Kukkaisvoimaa / Flower power

Taalla uuden kodin alueella on paljon kukkia. Ja niista pidetaan huolta. Kun yhdet kukat kuihtuvat uudet aloittavat kukintansa. Kivasti mietitty ja suunniteltu. Meidan ovenpielessa rappusten vieressa on istutettua puna-apilaa. Se tuntuu nain suomalaisittain vahan hassulta etta apilaa laitetaan kukkaistutuksiin. Tassa vahan esimakua.

Here at our new home's area there are lots of flowers. And they are well taken care of. When one set of flowers wilt next ones start blooming. It's been nicely thought and planned. We have red clover in the flower bed next to the steps. As a Finn it feels a bit funny to have clover in the flower bed. Here's a little taste of what we have here.

Purkki poikineen / Pots and pots

No niin.... tama mamma hymyilee kovin leveasti. Projekti valmis. Eihan tama kovin ihmeellinen ollut mutta yksi juttu pois tehtavien listalta.

This mummy is smiling. The project is ready. It's not anything special but it's one thing off of the TO DO-list.

Tasta lahdettiin. Kuvasta puuttuu kirkas spraylakka.
This is where I started. The picture is missing the clear spray sealer.

Maalasin purkit 4 kertaa spraymaalilla ja paalle 2 lakkakerrosta.
I spraypainted the pots 4 times and then added 2 coats of spray sealant.

Ihan IKEAn purkkeja olivat.
They were plain IKEA pots.

Lopputulos oli hauska. Olisin halunnut lilan sinisen tilalle mutta ei loytynyt oikeaa savya (tyttojen huoneessa toistuu sailytyskoreissa pinkki, vihrea, lila). Valo ei vaan riittanyt kuvissa eli piti ottaa salama apuun. :(
The end result was fun and bright. I would have wanted purple instead of light blue but I couldn't find the right color (the girls' room has pink, green and purple storage bins). Didn't have enough light in the room so had to summon the flash for help. :(

Juu......EI / Yes......NO

Paivan saatiedotus oli oikeassa. Pahus! En saanut siis tanaan tehtya projektiani loppuun. :( Huomista on hyva odottaa. Kamerakin on pysynyt sisatiloissa ja kamerakassissa. Tanaan siis harmaa, mitaan aikaansaamaton paiva.

Today's weather forecast was correct. Darn! I didn't have a chance to finish my project. :( Waiting for tomorrow. Even my camera has stayed in the camera bag. Today has been very gray and shiftless day.

Pahuksen pilvet / Darn clouds

Aurinko paistoi, oli kuuma ja juuri sopiva saa projektini toteuttamiseen. :) Intoa taynna takapihalle touhuamaan......
Luontoaiti oli toista mielta kanssani asiasta ja pilvia keraantyi todella nopeasti taivaalle ja sitten alkoi sade. :( Projekti jai siis kesken. Toivottavasti huomenna saisin sen paatokseen. Peukut pystyyn etta saa olisi aurinkoinen tai ettei ainakaan sataisi.

Sun was shining, it was hot and just the perfect weather for my project. :) Enthusiastically I rushed to the back yard to do my things...
However, Mother nature disagreed with me and clouds started to gather very quickly and then started the rain. :( So my project is unfinished. Hopefully I'll get it done tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that it would be sunny day or at least that it wouldn't rain.

Koti-ikava / Homesick

Jostain nurkan takaa iski koti-ikava vaikka juuri olin Suomessa. Ehka juuri siksi. Puhukoon tama laulu puolestani.

Unexpectedly I got home sick even though I just was in Finland. Maybe that's why. Let this song speak for me.

Alexander Rybak - Suomi

I used to be in search for beauty,

used to be in search for grace.

Now I see your lakes, your forest

you have put a smile on my face.

Once I thought I'd seen it all

now you show that life is so much more.

Suomi feeling in my heart forever

Suomi feeling in my heart forever

The souvenir of smiles and laughter

takes me back to dreams I've had.

Loosing you is life in silence

Dimonds are forever worldmap.

The midnights are the lights to seem

now I know that beauty truly breeze.

Suomi feeling in my heart forever

Suomi feeling in my heart forever

Irlannin reissun suunnittelua / Planning the Ireland trip

Marraskuun alussa olemme Irlannissa haissa. Mieheni paras ystava menee naimisiin ja mehan menemme tietysti paikalle. Suunnitelmissa on etta olisimme Irlannissa noin 1,5 viikkoa ja tutkisimme samalla mita kaikkea Irlanti tarjoaa. Olemme molemmat kuulleet etta upeita maisemia niin merellisia kuin vedettomiakin on yllinkyllin. Linnoja, raunioita, pienia ihastuttavia kylia. Jos joku on kaynyt Irlannissa niin ehdottakaa ihmeessa kayntikohteita. Ja erityisen innolla otan vastaan vinkit siita mita lasten kanssa voi Irlannissa tehda. :) Toistaiseksi netissa surffailu ei ole tuonut hirveasti valaistusta tahan asiaan.

In the beginning of November we'll be in Ireland attending my husband's best friend's wedding. The plan is that we would stay there for 1,5 weeks. We have both heard that Ireland is full of magnificent sea views as well as views without water. Castles, ruins, small charming villages. If someone has been in Ireland I'd be delighted to hear any suggestions what to see while there. And especially I'm interested in tips of what to do there with children. :) So far surfing around the Internet hasn't brought lot of light on this subject.

Bestikset, samikset / Best friends, lookalikes

Oi riemujen riemu! Tytot ovat yhdessa jalleen.... ainakin muutaman viikon. Toisen loma taalla USAssa oli niin kovin odotettu asia ja nyt neidit ovat paasseet leikkimaan yhdessa: Barbeilla, prinsessaleikkeja, Muumeilla, esittamaan tansseja, pukeutumaan roolivaatteisiin jne. Kikatusta ja suputusta. Ihania tyttojen juttuja! Mina hymyssa suin seuraamassa naita touhuja.

Oh joy of of joys ! The girls are together again.... at least for few weeks. The other one's holiday here in USA was such an expected thing and now the misses have been able to play together: with Barbies, being princesses, performing dances, dressing up etc. Giggles and whispering. Lovely girly things! Me smiling, watching them together.

Miksi hyvastit ovat aina niin vaikeita? / Why farewells are always so difficult?

Hyva ystavani muuttaa viikon paasta pois taalta takaisin kotimaahansa Englantiin. Naimme hanet tanaan viimeista kertaa ennen muuttoa. Luulisi jo tahan tottuvan mutta ei. Tanne jaa tyhjio, joka on vaikea tayttaa. Yritapa olla itse itkematta ja vahvana niin ettei lapset hermostu mutta kun vanhin tajusi etta nyt on kyseessa pysyvammat jaahyvaiset ja itkee sydamensa pohjasta asian takia ei ole helppoa olla itkematta itse. Omat kyyneleet saastan myohemmaksi.
Onneksi maailmassa on asioita kuten Skype, FB seka sahkoposti naiden vanhanaikaisten puhelinten ja postin lisaksi.

My very good friend is moving in a weeks time away from here back to her homeland Enlgand. We saw her today last time before the move. One would think that one gets used to saying goodbyes but now. There's going to be void here which is going to be hard to fill. Try to be calm and not cry so that the children won't get upset but when my oldest realised that this is going to be permanent good bye and she cries her heart out it's not easy to keep the tears inside myself. I'll reserve the tears for later.
Luckily there are things in this world such as Skype, FB, as well as e-mail in addition to the old fashioned phone and mail.

Ei sunnuntairauhaa / No peace on Sunday

Onkohan tanaan ollut joku lasten kansallinen vinkumankukitina-paiva. Molemmat tytot ovat olleet ihan mahdottomia. (Rautakaupassa kaydessani kaikki nakemani lapset olivat enemman tai vahemman samassa mielentilassa.)
Taman paivan tehtavien asioiden lista ei lyhentynyt juuri ollenkaan. Sain sentaan kasattua sen eilen ostetun hyllyn, ja laitettua verhoon renkaat niin etta nyt saadaan ne helposti auki ja kiinni, ja kavin mina paikallisessa K-raudassa niita verhotangon renkaita seka spray-maaleja ostamassa. Siina sitten olikin taman paivan saldo.
Mieheni ja esikoinen tekivat jumbokekseja. Siis todella jumbo. Niista loytyi kolmea eri sorttia suklaata. Makoisia mutta niin isoja ettei minun tule niita syotya.
Alimmassa kuvassa jossain keskella lymyaa maaorava.

I wonder if today was national chidren's whining day. Both girls have been absolutely impossible. (And while in the home improvement store all children I saw were more or less in the same state of mind as my own.)
The TO DO list for today didn't get much shorter because of the above mentioned state of mind in my children. At least I got the shelving unit put together, put the curtain rings on the curtain rod so that now we can actually open and close the curtains and I did go to the local home improvement store to by those rings as well as spray paint. However that was today's achievement.
My husband and the oldest girl made jumbo cookies. I mean really jumbo. They have three different kinds of chocolate in them. They are yummy but so big that I'm not one to eat them.
In the lower picture somewhere in the middle there's a chipmunk.

Tyttojen brunssi IKEAssa / Gilrs' brunch at IKEA

Esikoinen ja mina suunnattiin aamusta IKEAan. Meilla oli suunnitelma: hyllykko leluille, iso kuvakehys, renkaita verhotankoon, ja lounas. No, me tytot oltiinkin niin tehokkaita etta kun ruokaa piti saada kuvun alle ei kello ollut viela niin paljon etta olisi lounasta saanut. Soimme siis brunssin: lettuja, hedelmasalaattia ja pala Dajm-kakkua! :D Suunnitelmamme toteutui seuraavasti: hyllykko leluille, ei kuvakehysta, ei renkaita verhotankoon, pari kippoa keittioon, henkareita, kokoontaittuvia laatikoita vaatehuoneen ja -kaappien jarjestamiseksi, pari kolttua pulloille seka Liisa- nukelle kylpysetti.


Our oldest and I headed for IKEA this morning. We had a plan: a shelving unit for toys, big, picture frame, rings for curtain rod and lunch. Well, first of all we were so efficient that we were ready for lunch before it was lunch time. So instead we had brunch: Swedish pancakes, fruit salad and Dajm-cake! :D Second, our other part of the plan came to be: a shelving usit for toys, no picture frame, no rings for curtain rod, couple of bowls for kitchen, coat hangers, canvas storage boxes to get the walk-in closet and closets in order, couple of "dresses" for bottles and a bath set for Liisa the doll.

Italialainen al fresco illallinen / Italian dinner al fresco

Suorastaan taydellinen lopetus taman viikon arjen aherrukselle oli saapua entisten naapureidemme luo syomaan. Ihana italialainen al fresco illallinen ulkona koko perheen voimin. Paikalle nimittain saapui seka poika etta tytar perheineen. Erittain rento meininki, puheensorinaa, lasten aania ja leikkia seka jumalaista ruokaa. Olin niin lumoissani etten muistanut ottaa kuvia ruoasta ollenkaan. Saimme aitoa Sisialaista lasagnea seka grillatuja pihveja salaatin kera.
Ennen illallista lapset leikkivat vedella. Kaksi vaippasankaria piti huolen vauhdikkaasta menosta. Toinen ei tosin viela kavellyt mutta se ei menoa haitannut. Ihana ilta! Grazie!

I would say the perfect way to end the working week was to arrive at our old neighbours house to have dinner. Lovely italian dinner al fresco on the terrace with the whole family. And I mean the whole family as their son and his family as well as their daughter and her husband came as well. Relaxed atmosphere, talking, children playing and having fun as well as divine food.I was so enthralled by the food that i forgot to take pictures. We were served authentic Sicilian lasagna and grilled stakes with salad. Before the dinner the children were playing with water. The two diaper divas made sure there was lots of splashing. Such a lovely night! Grazie!

Muurahaismarssia / The ants go marching ten by ten

Meille tulee sisalle jostain muurahaisia. On tullut jo useamman paivan ajan. Tappajaisia on pidetty. Mitaan kauheen ytyja aineita ei lasten ja koiran takia ole voinut laittaa. Lopulta loytyi kolo mista muurahaiset tuli. Asiasta kerrottiin vuokraisannalle ja ajattelimme etta kolonen paikataan jollain mutta ei. Taalla kavi tanaan muurahaismyrkyttaja. Sisalle pistettiin orgaanista vaaratonta setripuunoljya. Murkut kuulemma ei tykkaa siita ollenkaan. Ja ulos sitten rakennuksen reunaan jotain tosi ytya tavaraa. Nyt sitten nahdaan saatiinko muurahaiset kuriin.

We've been getting ants inside. We've had them coming in for several days. I've committed massacres trying to squish them and prevent them coming with ant killer sprays. Because of the girls and the dog I haven't been able to use any other than some organic store bough things. Not been successful with those. We did find the hole where the ants were coming in. Told our landlord and thought that they would come and get that hole filled but no. We had someone today to come and spray the area where the ants were coming in as well as outside of the house. They used cedar oil inside (completely organic and very pleasant faint smell) and some stronger stuff outside. We'll find out soon if this works. I hope so as I do not like ants inside.

Jytinaa! / BOOM!

Ukkonen se jytisee. Ihan kohtuullisen kovaa rytiseekin. Ukkosen myota saamme hieman helpotusta naihin kuumiin lampotiloihin kun Kanadasta saadaan kylma rintama tanne. Kylma ja kylma... lampotilat tipahtaa sinne alle +30. :D Loppuviikosta pitaisi siis tulla miellyttavan "viilea".
Kuvat on saapuvasta ukkosesta.

Thunder is booming! And quite booming it is. With this thunder we get relief for the searing temperatures as a cold front from Canada moves in. Cold and cold.... meaning the temperatures will fall under +30C/86F. :D We'll get a pleasant "cool" rest of the week. The pictures are of the arriving thunder clouds.

Salaliitto minua vastaan / Conspiracy against me

Olen raatanut ja puhkunut ja pyyhkinyt hikea. Polya pn pudisteltu, laatikoita lytistelty, tavaroita pistetty paikoilleen, imuroitu...... ja kun palaan viiden minuutin paasta takaisin tavarat on taas huiskin haiskin ja jostain pilkottaa polynuhjake, joka on kaivautunut piilostaan ja irvistelee minulle. Ihan selkea salaliitto minua vastaan.
Huusholli pitaa kuitenkin saada nyt sellaiseen kuntoon etta tanne kehtaa pyytaa vieraita. Harmi vaan etta minun lastenviihdyttaja (eli tyttojen Momi) on nyt Suomessa. Monta projektia olisi edesssa. Olen yrittanyt jakaa tyotaakkaa pienempiin "projekteihin". Ehka se tasta. Pari paivaa on ollut mahdoton puurtaminen mutta valilla homma tuntuu loputtomalta varsinkin kun tytot levittavat tavaroita pitkin poikin leikeissaan.
Leivoin mustikkaleipaa. Taisi olla tyttosten mielesta maukasta kun havisi lautaselta aikamoista vauhtia. Mina tykkasin kovasti myos.
Ja EI! En todellakaan laita kuvia meidan sotkuista. ;)

I've been working hard, sweating over my work. Dusting, flattening boxes, putting things away, vacuuming.... and when I return after 5 minutes all things are all over the place again and even a small dust ball has emerged from it's hiding place grinning at me. Clearly a conspiracy against me.
However, I need to get this household up together in such condition that I can invite people over. I'm sick and tired of all these last remaining boxes. Unfortunately my children's companion (also known as their grandmother ;D) is now in Finland. Many projects awaits for me to tackle them. I've tried to make them into smaller "projects". I'll get there. I know I will. For few days I've been working very hard on getting things done but this is one of the things that is harder to do with the little extra helping hands. And especially as those little helping hands keep spreading their toys around the house while they play.
I made some blueberry bread. I know the girls enjoyed it as it vanished quickly from their plates quickly. I liked it a lot.
And NO! I'm definitely not going to put pics here of our mess. ;)

Kirjarakkautta / Book love

Matkalaukussa kotiin reissasi myos kaksi kirjaa, joita olin odottanut saadakseni kasiin kuin kuuta nousevaa. Ei varmaankaan hirveasti yllata etta kirjat ovat Mekkotehdas seka Kinuskikissan leivontakirja. Niita on plaratty ja luettu ja lehteilty ja hypistelty ja tuijoteltu ja.... Olen ihan rakastunut molempiin.
Suomessa jo yhden kaakunkin leivoin Kinuskikissan kirjasta, hieman ohjetta mukaellen. Kuva loytyy TAALTA. Ai kuinka hyvaa se olikaan. Siita tehdaan monta tuotosta viela tassa talossa. Ainoa ongelma on etta aika monissa ohjeissa on aineksia joita en saa taalta. Eli joudun mukailemaan.
Loysin myos yksi paiva tyttareni Mekkotehdas kirjan kanssa sohvalta. Han oli kovin uppoutunut kirjaan enka hanta keskeyttanyt. Vartin myohemmin neiti tuli kirjan kanssa luokseni ja esitti minulle ne asiat, jotka olisi hyva olla olemassa. Naihin asioihin kuului KAIKKI mekot ja muita ihania asioita. Taitaa mammalle tulla tyontayteinen lahitulevaisuus jos koko toivelistan taytan. Pyorryttaa nyt jo ajatus siita maarasta. :D HEH Nyt vaan siis mies ja lapset ja koira jonnekin muualle 2,5 viikoksi niin mina saan oman lomani ompelukone seuralaisena. ;-P

Two books traveled back home with me. Two books that I had been very anxiously waiting to get my hands on. They are a sewing book called Mekkotehdas and a baking book called Kinuskikissa leipoo.n I've been reading them over and over again, or just looking at them. I'm in love with both of them.
While in Finland I already made one of the cakes in the baking book but modified it a bit. HERE'S a picture of it. Oh how delicious it was. I'm sure I'll be making lots of cakes from that book. My only problem is that I cannot get all the ingredients here so I will have to modify.
One day I found my daughter on the sofa, looking at the Mekkotehdas (translates into "dress factory") sewing book. She was so into it that I didn't interrupt her and after a while she came to me and presented a list of items she wanted me to make her. The list included all the dresses in the book and some other cute things as well. I think this mother will be busy in the future if I'm to fullfil the whole list. My head is spinning already. :D HEH Now I just need my husband to take the kids and the dog somewhere for 2,5 weeks so that I can get my own holiday with the sewing machine. ;-P

Summer Babe

Aurinkoa aurinkoa aurinkoa. Kuumaa kuumaa kuumaa. Ja viela kuumempaa on luvassa viikon alkuun. Mutta en valita. Nautitaan nyt kesasta taysilla. Tosin kovin kuumalla ilmalla ei pahemmin ole ulos menemista. Sinne kuukahtaa. Aurinkolasit paahan jos ulos meinaa menna. Meidan Summer Babe.
Tanaan talon isanta oli kovin miehekkaissa touhuissa. Auton kimpussa. Minun auton. Pesi, kiillotti, vahasi, puunasi..... ja melkein kuukahti vaikka huoltojoukot toimi moitteettomasti. Nyt kiiltaa todellakin. En tarvitse peilia aamulla. Voin peilata auton kyljesta. :) Heinasirkkakin haikaistyi tuloksesta kun tuli sita liian lahelta katsomaan ja tipahti konepellin kyljesta vanteeseen. Lahemmas en paassyt ennen kuin sirkka taas loikki eteenpain.

Sun sun sun. Hot hot hot. And even hotter weather on the forecast for the beginning of the week. But I'm not complaining. Let's enjoy the summer fully. However, can't really be outside on very hot weather. One will collapse. Shades on if going out. Our Summer Babe.
Today master of the household was doing some very manly jobs. With the car. My car. Washed it, polished it, waxed it...... and almost collapsed even though the service corps were working without a flaw. Now it's super shiny. I won't need mirror in the morning. ;) Even a little cricket was stunned by the shining car and fell off the side of the bonnet onto the wheel. I couldn't get any closer before he hopped onwards.

Hikista touhua / Sweaty job

Kyllahan sita jotain kivaa aina perjantai 13. paiva kunniaksi pitaa tehda. Pakkasimme aamupaivalla koko poppoon automabiiliin ja huristimme vahan matkan paassa olevalle Smolak Farms- marja/hedelma farmille. Syotimme peuroja ja ihastelimme kahta pienta vasaa. Kuumassa ilmassa ei tilalla olleet elukat (kanat, vuohet, ankat, laamat jne) jaksaneet kauheasti meista innostua. Ne vain lotkottelivat varjossa ja sielta luomiensa alta meita tuijottelivat. Erityisen tarkkasti meita tutkaili musta laama, joka oli aika aksyn nakoinen. Jalkikasvusta pienempi oli aivan haltioissaan elukoista mutta vanhempi tiesi jo etta laamat sylkee eika niita kannata arsyttaa (kiersi siis mustan laaman kaukaa).
Ja koska ihan sinne asti mentiin niin kyllahan niita marjoja piti menna keraamaan. Vahan vadelmia ja mina kerasin valkoisia viinimarjoja tuokkosellisen. Karviaisiakin siella oli mutta niita oli mitattoman vahan. Kuuma siina hommassa tuli kaikille, myoskin rattaissa istuneelle. Hiki virtasi ja tulimme siihen tulokseen etta teemme uusinta keikan pilvisena paivana. Nyt aurinko paahtoi pilvettomalta taivaalta ja lampoasteita ennen puoltapaivaa jo +32C. HUH! Tuntui hiukkasen kuumalta Suomen lampoasteiden jalkeen. Kylla jaatelo oli sitten ihanaa sen kuumuuden jalkeen. (Harmikseni kamerasta loppui tietysti akku heti alkukattelyssa eli kuvat ovat vahan sita sun tata ja puhelimella otettuja.)
Olemme siis palanneet takaisin kotiin Suomesta. Oli ihanaa! Nautin tutuista makuelamyksista, saunasta, kunnon kavelyteista, laiturilla istumisesta, uimisesta, lasten leikkien katselusta, ystavien tapaamisista.... Tuntui kuitenkin hyvalta tulla kotiin. Matkalaukkuelaminen ei ole mitenkaan mukavaa ja kahden lapsen kanssa matkatessa aidilla ei todellakaan ole mitaan lomaa (aikaerosta johtuneita yollisia heraamisia, tyota vuorotta 24/7 kuten aina ;D).

You alwasy have to do something fun on Friday the 13th. We packed ourselves in the car and drove to a nearby Smolak Farms. We fed deer and admired the little fawn. In the hot and sunny weather the animals (chickens, goats, ducks, lamas etc.) didn't have energy to get enthusiastic about us. They just laid in the shadows and stared at us under their eye lids. We were especially carefully scrutinised by a black lama, who did look quite aggravated. Younger of our offspring was ecstatic about the animals but the older one did know that lama's spit and made sure she was not too close to the black one.
And as we went there, of course we had to pick some berries. Some raspberries and I picked a small tub of white currant. There were some gooseberries as well but not really worth mentioning at all. We all got hot and sweaty in our picking job, also the one sitting in the stroller. We decided that we have renew our picking effort on a cloudy day as today the sun was shining from clear blue skies and the temperature was +32C/89F before noon. It did feel quite hot after the temperatures we had on our Finland holiday. Ice cream never tasted so good and refreshing. (With my luck the battery ran out in my camera so I most of the pics are just snapshot with my phone.)
So, we have returned from our Finland holiday. It was wonderful! I enjoyed the food, sauna, proper walking paths next to the roads, sitting by the lake, swimming, watching the children play, meeting friends... However, it did feel good to come back home. Living out of a suitcase is not much fun and traveling alone with two kids was really not a holiday for me (jet lag awakenings during the nights, full time job 24/7 as always ;D).

Kesalomatunnelmia Suomesta osa 4 / Summerholiday moments from Finland part 4

Kesalomatunnelmia Suomesta osa 3 / Summer holiday moments from Finland part 3