2014-2015 Years of big changes and new chalanges

Photographer: Algimantas Krisčiūnas

 

This blog will be a gift for everyone who still reading my blog and found something nice or interesting here. I am pleased for all views I saw for now. Over 13 thousands! That is something powerful. That's how I feel my words and acts like something more than just writing, expressing myself and let someone to know about me. I do love this idea about my blog and all what I write there. Even I am not perfect in English, but I do my best and I see that you understand and that make me keep going.

This time I show everything from my personal life. As garden is sleeping, gardener doing something still. Even I would like to relax (like be a dormant). Wake up in spring and enjoy sunshine. But now I try to be sunshine and catch it. As cover photo you see very nice photographer A.Krisčiūnas work. That was from interview for magazine 'Panelė' (Lady). Populistic article about what I done. Nothing new, just photos. It was taken in late autumn. Some frosts already touched leaves, and they start to fall down, but big colds just came her soon. Photo taken in Kaunas Botanical Garden. Place where I work until January 5th. I left job because of various circumstances and way how it move. It was place not for me and not for this time. I have lots of studies at university, very tight schedule and not enough time for everything. This decision is hard, but better for me. Closest friends understand. But this is not the end of the world. I work with studies as priority for now. And have some nice entertainments to enjoy some times.

One of them is big event Žingsniai (Steps) which was held in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania. Official event with fancy clothes, luxurious food and some awards. This was year event for all EU financial projects for education, and especially life changing. As I went to EUCYS in beginning of it was national tour in Lithuania which live out project from EU moneys. I hope I understand this well and can show some moments from that event.

 Vilnius train station                                                    Gates of Dawn (Vilnius)

 





Official dinner at event Steps 2014                              Nice award for our team, young scientists

 

I always like to take some brakes and do something nice, what touch my feelings and make good memories. This event is just like that.

This semester at university was extremely hard. I never thought I can have so busy with studies. But I tried to stay strong and do my best in every subject I have. But that make me go out of my mind. Every done task changes to another one and that without any stop. So always with tons of books, papers and tasks. But for brake I have very nice opportunity. As each year I got American Hemerocallis Society (AHS) International Seed Bank list of seeds to pick for my works. I every time say big THANKS for Maureen Strong, who work with these lists and always brighten my life. Not exception this year. Even she made me one surprise with ALL LIFE MEMBERSHIP IN AHS, but still nice offer of seeds. List has over 800 crosses and I pick really a lot.

 Seeds went to my home very fast. Very good condition and clear. Even one was missed, but I just can't believe what I am holding in my hands. Dose of amazing genetics to work with. That was great gift for me.

 Talking about gifts, it always has something related to Christmas. And this year they was very different. In new home with something different.
In all study works, I have no time for Christmas. Like teenagers with computer games spend all their time, I spent it with studies and works at university. But I am happy what I done. Exams end almost perfectly, just one lower mark.
But we found some time and decorate our home. I with my sister placed new plastic Christmas tree and decorated it only in white. Before Christmas we have almost no snow. So I and mom wanted something white. And it works. In contrast of my painting in photo and cat in background it just look glorious. I wish next year we can make it the same, because it does look fancy and very well. Not too much decorations and nice for eye, also something related to holidays and light dreams about free time after works and studies. Sadly everything has end and now home get back to normal and flow casually.



 Photographer: Gintarė Raudoniūtė

There is good illustration of our studies. How we hardly work in university. On table you can see a corner of our semester works. For landscape architecture we have to design a whole garden. Pick house project, place it, make paths, plant trees and some flowers. Fortunately only on paper, later on computer and in the end on large scale tablet (printed). That guy with eye catching blue pullover is this text author, new daylily and iris garden owner and big gardener.

In Lithuania we have a tradition to end all debts before Christmas. I get one order for silk work earlier in 2014 and have no time for it. But I always try to make my promises and I did this just few days before Christmas Eve. It is for Thelma Douglas author - Heidi Douglas. Ended silk work is already in her hands. There you can see photo from process of work. Even it is a little lighter, but still something nice. That's how I end my year of 2014. Years with loads of changes get new job, moved to new home, visited England and Italy make some changes in my life and that is all positive. Even very hard, like true horse years.

With champagne in our hands we started NEW YEARS. 2015 started like every year. We went in street in the last minutes of 2014th. In past home our neighbors (who used to drink and make problems) always share their champagne. Not exception this year, when friendly, but a little drunk neighbor came with two bottles and asked if she can join us watching fireworks. So it started the same. Just other place and different neighbor close to us. To keep so success we hold some moneys in our hands. As our country currency changed from 2015, we hold EUROS. Sadly we say good-bye for our Litas and say not very friendly hi for Euro.

 And that is all from my brakes. All the next spare time I study new articles, read books and try to memorize everything for coming exams. But I still wanted something creative. And I did one job on canvas. This is 2014 KOTH seedling award 1st place winner. Original silk work reached William Marchant, hybridizer of amazing daylilies. And I wanted something like that on my wall. I know that it will be nice to see it in my garden, but for now it is good enough to see it on my wall. It hanging in my room. First and only (for now) painting in my room.
This year I had one day, that has big influence for my life. It is January 5th. I already mentioned in beginning of this blog post. I left my job at Kaunas Botanical Garden. Sadly day, but oh well, it turn into something still. But this day has more colors. In morning I had first exam from Landscape Architecture Theory. It was hard enough, because for Christmas holidays we have to read 3 new articles and in the first day write something in exam. But I am lucky that I remember what is all about. But before the exam my group mates make me very big and kind surprise. I never expect this, so it was true surprise. I love surprises and never thought it is so great to start day with one big kind group gift. Group mate stand up and start their speech. It was directed for all, I understand it is for all. But she always looked at me, and when she picked something from her bag I was in light shock. She hold washed bluish green color T-Shirts with my MITSU on it. It is so great. You can't imagine what happened in my mind in that moment, but it was something powerful. Other group mate say, that I will understand true meaning of it just in the evening. They already knew what will be later in the day. And that makes me really happy. All exam time I feel special and very great. All stress went somewhere else and I just let my minds flow on exam paper. After it my dad take my and we went for some lunch. Not very often I see my dad, but that day I was very happy. It's like from talks about Americans, parents, who have lunch with their sons. It is very nice. Simple, but powerful. Even we went to factory canteen, and I wear fancy clothes it was good and I feel comfortable. And after dinner we went back to university for first event of the year. Rector's New Year Greetings and award ceremony, with concert in the end of event. It is very nice, because I first time went to university event with my dad. He sit close to me. Listen how I introduce some lectors and professors  around us. It was warm and nice, not too long event. And believe it or no, I was one of the nominees. I get RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR 2014 award.

 This award is really heavy and cool. I thought it is just a piece of glass, but actually it is something more. Because it weighs like ton. I need to hold it with two hands. It looks like I am not strong enough for next season in garden. So I have to work with it.

 And here close up of it. Even not very clear, but there is card, award and those precious T-Shirts from my group. It is so cool to start years in this way. With love and respect, with understanding and taking care. I love the way how everything happened in this year.
Now I am writing after all exams. With no more works to do for this moment. I just clean my room, take care of new papers from university, try to relax, do some more art works, maybe some orders, if anyone place. My first task of this year is to write something to you. I do not want you to feel lonely here, with no new information about what happening in my life and in my garden.

Here is shot from yesterday. I took picture looking from my window. There is tons of snow. I have to shovel snow two times per day, and that doesn't make me feel bad. It is nice to see so much white color, it keep me calm and straight. Something cozy around it.
That's it. I hope you enjoy it, not get bother or even sick of my talks. I wish everyone nice weather, positive minds and never ending energy and health to do kind things.

Best wishes,
Edvinas Misiukevičius
Lithuania