horses on the other???? Who knows!
Those are my two Sisters (on the left) and our cousin, Nata, --waiting for me to take the photo.

This message was edited Aug 4, 2008 7:44 PM

Here is a VERY, Very old windmill. I cannot even imagine what use it had--as it was made all of reed/thatch and was NOT very tall. The windmill wands were, like, dug into the thatch.
Oh, well......

Here is another Threshing Device....

Now--I am going to put my memory to a test here.......Memory of things I learned when young......This device, kind of, justifies my memory of how the young maidens thrashed the sheaths of wheat--or linen--or whatever.......

They would hold arm-fulls of the sheaths of the grain and beat them through these spikes to separate the grain from the chafe. I remember from learning about Folk Songs, how they sang them to keep the rhythm going......

NOT sure--but I can imagine this being used that way.

How does a POND differ from a LAKE????? We talked about this a lot.....

A POND has NO inlet our outlet of fresh water. It is a stagnant body of water.....
A LAKE, no matter of it's size, has fresh water flowing through it.

SO! This was a VERY large, shallow Pond--all stagnant and covered in water lilies (NOT the fancy ones...). It had a lot of ducks in it and also a couple of Swans---ducking their necks deep in the water to feed.
Ads soon as they saw us at the edge, they swam over--expecting to be fed, I am sure.
VERY pretty!

On the edge of this Pond was a rather large storage building. It was built eons ago......

Here is the year built plaque on top of the building.....

Here is the building itself.....

In a couple of the farm buildings, there were all these old carriages,
Here is one of them.....

Here is another.....

And--another!
Pleas note the hearse on the right! The bigger. black carriage.

OK! This is ALL for tonight!!!!! NOT the most spectacular posting, but still, a lot of History.

Love that painted cabinet in that residential house, beautiful, I don't know if I'd trust that cradle thing!
Love the fences made of twigs and branches very cool idea!

Gita, such a beautiful country...now why can't I win that lottery and go see for myself...architecture is overwhelming, you'd wonder how they could possibly, without all the technology we have today, create such treasures that will remain many years after our demise and those of our children..

You've described it as though we had all gone on the vacation with you...

Your family has been trhough so much...thanks for sharring you history and country with us...

Gita, Your travelog is just wonderful and so full of pride, love and emotion. Thank You

Welllll....

I guess I put too much emotion in my L-O-N-G post on the history of the events of June 14, 1941 in the next to last Post. The one about All the deportation to Siberia and all that. The Holocaust.....

It got "yanked" by the Administration and I got a pretty stern notice about repeated warnings and NOT following "Acceptable Use Practices" for DG. Politics...Opinions...etc....

I AM guilty as charged! Don't know who reported me????
I am also so distraught, that I violated "The Policy." It has been on my mind now day and night ever since, as I DO NOT EVER want to lose my membership on DG. I don't know how many "transgressions" they tolerate before termination???
Seems that when I get "carried away", I do not obey all the laws. I am SOOOO sorry!!!!!

I REALLY, REALLY need to watch my "tongue".....As they say, "You can dig your grave with your tongue".....

I have been busy and working. I have 2 more Posts to make--then i will be done. Not sure which day/night I will have totally free to do it.

Is anyone having problems uploading all these Posts with all the pictures? I really do not want to start a Part #2. I kind of want to keep it all together....

Hang in there with me-----I WILL be "good!"

Gita

Gita, I don't think anyone reported you it's just that admin actually peruses the forums to find any "transgressions".
It didn't get into a heated discussion so I don't get it, but whatever.

flowerjen-- I would NOT bet on it!!!! I do not think that anyone in the Administration has the time to "peruse all the Forums". I am 100% sure that someone complained and made them look at my Posts.

I know there is one HUGE Post, that I am also "one of " that is also following along with all my postings.....Many, many people there know who i am and we are also a sort of "Family".

I have long ago learned that anyone can "do you in" if they want......It is just how they justify their importance in life.....

Better shut my mouth!

Oh the buggy pics are wonderful! My grown kids live in a small GA town that manufactured buggies back when that was the mode of transportation. Can only imagine how rough a ride they'd be on a cobblestone road. I'm enjoying the pictures, Gita.

Oh Man Gita,

That is just the pits!! (LOL believe it or not, all I'm going to say)

...But I am just truly amazed by your the whole story of your vacation.
And I am hoping that you will continue to post your vacation.

I really love the last batch of photo's, Takes one back in time to another place.
Those old fences are really cool. I can look at those old churches and buildings all day.
But you know the Windmill is my favorite!

...With all the photos you have taken, your choices to share with us are wonderful.
What a task to take on with that. LOL, I have a hard time with fewers pics.

Sooo, are you going to post the next batch soon? well, will just keep watching...

Yes, I will--just haven't had time. I have been working an extra day this week and have also had 3 Dr.'s appointments.

As I said--I think there will be at least 2 more postings....

Maybe i will go through and select the next pictures sometime this weekend. can't be tonight--GOTTA watch the Olympics Opening Ceremonies!

Gita

That just soooo saddens me, your posts are so enlighting and makes one want to read more...history is history and we should all be aware..would hate to have something happen to you "Gita" ... can imagine all the feelings and emotions that come to the surface while posting so we can know more about those times....

Don't be discouraged...look forward to your next postings..have been reading and have been in awe so have not said much...but do appreciate your efforts...

Hear, hear, I second what Betty said. I have really enjoyed everything you have shared with us and appreciate all the time and energy you have taken to show us your country with all the beauty and history there. Know your efforts are truly appreciated.
Hugs, Shirley

Gita, could I suggest you start a new thread? This is loading awfully slow on my DSL so it must be torture for someone with dialup.

You got it, hart! Moving us over.......
Actually--I am about to post the next part of my pictures NOW! This should be the next-to-last Posting of my pictures, but this is the fun one--------you all have been asking about--THE FESTIVAL part....

Please go here for continuation of this Post.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/pf.php

Thank you to all for your interest in my Trip! It makes all this "work" worthwhile.....

Gita

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...That takes me to a blank reply page!

I DID start a new Post and linked it to here.....Wonder what happened??????

I will do it again!

I think this might work for you.

Thread continued here:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/888631/

hart,

I just called the "John Scheepers" people. You provided the website to me when I was Ooohing and Ahhhing about the Regale Lily. I had asked for their catalog about 2 months ago, but never got one.
I just called them and, yes, they have a $35 minimum. So, they will be sending me the catalog today. Gotta see what else I can order to meet the minimum.

I wanted to write you on this Post anyway to kind of "bump it up". It makes me sad to see all that is in here fall by the wayside. I wish I could bookmark a Post....So I could go back to it or sent the whole thing to someone else.......Can one?

Thanks, Gita

Gite, I'll bet you could find someone here who will see you at the fall swap (if the order would arrive early enough) or lives nearby to split an order with you.

There are a bunch of other places that sell regales - buggycrazy, Brent and Becky's, bloomingbulb might have them too. I don't think any of those have order minimums.

Probably the best way to save all your trip photos and info would be to transfer them to a journal or blog. Just click on my tools at the top of the page. Then anyone who wanted to see them could access them without searching.

hart,

Thanks--but would blogging save all my stories and comments as well I added to all the picture postings?????

I have NEVER blogged or Journaled ot used the "Tracker" for anything.....Just not comfortable with things i don't understand.

Right now I want to sell some seeds on "Marketplace"--but am shying away after I read all the tutorial how to do it.
Same goes for writing an Article or two---don't understand it....don't want to try.....
might screw something up.....

AHHHH---insecurity! The bain of my life.....

Gita

Yes, it would save everything and anyone who wanted to read it could just click through your name, so long as you chose to have it available to anyone.

All you would have to do is open DG in two windows, open the blog in one and your Latvia post(s) in another and then just cut and paste. You will have to download each photo again as you go along. It might take you an hour to do it, max, I would think. You can also do a bit, stop for a while and then do a bit more at your own pace.

This way you would also be able to leave out all the comments from the rest of us, which probably no one is interested in reading. If they are, the posts would still be available here.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Download all the photos again?????????????????????????? NOOOOO!!!!!

It would take me about 2 days to do what you say would take an hour!!!! BUT--I will keep your advice on doing this!

My thinking was NOT to save this for "posterity" to any DG members--as they already had their chance to read it all--if they wanted to. I was wondering how to save all this for ME--and "OTHER" PEOPLE"--not necessarily DG members......

Like--I could send someone a link and say--here it is! Read about my trip!
Probably NOT possible!!!!!

I suppose--I could c/p the WHOLE thing in Word and call it "My Trip to Latvia".....and then save it in my Documents.....Hmmmm......Would all the photos transfer as well???? If I c/p everything?????/

SEE! I am a computer "virgin".....Gita

:o(

It wouldn't take two days, Gita.

If you want to save it for yourself, copying and pasting into Word and then saving it to a CD or DVD would be a good way to do that. But I think you'd still have to insert the photos separately. Even if they would copy, it would only be the thumbnail versions.

I'm assuming you know how to insert photos, resize and adjust placement on the page in Word. It really doesn't take that long. If it's slow going, just do a little bit at a time over a few days. The posts aren't going anywhere.

Make sure you click the save icon fairly often while working. I've forgotten to do that and lost a lot of work when we had a power outage.

Thanks, hart--I do know how to insert photos on DG--but have never done it in Word. I think it is much the same, though.....Have yet to experiment.....

As everything else in my life----this is just an idea. Doesn't mean I will do it! ALL my plans start as only ideas-----only a small %'age of them get realized.......The rest get stored in my "Guilt Box" where I keep all the "Shoulda"---Coulda"--"Woulda" stuff....:o

My life is filled with those kind of projects! And--I keep on adding to them.

Gita

Not as simple but not that hard. This will probably sound harder than it is but you click where you want the photo on the page then go to insert/picture/from file and then find the photo just like you would here. Click to select photo and then click insert.

You can drag any of the corners to make it bigger. Don't drag from the top, bottom or sides, just from the corners, or you'll knock the photo out of whack.

This link will tell you how to format it so that the text wraps around the photo.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA010547971033.aspx

Thanks, hart......