Happy Holidays

This is the 15 meters tall tree on the marketplace in Järvenpää, with new decorations. Photo taken before three in the afternoon when we were getting the last groceries for Christmas a week ago. The sun rises at 9.23 and sets at 15.22 today. The day is one minute longer than yesterday. Tomorrow will be two minutes longer than today.

Day 24

Merry Christmas everyone! See you next year.

Day 23

Baking day. On the left my version of an English style fruitcake with raisins, apricots, cranberries and almonds. On the right "Snow Queen's Spicy Cake" with cardamom and lemon, waiting for the icing sugar dusting.

Day 22

My new warm winter beanie, a "mummopipo". Granny fashion. Alpaca wool yarn together with a wool/acrylic mohair style yarn. Just waiting for cold weather to come back.

Day 21

Cheerful grey socks for someone who wears black.

Day 20

Christmas socks.

Day 19

Baby size socks.

Day 18

I have an old fashioned advent calendar, no chocolates, just tiny pictures.

Day 17

Feed the birds! This is oats for the bullfinches and yellowhammers.

Day 16

Finally, the first duffel coat is ready to wear. Mr K. made the buttons I showed some days ago. The hood required so much material that the remains of a felted, worn out cardigan were not big enough, so I made a collar instead. I'll be wiser with the next one!

Day 15

Once again, we had some snow, and then we hadn't.

Day 14

We were at J.S.Bach's Christmas Oratorio concert in Helsinki again. Taking photos was not allowed during the concert, so all you see is the empty grey steps where the choir was to stand next. It was wonderful, as always.

Day 13

Day 12

On the twelfth day of December my dear husband gave to me these. Just a few days ago he showed me a hazel grouse in a birch tree. Partridges need more rural surroundings than their cousins.

Day 11

Race horse on his way back from training.

Day 10

Day 9

 Anne Marie's Nine-Patch Challenge from 2011.

Day 8

Day 7

We had a little snow and frost over night, and we popped out without coats (not sewn yet!) to feel the fresh air.

Roger wanted to try if the ice on the garden pond was good for ice skating.

Ooh that silly little boy! He can swim, but if the ice breaks, the water is literally ice cold, and it is hard to get back on the slippery ice. Fortunately he is very light, and I managed to cast the other end of my scarf to him and drag him back to firm ground.

Safe again! Time for a nice cup of hot strong tea with two sugars, maybe three for Roger.

Yours,
Susan

Day 6

Today is Finland's Independence Day.

Day 5

Day 4

Good morning!

All four kids finally have their PJs and nighties. I used vintage materials. Susan's and Titty's nightgowns are from used nighties. Roger's top is from a leftover scrap from PJs my mother has made for my brothers when they were little. It was just three little scraps, so I used new solid fabric for the bottoms. John's striped PJs are a tribute to my mother. In her style I managed to make both the top and the bottom from a sleeveless PJ top she had made in a small child's size from obvious leftover scraps. She had cut  the parts sidewise, piecing the facings, and had added a narrow binding around the short cap sleeves (see bottom edge of John's PJ top). I just had to turn the top sidewise to cut the bottoms from its back, make John's top back with a center back seam and use a different fabric for the underside of the collar. The collar top also has a seam in the center. Needless to say we all slept very well!

Day 3

Common redpolls, Acanthis flammea. They came for a short visit with families, almost a hundred of them.

Day 2

  My favorite flower of the season.

Day 1

Christmas opening, Mrs Santa with her horse and the sleigh on wheels. They took people on a little ride too.