Autumn Photos

Before I continue sharing some stories of our Indo/Singapore trip, let me share some autumn photos instead. Catching the flu has thrown me off the blogging saddle, especially because I had to work right after I got better. And as you probably know, once you stop writing for a while, it takes time to get back to the rhythm again. Just like exercise. I managed to exercise once last week and today I decided to go for a walk (also to take some photos).

Went to the cemetery to visit FIL's grave and light some candles as well as to see the gravestone that had just been delivered. Saw two squirrels there in the cemetery area and managed to see some birds on the way back.

Enjoy the photos! 

Someone was just buried recently...

And this is a really beautifully-kept grave, don't you think?

One of the candles I lit in front of FIL's grave.

The last photo is the one I tinkered using mirror effect, so it's not an original photo at all, but for some reason I feel the result is amusing ha ha...

Magic in the Air #3

There's magic in the air when someone says something to you that touches you so deep inside, like a miraculous salve soothing the hidden wound in your heart that you didn't even know existed. And then all of a sudden you feel the warmth bursting forth from that spot, spreading out to your entire body and soon tears stream down your face even before you realize what's going on. 

There's magic in the air when a squirrel stares at you inquisitively with its cute little eyes and bushy little tail from less than two metres away, both of you wondering what the other is thinking about.


There's magic in the air when you plan to go somewhere and then your trip coincides with some big events that make you feel giddier with excitement, especially because you didn't plan your trip knowing about them, yet at the same time you just happened to find out about those events not long before your trip started. 

There's magic in the air when the night starts getting darker again and the street lights are on again after many nights of Midnight Sun. And the leaves start changing colours step by step as the air gets cooler. 

There's magic in the air when you are doing a monologue in front of someone, pretending to be yourself and that person (voicing the monologue in your character and that person's character) and not scare that person away. 

There's magic in the air when two people say the exact same thing at the exact same time and ended up laughing together. Bliss!

Summer-Autumn (Kesä-Syksy)

The temperature has been going rapidly down lately compared to those glorious, hot days that we had had this summer. From the 30'C during the days, it's now maximum 20'C. Mostly it's even cooler than that, especially when the sun isn't shining. The temperature these days are about 8-17'C and it gets darker after 10.30 pm. Funny how it still managed to surprise me when I looked out of the window last weekend at around midnight and noticed that the street lamps were on!!!! Yes, they have been off for months already he he...We'll be able to enjoy the stars and the moon again! :-D

The trees have noticed the difference in temperature, as well. I took some photos today at MIL's place with hubby's mobile phone. Here are two original photos that I didn't edit at all.

And below are two photos taken with Painting Camera program on hubby's phone, which I then edited using ACDSee. I don't know why the second one came out so small when I transferred the file to my computer, but oh well...

Heat Wave

We've been having very hot weather during the day for at least a week. It reached 30'C under the sun and sometimes it felt even hotter when there was less wind, though some days thankfully the wind was rather cool. Plus it helps that the temperature goes down during the night/morning. So on a very hot day I went out biking the other time. I went to the river area and was amazed at how striking the difference was between summer and winter. The bushes were so lush and tall and I did take some photos. 

Here goes...Lappish summer at its best! The weather report site says that this has been the hottest period ever in 50 years all over Finland with the mean temperature of 20,7'C. Amazing! And many people thought it would be a crappy summer after last year's super glorious and long summer and the fact that the beginning of summer here was cold. I'm glad to report that today has been raining and it's been cool, though. It's nice for a change. Plus people here aren't really geared up for super hot weather non-stop because they're more prepared for cold winters ha ha...

Enjoy the photos! Oh, and the house in one of the pics isn't ours. It's just one of those that attracted my eyes. Have a blessed weekend, people!

P.S.: As contrast, here are other photos of the river area (taken from different sides) at different times of the year:

Spring
Autumn
Winter

The Flu Season Has Arrived

I've noticed from my FB feed that it's that time of the year again, but I hope I can avoid the bugs even though I've contracted a little bit of cough. I sure don't want to be sick! I've been trying to get enough sleep whenever I have days off (especially then) and I've been taking multivitamins as well. The weather has been exceptionally warm still considering the fact that it's already halfway through September. A friend who lives in Holland told me the other day that there was hail and even a snow flurry over there, even though the lowest temperature was still 7'C. I sure do hope that we're going to have a white Christmas here because otherwise it's gonna be SO VERY DARK then. *crossing my fingers*

Oh, one friend who lived here for a while is planning to visit us again around Christmas. I sure hope I can schedule my work shifts in such a way so that we'll be able to spend time together. Otherwise it'd be such a shame because she and her boyfriend will be here only for a few days. Let's just hope we can meet again. I can't wait!!! :-D

Anyway, last weekend we had a relaxing weekend with MIL in Kelujärvi and after sauna the half moon was hanging low in the sky. I've never seen the moon hanging so low in Indonesia. Here are two versions of the photo:

For some reason I have no inspiration to write anything else ha ha ha ha...The trees are getting barer and barer. During the weekend we managed to rake some leaves and we compiled already 3-4 sacks of dead leaves,but now our yard is covered by them again. Before I had my own yard, I never knew that raking leaves after the rain was TOUGH, but it was also tough when it was too windy outside ha ha ha ha ha...The best time to rake the leaves is when it's been dry outside, but there's not much wind, so the leaves aren't stuck to the ground.

OK, over and out...about to drink my orange ginger tea because I've been sneezing he he he...Stay healthy, people!

3BT: Random Days

1. Every now and then I tease hubby like this:

Me: "Honeeeeyyyyyy..."
R2: "What?"
Me: "I have something important to tell you." (serious face)
R2: "Yeeeess?"
Me: "I have to poo."  

ROFL ROFL ROFL...

2. Went to a store today and found kiddies shirt on a discount. Bought two exact same kinds for Ken and his brother (because we're going to visit them next year). I LOVE LOVE LOVE collecting gifts for family bit by bit HE HE HE HE HE HE...

3. Raking the autumn leaves in the yard for about an hour and then took these pics.

4. Finding a forum for childless-by-circumstance women and I've enjoyed it immensely. :-D

5. Saying no without feeling guilty.

6. A coworker asked me how old I was and she said I looked younger than that HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHHHHH...

7. Being able to save more money this month (need to save money to buy our tickets to Indo next year). HALLELUJAHHHHHH!!!

Hot Autumn Days

We went to the cabin in Kelujärvi again on Friday. It was such a dark and cloudy day and there were very strong gusts of wind. The temperature was around 15'C. The next morning I woke up at around 9.30 am and it was still cloudy and rather dark, though half an hour later the sky cleared up and the sun was shining so brightly. It even went up to 20'C for a few hours with very little wind (the thermometer pic at the bottom of this post showed a higher number 'coz the sun was shining directly to its sensor). 

Then the temperature cooled down a little (it got windier) and it was already down to 14'C by the time we got back home. But still it was HOT considering it's already September in Lapland and we could sunbathe without wearing any jackets. AMAZING!!! It's gonna be interesting to see how our winter will be like this year. I sure hope it won't get too warm - otherwise we won't have a white Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyhow, here are some pics I took yesterday. Because the weather was so good, I decided to walk to the bridge in Kelujärvi. I love walking there because the place is always so empty. There are never much traffic and I can just be on my own, basking in the beauty of autumn sceneries he he...

I hope you've all had a beautiful weekend as well!

Super Wet Autumn

Of the 5 autumns I've experienced here in Sodankylä, this one is the wettest of all. It rains daily (sometimes not during the day but during the night), but every time I look out it's almost always grey and wet. We haven't even had a chance to rake the dead leaves in our yard. There are so many of them covering each part of the grass. I guess we're going to have to wait till spring before we can clean them up. That's also one reason why I haven't been taking autumn photos.

Anyway, the other day I had a surprise guest. Someone rang the doorbell and she introduced herself as the neighbour. Actually she lives in Rovaniemi, but the house next door is her mother's house. Her mother passed away and the kids decided not to sell it yet, but because the old house had never been renovated, they decided to do some major renovations to it.

R2 hadn't come back home from work by then, so I invited her in and she explained everything to me. This is all new to me! She even brought the maps of the house and showed me everything that would be done to the house (adding a door here, adding a window there, creating another bedroom upstairs, etc.). Turns out that she has to tell all her closest neighbours about all this and each neighbour has to sign a piece of paper to show that we give her permission to do the renovation, which will start next spring and hopefully will end in autumn. Each neighbour is also allowed to write a note or comment or ask anything concerning the renovation. 

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Luckily not long after that R2 came back from work, so he could also hear from her directly what would happen during the renovation. We're also thinking of changing our roof, though first we need to save lots and lots of money for it and then get a quote on how much it's going to cost. We shall see about that. We did actually ask a company already to check it out, but they called us when we were in Vienna and after that they hadn't called us back. Oh well...

My Mom is leaving to Taiwan soon with her friend. I'm VERY excited about it. I hope the weather's good (not too cold 'coz she can't handle too cold weather) and she can stay healthy throughout the trip. I'm sure it's gonna be SO MUCH FUN for the both of them! :-D

Anyway, life's been going back to normal pace. Several customers have asked me where I had been going 'coz they hadn't seen me in a long while. Told them how sick I was with flu he he he he...it's nice that some people really notice my absence from work. THANK YOU, people!!! :-D

I've been using my light therapy lamp again every day to "recharge my brain". LOVE that lamp!!! :-D Can't wait for the first permanent snow. It's gonna make everything look brighter. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!


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Autumnal Bugs

I've been busy with work after the holiday was over and then I got sick. I'm still not feeling 100% well yet, but I'm gradually getting better. It's the usual time of the year for me to catch viruses. Ugh!!! 

Anyhow, I still have some more holiday posts, but that have to wait until later 'coz my brain's still a bit murky (if I can call it that). At the moment, though, I'm trying to rest while watching X-factor videos on youtube ha ha...

And this one touched me in so many different levels, so hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!!! There are so many other auditions that also wowed me, but this one stays close in my heart. :-))))

The Autumn Leaves

Autumn has shown its colours for the past few weeks. This year autumn has come very gradually, unlike other years when it just sort of whizzed by so quickly. It's exquisitely rare! :-D

The other day I went to a flea market downtown and I took some pics of Kitinen river as well. I found a pair of nice curtains that cost only about 7 Euros and a book. Yeah, I'm really weak when it comes to books HA HA HA HA HA...

Anyway, here are some of the pics I took: 

There are several flea markets in Sodankylä and this is one of them. The two bikes outside are for sale. :-D Do you notice anything particular in this photo? No? Look at the next photo then he he...

Tadaaaaaaaa....yeah, they hang these on the outside wall of the building ha ha ha ha...

You can see Kitinen river bridge farther away...

Here's another view of the river...and yeah, you can see how the water "changes colour" 'coz I took the photo when it was a bit cloudy...and that's my trusted bike! :-D LOVE it SO MUCH! :-D I can put plenty of things in my bike's bags and keep my balance well even in winter he he...

I saw this busy bee on the bushes (which were located on the right side of the above pic). There are plenty of flowers nearby. :-D

And here are some pics of autumn colours...:-D

Autumnal Sleeping Beauty

Yes, fellaz, I've been a sleeping beauty this week, esp. on Tuesday and Thursday. For some reason, I slept most of my days on those two days on my sick leave. Now I'm thankfully healthy again and ready to go back to work tomorrow. I kinda miss work actually (though not so much that I'd want to do it every single day 'coz it's really hectic sometimes and I need me time to re-energize myself).

I've also taken some autumn pictures today while I was on the way to a Finnish course today. I met so many foreigners today at the course. There were 10 of us altogether. Two of them I know pretty well already 'coz we've already been friends, but I have never met the rest. Interesting bunch of people! We laughed a lot too he he he...

Anyway, here are some pics that I took. This morning when I rode my bike to the course place, it was VERY foggy as you can see from some of the pics below. Autumn is already in motion and my fave are the red leaves. :-D :-D :-D

This photo was taken from the bridge...so unclear, eh? That was how thick the fog was.


I got closer to take "clearer" pics...


Still closer...


Below are two pics of the same area after the fog was gone - I took the pics on the way back home from the course.



This is one house that I like. I passed it by on my way to the course he he...


The un-foggy version of the house.


Here are some more autumn views along the way...




Told ya I love those red leaves HA HA HA HA HA...


I don't know if I have time to blog-hop much today, but if not, I'll try to blog-hop tomorrow or sometime next week, OK? Take care, people...