Narikala Fortress & Mother Georgia from a Drone flight
Narikala Fortress and Mother Georgia are one of the most visible tourist attractions in Tbilisi.
It was at the end of August 2020 - I made a sort but lovely drone footage (DJI Mavic Mini) at both of these places.
Narikala Fortress & Mother Georgia
Circuit cinematic flight around St. Nicholas church
Music by: Scott Holmes - Together we stand
Made with Love in Adobe Premiere Pro, Tbilisi August 23, 2020
The White Dune At Saulkrasti
The White Dune is one of the landmarks of Saulkrasti, on the Vidzeme gulf coast. The dune offers a splendid view of the sea, the mouth of the Inčupe River and the vast beach.Probably, best visited in Summer, we made a short visit here in February 2021The White Dune formed as the wind drove beach sand over the clay silt of Baltic Ice Lake. Its white 18 meters high sand outcrop once helped local fishermen find their way home. The dune got its name from its white, hardened layers of sand which look like sandstone.Baltic sea near SaulkrastiLandscaping has been conducted in the area, and the slopes of the dune have been reinforced. Although the dune is covered by a pine tree forest, its steep…
Gergeti Trinity Church from a drone flight
Gergeti Trinity Church is a must-have to visit destination in Georgia. The church is located at an elevation of 2170 meters, under Mount Kazbegi some 160 km North of the nation's capital Tbilisi
Gergeti is one of our favorite spots in Georgia, as a rule of thumb, we try to get there at least twice a year. Many thanks to Nata Avsa and Johann Kritzinger for hosting us at their little Paradise
Music by Scott Holmes: Never Miss a moment!
Taken with DJI Mavic Mini
Vilgāle Apt update: Wall plastering, Wiring, Preparing to Install Drywall for Ceiling
Here comes another quick update from renovation works at our Vilgāle apartmentThis week contractors have plastered most of the walls, finished wiring, and have started to prepare to install drywall for the ceiling.Just like in the previous weeks - I was absent from the works and spent our days in JūrmalaMaster bedroom under constructionAlmost done here, except just windows, drywall ceiling and flooring is missing (should be done in the next few weeks)Living roomwalls are plastered hereKitchen / dining areamost of the upcoming works will be in kitchen/bathroomRenovation worksa huge accent has been put for the max comfort of the electricity plugs and switchs (the more, the better)…
Batumi Botanical Garden from a Drone flight
Batumi Botanical Garden is a must-have to visit tourism attraction site when in Batumi.
Botanical Garden is actually located at the place called Mtsvane Kontskhi ("The Green Cape") within a distance of some 10 km from Batumi city on the Black Sea shore, it is one of the largest botanical gardens in the former Soviet Union.
With kiddo at the kindergarten, I now have some time to post-process some older files. Taken with DJI Mavic mini, August, 2020
Music by Scott Holmes: Positive energy
More to come
Ice Fishing on Lielupe River
It has been already the second winter we are spending in Jūrmala, and there is one cool thing we have noticed while driving to Riga via Lielupe bridge (next to Rimi) - Ice Fishing on the Lielupe RiverIce fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice fishers may fish in the open or in heated enclosures, some with bunks and amenities.In today's Piece of Life series - Ice fishing on Lielupe River taken with DJI Mavic Air 2 drone, February 17, 2021ice fishing on Lielupe RiverBridge over Lielupe river
February 2021 Dividend Income Report - $62.69
Welcome to the forty-sixt (#46) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks and peer-to-peer lending in February 2021.The last February we spent in Latvia, did some huge progress with our apartment renovation works in Vilgāle. Torn down walls, get electricity wiring, new windows installed and new floor with underfloor heating installed. Huge progress. Vilgāle apt renovation worksFrom the perspective of dividend income - Last February was not bad nor good. The thing is it is about a year already I'm not focusing on dividends at all, instead, I'm growing my total portfolio using options trades. …
Guest House Laidi
Guesthouse "Laidi" is located in a beautiful place in the Kuldiga region. The guest house will welcome everyone who wants to relax from the daily rush, enjoy a swim in the beautiful pond or organize any important celebrations.We found this awesome place as it offers a sauna rental for just EUR 40 for about 3 hoursGuesthouse LaidiSituated next to the private Saulieši lake, guest house Laidi offers a guest, house, boat rental, sauna, camping.Sauna house at Guest house LaidiWe have agreed to come here for more sauna for the next few Saturday's
Kobuleti Beach, Georgia
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
Vilgāle Flat: Scrapping Textured Walls / Preparing for Electricity Wiring
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…
Camping Vērbeļnieki
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
Pāvilosta / Jūrkalne 4K HDR / DJI Mavic Air 2
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
Vilgāle flat Renovation - tearing down walls, removing floors
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…
Dubulti Beach Winter 2021
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
Laidi / Laidu muiža / DJI Mavic Mini Latvija
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
January 2021 Dividend Income Report - $50.95
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…
Forest House / Golden Fall / Ķemeri / DJI Mavic Mini
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
How To Display Drupal 8 Block on all Taxonomy pages (taxonomy/term/)
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!
Jūrmala Self-Isolation
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
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…