Posti tuo / The postman brings

Olipa kiva saada postia. Odotettua sellaista. Ihmettelinkin jo etta mihin ne olivat jaaneet. Ostin Suomesta kangasta. Lasten puuvillaista kuviotrikoota. Pohkoa ehka joidenkin mielesta mutta taalla kangaskaupasta on tosi hankalaa loytaa kivoja lasten kuviotrikoita. Vauvoille tarkoitettua kylla loytyy mutta eipa nyt 5-vuotiaalle viitsi vaaleanpunaisesta trikoosta, jossa on tuttipulloja ja ankkoja ja helistimia mitaan vaatetta tehda. Peruspunainen, valkoinen, musta ja harmaakin loytyy yksivarisina mutta siihen se melkein sitten jaakin. Eurooppalaiset ihanat kuviotrikoot eivat ole tanne tietaan loytaneet. Jos joku tietaa jonkun hyvan ja edullisen nettikaupan (muun kuin Etsy) ostaa kuviotrikoita, niin please kertokaa.
Eilen illalla sain itelleni vahan omaa aikaa. Aikuista seuraa ja viela kasitoiden merkeissa. Parin muun taallapain asuvan suomalaisen rouvan kanssa ollaan pistetty pystyyn ns "martta-kerho". Melkein kokonaisen vuoden tauon jalkeen tapasimme jalleen ja oli kiva vakertaa jotain, hopottaa niita naita ja paaasia se ettei tarvinnut lapsia raahata mukana. Tapaamme aina vuorotellen toistemme luona. Ja kylla yksi kupponen teetakin aina kasityon lomaan mahtuu.

It was so so nice to get some mail. Mail that I've been waiting for. I was wondering a bit where it was. I bought some fabric from Finland. Printed cotton knit for children. Maybe a bit silly in someone's opinion but believe it or not it's very hard to find nice printed cotton knit jersey for children. You get the baby prints with toys, babies, duckies, pacifiers, bottles etc but can do anything for a 5-year-old from those. The basic red, white, black maybe gray you can find but otherwise the selection is limited. The gorgeous European printed cotton knits have not found their way here yet. If some one knows an reasonably priced online store (other than Etsy) that sells them, please let me know.
Last night I got some time for myself. Crafts, good company and NO CHILDREN. We meet once a week with few other Finnish ladies who live around here and do our own crafty things. The whole thing has been on a break for nearly a year but I'm so so happy that we started again. It means I actually have a chance to make something and get some other company other than my darling girls. We meet at each other's houses in a rotating manner. It's so nice to talk while doing something with your hands and there's always time for a cup of tea while creating.

Huu huu huuuuu! / Whoooooo's there?

Tama Tutan potkupuku sai uuden elaman meilla. Edellisen omistajan aidin surauttama sammakko otti avustuksellani jalat alleen ja loikki pois. Tilalla muutti Herra Huu. Piti keksia jotain, joka sopisi sienien kanssa yhteen. Tutkailin tatteja ja suunnittelin siilia. Paadyin polloon.
Yhtena iltana piirtelin paperille erilaisia pollovaihtoehtoja. Oli siivellista. Oli oksalla istuvaa. Lopulta kallistuin mahollisimman yksinkertaiseen. Mikakohan naita mun mimmeja oikein vaivaa kun mallina oleminen on nyt niin vaikeata? Huomatkaa pakoyritys kuvauspaikalta viimeisessa kuvassa.

This Tutta overall got a new life at our house. The frog appliquéd by the previous owner's mother jumped away with my help. The new inhabitant is Mr Whoooooooooooo. I needed something to go with mushrooms. Mulled over bigger mushrooms and hedgehogs but ended up with an owl.
One night I drew all kinds of owls. With wings. More elaborate. Sitting on a branch. Finally I decided on one that was as simple as possible. I wonder what's wrong with my girls as being a model is so difficult at the moment? Notice the escape attempt from the photo shoot.

Kiitollinen maanantai / Grateful Monday

Olen kiitollinen:
Ruoanlaitosta tykkaavasta miehestani, joka teki viikonlopun ruoat.
Hantaa heiluttavasta koirasta.
Viileammista (+25 - +28C) paivista.
Muurahaismyrkysta.
Kaupankayntia helpottavista "scan and bag" laitteista.
Tanssivasta puolitoistavuotiaasta.
Ystavan tuomista kukkasista.
Kalenterista, joka pitaa minut ajan tasalla.

Mista sina olet kiitollinen tanaan?

(Ryovasin ajatuksen tasta postauksesta Nikolelta hanen blogistaan a happy nest. Nikole kirjoittaa yleensa maanantaisin asioista, joista on kiitollinen. Ihana ajatus.)


I'm grateful
for my husband who likes cooking and who made dinners during weekend.
for my tail wagging dog.
for cooler days (+25 - +28C/77- 87F).
for ant repellant.
for "scan and Bag" devices at the grocery store.
for dancing 18 month old daughter.
for flowers brought by a friend.
for my calendar, which keeps me on track during the week.

What are you grateful today?

(I borrowed the idea of this posting from Nikole and her a happy nest blog. On most Mondays Nikole writes about things that she is grateful for. Love the idea!)

Kameran edessa oleminen on kamalaa / Being in front of the camera is terrible

Kun sain vihdoinkin esikoisen farrkkumekon valmiiksi ja kokeilin sen neidin paalle niin hanelle iski kamerakamalatus. Mallini oli kylla niin vastahakoinen ettei totta.
Mutta mutta mutta.... mekko on siis vihdoinkin valmis. Napinlapia myoten. Sen verran kasvuvaraa mekossa on (vaikka kokeiltiin matkanvarrella useampaan otteeseen etta olisi pitanyt pistaa napinlapi ja napit toisin pain eli etukappaleeseen napinlapi ja henkseliin nappi, jota olisi voinut sitten siirtaa. No, nyt on niin kuin on. Tykkaan itse kovasti. Mahdollisesti siiten viela jonkun aplikaation varkkaan mutta mutustelen ajatusta ensin. Mutta siis sain talle viikolle jotain aikaiseksikin. :)

When I finally finished the older miss's denim dress and tried it on her she got "cameraterriblitus". My model was unbelievably uncooperative.
But but but... the dress is finally ready. It has growth room for my ever stretching daughter. However, I should have flipped the places of the button hole and button. The button hole on the front piece and and the button on the shoulder strap, which I then could have moved as needed. Now it's as it is. I like it very much myself. Possibly I'll add an aplique at some point but I'll think about it first. My greatest joy today is that I did accomplish something this week. :)

Todisteita ei jaanyt / There was no evidence

Nopea ja helppo jalkkari. Kasin murennettuja grahamkekseja, vaniljavanukasta (itse kaytin Jello vaniljavanukashauheesta tehtavaa - sita on nakynyt valilla Citymarkettien kansainvalisilla ruokahyllyilla Ameriikkojen kohdalla) ja tuoreita marjoja. Maljan pohjalle keksimuruja, paalle vanukasta ja paallimmaiseksi marjoja. Ai etta on hyvaa. Oli niin nopea menekki etten saanut edes kuvaa valmiista annoksesta.

Quick and easy dessert. Hand crumbled graham cookies, vanilla pudding (I used Jello) and fresh berries. Some cookie crumbs to the bottom of the serving bowl, pudding on top and berries to crown the dessert. It was yummy. And it disappeared so fast that I had no chances of getting picture of a the dessert in the serving bowl.

Saamaton / Inefficient

Ei hyvaa paivaa. Mika nyt naisessa vikana kun tuntuu ettei saa yhtaan mitaan aikaseks muuta kuin ne pakolliset huushollin siivoukset ja pyykinpesut ja kaupassakaynnit. Ei vaan tunnu jaksavan yhtaan mitaan. Kauheesti tekis mieli mutta kun ei saa itseaan niskasta nostettua yhtaan mihinkaan.
Kaihoisasti katselen muiden blogeja. Kaikilla tuntuu olevan hirvea draivi paalla. On rempattu ja maalattu ja jarjestelty ja kuvattu. On ommeltu, neulottu ja virkattu ja esitelty. Ihanaahan se on tuijotella muiden aikaansaannoksia ja imea ideoita. Hatunnosto kaikille aikaansaaville.
Sain sentaan tanaan raahauduttua lasten kanssa ostamaan napit isomman neidin mekkoon. Ehka se tasta viela valmistuu.
Taman paivan hiljaiset hetket (pikkuisen nukkuessa) menivat palapellin teon, teen ja suomesta tuotujen lehtien kanssa. Saan myos vapaapaivan ruoanlaitossa, silla eilen tekemani lasagne tayttaa meidan masut tanaankin.

I cannot believe this. What's wrong with this woman when I cannot get anything else done but the must do cleaning, laundry and food shopping. I just don't seem to have energy for anything extra. I want to, so so badly.
With yearning I look at other blogs. Everyone else seems to have a drive on. Renovations, paintings, organising things which have been photographed. Sewings, knittings, crochetings which then have been presented. Kudos to all those who have achieved these things! I love to look at what you have done and get ideas. Today, I dragged my two children with me to buy buttons for the dress that I'm making. I'm sure it will get done one of these days.
Today's quiet moments (when the little one was napping)were spent making a puzzle with my daughter, enjoying a cup of tea and reading a magazine I bought from Finland. I also got a free day from making dinner as the lasagna I made yesterday will fill our tummies today as well.

Tanaan nain / Today's story

Viime yona jytisi ja salamoi oikein kunnolla tunnin verran. Vanhempi neideista kipitti pika pikaa viereen kun taas pikkuinen veteli sikeita taivaan tietamattomana koko ukkosesta vaikka onkin tytoista kevyunisempi. Nelijalkainenkin perheenjasen tutisi sangyssa vallyjen valissa.
Pesin eilen yhden maton terassilla ja kuvittelin etta se olisi jo suht kuiva aamulla. No yollisen myrskyn ja aamuisen sateen takia matto sai kunnon huuhtelut ja on siis viela aivan lapimarka. Sen kuivumista siis odotellessa.
Jotain ohjelmaa meilla oli tanaan. Vahan ystavia kylassa. Minulle on niin tuikitarkeaa etta tytot kuulee suomea mahdollisimman paljon ja paasevat myos sita kayttamaan. Leikkiseuraa lapsille ja mammakin sai porista aikuisseurassa. Vallan virkistavaa.

Last night we had an hour of lightning and massive rumbling as a big thunderstorm rolled over. Older of the misses came running to our bed where as the little one slept through the whole racket (even though she's the lighter sleeper of the two). Even the four legged family member was shaking in the bed amongst the duvets.
Yesterday I washed one of our rugs out on the terrace and I imagined that it would be all dry in the morning but with all the rain during the night and again in the morning, it just got extra rinsing. Now waiting for it to dry properly.
We did have some program today with the girls as we had friends visiting. I find it imperative that our girls get to hear and use Finnish language as much as possible. Today had lots of talk. Playing for children and some adult talk for mummies. It was rather refreshing.

Taivaalla tuikkii uusi tahti / There's a new star in the sky tonight

Sain tanaan surullisia uutisia. Siskoni koira, jolla oli erityinen paikka sydamessani, nukkui pois melkein kuudentoista vuoden arvokkaassa iassa. Itku tuli ja tulee viela monta kertaa. Sydanta kiristaa. Muistoja meilta ei kuitenkaan kukaan voi ottaa pois. Tanaan sytytan kynttilan taman illan tahtitaivaan kirkkaimmalle tahdelle.

Today I got sad news. One of my sister's dogs, who had a special place in my heart, slept away in the respectable age of nearly sixteen years. I cried and will cry still several times. My heart is crumpled. But no-one can take my memories away. I will light a candle tonight for the brightest start in tonights starry sky.

Kynttilaton kakku / Cake without candles

Voi sita ihanuutta, joka on pienella kun saa itse paketoida lahja ja antaa se syntymapaivasankarille. Itsetehdyt kortit myos. Myos pikkuinen oli taiteillut toisen vanhemman avustuksella.
Kakussa ei ollut kynttiloita. Ehka hyva niin. Ei niita tarvitse enaa niin laskea. Hyvaa kakku kuitenkin oli.

Oh the happiness of a child when she gets to wrap a present herself and give it to the birthday person. The self made cards as well. The little one had been an artist with the help of the other parent.
The cake didn't have any candles. Maybe it's a good thing. No need to count them anymore. It was a good cake even without the candles.

Peittosankari / Blankie addiction

On ollut hassua seurata kuinka meidan pikkuneidista on tullut aivan totaalinen peittosankari. Suorastaan peittoaddikti. Eika mika tahansa peitto vaan ihan ikioma vaaleanpunainen vauvapeitto, jonka sai lahjaksi syntyessaan. Neiti nukkuu sen kanssa, kuljettaa sita nykyaan ympariinsa, kietoo sen valilla harteille viitakseen, tiputtaa maahan ja pudottautuu itsekin lattiatasolle painaakseen paansa siihen. Hellyttavaa ja sopoa!

It's been fun to follow how our little one has turned into a blankie addict. And not any blanket but her pink baby blanket that she received as a gift when she was born. She sleeps with it, carries/drags it around, wraps it around her shoulders like a cape, drops it on the floor and goes down after putting her head on it. So endearing and cute!