Finland
Greetings from Finland! I spent my Christmas with my family at my Mum's and loved it. I like living abroad, but I do miss my family a lot, so being able to spend Christmas with them is always a very speial treat.
I mostly just relaxed (and ate!) while there, but I did manage to knit a few rows on my new WIP, the Scroll Lace Scarf by Ysolda. I'm already dreading the "pick up and knit 200+ stitches" part, but I think patience (and a glass of wine) will get me there eventually! I'm working the scarf with Elsebeth Lavold's Hempathy yarn, which I received as a random act of kindness a while back. I only have two balls, I sure hope that's enough!
There's one annoying thing about Novita, the largest Finnish yarn brand: they change their selection very often! I read about the lovely new yarns on Ravelry or get a few balls from my sister to try them out. I plan to buy (more) of this yarn the next time I visit Finland. By the time I get to visit Finland, they've discontinued the yarn! The bad thing is that I then can't get the yarns or colourways I want. But the good thing is that if I do find the yarns, they'll be in the marked down bin!
Like promised yesterday, here are a few impressions from my trip to Finland, my native country. All these pictures are from my home town and were taken by my darling husband Nick. I like living in the city, but there's nothing that can beat the peace of the (Finnish) countryside. It's a true vacation for the soul.
This summer seems to be bad for my knitting content - I just can't knit when it's over 30 degrees, not even cotton or bamboo. So it was in Finland, too, where I spent last week (I came back today) on holiday visiting my family with my DH. It was so hot I spent my days swimming and drinking juice in the garden. I'll post a few photos of the Finnish summer soon (courtesy of Nick), plus my new yarn goodies and a recycled sweater bag I finally lined on my Mum's sewing machine! Watch this space.
Some impressions from Finland this September.
My mother's flower garden.
A sunny day in the garden swing, looking through the oak leaves.
My second home - my mother's house.
Finally I get back to my normal blogging rythm, I hope. Vacation and the Sudan project have taken up all my time lately - we spent 8 days over Christmas in Finland. I was so happy to meet my family and see some familiar surroundings. I like Essen, but one does get homesick from time to time! Here are some impressions from the trip.
First, the Helsinki harbour.
Picture number two is the Christmas tree at my Mum's.
I was very lucky to have some holidays before I move into my new job (next week!) and after I sorted out all settling-in matters in Germany I was free to go to Finland, my home country, for a week.
It was as usual very beautiful, and I enjoyed meeting my friends and family again.
I arrived on Wednesday evening very late, and Thursday I relaxed, but on Friday I got a chance to go to Tampere and meet my friends from the polytechnic university days. I met a lot of people, but also got a chance to have a cup of vanilla coffee and some mud cake in my all time favourite café, Vanha Vanilja.
* Vanha Vanilja on ihanin kahvila koko maailmassa (tai ainakin niistä kahviloista joissa olen ollut maailmassa. *
A few more moments from Finland. I picked these blueberries myself! You don't believe me? I have hands to prove it:
Nämä mustikat poimin itse! Etkö usko? Katsopa näitä!
On Monday the heat rose up to 29 degrees Celcius, so a trip to the beach to sunbathe and lake-bathe was mandatory. It was wonderful, even though I din't get too much color.
Maanantaina lämpötila nousi paikoin 29 asteeseen, jolloin jopa minä valkonaama lähdin rannalle grillaamaan nahkaani. Oli ihanaa, vaikka paljon väriä en tainnut saadakaan.
On Wednesday it was time to go. I got a few nice shots of the Finnish Archipelago, said to be one of the most beautiful in the world.
A few more moments from Finland.
I picked these blueberries myself! You don't believe me? I have hands to prove it:
Nämä mustikat poimin itse! Etkö usko? Katsopa näitä!
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