Sekalaiset tunteet / Mixed feelings

Aiti lahti tanaan kotiin Suomeen. Olo on tyhja ja surullinen. Etenkin vanhempi tyttaremme otti Momin lahdon taas tosi raskaasti. Nuo kaksi kun ovat kuin majakka ja peravaunu. Talo tuntuu tyhjalta.
Toisaalta on ihana saada oma koti ns takaisin. Ei tarvitse miettia etta joku tekeminen tai sanominen pahoittaa toisen mielen. Saa tehda asiat juuri siina jarjestyksessa ja siina ajassa kuin itse haluaa ja juuri niin kuin haluaa ilman etta toinen tulee ohjeistamaan.
Olemme kuitenkin kovin onnellisessa asemassa etta aitini pystyy ja haluaa tulla luoksemme nainkin pitkiksi ajoiksi kerrallaan. Auttaa pienissa arkiasioissa kummasti. Nyt opetellaan sitten taas arkeen ilman sita ylimaaraista kasiaparia.
Aidin ja isomman neidin yhteinen eilisen rutistus oli rakentaa tama Lego Friends talo, jonka joulupukki toi tullessaan. Aika hieno asumus. Ihania nuo yksityiskohdat kasilaukuista, listasta jaakaapin ovessa, hajuvesipullosta kampauspoydalla jne.

My mother left back home to Finland today. I feel empty and sad. Especially our oldest daughter took her leaving very hard again. Those two are glued to each other when together. The house feels empty.
On the other hand it feels lovely to get our house back in the sense that I don't have to always be on my toes not to say something or to do that would one's feelings. I get to do things just in the order I want to, when I want to and how I want to without anyone to come and tell me how to do things. However, we are in a extremely wonderful position that my mother is able and willing to come and visit as for as long as she does. It helps a lot in small daily things. Now we have to learn back to normal life without the extra pair of helping hands.
The last achievement of my mother and our oldest was to build this Lego Friends house, which Sant brought at Christmas. It's a lovely house. And the details are quite wonderful: hand bag, a list in the fridge door, perfume bottle on the dressing table etc.

Haaste

Sain Maijalta Vinksallaan blogista haasteen, johon tartun nyt. Tehtavana kertoa kahdeksan satunnaista asiaa ja jakaa haaste eteenpain kahdeksalle blogille, joilla on alle 200 rekisteroitynytta lukijaa. Tassa minun kahdeksan todellakin satunnaista ensimmaisena mieleen tullutta asiaa.

1. Kuljen syksyt talvet ja kevaatkin villasukissa ja horpin teeta tolkuttomat maarat etta pysyisin lampimana. Palelen aina. Villatakkia tarvitaan siis paivittain. Kesallakin kun muut nauttivat ilmastoinnin viileydesta, mina saatan vetaa pitkahihaista paalle ja laittaa sukkaa jalkaan kun hytisyttaa.
2. Ikavoin kovasti Suomeen jaanytta flyygeliani. En ole soittanut kolmeen vuoteen yhtaan. Flyygelin tanne rahtaaminen olisi ollut tavattoman kallista. Nyt se on valiaikais"adoptiossa" hyvassa hoidossa ja kaytossa niin etta pysyy kunnossa.
3. Haaveilen siistista ja organisoidusta kodista ilman turhaa salaa. Sellaisen aikaansaaminen tuntuu talla hetkella olevan aika mahdotonta. Kunhan saisin muutkin mukaan tahan projektiin pidemmaksi aikaa kuin muutamaksi paivaksi.
4. Rakastan mansikoita. Voisin syoda niita paivittain.
5. Puolisoni tietaa koska olen todella vihainen kun papatys vaihtuu kesken lauseen suomeksi. Tunteiden kasittely on edelleenkin miljoona kertaa helpompaa aidinkielella kuin englanniksi.
6. Inhoan hirvikarpasia siina maarin etten suostu menemaan metsaan kun niita siella on. Punkit kuuluu samaan kastiin yok yok yok otokoitten kanssa.
7. Marjapuuro on jotenkin musta niin hirmuisen ihanaa. Taalta kun ei saa puolukoita niin joudun tekemaan sen Ikean valmiiksi aklomakeeksi makeutettuun puolukkamehuun. Lahimmaksi mita paasen. Tytotkin tykkaa. Ovat ristineet sen prinsessapuuroksi.
8. Haaveilen paasevani 40-vuotis synttareilla takaisin Hawajille. Olen siella kerran aikaisemmin ollut kun olin 17-vuotias. Halusin jaada sinne asumaan. Niin ihana paikka se oli. Sita odotellessa ja toivoessa.

Minapa pistan haasteen eteenpain seuraaville (ei taida kahdeksaa tulla tayteen mutta ei voi mitaan):
Merruli
Oman katon alla
Villaseni
Kapalamaen homsantuu
How his knees could bend
The little rose garden

PS: Kuvassa aitini ja tytot.


I got a small challenge from Maija and her Vinksallaan blog. The idea is to tell eight random things about yourself and then give the challenge forward to eight blogs with under 200 readers. Here are my eight completely ramdom things.

1. I go around in woollen socks all autumns, winters and springs and gulping down a LOTS of hot tea to keep me warm. In the summer time when others enjoy the cool of air conditioning I might put long sleeves on and socks on to keep me warm.
2. I miss dreadfully my grand piano I had to leave in Finland. I haven't played for three years and it feels like I'm missing a part of myself. It would have been super expensive to ship it here so I left it for a good friend who promised to use it and keep it in good condition.
3. I'm dreaming of a tidy, organised, clutter free home. Achieving one at the moment seems absolutely impossible. If only I got the others involved in this project for longer than few days at a time.
4. I love strawberries. I could eat them everyday.
5. My dearly beloved husband knows easily when I'm really angry as my verbal outbursts will change language in mid sentence into Finnish. Dealing with feelings is still hard in English and will have to revert to my mother tongue.
6. I hate deer keds (Lipoptena cervi) to the point that I refuse to go in the woods when they are about. Ticks are also in the group of yuck yuck yuck bugs.
7. Lingonberry porridge is one of my favorite things. I can't get lingonberries here so I have to make it out of IKEA's super sweet lingonberry juice. Girls like it too and have named it Princess porridge because of the pink color.
8. I'm dreaming of getting to go back to Hawaii when I turn 40. I've been there once before when I was 17 and loved the place. I wanted to stay and live there, such a lovely place it was. In the meanwhile dreaming and hoping.

I'm giving the challenge forward to the following blogs. Not quite the eight but will have to do.

Merruli
Oman katon alla
Villaseni
Kapalamaen homsantuu
How his knees could bend
The little rose garden

PS: My mum and girls in the picture.

Sokerilla makeaksi / Spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down

Oli kuulkaas niin kamalaa yskanlaaketta etta ei se kylla sokerinkaan kanssa alas mene. Oli ihan pakko horpata tilkka vetta paalle. Ensinnakin oli niin siirappimaista koostumukseltaan ettei tosi. Toiseksi maku oli jotain ihan kamalaa. Miksi laakkeiden pitaa olla aina niin pahan makuisia. Melkein tekee mieli olla ottamatta laaketta ja yskia vaan. Tai sitten vaihdan lasten rypaleen makuiseen yskanlaakkeeseen.
Aamulla oli kaikilla vaikeuksia nousta ylos seiskalta etta keretaan kahdeksalta kouluun lahtea. Ja voi kuinka vaikeaa voi olla toppahousujen laittaminen paalle. Kun eihan taalla kukaan muu toppahousuja kahdeksan asteen pakkaseen pista kuin Suomalaisten lapset. "Mutta ma naytan niin isolta naissa." Mista ihmeesta tammoset puheet tulee jo tassa vaiheessa??? "Mutta mami kun ne kyselee etta miks mulla on naa." Sitten kaytiinkin pitka keskustelu siita etta ettei ole valia vaikka kyselevatkin. Tarkeinta on etta on lammin ja ettei tule kylma ulkona ja se taas puolestaan estaa ettei tule uudestaan kipeaksi. Niinpa oli myos Mamilla toppahousut kun vein tyton kouluun.
Tanssitunteihinkin on paasty takaisin kiinni. Ja nyt tosiaankin nain maanantaisin ja viela niin inhimilliseen aikaan etta paastaan kotiin 20 minuutissa. Tunnin sijaan. YES! :D
Pikkuneiti on ihan taynna rakaa. Ja kaikki ottaa paahan. No ei mikaan ihme. Kylla muakin ottais. Tutti ja peitto kulkee mukana ihan koko ajan. Niiden kanssa neiti nyhjaa hetken siella, toisen taalla, vahan aikaa kainalossa ja taas kohta jossain muualla.
Ja arvatkaas mita tama kana-aivo muisti vihdoin ja viimein kuvata. Otin puhelimella... kamalan rakeinen. Mutta tassa se nyt on se kuva siita korusta. :) Parempi myohaan kuin ei milloinkaan.

You cannot even start imagining how terrible tasting the cough syrup was. If won't go down even with a spoonful of sugar. I had to take a sip of water right after taking it. First of all it was so thick and syrupy that it hardly went down. And secondly, the taste was just horrendous as already mentioned. Why do medicines always taste so bad? It really makes me think twice if I'm going to take it again or maybe I should revert to the children's grape flavoured cough syrup.
We had terrible difficulties getting up in the morning at 7am so that we would make it to school in time. And how difficult can be putting some snow trousers on before leaving? Only children of crazy Finn's wear them at the temperatures of -8Celsius. " "But I look big in these." WHAT?! Where do this kind of talk come from at this point? "But Mummy they all are asking me why I'm wearing these." This is followed by lengthy discussion that it doesn't matter even if they ask about it. The most important thing is that one is warm and won't get cold while outside and that promoting the fact that one doesn't become sick again. So, also Mummy was wearing warm trousers when taking the biggest to school.
We're also back to dancing again. And now on Mondays and much earlier in the afternoon which is a bliss. We drive back home in 20 mins instead of an hour. YES! :D
The little one is full of cold. And everything annoys her. Not a wonder. I would be annoyed by everything if was like her. Dummy and her blanket have been her constant companions today. With them she was one moment here, another there, third next to me on the sofa before moving on again.
And guess who chicken head actually remembered to take a picture of something long promised. Took the photo with my phone.... very grainy.

Koh koh / Cough cough

Juu, kohintaa neljasta suusta. Tanaan oli kuitenkin niin paljon jo voimia etta uskalsin autolla apteekkiin hakemaan yskanlaaketta ja muitakin tarvittavia droppeja. Pikareissu kauppaankin tuli tehtya.
Tanaan oli elokuva paiva. Lapset ovat suurin piirtein katsoneen lastenohjelmia aamusta iltaan kun olivat kipeina ja nytkin tuntuu etta telkkari on ollut paalla aamusta iltaan vaikka touhuavatkin siina sivussa omiaan. Enaa ei Mami kestanyt ainaista Disney Jr kanavaa vaan katseltiin elokuvia putkeen. Helina Keiju ja siipien salaisuus, Maija Poppanen, Lorax ja Peter Pan. Siinahan se sunnuntai sitten menikin.
Yritin vahan neulomistakin mutta kutimet eivat tuntuneet pysyvan kasissa. Eli pitaa viela odottaa lopullista palautumista. Vahan on pohkoa ettei jaksa edes neuloa mutta kun ei jaksa niin ei jaksa. Aitee onkin sitten virkannut virkkaamistaan iltaisin kun mina olin sangyn pohjalla.

Coughing family of four. Today I was feeling so up together that I had strength to drive to the pharmacy to get some cough medicine and other needed stuff. Also quick trip to the grocery store.
Today was a movie day. The children have been "watching" children's programs from morning to night while they were sick, when I was sick and even now. Well the tv has been on while they do what ever they have done. However, Mummy could not take any more of Disney Jr and we started watching movies. Tinker Bell and secret of the wings, Mary Poppins, The Lorax and Peter Pan. Nice way to spend the Sunday.
I did try do some knitting but couldn't hold the needles. I have to wait to further recover. Feels stupid that I cannot even knit at the moment. My mother on the other hand has been crocheting away while I was in bed.

Valoa tunnelin paassa? / Light at the end of the tunnel?

Kylla se vaan valolta nayttaa. Ehka tama tauti alkaa olla taltutettu. Kaksi paivaa korkeaa kuumetta, joka vie kaiken voiman, paa ihan sumuinen, nukuin suurimmaksi osaksi nuo kaksi paivaa. Eipa ole paljoa raportoitavaa. Kuumeen jalkeen tuli vaan kamala yska. Olen yskinyt keuhkot pihalle varmaan viitisen kertaa. Palleaan sattuu jokainen uusi yskays. Pitaa pitaa vatsasta kiinni ja kumartua kaksikerroin etta sen kestaa. Muuten en paassyt pahemmin liikkuumaan kun raajat tuntuivat lyijynraskailta.
Nyt on siis toisen kuumeettoman paivan ilta. Tulin juuri suihkusta. Taivaallinen olo. Olen kuin uusi ihminen. En kuitenkaan viela terve. Sen tuntee luissa ja ytimissa. Mutta parempaan pain sentaan.
Molemmat tytot siis kavivat lapi taman. Nuorempi aloitti kuumeilun samaan aikaan minun kanssani mutta oli jo tanaan ihan normaali toisin kuin mina. Mieheni aloitti kuumeilun eilen eli on ollut eilisen ja taman paivan aivan totaalisesti poissa pelista. Aitini on taianomaisesti edelleenkin ok vaikka on ollut koko ajan tassa tautipesassa ja hoitanut meita kaikkia tautisia. Mutta ihan kamala tauti. En muista koska olisin viimeeksi, jos koskaan, ollut nain kipea. Onneksi tama on nyt melkein ohi ja elama palaamassa normaaliksi.

It really does look like light. Maybe this disease has been won now. Two days of high fever, which takes all of your strength, leaves your head all foggy. I slept most of those 2 days and nights. I wouldn't have had much to report. After the fever I got terrible cough. I must have cougher my lungs out at least five times. My diaphragm hurts so much that I have to bend over and hold my stomach to get through the coughing. Even though I had no fever my limbs were lead heavy and I couldn't really move, so I slept more.
Now it's the evening of the second day without fever. I just had a shower. Heavenly feeling. I'm like a new person. Not completely healed though. I can feel it in my bones. Heading towards better though.
So both girls went through this. The younger one started with fever at the same time with me but she bounced back quicker than me. She was back to normal today unlike me. My husband got fever yesterday and has been out of the game today as well. My mother is miraculously still ok even though she's been within the same walls and taking care of us all. Absolutely terrible bug. I cannot remember when I last was this sick, if ever. Luckily this is now almost over and life is returning to normal.

Ei paljoa naurata / Not funny at all

No eipa se sitten kauaa kestanyt. Viime yon mina kuumeilin. Aamulla herasin siihen etta pikkuinen yskii keuhkoja pihalle. Kun kavin poimimassa toisen sangysta niin han oli tulikuuma. Varsinainen sairastupa siis.

Well, it didn't take very long. Last night I was feverish. In the morning I woke up into my little one coughing a lot. When I went to get her she was a burning hot. A proper sick room here.

Vahvistettu / Confirmed

Influensa on sitten vahvistettu. :( Tosin neiti oli jo alkuillasta paljon pirteamman oloinen. Toivottavasti tendessi on sama huomenna.
Mulla puolestaan olo on aika vetamaton. Yritin vahan potkotellakin paivalla mutta eipa siita paljon tule kun on tuo meidan pikkuneiti. Kun mina penin pitkakseni niin mikaan Helina Keiju leffa ei pitanyt neitia paikoillaan. Mina taidan siis keskittya pariksi paivaksi perheen ja itseni hoitamiseen. Pakko paasta pian kuntoon ja toivoa ettei aiti saa tata.

Influensa has been confirmed. :( On one hand the miss was much perkier before going to bed few moments ago. I wish for the tendency to be same tomorrow.
I, on the other hand, feel pretty run down. I tried to lay down for a bit in the afternoon but not a chance with the little miss around. When I set my self down on the sofa not a single Fairy movie kept her in one place. So I think I'm going to give up and just concentrate on getting my family and myself better. I have to get back to feeling normal soon and hope hat my mum will stay healthy.

Sairastuvalta paivaa / Hello from the sick room

Jaahas, tahan asti meilla on kaikki (kop kop koputan puuta) selvinneet terveina mutta nyt sitten vanhempi neideista on kaatunut sankyyn popojen kukistamana. Eilen se alkoi. Tanaan sitten kuumetta ja reppana oksensi aamulla. En usko olevan mikaan mahapopo silla uutta oksennusta ei ole tullut. Kuume vaan ei laske. Pyorii siina 38C. Toivotaan etta menee nopeasti ohi.
Influenssahan taalla pyorii aika arhakasti. Hinkuyskaa on myos liikenteessa. Samoin paljon angiinaa. Tutkitaan kuitenkin mita tassa tapahtuu ennen kuin lahden laakariin kiikuttamaan.
Peukut pystyyn ettei kukaan muu sairastuisi. Aiti on lahdossa ensi viikon torstaina takaisin Suomeen. Ei toivoisi hanen sairastuvan nyt.
Onneksi talossa on tarmokas tohtori. Han liikkuu niin nopeasti etta oli mahdotonta ottaa tarkkaa kuvaa hanesta. :)

Here we go then. So far we all have been healthy (knocks on wood) but now our oldest have been defeated by some germs and she's in bed. Yesterday it began. Today fever and the poor thing vomited in the morning. I don't think it's a stomach bug though as she has a tendency to react to higher fever by vomiting. The fever is not moving. I just hope that what ever this is will pass quickly.
We've got pretty bad influensa situation here. Also whooping cough and strep are on and about more than normally. I'm following the situation for now before I will take her t the doctor.
Keep your fingers crossed that no one else won't get sick. My mother is leaving next week back to Finland and I do not wish her to get sick at the moment.
Luckily we have a very energetic doctor in the house. She moves so quickly it was impossible to get a sharp photo. :)

Haaveilusta hommiin / From dreams to action

Ei tassa kauaa nakojaan haaveiltu... ainakaan tyttojen mekkojen osalta. :) Eilen illalla piirtelin kaavat ja leikkasin kankaat. Tanaan etsiskelin sopivanvarista kangasta kanttinauhaksi. Loytyi yhta... olisin niin mielellani laittanut kumpaankin erilaiset. Leikkelin siis kankaan vinokantiksi. Silittelin sen valmiiksi kanttinauhaksi (ihan aina yhta tuskastuttava ja aikaavieva homma - taidan ostaa sellaisen vekottimen, jolla sen saa tehtya helposti). Varsinaisiin ompeluksiin en tanaan passyt.
Meilla on ollut ruuhkaa takapihalla usempana paivana. Siella on kayskennellyt viisi villikalkkunaa. Haijyn nakoisia kurttupaita. Ovat kuulemma kovin haijyja jos lahelle yrittaa. Pikkuneiti on ollut kaikkein eniten innoissaan nahdessaan naita isoja motikoita parin metrin paassa ikkunasta.
Tanaan on ollut upea, aurinkoinen ilma. Tosin hirmuisen tuulinen. Melkein myrskyisa. Ei siis ole kamalasti tehnyt pakollista koiranulkoilutusta lukuunottamatta nenaa sinne pistaa. Kylmaa arktista ilmaa tanne meillekin. Ensi viikolle on luvattu useammaksi paivaksi pakkasta (jopa -8C) Ja sehan on taalla ihan hirveen kylmaa. POH! Ja kattia kanssa. Asenne ja pukeutumiskysymys! :)
Kaytiin me ulkona syomassa. Olipa mukavaa. Lapsista on aina hauskaa lahtea ulos ravintolaan syomaan kun on aina niin paljon katseltavaa ja hienoa syoda herkkuja muualla kuin kotona.
Hyasintit ovat kasvaneet hirmuisesti tosi lyhyessa ajassa. Ja koska pituutta on tullut lisaa ja kukat kallistelevat vahan ei meinaa sipuli millaan pysya vaasissa. Kukat on siis tuettu poydalla soposti talouspaperirullaan. :) Mutta ihanat ne ovat ja tuoksuvat niin. Taidan ostaa lisaa.

It didn't take long to get to work after the dreaming... at least when it comes to the girls' dresses. :) Yesterday evening I drew the patterns and cut the fabric. Today I was looking for the right coloured fabric from my stash to make some bias tape. I found one... wanted two so that I could have had different one for each dress. So I cut that fabric to make the bias tape and also iron it. It's always just as time consuming and frustrating - I think I'll buy one of those gadgets that folds it for you. So I didn't get to do any actual sewing today.
We've had lots of traffic on our back yard. Five wild turkeys have been coming and going these past few days. They are ugly looking things. We've heard that they are quite vicious creatures so better not to get too close. The little miss has been quite excited to see them walking so close on the other side of the window.
Today has been a gorgeous sunny day. Very windy though. Almost stormy. So I haven't really felt like putting my nose outside more than I have to when taking the dog for his constitutionals. They've forecasted cold for us for most of next week (-8C and that is very cold here. HMPH!) It's only a matter of attitude and proper clothing! :)
We did go out for dinner. It was nice. The children always enjoy going out when there's always so much to see as well as nice to eat different kinds of goodies than at home.
The hyacinths I bought the other day have grown a lot in a short period of time. They started blooming after the second day. And as they have grown so much and the flowers are not equally balanced the bulbs don't want to stay put in the vases. The flowers have been supported in a very ingenious way by the kitchen roll holder. :) But they are lovely and smell so good. I might buy more.

Viela vahan mekkohaaveilua / A bit more dress dreams

Jos haaveilen mekkojen tekemisesta tytoille niin itsellenikin haluaisin. Nimittain TAMAN. Tuo kaavaa kaantyy moneksi ja monella kankaalla. Se on hiukkasen hinnakas PDF kaavaksi mutta taitaapi olla pakko ostaa. On nimittain niin mun nakonen. Ei ehka ihan tolla washiteippikankaalla mutta muuten. Jos nyt alottaa tan haaveilun niin ehka mahdollisesti saan jotain aikaiseksi ennen kesaa. :D
Ja jos joku muukin innosttu niin TAALTA loytyy viela hihalisa ilmaiseksi mekkoon.

If I'm dreaming of making dressed for my girls, I'm also dreaming of making one for me. THIS one. This particular pattern turns into many with all kinds of fabrics. It's a bit pricy for a PDF pattern but I might just be forced to get it. It's so my style. Not maybe with the washi tape fabric but otherwise. If I now start this dreaming then maybe I'll get something done before summer. :D
And if someone else gets inspired then HERE you can find a sleeve addition to the dress.

Mekkohaaveilua / Dress dreams

Meidan pyykkikomeroa siivotessamme loysin myoskin yhden poytaliinan, joka oli erityispyykkien korissa. Siina kokotti iso oranssinvarinen tahra. Yritin viela pariin kertaan sita poistaa kaiken maailman tahrahpoistoaineilla mutta ei se lahtenyt. Eli minulla on nyt sitten lila/valkoruudullinen poytaliina, josta voisi jotain varkata.
Olenkin selaillut Mekkotehdas kirjaa haaveillen etta kaytan sen poytaliinan mekkokankaaksi. Mahdollisesti jopa saisin molemmille tytoille samanlaiset mekot. Riippuu tietysti mekon mallista ja kuinka paljon pitaa leikella ja miten se tahra osuu leikkelyiden tielle jne. Monta mallia pyorii paassa. Kaikki tuon kirjan mekot ovat ihania. Ne voisi tehda kaikki. :)
Ja onhan siella vaikka mita kaikkea muuta ihanaa!!!

When cleaning our laundry closet I found a tablecloth, which was hidden in the hamper for special laundry. In that table cloth was and still is a big orange coloured stain. I tried few more times to get rid of it with different stain removers with poor results. So I have a purple/white gingham table cloth that I can repurpose.
So what I've done is been leafing through Mekkothedas book (Mekkotehdas = Dress factory) dreaming of making something from it with the table cloth. I could possibly get dresses for both girls. Depending of course what kind, how much fabric I need, and how the stain affects the fabric cutting. Several patterns appeal to me. Well, all of them are so lovely that I could make them all. :)
And the book has all kinds of other wonderful things to make!

Lapaspuu / Mitten tree

Esikoisen koulussa alkaa tanaan lapasten kerays vahavaraisille lapsille. Kaikki koulun eskarilaiset ovat jarjestamassa tata tempausta. He lauloivat isommille koululaisille ja kertoivat hyvanekevaisyyskerayksesta. Tama perustuu satuun "The mitten tree". Sen innoittamina eskarilaiset keraavat lahjoitettuja lapasia ja ripustavat ne koulun aulaan laitettuun puuhun. Helmikuun 14. paiva lapaset kerataan puusta ja toimitetaan vahavaraisille lapsille. Aitini neuloi kaksi lapasparia jamalangoista. Ne toimitetaan koululle huomenna.
Saimme siis eilen vahan lisaa lunta. Hurjaa vauhtia sekin reilu 10cm on sulanut. Ulos oli kuitenkin paastava peuhaamaan siihen markaan lumeen. Pikkuruinen ukko rakentui nopeasti etupihalle seka lumilyhty. Valitettavasti lumilyhty on jo sulanut siihen pisteeseen etta se pitaisi rakentaa ihan kokonaan uudestaan jos toiseksi illaksi meinaa kynttilan siihen laittaa palamaan. Mutta olis se kaunis. Unohdin jo kuinka kauniita lumilyhdyt ovatkaan.
Olen viimisen parin viikon aikana kokeillut uusia resepteja. Kaksi neljasta oli hitteja. Kurpitsakeittokin olisi varmaan ollut ihan ok, mutta mieheni paasi sen kimppuun ja maustoi sen oman maun mukaan eli joukkoon sujahti hiukan liikaa chilia meidan muiden makuun. Toinen jota ei tassa perheessa enaa tehda on vihrea risotto (joukossa pinaattia, basilikaa ja persiljaa). Oli se ihan ok muttei todellakaan mitaan ihmeellista ja vaikka lapset sita soivat niin naki ettei se ollut heista herkkua.
Mur jarjestelyinto katosi ihan yhta nopeasti kuin se tulikin. Eli ei enaa before/after kuvia. :D Oishan tuota laittamista vaikka kuinka mutta ei kai sita kaikkea voi tehda kerralla. Sehan veisi kaiken huvin. Ei voisi potea huonoa omaatuntoa nurkissa lojuvista lajista, tai marmattaa kaverille kuinka pitaisi tehda sita ja tata mutta kun ei jaksa. ;-) Taalla Ameriikoissa ei tunnu olevan samanlaista yhdessa"karsimisen" meininkia niin kuin suomessa. Kotona saattoi ihan huoletta sanoa kaverille kuinka huusholli oli kuin pommin jaljilta mutta kun ei yhtaan kiinnostaisi tuo siivoaminen koko ajan ja toinen kertoisi asian olevan ihan sama heilla. Taalla en uskalla sanoa asiasta takalaisille mitaan. Kaikkien kodit tuntuvat olevan aina niin puhtaita ja upean nakoisia kun astut sisaan. (Pitaisikohan seuraavalla kerralla kurkata kaappeihinkin ja saada joko todistusaineistoa siita etta kaikki on tungettu kaappeihin pois nakosalta pikasiivouksessa.... tai sitten nahda taysin jarjestellyt kaapit ja todeta etta amerikkalaiset naiset pystyvat jotenkin siihen mihin suomalainen ei aina kykene.:D)

The school that our first born goes starts a mitten drive today. All Kindergarteners in the school are arranging this together. They sang today to the older students in the school and told about the drive and how it works. This whole mitten drive is based on the book called "The mitten tree". With the inspiration from the story the Kindergartenres are collecting mittens to be hung in a tree in the school lobby and the on Feb 14th to be donated to children from poor families. My mother knitted two pairs of mittens and they will go to the school tomorrow, to the tree.
We got more snow yesterday. It's been melting with unbelievable speed so most of the 10cm is gone. But we had to go out and play in the wet snow a bit. We built a tiny snowman and a snowball lantern. Unfortunately the lantern has melted to the point that it has to be rebuilt if I want to put a candle in it tonight. But it was beautiful. I had forgotten how beautiful they are.
These past few weeks I've been trying out new recipes. Two out of four have been hits but the other two probably won't be tried again. the Squash-potato soup would probably have been just fine but my husband got to it and seasoned it a bit too much for his taste with chili so it was not a hit with the children. It was tasty but quite spicy. The other one, green risotto (with spinach, basil and parsley) was ok but nothing special. The girls ate it but I could tell it was not their favorite.
My organising frenzy disappeared just as fast as it came. So no more before and after pictures. :D There is a lot to be organised in this house for sure but one cannot do everything at one go. What's the fun in it? You couldn't feel bad because there are piles of stuff lying around in the corners, or you couldn't complain to your friend how you all these things to be done but now energy. ;-) Here in America they don't seem to have the same kind of "suffering together" mentality as in Finland. Back home you could easily tell a friend how your house was like a bomb had gone off but you were not interested in the slightest in doing something about it and the other would tell pretty much the same at her house. Here I don't dare say anything about this. Everyone's homes seem to be always in tip top condition when ever you step in. (Maybe next time I should have a peek in a closet or two either to prove that all the things have been stuffed into the closet after frenzied last minute cleaning.... or then witness completely tidy and organised closets and admit that american women can somehow achieve something that a finn always can not. :D)

Paivaan mahtuu / Things in a day

Tahan paivaan on mahtunut paljon kaikenlaista:
- lumitoita heti aamusta klo 7.20
- auton katsastusta
- halaileva pikkuinen
- hyasintteja
- ystavia Suomesta
- leikkivia tyttoja
- monta kupillista "Mandarin and Oolong" makuista aivain ihanan makuista teeta
- jutustelua ystavan kanssa, jota nakee muutaman kerran vuodessa
- uuden reseptin kokeilua
- lumilyhdyn ja ukon tekemista
- koiran rapsuttelua sovhalla
- Helina Keiju- elokuva
- kuplivaa viinia
- uusien sanojen maistelua pikkuneidin suussa
Huomenna kohti uutta.... mita lie se sitten onkin.

Today has had all kinds of things in reserve for us:
- snow work at 7.20am
- car inspection
- hugging little one
- hyacinths
- friends from Finland
- playing girls
- many cups of "Mandarin Oolong" tea (absolutely gorgeous tasting tea)
- chatting with a friend I get to see only 2 times a year
- trying out a new recipe
- making a snow man and a snow ball lantern
- having a cuddle moment with my dog
- Tinker Bell movies
- bubbly wine
- new words from the mouth of the little one
Tomorrow towards new.... what ever that will be.

Ennen ja jalkeen / Before and after

Nyt kun on paasty jarjestelyintoon kiinni niin jatketaan. Saatte nauraa niin paljon kuin sielu sietaa. :D Kylla muakin nauratti, ennen ja jalkeen.
Kyseessa on siis mun pyykkikomero. HEH! Siis komero tosiaankin, jossa on paikka pyykkikoneelle ja kuivurille. Meilla on sellainen n3,5m pitka ja 1,5m levea pyykkikomero, jonne saimme mahtumaan ovesta juuri ja juuri meidan taalta ostetut (takalaista standardikokoa Suomalaisittain valtavat) pyykkikoneen ja kuivurin. Asian hankalaksi tekee, etta komeron ovi kaantyy sisaanpain. Ja ovihan ei mahdu kaantymaan kokonaan auki vaan ottaa kiinni pesukoneen vuotoalustan kulmaan. Saan oven auki pakottamalla (minka teinkin kuvia varten). Jonkinlainen hyllysysteemi piti hankkia (halvin mahdollinen kun ei kuitenkaan mitaan pysyvaa ratkaisua takalaiseen vuokrakotiin viitsi ruveta asentelemaan). Oven taakse seinan ja hyllyn valiin ja juuri ja juuri tilat meidan kolmelle pyykkikorille. Siis ne on kylla niin naftisti siella ettei tosi. Eli jos haluat jotain pyykata ja laitella niin komeroon on ahtauduttava ja ovi pistettava kiinni. Voitte hyvin kuvitella ettei kauheesti tee mieli aikaa viettaa siella ja tavarat onkin lahinna vaan heitelty sinne ja jos komeroon on joutunut sulkeutumaan niin se siella vietetty aika on ollut kaiken kaikkiaankin minimaalinen. Kaaos on siis ollut taattu.
Kaaos on nyt taltutettu taman jarjestelyinnostuksen ansiosta. Ja tottakai piti ottaa before and after kuvat! ;-P Ihan itseani varten jos ei muuten. Jos toiveena on etta tytot pitaisi oman huoneensa siistina niin saman toiveen voisin esittaa itselleni taman komeron suhteen. Siella on ehka hiukkasen mukavampi olla se minimaalista minimaalisempi aika kun se on nain siisti kuin nyt on.

Now that I've gotten into organising/cleaning mode, lets continue. You may laugh as much as you want. :D I was laughing also, before and after.
I'm taking about my laundry closet. HAH! It's indeed a closet, which has connections for a washing machine and dryer. We have a closet which is a about 12 feet long and 5 feet wide where our local standard size (huge in comparison with those sold in Finland) machines just about fit through the door. What makes things difficult is the fact that the door opens inside the closet and won't open completely as it hits the washing machine's tray's corner. I can force it open (which I did for the pictures). I had to come up with some kind of shelving solution (the cheapest possible as I don't really want to spend lots of money on something that might have to be taken down sooner rather than later). Behind the door, between the shelves and the wall there's just enough room for our three laundry baskets. Not the easiest to get to when you take laundry in. So, if I want to do some laundry, I have to get in the closet and close the door so that I have room to operate. You can easily imagine that it has not been very inspiring to do that and as a result the place have become pretty much a constant chaos. Everything is on top of the machines as it's hard to get to the shelves. So the time spent in the closet has been the bare minimum.
Now the chaos has been defeated thanks to this organising frenzy. And of course I had to take the before and after pictures! ;-P Just for myself if nothing else. If the wish for the girls was to keep their room tidy I can wish the same thing from myself in keeping the laundry closet as tidy as it is at the moment. Now there is a bit nicer to spend the minimal amount of time needed to do laundry.

BEFORE

AFTER

Ykstyiskohtia / Details

Tassa viela vahan kuvia tyttojen huoneesta.

Here's few more photos from the girls' room.

Tyttojen huone / Girls' room

Kylla kai sita voi sunnuntain viettaa holmomminkin. Aloitin jo eilen illalla mutta suurin tyo tehtiin tanaan. Raivasin nimittain tyttojen huoneen. Muuton aikana kaikki tyttojen lelut ja tavarat pistettiin sinne. Alkoi olla aikamoinen kaaos, varsinkin kun tuolla meidan isommalla neidilla on aika vaikeeta tavaroiden paikoilleen pistaminen. Joskos tasta lahtisi uusi elama. Mutta mullakin on parempi olo kun sain tuon homman tehtya. Meilla on nimittain tapana vaihdella leluja aika ajoin. Osa pistetaan varastoon ja osa pysyy huoneessa leikittavina. Ja noin kolmen neljan kuukauden valein niita vaihdellaan. No, nyt KAIKKI lelut ovat olleet esilla muutosta lahtien ja kaaos on taattu.
Samalla kaytiin lapi pehmoleluvuori. Mista ihmeesta niita oikein siunaantuu??? Tuntuu kuin ne lisaantyisivat ihan itsekseen. Vietetaankohan siella pehmokopassa haita ja perustetaan perheita? Ehdotin etta lahjotettaisiin muutamia sellaisille lapsille, joilla ei ole leluja. Ehdotus otetiin vastaan innokkaasti ja neidin omalla lajittelutyylilla saatiinkin iso kassillinen pehmoja vahaosaisille lapsille. Olen ylpea! Aloitin tallaisen ajattelun harjoittelemisen kun neiti taytti kolme. Silloin valittiin yksi lelu, joka lahjoitettiin lelukeraykseen vahaosaisille lapsille. Joka vuosi sen jalkeen olemme kerran vuodessa tehneet saman.
Ja nyt kun huone on raivattu niin sen uskaltaa nayttaa teille. :D Seinusta, jolta kuvat otin, on vaatekaappien vallassa. Haluaisin viela jarjestella huonekalut uudelleen mutta jaakoon se talla kertaa. Taytyy ensin miettia minkalainen jarjestys toimisi.

I guess one can spend their Sunday in more stupid way than I did. I started last night but the biggest job was done today. I went though girls' room from top to bottom. During the move and unpacking all their stuff was put in their room. It was getting to the point of no return kind of chaos. Especially our oldest little lady has problems in putting her things away after using them. I hope a new life will start from here. I feel much better having done that. We usually change toys every three four months. Some of them go to the storage and then we swap. This way all toys get attention. Well, now ALL toys have been out and about since our move.
At the same time we went though the mountain of stuffed animals. Where earth do they all come from??? I think they reproduce on their own. Maybe they have weddings and start families in the the stuffies bin? I suggested that we would donate some for children who have no toys. The suggestion was received with happy smiles and nods and after her own unique way of sorting my girls got a big bag full of stuffed animals ready to donate. I'm proud! I started teaching this kind of thinking when she was three years old. Then we chose together one toy that was donated to a toy-drive for children from poor families. Every year after that we've done the same.
And now that their room has been sorted and cleaned I can actually show it to you. :D The wall from where I took the pictures, are dominated by the closets. I'd like to re-arrange the furniture there but I'll leave that until later. Have to think how things would work.