Kuvia edesta ja takaa, sivulta ja paalta / Pics from front and back, from side and top

Koukutukset ovat tuottaneet vihdoinkin tulosta. Kori on valmistunut. Alussa sita tehtiin ja purettiin (aloitan aina liian tiukalla kun teen ontelokuteesta - ei opi, ei). Reunaakin tehtiin ja purettiin kun telkkaria katsoessani innostuin koukkuamaan niin etta tein liikaa. Mutta kyllapa oli "pitsi"reunassa vaantamista. Ohje, joka loytyy TAALTA, pyysi seiska koukkua mutta mina tein kasilla. Seiskalla oliski tullut tuosta kuteesta kylla niin tapakka ja olisi saanut vaantaa vaantamisen ilosta. Kuten kuvista naette pitsi ei ole pystyssa niin kuin sen ohjeen mukaan pitaisi olla vaan kaantyy ulospain. Ihan kiva se on noinkin. Tykkaan.

Finally results with my hooking. My basket is ready. In the beginning I made some and undid some (I always start too tight when I'm making things with tubular weft - I never learn). Also with the side I did and then undid as I made it too tall while watching TV. But you have no idea how hard it was to crochet the "lace" at the edge. The patterns, which you can find in Finnish HERE, was asking for number 7(mm) hook but I made it with 8mm. If I had done it with 7mm it would have been very hard with the weft I had. As you can see from the pictures the "lace" is turning outwards, which it is not supposed to do according to the pattern. I don't mind. I kind of like it that way as well. I'm happy.

Alku / Beginning

Uusi alku. Uuden koulun alku. Uuden lukuvuoden alku. Meidan reipas eskarilainen (kinderilainen) oli iloinen koulun alkamisesta. Olipa uusi kokemus mammalle. Neiti pitaa saattaa joka paiva koulun ovelle, josta ope tulee ryhmansa hakemaan, seka menna sinne ovelle neiti noutamaan. Hakeminen oli aika kaaoottinen. Ainakin parkkeerauksen suhteen. Kaikki luokat paasivat samaan aikaan, kaikkia oltiin hakemassa samaan aikaan. HUH HUH! Kaikkeen on kai totuttava. On vaan niin kovin erilaista kuin siella kotisuomessa.

New beginning. Beginning of a new school. Beginning of a new school year. Our Kindergartener was happy about starting school. It was a new experience for mummy. Not the school starting but how this actually happens. I will take her every day to a door where the teacher will collect them at certain time. I also have to collect her from the same door at particular time. Picking her up was quite chaotic! At least what comes to parking. All classes get out at the same time, all were being picked up at the same time. PHEW! I guess it's just one of those things you have to get used to. So different from how things work at home.

Tutustumisia ja kuihtumisia / Introductions and wiltings

Eilen kun kavimme vanhemman tyttaren kanssa tutustumassa uuteen koululuokkaan, opettajaan ja uusiin kavereihin kaikki saivat kotiin lahtiessaan pienen pussukan. Tutkimme kotona vasta sisallon. Se oli hauska idea (kaikki eskariopet huomio).
Huomenna on suuri paiva. Koulu alkaa! Meidan eskarilainen on intoa taynna ja miettii jo kovasti etta mita pistaisi paalle. :)
Mikaan ei kesta ikuisesti. Ei edes auringonkukat maljakossa vaikka niilla on ollut riittavasti vetta.

Yesterday we went to the introductory meeting at the school where the children got to see their class room, meet their teacher and new friends. All got a little bag from the teacher when leaving home. We studied the contents of the bag at home. It was really cute idea (all Kindergarten teacher take note).
Tomorrow is a big day. School starts! our Kindergartener is so excited and is thinking what to wear to school tomorrow. :)
Nothing lasts forever. Not even sun flowers though they have been in plenty of water.

Marttailua / Our crafting club

Kerran viikossa pyrimme pienella kasitoista pitavalla porukalla tapaamaan jonkun kotona ja edes pari tuntia varkata jokainen omia prjektejamme hopotellen niita naita. Tanaan vuorossa oli korin virkkausta, pitsia, ristipistoa seka vaippojen ompelua. Ja ihan tarkoituksella jatin kuvat korista pois. Naette sen myohemmin.

Once a week we try to meet with a small group of ladies who are crafty one way or other. We meet at each other's homes and at least spend few hours doing our respective projects and chit chatting. Today there were basket crocheting, lacy, cross stitch and sewing nappies. And on purpose I left pictures of the basket out. You'll see it later.

Maailmaan mahtuu huutoa / There's room for screaming in the world

ISO HUOKAUS! Tama paiva on ollut todella vasyttava. Pienemman kiukkupuuskia ja huutoa koko paivan. Pienemman hampaitten aiheuttamaa huutoa. Pienemman ylivasymyksesta aiheutunutta huutoa. Isomman hermojenmenetyksesta aiheutunutta huutoa. Nyt kun isompi nukkuu, pienempi huutaa..... en tieda enaa mita. Kipulaaketta on annettu hampaita varten. Kohta huutaa aiti!
Kyllahan tahan paivaan mahtui muutakin kuin huutoa: kaytiin kylassa (tosin siellakin huudettiin oikein urakalla ja laskuun), isompi maalasi lintulautaa, koira pissasi sisalle. Huominen ei voi olla muuta kuin parempi paiva.

BIG SIGH! Today has been really tiring. Screaming by the little Miss all day long. Screaming caused by tantrums. Screaming caused by teeth. Screaming caused by over tiredness. Bigger one screaming caused by loosing her temper because od the little one screaming all the time. Now that the bigger one sleeps the little one still screams..... I don't know what she's screaming about anymore. We've given her medicine for teeth. Soon the mother is screaming!
Today included also something else beside screaming: a visit at friends place (lots of screaming there as well by the little one), the bigger one painted a bird feeder, the dog weed inside. Tomorrow just have to be better day.

Ihana yllatys / Lovely surprise

Sohvan nurkasta loytyi nalle lukemasta. :) Sita ei viitsinyt hairita ettei ala murisemaan. Mita kaikkea nuo nallet ja heidan omistajansa keksivatkaan. Hassua ja ihanaa!
Eilinen hurahti niin nopeasti ettei kerennyt edes ajattelemaan. Mukava iltapaiva, mukavassa seurassa, hyvaa ruokaa, lapsia ja koira. Kotiin kun tulimme ei kestanyt kuin yksi hetki ja hujaus kun molemmat tytot jo tuhisivat omissa sangyissaan.
Ulkona on viela kesaisen kuumaa. +30 mittarissa ja aurinko paistaa pilvettomalta taivaalta. Kylla tama kohta puoleen rupeaa viilenemaan. Pikkuhiljaa tosin. Illat ja yot ovat jo selvasti viileampia kuin kolme viikkoa sitten.
En ole kerennyt edes kertomaan minulle aika jannittavasta asiasta. Perjantaina alkuillasta loytyi oven takaa iso paketti. Paketista paljastui jotain sellaista, josta olen haaveillut jo kauan mutten ole raaskinut hankkia ja kun ei ole tietoa siita kuinka kauan viela taalla olemme. Joudun sen myymaan sitten kun aika lahtea koittaa. Mutta hopotan tassa kaikenlaista enka ole viela edes kertonut mita paketissa on. :) Rumpujen parinaa....... siella oli saumuri! Ette usko kuinka tama tatsy oli iloinen on edelleen. Olin pari iltaa aikaisemmin taas hopottanyt asiasta miehelleni ja han oli ostanut sen minulle. <3 On minulla ihana mies! <3 Oli selvitellyt mika kannattaa ostaa ja mika ei. Nyt viikonloppuna on ollut vaan niin kiirus ettei ole voinut kuvitellakaan etta sita olisi paassyt kokeilemaan. Ehka tanaan. I found a bear reading on the sofa. Didn't want to disturb him in case he started growling at me. What silly and wonderful things teddies and their owners come up with. Yesterday went by so fast that I didn't even have a chance to think. Lovely afternoon in lovely company, tasty food, children and a dog. When we eventually got home both girls were soon asleep in their own beds. The weather is still like during summer. +30C/86F in the thermometer and the sun is shining from a cloudless sky. It will start getting coller bit by bit. Nights though are already cooler than three weeks ago. I haven't even had a chance to tell you about a very exciting thing (at least for me). Friday late afternoon I found a big parcel behind our front door. The parcel contained something that I had been dreaming of for a while but just hadn't bought it as we have no idea how long we're going to be here. I will have to sell it when it's time to go. But I'm rattling on about all kinds of things and I haven't even told you what it is. Drum roll please........a serger! You have no idea how happy this woman is. I had few nights earlier talked to my husband about all the things I could do with a serger and he had gone and bought it. <3 I have a wonderful husband! <3 He had researched which brand and model would be good. I just haven't had a chance to try the machine yet. Hopefully tonight.

Onnistuimme / We succeeded

Koulua varten tavarat hankittu. Vaatekauppojen alennuksia hyodynnetty ja hankittu muutamia tarpeellisia niin isommalle kuin pienelle. Aikamoinen ryysis kaupoissa oli. Loysin minakin tulevaisuutta silmalla pitaen muutaman jutun. MomAgendan perhekalenteri seka lista jaettaville askareille. Ne pistetaan toistaiseksi viela kaappiin. Pari viivaa vedetty tehtavien listaan. Nyt ei tarvitse miettia koulunaloitusta muuten. Me olemme valmiit. :)
Jotkut teista tietavatkin jo etta olen Piano Guys fani (katso taalta). Tassa teille jotain, joka teki paivastani paremman. Nautittavaa perjantaita.

All school supplies have been bought. Made good use of sales in buying few essentials for the the girls. It was very busy in the shops. I too found few things for the future. Weekly family planner for all to see as well as chore chart. So far they are still going to my stash. Few items crossed over from the To do- list. Now I don't have to worry about the school start at this front. We are ready. :)
Some of you may already know that I'm a Piano Guys fan (look here). Here's something for you that just made my day. Enjoy your Friday.

Valmistautumista valmistautumiseen / Getting ready to get ready

Aamulla kun tulin alas, minut vastaanotti kaksi nuokkuvaa auringonkukkaa ihanassa kukkakimpussani. Pelastin ne pian omaan pikkumaljakkoon (lue lasiin). Siina ne nyt nokottaa ja ilostuttaa.
Ensi viikon puolivalissa alkaa esikoisen julkinen koulu-ura. Eskariin menossa. Han teki viime vuonna yksityisessa hoitopaikassa eskarin ja vaikka upeasti sen suorittikin niin ian puolesta neitia ei hyvaksyta eteenpain. Eli han ponkittaa tietonsa ja kertaa eskarin nyt siis julkisella puolella. Vahan harmittaa, etta eskari on vain puolipaivainen, joka itse asiassa tarkoittaa 2h45min (aloittaa iltapaivaryhmassa ja ryhmat vaihtavat tammikuun puolivalin jalkeen paikkoja eli sitten ollaan aamuryhmassa). Neiti kovasti jo odottaa paasevansa tapaamaan uusia kavereita. Aitia puolestaan jannittaa miten saan sovitettua pikkuisen paivaunirytmin tahan uuteen aikatauluun. Vaikka kuinka paassani pyorittelen asiaa en oikein tieda miten unet riittavat. En nyt tahan rupea selittamaan sen tarkemmin ongelmaani. Mutta minulla on pahkina purtavana.
Kouluilta saadaan lista tavaroista, jotka tulevaa kouluvuotta varten pitaisi hankkia. Pienilla nama tavarat menevat yhteiseen kayttoon. Ylemmilla luokilla tavarat ovat sitten henkilokohtaisia. Meille tuli tallainen lista. Huomenna on tarkoitus lahtea kouluostoksille. Taalla "back to school" ostokset ovat iso bisnes. Vanhemmat kuluttavat huikeita summia (useita satoja dollareita) lasten koulutarvikkeisiin ja vaatteisiin. En itse oikein ymmarra miten niin isoja summia saadaan kulumaan kun hiukan miettimalla paasee varmasti halvemmalla.
Koukku on koukuttanut. Hitaasti mutta varmasti (onnistuin vaantamaan ranteeni kipeaksi tiistaina koiraa kantaessani elainlaakarilta autoon).
Isanta oli ostanut jostain nettikaupasta pienen suloisen purnukan merisuolaa - ranskalaista tietenkin.
Talla hetkella nautin jokaisesta pienestakin hiljaisesta hetkesta, jonka saan. Pikkuneiti varkkaa hampaita (ainakin kolme tulossa samaan aikaan ellei jopa nelja). Sitten taitaa suu ollakin suht lailla taynna purukalustoa. Voitte kuvitella minkalaista takiaismeininkia taalla on kun toinen roikkuu helmassa kiinni ja kinuaa koko ajan syliin vain halutakseen puolen minuutin paasta taas pois ja parin minuutin paasta takaisin.

In the morning when I shuffled downstairs I was greeted by two nodding sun flowers. I quickly saved them into their own vase (read glass). There they now stand proudly and make my day brighter.
In the middle of next week our first born will start her public school career. She will start kindergarten. Last year while in private care she was put in a kindergarten program and even though she did brilliantly she's too young to go forward. This is why she will strengthen her knowledge in repeating kindergarten in public school. I'm a bit miffed that it's only a half day program, which menas 2h45min. She will start in the afternoon group and then in mid Jan will swap to morning group. She's really looking forward to meeting her new friends. Mum is a bit anxious about how I'm going to handle the schedule change with the little one (taking one to school and picking her up will mess totally her nap rhythm in the afternoon). Despite how I twist different possibilities in my head nothing seems to work. In every scenario it's going to be too little sleep. I'm not going to lay the whole problem here but I'm just stating that I have a problem that I need to crack.
Every student gets a list from school of the supplies that he/she will need to get before school starts. For the little ones these items will come to common use during the year where as in the higher grades they are personal items which will be needed. This is the list we got. Tomorrow our intention is to go and get the school shopping done. I've noticed that here "back to school" shopping is BIG business. Parents spend enormous amounts (several hundred dollars) in the school supplies and clothing. I myself cannot quite understand how you can spend that kind of money when with a little bit of thinking and planning you can spend a lot less.
My crochet hook has been "hooking". Slowly because I managed to twist my arm on Tuesday carrying the dog from the vet to the car.
My dear husband had bought online some fancy sea salt in a small darling pot - French of course.
At the moment I enjoy every single moment of peace and quiet I can get. The little miss is teething (at least three if not four are coming through at the same time). Then I think she'll pretty much have them all....if not counting the two last molars. You can imagine the little "klingon" I have here. She's constantly wanting to be held only to after 30 seconds get going again and returning to me in after 2 minutes or less.

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.