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Greetings from Scotland! Over the past week, we've been making the most of the school break by travelling to this beautiful part of the world. We've explored Edinburgh…
As of October 16, 2026, our options-selling-powered dividend stock portfolio stood at $13,456, marking a weekly decline of 1.37% compared with the previous week.This…
As of October 9, 2026, our options-selling-powered dividend stock portfolio stood at $13,643, showing a decent weekly increase of +0.72% compared with the previous week.…
Kobuleti is a town in Adjara, western Georgia, situated on the eastern coast of the Black SeaFinally got some free time to edit some unprocessed files.More to come. Taken with DJI Mavic Mini drone, August 2020Music by Scott Holmes - Driven to Success
It has been already the second week since renovation works are in full swing at our Vilgāle flat.This week contractors have removed chalk and other texture from the walls and have started preparing walls and ceilings for wiring. Just like in the previous week - I was absent from the works and spent our days in JūrmalaMaster Bedroom Under constructionLooks much happier than I saw this room the first timeNothing fancy planned here - king-size bed, flat-screen TV, some cabinets, and a closetLiving roomAnother flat-screen TV here, a coach, bookshelf, and toddler's bedBathroomA free-standing bath, shower, WC, and a sink, nothing fancy.for the next week it's planned to finish the wiring…
Guesthouse and camping "Vērbeļnieki" is located on the road Klaipeda - Liepāja, 6 km from the city of Liepāja in Nīca parish (Latvia)We discovered this place by accident, during a random driving around in the area at the start of February 2021.As I had equipped with my DJI Mavic AIr 2 drone I decided to capture some nice golden hour photo hereKids playground at VērbeļniekiOur toddler girl was very excitedGolden hour sunset near VērbeļnekiPlace bit reminds me of the Shekhveteli beach near the Black Sea (Georgia)Vērbeļnieki complex from a drone flight
Good day at Pāvilosta and Jūrkalne seashore bluffs. Did some 4K HDR filming with DJI Mavic AIR 2
Filmed November 15, 2020
Music by Scott Holmes - Sunset moments
Welcome, to yet another exciting photo series to our latest renovation project - Vilgāle flat.I bought this flat at an online auction back in September 2020, it took me a few months before all the legal procedures were done and we could actually start renovation works. For actual renovation works, I hired local contractors at Kuldīga town. Not to speak more here are photos from our first "operation" - tearing down the walls and removing the floor. During these renovation works, I was absent and enjoyed our time in Jūrmala. Inner walls removed at Vilgāle flatHere itš planned to install a modern kitchenInner walls removedby removing this wall we are making a spacious united…
At the end of January 2021, we temporarily relocated back to Dubulti (Jūrmala). We are looking to stay here for the next two months and hopefully get back to Tbilisi by April 2021In today's Piece of Life series - Dubulti beach in WinterMake sure to check out our previous article back from 2018 - Winter near The Baltic Sea (Dubulti beach, Jūrmala)Dubulti beach in WinterAfter a long time, I took again my old Canon DSLR and made a few handheld HDR's Jūrmala in Winter
A quick drone flight around Laidi village in Kuldīga municipality / Laidi manor and former kolkhoz Spartak.I'm starting to enjoy these long-range flights without any signal interference as seen in big cities.DJI Mavic Mini / music by Scott Holmes - Storybook. October 26, 2020
Welcome to the forty-fifth (#45) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks and peer to peer lending in January 2021.The last January we spent in Latvia, did a lot of planning with our flat in Vilgāle, order new windows, got a construction permit, and started the first renovation works (hired local contractors). At the end of January, we relocated to Jūrmala, where we plan to spend the next two months.Cēsis Castle in LatviaOn January 2, we paid a shot visit to Cēsis and Valmiera in LatviaFrom the perspective of dividend income - Last January was one of the lowest in the already 4-year-old dividend income portfolio. My…
Another short from DJI Mavic Mini drone, with little post-processing done in Adobe Premiere Pro, applied some cinematic filtersFilmed on October 24, 2020Music by David Hilowitz - Equilibrium I Cello version
Today working on my favorite website - optionsbrew.com, for a moment I faced a small issue - how to display block (s) on the default taxonomy/term page.I remember I was doing such tricks back in 2012 or 2013 and was wondering does it still applies in 2021, turns out - it does!Here is the solution: on the Configure block page, under the Pages tab, enter /taxonomy/term/* and saveConfiguring Drupal 8 blockHere is how our taxonomy term page looked before: Drupal 8 default taxonomy term pageAnd here is afterDrupal taxonomy term page with custom blocks in sidebarHope it helps!
Here comes another weekly video, shot at the end of October 2020 in Jūrmala, while taking 10-day self-isolation. We finally managed to fly to Latvia, but were forced to self-isolate for 10 days during the Covid-19 Outbreak. We rented huge house in Jurmala and spent quite nice time over there.Another short from DJI Mavic Mini drone, with little post-processing done in Adobe Premiere Pro, applied some cinematic filtersFilmed on October 17 and 20. 2020Music by Scott Holmes - Motivational
Cēsis Castle is one of the most iconic and best-preserved medieval castles in Latvia.The foundations of the castle were laid 800 years ago by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword. The most prosperous period Cēsis Castle experienced was during its next owners, the Teutonic Order. It became one of the key administrative and economic centers of the Teutonic Order in Livonia and was a seat of Landmeister in Livland.The first serious damage was done to the castle during the Livonian War, when it was besieged by the army of Ivan the Terrible. In the course of the siege of 1577 approximately 300 people within the castle committed mass suicide by blowing themselves up…
Here is another interesting drone video showcasing Ujarma fortress, Alazani river, and vineyards in Kakheti
More fun with a drone or a day trip to Kakheti. Ujarma Fortress, stunning views of Alazani river and of course vineyards. October 3, 2020, taken with DJI Mavic mini Music by: Scott Holmes - Storybook
Piltene Lutheran church is located in Piltene, some 20km from Ventspils. The church was originally built-in 1557.The pride of the Piltene church is gilded wooden altar and pulpit, organ with 9 stops, wooden images of XII century Apostles, benches, and separate lodges with doors with kettle-hinges.I first discovered the Pitlene church at the sart of 2021, while doing random wanderings in the areaPitlene church from a drone flightThe church was built in 1557. During the Great Northern War, the church building began to collapse, and in 1708 the congregation decided to build a new church.In 1710, the great plague began and the construction was stopped, in 1717, during the aftermath, 257…
Gray dune area in Ventspils is a part of “Preserving, Exhibiting and Developing Tourism of Culture History and Nature Heritage of Northern Courland” of the Ventspils Museum project, during which the creation of an infrastructure of the South Western part of the city was carried out, has been completed. A new parking lot and two new entries to the beach are currently available to the residents and guests.I first discovered the Gray dune area in January 2021, while doing a random driving around Ventspils. As it was winter we met here more snow than sand.Gray dune area in VentspilsThe infrastructure development project was implemented at the end of the Saulrieta Street and in the…
Martkopi monastery complex is located some 30km from Tbilisi, Georgia.
This place is best reached by car, but some could get here by hiking too, see: Hiking Route in Georgia - Norio Village - Martkopi Monastery
Filmed with DJI Mavic Mini on September 23, 2020, Post-production in Adobe Premiere PRO
Martkopi monastery complex, located just some 30km from Tbilisi
I was told - they are sheltering some 100 people here. That's the true spirit of Church!
First discovered back in 2017, returned here with a drone in 2020.
Music by Scott Holmes: Discovery
Saint Simon's Church in Valmiera is one of the most noticeable objects in the city, located in the heart of the city on Bruņinieku iela 2.The architecture of St Simon's Church combines the Romanesque and Gothic styles. The church boasts 15th-16th century burial plaques of the city's notables, a pipe organ built in 1886 by a well-known European organ builder Friedrich Ladegast, and paintings on the pulpit and the organ loft made back in 1730. The church tower accommodates an exhibition space, and the viewing platform overlooks the panorama of Valmiera.Saint Simon's Church in ValmieraSt Simon's Church of Valmiera was built on a steep bank of the River Gauja in 13th century. There exist…
Welcome to the forty-fourth (#44) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks and peer to peer lending in December 2020.The last December we spent in Latvia, did several trips here and there. I kept playing with my DJI Mavic Air 2 drone, made some really nice HDR photos, hyper lapses, and more.Embūte church ruinsFrom the perspective of dividend income - Last December was nothing special. My dividend income keeps falling because I'm shifting away from junk stock. In total, we took $119.17 in dividend income last month. I would wish more for a 4 years old dividend portfolio, but things are as they are.…
Welcome to the new 2021. For this year I have decided to start a new project - one video a week / 52 weeks
Without further ado, let's start with this cool cinematic circuit drone footage from the open-air museum of Tbilisi filmed back in 2020
Filmed with DJI Mavic Mini on August 29, 2020, Post-production in Adobe Premiere PRO
Made my first 'fly-through', met some young Georgian dancers performing very cool Rachuli dance.
Music by: Scott Holmes - Cinematic Trailer & Rachuli Georgian Song and Dance (unauthorized use)
Užava Lighthouse - a lighthouse located on the Latvian coast of the Baltic Sea.The lighthouse stands in an isolated location, on a 28 metres high sand dune, which is permanently threatened by the Baltic Sea waves' erosion.For this reason, the first coastal reinforcement – a dense log wall was constructed to secure the lighthouse's location in 1910. Later, fir-tree baskets filled with gravel, and big boulders to absorb the waves' energy.Uzava lighthouseCurrently, the base of the lighthouse is protected by rock armour.The original tower of the Užava lighthouse was destroyed by artillery shells during World War I.…
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