Charlie Mackadoodle

Mita teet kun stressia pukkaa paalle, ahdistaa ja on levoton olo? Kun en paase saunaan puhisemaan niin mina ompelin. Tein molemmille tytoille mekot tulevaa Disney reissua varten. Tytothan eivat edelleenkaan tieda matkasta mitaan. Paalle oli kuitenkin pakko kokeilla etta nain pitaako jostain korjailla. Onneksi ei tarvinnut. Kaavana on Burlap Buttonin Charlie Mackadoodle mekko. Ihanan nopea ja kiva kaava, jolla saa paljonkin erilaista nakoa pelkastaan kangasvalinnoilla ja silla tekeeko mekkoon pudotusvyotaron vai ei.

What do you do when you are stressed, anxious and very restless? As I don't have a sauna to go huff and puff my stress away I sewed instead. I made both girls dresses for the coming Disney trip. You remember that they do not know anything about this trip.  But I had to try them on them to see if I had to adjust anything. Luckily I didn't have to. The patter in Charlie Mackadoodle from Burlap Button. It's super quick and such a lovely pattern with which you can get a different looks with fabric choices as well as either using the drop waist or not. :)

Pikku tauko / Small break

Pidin tanaan itsekseni pienen tauon. Hyppasin autoon ja hurautin Concord, MA nimiseen pieneen kaupunkiin. Vanhaa perua ja kovin idyllinen. Kavin vanhalla hautausmaalla. Olisin voinut ottaa kaikista kivista kuvan. Jokaisessa hieman erilainen muistokirjoitus. Jotkut niin vanhoja ja kuluneita ettei niista saanut selvaa.
Kavin parissa putiikissakin ja loysin kaupan joka oli taynna Iittalan ja Marimekon tuotteita. :D Hassua kavella kauppaan ja joka puolella nakyy suomalaisia tuotteita.

I took a little time for myself today. I drove to Concord, MA. Small town. Very old and idyllic. I visited the old cemetery. I could have taken pictures of every single stone. Each had a different epitaph. Some of them so old that the text had faded into something unreadable.
I also went into few little stores and I found one that was full of Iittala and Marimekko products. :D It felt so funny to walk into that store and everywhere you looked there were finnish products.

Harhailevia ajatuksia / Wondering thoughts

- Rakastan uutta kasveskaani. Ainoa negatiivinen asia, jonka voin kyseisesta laukusta mainita on etta olkahihna on aika liukas.
- Vuokraisannat ovat syvalta ja poikittain.
- Voi kuinka Suomen lippu on sitten ihana! Nain tanaan yhden miehen tyopaikan edessa ja sydan meinasi pakahtua. Ehka vahan koti-ikavastakin.
- Jotkut asiat taalla on vaan niin takapajulasta ettei tosi verrattuna kuinka asiat hoidetaan kotona Suomessa. Ahdistavinta on se etta ne on yleensa niita kaikkein tarkeimpia asioita.
- Meinastin tipahtaa tuolilta kun kuulin etta isomman neidin koulussa ei ole pakollisia kotitehtavia eskarista kakkosluokan loppuun asti. Kyllahan niita suositellaan tehtavan mutta ne eivat ole pakollisia. Ja sitten he viela kertovat asiasta lapsille. Arvatkaapas kuka saa nyt taistella etta "laksyt" tulee tehtya.
- +36C syyskuussa on ihan liikaa lampoasteita. Sellaisissa lukemissa oltiin eilen.
- Virkkaus ja miljoona asiaa mielessa ei ole hyva yhdistelma. Nyt taytyy purkaa koko tekele koska laskin vaarin alussa enka tajunnut tehneeni virhetta. (Kyllahan mina laskin ja laskin mielestani oikein..... en siis laskenut.)
- Vaikka tanaan olikin paljon viileampi kuin eilen (+30C), oli viela liian lammin kavella koululle isompaa neitia hakemaan ja viela takaisin.

- I absolutely positively love my new bag. The only negative thing I can think of it is that the shoulder strap is quite slippery.
- Land lords are pain in the back side.
- I do love the Finnish flag and what it stands for. Saw it in front of my my husbands office today and felt this over whelming feeling in my heart. Maybe a bit homesickness as well.
- Some things here are just soooo backwards in comparison with home and it's super frustrating when these things are usually the really important things.
- Quite astounded that my child's school has a policy of non mandatory homework in grades K-2. Yes, they are recommended to be done but not mandatory. And then they tell this to the children. Guess who has to fight to get the homework done.
- +36C in September is way too much warmth to my liking. That's what we had yesterday.
- Crocheting and lot of things on your mind is not a good combination. I need to undo the whole thing because of a counting mistake I did not realise I had made. (I counted and at that time I counted correctly...... apparently not.)
- Even though it was a lot cooler today (+30C).... it was still too hot to walk to the school and back to get Big Miss.

Jarjestelyvimma vaan jatkuu / Organising frency continues

Kaikista talojutuista huolimatta minulla on jatkunut jonkinasteinen epanormaali kayttaytyminen minulle. Jarejestelyvimma nimittain vain jatkuu. Koko ajan loytyy asioita ja paikkoja, jotka pitaa saada jarjestettya.
Molempien tyttojen vaatekaapit on kayty taasen kerran lapi. Pienet vaatteet on otettu pois ja kaikkein kesaisimmat vaatteet myos. Aamut on viileita ja paivalla kelpaisi shortseja pitaa. Pari viileampaa (+20C) paivaa on ollut ja huomenna mennaan taas kolmeakymppia hipoen.
Siivosin ja jarjestelin myos poytani. Ah, kuinka siisti se nyt onkaan. :) Siina mahtuu jopa tekemaan jotain. :D
Kirjahyllytkin tuli kaytya lapi ja jarjesteltya. IKEAn laatikot ovat katevia. Niihin kun saa katkettya paljonkin irtonaista tavaraa, jotka muuten seikkailisivat vailla kotia. Meidan kirjahyllyt ovat lahinna taalta hankittuja kirjoja. Kellarissa on monta monta laatikkoa taynna kirjoja Suomesta. Niille vaan ei valitettavasti ole paikkaa.

Despite all the house hunt related things going on I've continued to have this quite unusual behaviour. The organising frenzy is still going on. All the time I find things and places to organise and tidy up.
I went once again through the girls closets, took out all their small clothes yet again, and all the really summery clothes as well. Mornings are chilly but during the day it's time for shorts. We've had few colder (+20C) days but tomorrow again very close to +30C again.
I also went through my desk. Oh how tidy and clean it is now. :) You can actually do something on it now. :D
Bookcases experienced my fury of organising as well. The IKEA boxes are so handy. you can hide so much loose items on there, which otherwise would be floating about without a home. Our bookshelves at the moments are full of books from here and then. Basement houses many boxes of books from Finland but unfortunately they don't have a space at the moment.

Olenko kirottu? / Am I cursed?

Anteeksi hiljaiselo taalla paassa. Sita saattaa viela kestaa jonkun aikaa. Ei olla edelleenkaan pahemmin nukuttu. Paivat menevat pohtiessa talojuttuja ja pyoritellessa numeroita ja erilaisia skenariota. Huokaus! Ei ole helppoa! (Taalla kaikki lainananomisesta lahtien on paljon monimutkasempaa ja vahan paalle.)
Mutta tuo kirous. Sain tanaan tietaa etta paras ystavani tasta melkein naapurista, on muuttamassa kuukauden sisaan pois toiselle puolelle maata. Ette usko kuinka surulliseksi tulin, kuinka ahdistuneeksi tieto oloni teki. Ystavyys ei katoa minnekaan mutta tama muutenkin pikkuriikkinen sosiaalinen verkkoni taalla vaan pienenee pienenemistaan. Vuoden sisalla nyt kolme ystavaa muuttaa pois ja yksi jonka piti tulla takaisin menikin jonnekin muualle. Kyynelia on vuodatettu yhdessa ja yksittain. Ymmarran kylla etta muutto heille on tarkea ja heille se oikea ratkaisu. Mutta se ei paljon lohduta tassa muuten niin yksinaisessa olossa, joka siis muuttuu viela yksinaisemmaksi. On vahan sellainen olo etta onkohan minut kirottu?

Sorry the quiet spell here. It might go on for a while more. Still spending sleepless nights. Days go by in haze of thinking house stuff and mulling numbers over and going over different kinds of scenarios. Sigh! It's not easy! (Here everything starting from credit scores and applying for a mortgage is difficult/complicated and some.)
But that curse. I found out today that my best friend from few doors down is moving out within a month to the other side of the country. You cannot believe how sad and distraught that piece of news made me. Our friendship will not disappear I know of that. But this tiny social network that I have here at the moment is yet soon one person less. Within a year three friends have moved away and one who was supposed to come back went to the other side of the country. We've been shedding tears together and alone. I do know and understand extremely well that this move is important and the right thing to do for them. However, it doesn't make me feel any better this pretty lonely existence of mine. I kind of feel that I have been cursed.

Kello kuusi / Six o'clock

Eipa tullut sitten nukutta viimeyona tai sita edellisenakaan. Taloasioita. Okei, sanoinhan etta tassa tilanteessa taloasiat meni jaihin. No, raknattiin ja raknattiin ja mietittiin ja puhuttiin ja tultiin siihen tulokseen etta jatketaan etsintaa. Ja arvatkaapas vaan pamahtiko heti eteen talo, joka on melkein taydellinen paitsi etta se on vilkkaan tien varressa. ARGH! Tata on nyt sitten pahkailty. Se on muuten niin passeli paitsi paikka. Ja se tie vaikuttaa talon myyntiin. Se on vaikuttanut jo tassa vaiheessa ja tulee varmasti vaikuttamaan tulevaisuudessa. Ihan niin kuin Mr. Murphy olisi liikenteessa. Se edellinen ihana..... no siita paljastui paljon kaikenlaista mika johti paatokseen unohtaa se ja jatkaa eteenpain.
Eli ei siis ole nukuttanut kun on naita talojuttuja miettinyt. Ja siksi olinkin jo kuuden aikaan koiran kanssa liikenteessa auringon noustessa. Pienia syksyn hiipimisen merkkeja nakyy. Ei varsinaisesti edes huomaa jos ei tarkkaan katso. On viela niin lamminta.

I didn't sleep last night or the night before. House stuff. Okay, I did say that all house related things are on hold. Well, we calculated and recalculated, thought about it, talked about it and came to the conclusion that we'll continue to look. And can you believe the nearly perfect house was right there. Nearly perfect, except that it's on a busy road. ARGH! We've been thinking about this so much. It's all so perfect, except the location. And the road is affecting the sell of the house. It's already affecting and will definitely affect again in the future if we were to sell the house. It's like Mr. Murphy is on the move and following us. The previous lovely house.... well, we uncovered all kinds of issues with it which led us to walk away from it and move on.
So haven't really been sleeping while pondering all these house related things. And that's why I was already walking the dog at sun rise. Small signs of autumn tiptoeing about us. You don't really even notice them unless you really look about. It's still so warm.

Laatikko laksyjen tekoon / Home work box

Vaikka koulua on kayty nyt viikon ja yhden paivan verran on lomapaivia kertynyt jo kolme: opettajien koulutusta, Labor Day ja nyt Rosh Hashanah eli juutalaisten uusi vuosi. (Koita tassa nyt paasta arkeen kiinni.) Laksyja ei hirveasti ole siis nakynyt ja vaikka olisikin nakynyt niin niita ei olisi hirveasti edes ollut.
Koska tiedan tyttareni taipumukset siihen, etta kaikki tavarat on hukassa, ajattelin tehda hanelle laksylaatikon, joka pysyy keittion lahella. Laksyt tehdaan keittionpoydan aarella.  Ostin Container Storesta Bigso Box of Sewden:in kierratyspaperista valmistetun, kannellisen laatikon. Laatikossa on kansi, jonka saa kokonaan pois. Neiti oli mukana ja sai valita itselleen mieluisimman varisen.
Laatikon sisalto onkin sitten omistettu laksyjen tekemisen onnistumiselle, siis ainakin tarvikkeiden suhteen. Laatikosta loytyy: lyijykyna (tai kaksi), kumi, teroitin, viivotin, sakset, liima, rei'tin seka vaha- etta puuvarikynat. Laitoin laatikkoon viela kirjoitusviivoilla varustetun lehtion johon voimme harjoitella sanojen kirjoittamista tai ideoimiseen jne. Ei siis kovin jannittava sisalto.
Tulevaisuus nayttaa toimiiko tama jarjestely. Luulisin kuitenkin etta tama on hyva systeemi kun kaikki yleensa laksyjen tekemiseen tarvittava on samassa paikassa eika tarvitse pomppia hakemassa sita ja tata ja tuota.
PS: Arvatkaa kuka sai rakon sormeen kun terotti kaikki 30 varikynat? Vahanko noloa! ;)

Even though Big Miss has been in school for a week and a day, she's already had three holiday days: teacher training, Labor Day and not Rosh Hashanah. (Try here then grasp hold of daily routines.) There hasn't really been any home work yet and even if there had been the amount wouldn't have been very much.
As I know my daughter's tendency to have all her stuff in every possible place I thought I make her a home work box which will stay near kitchen. Near kitchen because she will do her home work by the kitchen table. I bought box with a lid made out of recycled paper (a Bigso Box of Sweden). The lid can be completely removed. Big Miss was with me and got to choose the colour to her liking.
The contents of the box has been completely dedicated to making home work, or at least the supplies needed to make them. In the box you can find: a pencil or two, an eraser, a pencil sharpener, a ruler, pair of scissors, a glue stick, a hole puncher, as well as crayons and coloured pencils. I also added a pad of writing paper with lines where she can practice spelling or write down ideas etc. Not so exciting contents. Future will tell will this work. I do think this will be a good thing as she has everything in one place and she won't have to hop up every now and then to find something she needs.
PS: Guess who sharpened all those 30 coloured pencils and managed to get a blister in her finger. Quite embarrassing! ;)

Uutisia Suomesta / News from Finland

Tanaan aamulla herattiin aikaimoisiin uutisiin Suomessa. Kyseessa Nokian myyminen Microsoftille. Suomessa tama varmasti aiheutta tunnekuohuja sellaisillekin, joilla ei ole muuta suhdetta Nokiaan kuin kannykka. Meidan perhetta asia koskettaa kovastikin. Mieheni tekee toita Nokialle. On vahan tyhja olo. Ei tieda taas mita tapahtuu ja mita tehdaan. Ei auta kuin odottaa etta, saadaan kuulla enemman asiasta ja mahdollisesti tietoa siita miten mieheni tilanne muuttuu vai muuttuuko ollenkaan.
Naihin tunnelmiin ja kuulumisiin.

This morning we woke up to read quite a big news bomb from Finland. It is the selling of Nokia to Microsoft. In Finland this topic will raise emotional outburst even to those whose only connection to Nokia is their mobile phone. However, our family is in the heart of this as my husband works for Nokia. I feel quite empty. We have no knowledge yet of what will happen and how it will affect us. There's no other alternative than wait to hear more about this and possible information how my husband's situation will change if it changes.

Tuoretta leipaa / Fresh bread

Taman viikonlopun teema on ehdottomasti ollut leipa. Pakkasesta loppui leipa. Kaupasta piti hakea kun leipoja ei pysynyt viela pystyssa leipoakseen leipaa ja sitten vihdoinkin leivan leivontaa ja nyt meilla on tuoretta leipaa. Vaikken mina niita leipia leivokaan niin olen kovin tyytyvainen siita etta meilla syodaan itsetehtya leipaa.

The theme of this weekend  has definitely been bread. Bread ran out of the freezer. Had to get some from the store as the baker was not able to stand so much and then later during the long weekend some baking. Now we have fresh bread. Even though I'm not the one making them I'm so very happy that we are eating home made bread.

Henkareita ja Barbie-leikkeja / Coat hangers and laying with Barbies

Kun tata aloitan kirjoittamaan niin mieheni tekee keittiossa ruisleipaa. Noidannuoli on siis helpottamassa. Ei taysin parantunut mutta antaa hetken olla pystyssa ennen kuin pitaa taasen kayda potkolleen. Hyva etta tekee leipaa silla pakastimessa ei ole enaa itsetehtya.  Kohta siis talossa tuoksuu tuore leipa. Ihanaa!
Neidit on nukkumassa. Nuorempi herasi tanaan kaksi minuuttia vailla kuusi mutta isosiskonsa komensi takaisin sankyyn ja nukuimme kaikki pari tuntia lisaa. Ihanaa! En muista koska olisin nukkunut kahdeksaan saakka.
Kavimme isomman neidin kanssa tanaan Container Storessa. Rakastan tuota kauppaa. Siella on kaikkea mahdollista kodin organisoimiseksi. Tarvittavat tavarat loytyivat ja lisaksi neiti osti omilla rahoillaan kaksi pienta akryllipurnukkaa omiin leikkeihinsa. Voi kuinka tarkeaa olikaan etta ne sai ostaa omilla rahoilla.
Mina puolestani tein kivan loydon. Se oli aika odottamaton. Katselin henkareita, joita aina tuntuu tarvitsevan lisaa (taalla ei vaatekaapissa oli kamalasti hyllytilaa vaan tankoja joihin ripustaa vaatteet). Ja kun kadessani oli nippu henkareita kiinnitin huomiota niiden nimeen. OLKA. Ja alla komeili "Made in Finland". :) Ne lahtikin mukaan heti. Suositaan Suomalaista myos taalla ulkomailla.
Ja kuulkaas, leikkitreffit on taas pidetty isomman neidin ja hanen hyvan ystavansa kanssa. Toinen mantereen itarannikkolla, toinen lansirannikolla. Ja hyvin meni barbieleikit Skypen valityksella. Meidan elo ja olo taalla ilman Skypea olisi kylla aika ankeaa. Yritin salaa ottaa kuvaa tytoista leikeissaan mutta eipa siita mitaan hyvaa tullut ja mami ajettiin pois hairitsemasta.

When I start writing this my husband is in the kitchen making Finnish rye bread. The Sciatic nerve that has been bothering him for the past week and a half is getting better. It's not completely healed but allows him to stand for a bit before having to lie down again. I'm so glad that he is making some bread as our freezer is empty of it. Cannot wait for the lovely smell of bread baking in the oven. Lovely!
The misses are in bed. The younger one woke up today two minutes before six but her big sister managed to order her back to bed and back to sleep for two more  blissful hours. I cannot remember when I last slept until eight.
We went to Container Store with Big Miss. I love that store. You can find everything possible to organise your home. We found everything what we were looking for. In addition Big Miss bought two little acrylic boxes for herself. Oh how important it was that she could buy them with her own money.
I made a found as well. It was quite unexpected. I was looking at coat hangers and as I was looking at the bunch in my hand my eyes went to the label and the name of the hangers. OLKA (means shoulder in Finnish). And underneath "Made in Finland". :) Of course we are favouring Finnish products so we bought those instead of something else.
And you know how important playdates are. Big Miss and he very good friend had a play date. One on the east coast of the continent, one on the west coast. And playing with Barbies worked just as well as if they were together in the same place thanks to Skype. Without Skype our life here would be quite miserable. I tried to take a sneak picture of the girls playing but it's not good and Mummy was shooed away from disturbing.