December 2020 Dividend Income Report - $119.17

6 January, 2021 | Stock Portfolio | 53 seen

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 ruins

From 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.

Compared to the previous December in 2019, when we took $236 in dividend income, our monthly dividend has decreased by -49.55%  (-$117.04). A year ago we did set a goal to take at least $310 this month, now this didn't happen. 

Luckily, an additional $2,692.38 was made from options trading.  

As options trading is not a passive form of making money while you are…

Valmiera Music school

5 January, 2021 | Tourism objects | 19 seen

Valmiera music school is located next to the Gauja river banks on Pilskalna street 3 (Valmiera)

I had a chance to explore the area at the start of January 2021, while doing a day trip to Valmiera and Cēsis.

Discovered by accident, I decided to make some photography from a drone in this area. 

Here is what I got:

Valmiera music school

To learn more, please visit https://vms.valmiera.lv/ (in Latvian)

Tbilisi Open Air Museum of Ethnography from a drone flight

1 January, 2021 | Museums | 20 seen

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

31 December, 2020 | Tourism objects | 17 seen

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 lighthouse

Currently, 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. The present-day lighthouse tower is 19 meters in height, completed in 1925. The inscription of the year 1924 on the nearby weather vane on the lightower's dome roof marks the beginning of construction works of the lighthouse

Užava lighthouse
The lighthouse of Užava has been included in the list of the national protected cultural monuments and is located about 20 km south from Ventspils. It…

Vilgāle

29 December, 2020 | Tourism objects | 23 seen

Vilgāle (formerly also Saldenieki) is a village in Kurmāle Parish, Kuldīga District, Latvia. Located on the shores of Lake Vilgāle. Distance to  Kuldīga 17 km, 181 km from Rīga.

Back in September 2020, I bought a flat in this village in an online auction (without actually seeing the flat), see: Today I bought my first flat on online auction site, It took me a couple of months before I actually get inside the flat (after the flat was registered in the Land Registry on my name), and here is what I got: Vilgāle flat renovation - how it all starts

In today's article, I decided to share some pictures from a drone flight around Vilgāle

Vilgāle from a drone flight

The settlement was established in the post-war years as the central village of the Soviet farm "Vilgale".

Open air stage near Vilgāle lake

There is located a parish administration, primary school, doctorate,  library, post office, an open-air stage, and at least one shop in Vilgāle village

Embūte Castle

25 December, 2020 | Tourism objects | 13 seen

The ruins of Embūte Castle are located in Embūte, Latvia, in Embūte Parish, Vaiņode Municipality, not far from an ancient hillfort erected by Curonians.

It was an ancient Curonian settlement and is mentioned in ancient chronicles as a place with strong Curonian resistance to German crusaders. The bishop's castle was built as a border castle with Lithuania by Livonian Order on a steep hill on the right bank of the Lanka river, which flows into left tributary of the Venta. Later manor house was built using the walls of the former castle, which can be seen in the division of the rooms and the building material. Today, the ruins are surrounded by trees and are in poor condition.

I first discovered Embūte at late 2020, since then I have returned here ever since.

Embūte castle ruins from a drone flight

Embūte has been known since the end of 1244, when the Curonian wooden castle (German: Amboten) was taken over by the master of the Livonian Order Dietrich von Grüningen. In 1245 during war with Livonian Order, castle was attacked by the Grand…

Zaķu krogs near Jūrkalne

24 December, 2020 | Restaurant reviews | 24 seen

Zaķu krogs is both a restaurant a hotel located near Jūrkalne in Latvia.

We discovered this place while driving around Užava, Pāvilosta, and decided to take here a quick stop to order some food for our toddler girl.  Just later I learned there is a hotel also located.

Zaķu krogs near Jūrkalne

Located in Jūrkalne, Zaku Krogs is about 0.9 mi yards away from a Baltic Sea beach. It offers basic rooms with a work desk. Free private parking is available, and free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.

Guests of the Zaku Krogs can rent bicycles directly from the hotel, or use its sauna or pool facilities. The hotel features a spacious garden.

The Zaku is located in a quiet area, away from the rush of city life. The center of Jūrkalnes is a 3-minute car ride away.

The hotel’s restaurant serves traditional Latvian cuisine as well as fish and game dishes, using only natural and organic ingredients. Upon request, special diet menus are available.

There is a motocross track 0.6 mi from Zaku Krogs.

Devil's Dam Embūte (Joda Dambis)

22 December, 2020 | Tourism objects | 15 seen

Devil's Dam of Embūte is an awesome place for hiking and trekking in the Courland region. 

We first discovered this site at the end of 2020, and plan to return here more often.

Devil's Dam from a drone flight

Taken with DJI MAVIC AIR 2

Here is what I was able to find about this place (Source: Joda Dambis)

At the western foot of the Indulis (or Curonian) castle mound is the Joda Lower Square, where open-air stages have been built several times. Large-scale events have also taken place here - the Midsummer Festival with the participation of President Kārlis Ulmanis, theater performances and concerts. In the 1930s, several thousand people from all over the surrounding area gathered here for the summer solstice celebrations and peasants' days.

At present, the Joda Dam and its surroundings are designed for tourists. Walking trails, stairs, observation tower, observation platforms, information stands have been created.

Embute Church Ruins

18 December, 2020 | Churches and Monasteries | 24 seen

The Embūte Church is located in the Embūte Nature Park. Today, only the remnants of its former glory remain.

On a hazy afternoon in December 2020, I took my DJI Mavic Air 2 drone and captured some beautiful aerial photographs and even a video. See Embūte Nature Park 4K: Ancient Curonian Land, Latvia – DJI Mavic Air 2.

Embūte Church

Here’s what I found about this church (source: Embūtes baznīcas drupas).

The Embūte Church was built between 1674 and 1684, financed by the then-owner of the manor, Emmerich von Mirbach.

The Embūte Lutheran Church was one of the largest in the Duchy of Courland, with seating for about 300 people. During Latvia’s first period of independence, thousands gathered here, including some of the country’s most prominent figures, such as Kārlis Ulmanis.

The church was renowned for its interior wood carvings and a magnificent crystal chandelier. It survived World War I unscathed and was repaired in 1926. However, it was destroyed at the end of World War II.

Embūte Church from above

All that remains today are parts of the wall and the bell tower, still bearing traces of artillery fire.

Vilgāle flat renovation - how it all starts

15 December, 2020 | Home Remodeling | 14 seen

On September 18, I was lucky enough to win an online auction and bought a flat in Vilgāle village. It took a few more months before all legal procedures were done and I had the entry in the Land Registry before I was able to proceed.

I first saw this flat about a week ago, when I got the keys from the previous landlady (ut turns out there haven't lived anybody for the last 27 years). There is no electricity and no water (yet). I have started procedures to have them both. Today I had a meeting with an electrician, and after our meeting I made these photos, just to document the history.

Living room

There are still some belongings left from the previous owners. Interior feels like from the 70-ties

Living room

It is said in that cardboard box there is a "new" TV  box.

Bedroom

We are going to look to tear down some walls and unite this bedroom with the kitchen

Bedroom

The previous owner told me that this closet cost RUB 400

Kitchen

Can't wait to drink a cold beer here (on the floor there are bottles back from 1993, empty, unfortunately)

Kitchen

During…

Īvande Manor

11 December, 2020 | Tourism objects | 38 seen

Īvande Manor, also called Lielīvande Manor, is a manor house in Īvande parish in Kuldīga municipality in the historical region of Courland, in western Latvia.

The manor Groß-Iwanden was created by the merger of several small estates. In the middle of the 16th century the estate was owned by the family of Rudolf Steinrat.

Ivande manor

Three generations remained the property in the family Steinrat and was enlarged by them. In 1643 was the sale to Hofmarschall Christof von Sacken. In 1646 property was sold to Dettlof von Tiesenhause

n. Through death and inheritance connected with it, the estate went in 1690 to Ernst Gotthard von Manteuffel-Szoege. Due to missing heirs the property was sold in 1750 to Friedrich Johann von Schlippenbach on Gaicken and Muischazeem.

Ivande manor

In 1821 property was sold to Peter von Medem. In 1853 the estate was resold to Baron Eduard von Heyking. The property remained in the possession of the Heyking family until its expropriation in 1920.

The palace was built as a neoclassical building around 1860 to designs by the…

I'm earning $3.19/daily* by trading crypto options and I want more!

10 December, 2020 | Crypto | 25 seen

This is a quick follow-up post to my original idea of experimenting with writing crypto covered calls on Ethereum and Bitcoin, I started at the end of November 2020

This is not the first time I'm selling options on crypto, in fact, I've been doing so for the last two years. This is the first time I'm applying one trading strategy only. About 3 years ago I was very enthusiastic about crypto mining and I was building my Ethereum mining rig, which at it's high was earning about $5.5 per day. See: Mining Ethereum @ ~53 MH/s and Siacoin @ ~310 MH/s Earns me $5.53 Daily - And It's Time to Take a Pause

Today I sold 3 out of the money covered call options on Ethereum, with 1DTE, for what I got, 0.003938 ETH, or about 1.31% daily income yield, and also I sold 0.1 out of the money 1DTE call options on Bitcoin, for what I got 0.00004375 BTC or about 0.43% daily income yield.

With todays exchange rates (1 ETH = $600, 1BTC = $19.062), that gives us $2.36 and $0.83. Total $3.19. All numbers are after platform taker commissions

My total investment so far, during this 30-day experiment is $…

Top 20 Laptops with Intel Core i7 11th generation processor

7 December, 2020 | Laptop Reviews | 216 seen

In this article, I have listed Top 20 laptop models with the 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor.

Below listed models will be the top choice among gamers and business users. Creative graphic designers, video animators, and photographers will enjoy these powerful laptops as well.

See: Top 5 Best Selling Intel Core i9 (Gaming) Processor Laptops

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links to Amazon, by clicking on links on this page and by making a purchase on Amazon site, I will earn an affiliate income at no cost to you. Prices for laptops listed on this page are retrieved using Amazon Product  Advertising API and is updated daily. For actual prices please refer to the product page on Amazon.

• 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 (2.8 GHz up to 4.7GHz 6 MB cache 6 cores)…

Ēdole Castle

4 December, 2020 | Tourism objects | 30 seen

Ēdole Castle is a Gothic Revival castle situated on the banks of Ēdole Lake, Ēdole parish, in the historical region of Courland, western Latvia.

Originally consisting of two residential buildings linked by a stone wall, the castle is surrounded by a landscaped park. It is considered an architectural and archeological monument of national importance.

Ēdole Castle

The castle was built for the bishop of Piltene between 1264 and 1267. It was rebuilt in the 16th century and from 1561 until 1920 it was the property of the Baltic-German Baron von Behr and his descendants.

During the 18th century the castle was expanded and from 1835 to 1841 it underwent a major reconstruction work to become one of the first samples of Neo-Gothic architecture in Kurzeme. The building was partly burned during the Russian Revolution of 1905. Between 1906 and 1907 a household yard and tower were built in one of its corners, being the façade remodelled with its Gothic forms preserved

Kronvalda Park in Riga

3 December, 2020 | Tourism objects | 13 seen

Kronvalda Park (originally Strēlnieku dārzs) is a part of the greenery of the Old Riga canal bank. The total area of the park is 11.92 ha. Kronvalda park which borders Elizabetes and Kr. Valdemāra Street, as well as Kronvalda and Kalpaka Boulevards.

The city canal divides the park into two parts.

Kronvalda park in Riga

I spent a good hour with our toddler baby girl and DJI Mavic Air 2 drone to capture some nice aerial photography of Riga.

Canal at Kronvalda park in Riga

Best for feeding ducks or lazy walks

View towards Riga