Himmeli

As if there would not be enough to do with completing the world before the Holidays, also DIY spirit seems to magically strengthen during that time. In the beginning of December 2016, Minna got and idea to make a himmeli (FI), a traditional mobile decoration made of straws. So a few nights before Christmas, Minna and her cousin Anu had a small himmeli workshop. Neither with prior experience on working with delicate straws, a relatively straightforward model was chosen to start with - Ostrobothian (Pohjalaanen) Himmeli, from Eija Koski's book Himmeli (highly recommended, if you master Finnish).

Instructions for Ostrobothian himmeli (by Eija Koski)

In addition to great instructions and a lot of enthusiasm, a pile of straws cut to measure, long needles, some soft bamboo string, mulled wine and chocolate were the key components of this project.

Materials and mulled wine

The first minutes felt slightly challenging but in the end, it was easier (and faster) than expected. Yes, some invisible tape was needed to fix a few glitches here and there, but surprisingly it was not too complicated. The trickiest step was to combine six diamonds together to create the basic shape. 

Six diamonds

Careful, careful!

It was a great night! Craftwork, good company and very satisfactory end result. A perfect way to switch off from daily routines. Altogether four Ostrobothnians were made. Kindly enough, Anu donated one of hers to complete the series of three, which now hangs from the living room ceiling.

Three Ostrobothians

Inspired by the initial success, the Himmeli team has already agreed on the next project. Also, the downstairs guest room has an empty corner which is just screaming to host a himmeli...

Merry Christmas!

It's been a crazy year. We had no idea that things can get so mad with kids, work and home. The blog has been rather quiet, even if our project has taken a giant leap forward. But if you need to choose between some precious hours of sleep and writing, the choice is easy.

But we made it. In one piece and relatively sane. Now, it is time to relax and do nothing. Just like Urho, the dog who knows the art of relaxing much better than any of us humans. And then, energy for fun things will return. 

Wishing you all Merry Christmas & Energetic New Year!!

Photo by Nani Annette & Alice Pittacolo

And as the tradition is - for our Finnish readers:

Sofin, Einon & Urhon jouluruno

Taas joulu on tullut, katseet piparipurkkiin

suuntaa kolmikko tämä, vaikka tontut ne urkkii.

Isin kanssa me pian mennään noutamaan kuusi

toiveissa luistimet, sukset, lumilapio uusi.

Sofi on jo niin iso, ihan kohta jo viisi

sujuu aakkoset, lorut ja se Frozenin biisi.

Kiehtoo seinällä kiipeily, prinsessaleikit

räpyläuinti sekä korut ja meikit.

Pieni Eikka on tiukkaakin tiukempi jätkä

niin vahva on tahto vaik on mitaltaan pätkä.

Kun vuosi on mittariin kertynyt lisää

alkaa muistuttaa hän yhä enemmän isää.

Remppaa tehtiin taas täysillä kevät ja kesä

nyt alkaa jo kunnossa olla tää pesä.

Vihdoin malttavat aikuiset hetken vaan olla

niin ei kiristy pinna tai kuormitu polla.

Kohta laskeutuu kaikille jouluinen rauha

vaik ois siivoukset kesken, puuttuis kuusesta nauha. 

Ei haittaa, on tärkeintä vain että relaat

ja parhaita juttuja mielessä kelaat!

Iloista joulua & onnea uudelle vuodelle toivottavat,

Minna, Pekka, Sofi, Eino & Urho

Merry Christmas!

Hello everyone,
It is Christmas. They thought it was a great idea to take this picture, but I'm not fully convinced. I do love the warm scarf but those red hearts...perhaps a bit too feminine for my taste.

But oh well, whatever buys me a treat. I can be flexible.

Urho's Christmas pose (photo by Alice Pittacolo & Nani Annette)

Don't know what is it with these people. They just keep coming up with new projects, and fail to capture the essence of easy life. They should learn from us dachshunds. Sleep in, stay warm and position yourself as close to food. Procrastination is an art.

But other than that they are pretty harmless. And they have their moments - for example now when the Ibérico Bellota arrived. I think I've almost broke them. They will soon get careless. Pieces of meet will eventually start falling. At that very moment, I will be there.

So I mind as well stick around for another year. This team needs someone with a sparkling intelligence and solid leadership skills. They need someone to revolve around, me.

But hey, now it is time to take it even easier and enjoy even better treats than usually. Therefore, may your Christmas be very relaxing and filled with delicious surprises. Let's enjoy the art of doing nothing.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Cheers,
Urho

Handmade stars

So it is December.

Unfortunately at the moment, the chances of having a white Christmas look a bit slim.

To beat the greyness of the weather, we have started decorating our home for the Holidays. Sofi is already old enough to get thrilled about everything Christmas related, including decorations. How many years we will be able to avoid the pastel coloured glittering ornaments is another story, but for now warm, earthly tones are still accepted by her.

A while back Minna ran across some beautiful wooden stars on a local online flea market. She soon found out the stars were handmade by Kalle, an 86 year old gentleman who lives in Kivijärvi, Central Finland. First, Kalle has cut down the birch trees, then dried the wood, cut the wood chips and finally shaped the delicate strings to form stars. A process which requires skill and patience.

Many times we have discussed how important it is to create our own Christmas traditions. We already have a few. A Christmas poem reflecting a bit of the year passed. Watching the Snowman movie and Declaration of Christmas Peace. And now these beautiful, timeless stars in the kitchen window.

Oh, almost forgot. Besides the wooden stars, there is another tradition to be launched this year: Ibérico Bellota. Proposed by Pekka, and eagerly supported by Sofi and Urho. Difficult to say which one of those three will be drooling the most when the delivery arrives.

Our Holiday Wishes

Once again, it is time to wish you all Happy Holidays! It has been an eventful year, and now it feels absolutely fantastic to slow down for a while and just concentrate on those things which in the end, matter the most in life: family, friends and quiet moments. 

CHRISTMAS POEM by SOFI and URHO, vol. 3

Building excitement as Christmas is nearing

Learning to sing all those carols I’m hearing

I know there are elves that see if I scream

Behave very nicely or frequently steam.

I whisper to Urho “Santa will be here soon”

We light up the candles, finish chores by noon

Thinking those fun things we did this past year

Done work on the house and travelled far and near.

Playing the piano with mum is a blast

Who cares if the keys and the tunes don’t yet match?

In kitchen I’m always ready to help

Only watching’s not fun, need to try it myself!

The underground chaos is nearing to end

Dad’s building and fixing, teak wall’s being mend

We are crafting a snowman in a bunker brand new

Where both noise and a mess are quite welcomed too!

In day care I’ve made some friends and learned games

We do not slow down for rainier days

With smile on her face can mum close the gate

When going to work she knows I’ll be great!

My brother or sister will be born in the spring

I’ll be really nice, do the big-sister thing

In a few years time we’ll be playing as team

Secret hut in the bunker is just one scheme I see!

Wishing you wonderful Holiday moments

Gingerbread cookies, candles and presents

Hope your road finds what your heart needs the most

And for New Year’s magic you’d be raising a toast!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR of 2015!

Focus on the cookies!

Ja vielä suomeksi...

On tullut jälleen aika toivottaa hyvää joulua. Vuosi on ollut vauhdikas, ja nyt on upeaa hetkeksi pysähtyä ja keskittyä asioihin, jotka ovat kaikkein tärkeimpiä: perheeseen, ystäviin ja kiireettömiin hetkiin. 

SOFIN ja URHON JOULURUNO, vol. 3

Jännitys hirmuinen, luukut jo avaan

Jouluisten laulujen sanoja tavaan.

Ikkunan raosta tontut ne valvoo

Olenko kiltti vai nouseeko haloo?

Urhon kanssa me lasketaan jouluun öitä

Jo kynttilät syttyy, vähän jäljellä töitä.

Monta juttua kivaa mahtuu vuoteen tähän

Koti kuntoon tulee, ja on reissattu vähän.

Mamman kanssa on soiteltu “Oravanpesää”

Ja kuvia katsellen muisteltu kesää.

Kun leivotaan, taikinaa haluan mä maistaa

Omat pullat ja piparit uunissa paistaa.

Isi maan alla raataa, usein sirkkeli laulaa

Hiki pinnassa puurtaa, rimat paikalleen naulaa.

Me maalataan, liimataan yhdessä siellä

Eikä sotkua, melua, kukaan nyt kiellä.

Päiväkodissa mukavat puuhat ja pelit

Ei hidasta menoa syksyiset kelit.

Voi hymyillen vilkuttaa aamulla mamma

Ei päivällä huolta se minusta kanna.

Mamman mahassa kasvaa mun veli tai sisko

Sitä silittää aion, en tukasta kisko.

Kun vähän se varttuu, me leikitään kaksin

Ehkä kellariin maja tehdään naruin ja saksin.

Joulun juhlaan toivomme riemua, rauhaa

Tonttujen saloja, puuroista kauhaa

Rentoja hetkiä, yhteistä aikaa

Tähtien loistetta, jouluista taikaa!

RAUHALLISTA JOULUA ja ONNEA UUDELLE VUODELLE 2015!

And so it is Christmas!

Amazing how time flies, just can't believe it is Christmas again! This year, we are staying home and during the last few days have really enjoyed preparing our home for the festivities. With these few pictures, we would like to wish you all very Merry and Relaxing Christmas!!

Under the tree

Playing nice, of course

Like last year, Sofi and Urho wanted to also send a wish of their own:

CHRISTMAS POEM, vol 2.

Soon it is Christmas, we’d like to say hello

Sofi and Urho, the two tiny fellows

If you have a moment, we’ll happily share

Some past year’s moments, special and dear

Running, not walking, there’s no time to waste

Not without accidents are all races raced

Occasional scratch or a bump in the head

Are quickly forgotten, with ”Sorry!” been said

”Thank you” and ”rooster” are words that I master

Learning new cool things, faster and faster

Drawers and cupboards are filled with some treasures

So emptying them takes only quick measures

Mother and father, they seem a bit strange

Fixing and building, only constant is change

Upstairs is now ready, prized with some oohs

But downstairs you still need a helmet and shoes

Soon it is Christmas, time for Santa and elves

Nutmeg and ginger, all them wonderful smells

For Urho they’re fine, but instead of sweets

It is ham in his mind, it’s for what his heart beats

The Merriest Christmas we are wishing you all

Friends near and afar, both bigger and small

May the New Year be bright and fill dream or two

And bring us a chance to hear from you soon!

…and for our Finnish readers:

URHON ja SOFIN JOULURUNO, vol 2. 

Taas vuosi on mennyt, mitä kuuluukaan meille?

Siitä halutaan pikkuisen kertoa teille!

On kumpikin meistä jo isompi vähän,

Hetkeks kiltisti istutaan kuvaan nyt tähän.

Leikeissä alkaa jo vauhtia olla

Joskus vingahtaa Mäykki tai kopsahtaa polla.

Lauletaan lauluja, polskitaan vedessä

tai köllitään yhdessä telkkarin edessä.

Juttu vähän jo luistaa, omaa tahtoa riittää

Mutta pöydästä noustessa osaan jo kiittää

Kengät ja vaatteet mä kaapista kiskon,

Pitkin eteistä kaikki ne ympäri viskon!

Nuo äiti ja isi on hassuja vähän

Remppa yhä vaan jatkuu, ei näy loppua tähän.

Yläkerta on valmis, siellä hyvältä näyttää

Mut alhaalla pitää vielä kypärää käyttää!

Kohta joulu taas koittaa, joka kulmalla tonttu

Ne kovasti kiehtoo, usein auki jää monttu

Joulun herkkuja miettii jo Mäykin mieli,

Siintää silmissä kinkku, lipoo nälkäinen kieli.

Iloista joulua toivotaan täältä

Niittykallion korkean mäen päältä

Rentoa oloa, yhteistä aikaa

Kynttilän loistetta, joulun taikaa!

Pian porojen saattue pukin jo tuo

Ihan jokaisen lapsen ja aikuisen luo

Rauhaa ja riemua kontissaan kantaa

Arjen pieniä ihmeitä lahjaksi antaa!

Wooden ornaments (by Alina Piu)

Merry Christmas!

A while back we did a photo shoot for our Christmas card, and the photo below was one of the "not so successful" shots, yet catching brilliantly so many things about children, sausage dogs, family life, Christmas, photo shoots etc. 

Christmas - the happiest time of the year? (photo by Irmeli Kumpula)

CHRISTMAS POEM by SOFI and URHO

In the early June Baby Sofi was born

Thus was the little Urho torn

“Has she really arrived to stay forever?”

“I will not share my treats, not ever!”

In September we moved in to our new home

Took out hammer and nails and paintbrush and more

Received lots of help from relatives and friends

They were priceless tying up many loose ends

Little by little most things got done

Life after repairs has already begun 

Our sauna is lovely, keeps us all warm

No matter if it hails, rains or storms

Here are the two of us, Urho and Sofi

Getting along rather happy and cozy

We are looking forward for Christmas to come

Candle light, elf-magic and chocolate crumbs 

Christmas is time for children and smiles

Reindeer and Santa and white snowy piles 

We are wishing you happiness, love and laughter

And invite you to visit us after!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year of 2013!

...and for our FINNISH readers - suomalaisille lukijoille:

URHON ja SOFIN JOULURUNO

Marskin päivänä syntyi Muuppa taloon

Ja siitäkös nostikin Mäykki haloon

“Aikooko tuo muka tänne jäädä?”

“Eihän se edes kannata päätä!”

Syksy kun saapui, löytyi koti jo uusi

Pian pensselit heilui ja sirkkeli huusi

Remppaan avuksi joutuivat Mummo ja Jaska

Hioivat kaappeja, hoitivat lasta

Hiljalleen valmistui meidän talo

Syttyy jo vessaankin kirkas valo

Kiva on omassa saunassa kylpeä

Lauteilla jötköttää Mäykkikin ylpeä

Tässä me ollaan, Mäykki ja Muuppa

Niittykallioon meitä moikkaamaan tuuppa

Innolla odotamme joulun aikaa

Kynttilän valoa, tonttujen taikaa 

Jouluna meinataan rennosti olla

Leikitään matolla sovinnolla 

Toivotaan jouluun lasten mölyä

Iloa, rauhaa ja tähtipölyä!

Iloista Joulua ja Onnea Uudelle Vuodelle 2013!

Christmas surprises

In Minna's family, the kids used to have a Christmas calendar Santa's little helpers brought surprises every night. It might have been some candy, socks, candles, or anything. Sometimes it was just a little note telling where you need to look, or a string attached you needed to follow to find the days surprise. As all kids enjoy a treasure hunt and treats, we wanted to start a similar tradition of our own, and make a calendar starting from Baby Sofi's first Christmas.

So, let's make a calendar! The wooden drawers were found from Ikea and the numbers from Tiimari (-50% off). The wooden drawers were treated with wood oil. Minna applied the first layer with a rag, which was very slow, and Pekka suggested that she would use a paint brush instead. So the next day Minna picked up a paint brush she thought was perfect for the job.

In the evening Pekka asked if it had been any easier to apply the oil with the brush. Yes it was, but according to Minna it was a little tricky as there always seemed to be a bit too much oil in the brush. The project, however, was finished and the calendar looked great.

How many nights to Christmas?

A bit later Pekka spotted the paint brush in question and started to laugh. It was a fine brush, yes - just maybe six sizes too big for the task! Minna's thinking had been that with a large brush, it will be faster to finish the project as more surface can be covered with one sweep. This logic, however, only goes to show she still has a thing or two to learn about painting!