Driftwood

Fe and Sisi love the water, it's hard to get them out of it. Their lips will
turn a deep shade of purple and they'll have goosebumps all over their skin,
and still they'll want to be in the water.

We've been checking out the lakes, and rivers, and beaches in the area. Each time,
a different one. Yesterday, we spent a beautiful summer afternoon at Pilvijärvi
(= Cloud Lake, isn't it a such pretty name) in Sipoo. And I took my camera,
for once.

I always thought this song described me pretty well. Driftwood.

Summer, simply drifting along, not worrying about anything.



Happy Sunday!

(I'll be back soon with another set of pics.)

:)

"Once more the liberal year laughs out

O'er richer stores than gems or gold:

Once more with harvest song and shout

Is nature's boldest triumph told."

(John Greenleaf Whittier)

There is nothing like an extensive nature walk with the family to refresh your mind (something I learned from my mother). Welcome, welcome, new week!

FALLing...

I like the word fall. How fitting. The year falls to an end, the leaves fall, everything falls (softly). I am falling, too...

It was a beautiful day. Almost warm. We took a walk to "our" farm (again... are you tired of seeing pictures of sheep yet?!). We saw lots of mushrooms. And leaves. It's ruska-aika, the time of autumn-colored leaves. We had a picnic, we hung out with friends. We got cranky on our way home (every outing must end with crankiness or it isn't a real outing). We came home and drank a cocoa (with oat milk and thick chocolate syrup).

Dear Fall, yes, I'm falling for you. :)

Summer Walk

You know when it's so hot that the air feels thicker somehow, and the sun washes out the colors? It usually only happens to me on vacation (that I feel this way), but this year, with all that heat in Finland, I've felt it here, too. The grass has been burned and it is such an exotic sight! Browns and yellows... I feel like I'm in the Mediterranean. I love summer (especially this one)! (Are you getting tired of me saying it?)

We took a stroll to a nearby Kirppis (flea market) with the whole family. We made a few good finds, including two vintage Smena cameras for 6 € each! There was a beautiful Russian icon there as well. Painted on wood, framed in an old golden frame. J and I loved it, but we weren't sure if it was genuine, and it was a bit pricey, so we didn't buy it. Now I regret it. Maybe I'll go back today and hope it's still there.

PS. If I had to sum up my style in just a handful of pictures, these would be it. (And look, there is an icon on the wall, too!)

Moomin World I

Yes, we're still alive! We've just been out, out, out in the sun. It's been hot and wonderful here. The hottest summer in 75 years, they say. Heat like this is a rarity here, so I feel a sort of pressure to soak up every bit of it.

I love summer. And cotton candy. I always had it at Kirmes (a parish fair) as a child in Germany. It was pink and big and sugary (= heavenly). In Moomin World it's green and also quite lovely.

Talking of Moomin World, the Moomins turned out to be rather nice trolls who allowed us to take some pictures of their home. It's rather stylish, we thought.

I just love the Moomins. I think they are the most wonderful literary family ever devised. Who is your favorite Moomin?

Fé's is Moomintroll himself. I have a thing for Little My.

Pretty. Medieval.

Turku is my favorite place in Finland. I really do think so. Once a year, the old town square transforms itself into a medieval market. It is the most magical thing! (It's still going on until July 4th. :)

We've been up and about, spending perfect days at the beach, and in the garden, eating fresh berries from the market, and staying up much too late... Ah, Scandinavian summers!


Today, we're off to go boating. There is nothing like the ocean on a hot summer day.

What do you like to do in the summer?