Mother Hen's Herd

It's not true that I hang to the bus when my summer-family left one by one but I did cry big tears when waving them good-bye. It was for missing them already but also for being sorry that the long lovely summer was soon to end. August is a gentle way to prepare for the autumn. Here in the archipelago we burn so called Ancient Fires during the last Saturday night of the month, but this year we even had this fabulous moon with us to light the night. We listened to the katydids and ate crayfish.

Se ei kyllä pidä paikkaansa, että olisin roikkunut bussin perässä, niin kuin lapset väittävät, vaikka itkinkin vuolaasti. Kesäihmiseni ovat lähdössä yksi toisensa jälkeen, ja kyyneleeni ovat yhtä paljon haikeutta kuin ikävää. Punaisesta paperista leikkaamani ravut käpristyvät kosteassa illassa, kun sytytän kynttilöitä lasipurkkien ketjuun. Huumaava elokuun yö on lohduttavaa samettia. Peukalonkokoiset hepokatit ovat kiivenneet syreenin oksille, ja lepakot syöksylentävät purkkieni eksyttämiä yöperhosia. Meidän muinaistulemme ovat jäähyväiset kesälle, kun ne ennen viestivät tulijoista. Imeskelemme rapu-ressukoiden saksia ja laulamme kasvavalle kuulle.

There is a basket at the veranda for glass jars and candles, a hook for the head-lamps. They have made our work and play time longer outside. You can follow the children ski at the field by their head-lamp lights. They are soon needed again unless my wish comes true and we get something that ordinary people call the outdoor lights...

Kuistilla on kori lasipurkeille ja kynttilänpätkille, eteisessä naula otsalampuille. Ne ovat jatkaneet päivää syksyn tullen, merkanneet polkujen kompastuskivet ja antaneet leikkiaikaa talvisin. Lasten hiihtoladun pellolla on voinut erottaa otsalamppujen välkkeestä. Pian niitä taas tarvitaan, mutta syvenevään pimeään saamme tänä syksynä sellaiset, joita tavalliset ihmiset kutsuvat pihavaloiksi.

It would be a big step for us - not to stumble on a wheelbarrow someone had left at the path that leads to the house when you come home with hands full of groceries. The son came home from the granny's next door via the ditch. It takes time to do simple chores when you can't see anything and the head-lamp pushes your hat on your eyes.

Meille tämä on harppaus, kun kassien kanssa on hoiperreltu autolta ulko-ovelle kompastellen polulle unohdettuihin kottikärryihin. Poika tuli mummolasta ojan kautta vauhtia hakien. Tilan töissä suttaantuu aikaa, kun mitään ei löydä, ja otsalamppu liu’uttaa hikisen pipon silmille. Pihassa palava valo on toivotus peremmälle, mutta myös karkottaa kutsumattomia. Kotona ollaan!

A light is both a welcome and a message - we are at home! But what kind of lamp model shall we choose? The electric lights came to the archipelago much later that to towns, I am also bored with the trend of everyone choosing the same kind of  historic model with a broad round lid and swan neck.

Millainen malli sopisi? Täällä maalla ei ollut koristeellisten lyhtyjen esikuvia kaasulamppuja katujen varsilla, joten se vaihtoehto tuntuu kaupunkilaiselta – sopisiko hautausmaalle? Sähkövalot tulivat kaupunkeihin 1900-luvun alussa, mutta koko sähkötouhu saaristoon vasta vuosikymmeniä myöhemmin. Ruotsalaiset sisustajat tuputtavat emaloituja lieriä, joiden käsin puhallettua kupua kannattelee valurautainen joutsenkaula. Välistä löytyy vielä posliininen lampunsokkeli. Niitä löytyy jo joka markilta niin kuin ennen telttatuoleja ja nykyään trampoliineja.

My mother-in-law is telling about petromax lanterns which were used here. Perhaps..

Ohje neuvoo valitsemaan sellaisia, kuin olivat muotia sähkön tullessa, mutta silloin elettiin jo funkkista ja muuta järkiaikaa. Anoppi muistelee petromaxeja, voimavalolyhtyjä. Ehkä niiden myrskylyhtymäisessä muotokielessä olisikin saaristoa. Vanhassa pihapiirissä vähempi on aina parempi. Niin paljon emme saa myöskään loistaa, että valon ikävässä sammutamme tähdet.

The most important is that we don't get so carried away that we shut down the stars - we have the most fabulous stars in Korppoo because there are no city lights here...

The Pit!

When we read that they were trying to find all the pre-historic sites of our island we came to think of the Pit, Kuoppa.

For ages people in our farm Pellas had known about it and wondered what it is - in the middle of our home forest, high on the east side of the hill, about 20-25 metres above sea level.

So we contacted Marja, the archaeologist who joined us on a forest walk to the site. 

She estimated it to be from the Bronze age, then at least 2500 years old, and probably a storage pit of seal hunters, the only one found at this area.

It is made of round stones softened by the waves of the sea after the Ice Age and on the cool side of the hill, near a steep place to pull up the boat.

In the old times people sought not only shelter but also advice from special places like high tops like this.

We thought we were the first to inform the bureau of Museum but my husbands's grand-father had done it already in 1971!

Here's Uno, the grand-father by the pit! It was then estimated to be ruins of a temporary fishermen's shelter. Who knows what the next generation will think!

http://kulttuuriymparisto.nba.fi/netsovellus/rekisteriportaali/portti/default.aspx

https://extras.csc.fi/arctinet/pronssikausi/

Secret Report by 00PELLAS

We were asked about our way of life and we told. How it is here in the archipelago with many jobs. Busy doing and dreaming, looking forward and taking care. 

To get inspiration and to relax we need to get away for few days time to time - when you see the undone around you, it is hard at home. So we often combine the holiday with some industrial espionage and visit others doing the same that we dream of... So here's our report from the latest get-away...

Our first stop was in Halikko at Antiikkiverstas Wilma where we met the Lady of the House herself and got many good advice how to continue our renovation. She had even started a paint-factory of her own! http://www.antiikkiverstas.com/verkkokauppa/index.php 

We love to visit cafés and find good vegetarian restaurants with that little extra something. In Halikko there was this charming lunch café. The buildings had belonged to an old noble family and used for horses and storage. We tasted Isontuvan jäätelö -ice cream made at a local farm of their own milk. http://www.isontuvanjaatelo.fi/

A bit north before Helsinki was the home of the architect group Gesellius-Lindgren-Saarinen who in 1901 had begun to build a castle-like-house in jugend style, Hvitträsk. An amazing place and stories of their family and professional life here in Finland and later in America. http://www.nba.fi/en/museums/hvittrask

Then, first time since a young student back in Porvoo... We had two wonderful days wandering the old town lanes, visited the home of our national poet Runeberg - writer of our national song - and stayed in a lovely pop-up B&B.

Old Porvoo

Our pop-up!

Is it so that when you are odd and open yourself you are lucky to meet others like you? We did! A lot of wonderful, special people on our trip to Porvoo area.

100 years sintce the born of Tove Jansson, Moomin-Mum!

Of course we found the old-time hardware store, Wanhanajan Rautakauppa and bought some traditional nails.

Porvoo River

Recommended restaurants...

Old railway station store with old books, art and a small cafe..

Zum Beispiel

At Runeberg's garden

A little village called Box, Sipoo had a Cafe in a Box.. With a cup from the 60's and a cinnamon bun we sat with the locals and watched cars passing by, commented and heard stories about the villagers. Love place!

Bed&Breakfast - Värdshuset - in Box combined the cosy living with garden therapy... Exciting!

We were guided in the lovely garden by the owner himself who explained his thoughts and the stories behind all the plants; we could understand why the visitors loved to sit on the bench and put their feet in the soft sand while the trees bend over.

Coffee at the Lotta Svärd museum centre by Tuusula Lake - tasted the favourites of the war time...

On our way back home we drove via Tuusula Lake and the artist colony area there.

Home of Pekka Halonen

Many of our golden age painters, writers and composers built their homes in national romantic style there to live near the nature and be inspired. We were especially inspired by the sauna of Ainola..

Jean Sibelius and his family lived in Ainola, named by his wife Aino...

The sauna

We learnt that Sibelius saw music in colours.

Back at home...

with the souveniers and new inpiration!