Glue, cows and chocolate eggs

I started today by dropping Niina to preschool and going shopping. I mean just for fun shopping. The best kind. I met up with a friend at a craft/gift store and got myself some much needed glues. Then we drove to get some coffee and looked around at our equivalent of Target. I absolutely had to buy these sheets for Saara and Niina. It was love at first sight!

Just look at those funky cows! And they all have lovely french names :o) I bought a sheet to go with this that is the same green as the cow on the lower right corner. Funny how excited you can get over sheets...

After the fun shopping it was time to pick up Niina and head to do some necessary shopping at the grocery store. Haven't done a big run like that in a while. But now my pantry is stocked up...for a while.
Just when is Easter this year? March or April? I need to check. hang on... running to get my calendar...
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OK, so Easter Sunday is April 16th.
Just had to check since the Easter candy was all out. Niina was happy dancing after seeing Disney princess chocolate eggs. I better get some for her basket LOL.

Before home had to stop at the pharmacy to pick up chickenpox vaccination for Saara. Her school nurse will give her that tomorrow. I figured since she hadn't had it by now, it was time to vaccinate. But ouch. 61 euros ($72)!

Quite an ordinary day here. I still need to put away the rest of the groceries and do a little ironing. And maybe, just maybe I'll get some scrapping mojo. I need me some patterned paper therapy.

This hurts.

I really think this photo says it all.
Our and the team's hopes were so high.
Our very talented hockey team ended up with the medal that no one in hockey wants. The fact remains; gold is won, silver lost.

If it were a clear loss, but it was sooo close. 3-2.
And it was the Olympic final.
Against the Swedes.
That is just adding insult to injury.

Might not be a big deal for someone in the US, but for us... games against Sweden are always a big deal. The love/hate thy neighbor deal. Next time... just wait til next time...

So alas, no glory. Not even in curling... the Canadians totally whipped us. I couldn't but admire their skill. Truly.

But that is enough sports, the games are over. Life returns back to normal.

Last week was winter break. The kids spent tue-sat at my in-laws. I wish I had taken my camera along on Saturday when we went to pick them up. My father-in-law had come up with a fun sport. Have any of you seen this before?

We call it a kick-sled. I had a red one when I was a kid.
At this point I have to add that my in-laws live in the country.
Mikko tied two of these with rope behind the tractor... and off to the snowy/icy field they went.
Shrieking with glee all the way.
I'm still kicking myself for not having my camera.

But like I said, life is back to normal.. off to do laundry.

Hooked on 16 stones sliding

Tonight at 6.30pm I'll be glued to the tv, amazed at the accuracy of the curl and hoping M-15 will bring home the gold!

Huh? (Yes, I heard you... what on earth is she talking about?)

Curling.
Sport of the hour here.
16 stones, 10 ends, 8 players, brushes and a rink.

A sport I rarely see on tv. Now that our men's team is doing so well in Torino, it's getting lots of airtime. Well deserved I say. No blood, sweat or tears on ice. Accuracy. And skill. Amazing accuracy and skill. A gentleman's sport.

M-15? That's him, the skip of the team.
Why M-15? A nickname given to him by the British team... counting his first initial and all the letters in his last name amounts to 15. Markku Uusipaavalniemi. Hey, it's a mouthful for us too LOL!

This photo is of the semifinal where they beat the Brits with the last stone in the 10th end.
Wow. That was one skilled skip. And this is about as rowdy as it gets in curling... heheheee.
I'm hoping to see them go all the way to gold tonight as they play against Canada.
They've already won them once in these games.

And right after that final is the semifinal hockey game Finland vs Russia.
Now that is a tougher nut to crack.
The USA game was enjoyable to watch, even if the last period was painful and I kept glacing at the clock to see if it would finally end...

Ended up 4-3 for us, could easily have been the other way.

And to quote this man: Loosing a couple teeth is a small price to pay on the road to Olympic gold.
Teemu Selanne, of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, after he got a hockey stick right into his face. Ouch.
Now this one has the blood, sweat and tears...
It'll be a good game tonight. Nail-biter I'm sure. I so hope our guys can beat Russia, that would be thrilling. They came into the games as an underdog.

I've really enjoyed these Olympics in Torino. For one, the time difference is only one hour, makes for all day televising. I've learned so much I never knew I needed to know.
I've always enjoyed the figureskating most, but this time it has been a bit of a let-down for me. I think it's the whole aspect of all these teenagers skating... they lack the artistry, it's all about the jumps. In the ladies event last night I was rooting for Irina Slutskaya of Russia, age 27.
Ice dancing was the event I really wanted to watch, but due to another event, had to be either curling or hockey LOL, they only showed the last 5 pairs in the free skate.
Sigh.

But tonight.
I'm sure there will be blood, sweat and tears.
Hopefully glory too.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for all your well wishes and hugs.
They are all very appreciated.

Last week was a blur.
I took my mom to the ER on Wednesday and that was when we heard results on her tests. She has cancer which has spread. They are starting her with meds this week, now that her acute problem has been taken care of. She is in a positive mood which is good.
As for myself, I really really really am OK.
I'm one of those lucky people who doesn't have a panic button. My bro is the same way. We are both here for her and will share duties once my mom gets home from the hospital.
But we have also made a promise that it won't and can't take over our entire lives.

Naturally I got a massive headcold last week also (in fact I was sick when I drove my mom to the ER). I spent most of the week in my jammies on the couch under a blanket (or two) watching the Olympics (good to have them on the same time zone LOL).
I did manage to take a couple shots though.

This is what happens when you have a 5 year old hairdresser-wannabe in the house...

Just a reminder

Remember to be grateful for each day.

I'll most likely take a blogging break for a while.

My mom is very ill at the moment and she's facing a rough road ahead.

We are all a bit shell shocked.

Happy Valentine's Day!

To all my friends reading this.

*smooches*

Quite an ordinary tuesday here.
I've been working on a mini album for ebay (got to use some of this stash... geeezzzz) in between taking and picking Niina to and from preschool, shoveling snow, stalking the mailman, making snacks and watching the Olympics (well more listening than watching... the tv is on but in the next room LOL).
The mailman did bring one box today. I was hoping that it would be the fun box for the girls from auntie Tawny and uncle Mark, but alas, that one didn't show up yet. I'm confident it'll come tomorrow. The box I did get was filled with scrapping goods I had ordered, including an album to put my pages in, yipppeeee!

Niina has the neighbor girl over and Saara brought a classmate home so I have four girls wreaking havoc upstairs. In just a bit I'll walk to the grocery store to pick up some basics, like bread. And maybe chocolate, it is Valentine's Day after all :o)

How to make the older sibling jealous...

Oh did I get an earful of that yesterday!

Backtracking a bit to last week...

I got a nice big box of scrapbooking goodies from my friend Suzie who recently opened a scapbook store in Bend, OR. (If you are going that way, check it out, it's called Scrapbooking Outside the Box) I had promised to make some samples for her to display and there is nothing that inspires me more than new supplies. And kudos for Suzie for picking up stuff I didn't already have in my stash.
What really got me going were the K&Co Brenda Walton papers. YUM! Brilliant colors. Almost too pretty to use if you know what I mean... I could just sit and stare at them.

I had this big matchbox that we emptied a bit back and I decided to do something fun. Just a little album showing photos of Niina from birth to now.
Here is where the jealousy issue comes in.

Saara sees the box with a big 'N' on top.

S: HEY! How come I don't get one of these?
Me: Dear I haven't gotten around to make yours yet.
S: Why are you making Niina's before mine then? huh?
Me: sigh.
Because I had easy access to Niina's pics as they are all digital.
S: SO?
Me: For your baby pics I'd have to go dig around for negatives (which btw could be organized A LOT better)
S: Oh. Hmmpphhh.
Me: Besides I only had one of these boxes, we'll have to use up all the matches in the other box first.
S: It's soooo unfair.
Me: Yes dear.

I better start using those matches asap...

Here is the minialbum :o)








I'm really liking how this turned out.

What's on the plate for today?
I shoveled snow, enough of it thank you very much. (on that thought, hope you're not buried in NH, Adri!!!) I need to fold and iron laundry, paint Niina's toenails orange and perhaps get those yummy papers out again.

Friday, friday

I've been a total blog slacker this week.
It's just been a ordinary boring week. Nothing exciting going on. I'm in a bit of a funky mood.

I did visit The Body Shop, haven't been in one for ages. Saara wanted to pick out something smelling like strawberries for her best friend's birthday. While there I gave her a few hints for my birthday. Their shea (nut) body butter and almond oil hand rescue treatment would keep me happy. And at another store I found a scented candle to die for.. I know my sis is fainting right now, she knows I don't like scented candles... but this one... cafe caramel.... oh man...divine. I need to take my camera along next time to this store, the candles are pure color inspiration. I did find a few shots online just to give you an idea:

I always feel like a kid in a candy store there.. I want one of each please and thank you :o)

Sometime during the week I got lost on the Pottery Barn kids website (I blame Courtney as she tortures me by telling about her shopping trips, man oh man do I miss that store!). Is anyone willing to mail me the kids and teen catalogs? I need those for purely inspirational reasons and the buggers don't mail overseas... The pictures online are soooo small it really bugs me. I love the fresh colors and they have some great ideas I want to use when I do up Niina's room this coming summer. Niina and I were really partial to the colors in this room:

Doesn't it just look inviting? And look, BUTTERFLIES on the pillow! Me, I love the green (what is that, celery green?) and the rug. I might just have to paint Niina's furniture white, they are whitewashed now.

I also just looooooooooooooved these sheets... not hard as I'm a total ribbon nut. I think I need to use the idea for a bedcover...or curtains.


Niina's fave thing was this basket:


I'd also like to have a few hooks on the wall to hang her pretty butterfly wings from.

Well, as it is friday, I need to go show the vacuum some love, scrub toilets and stalk the mailman (I'm expecting two boxes, they better come today because I simply cannot wait until monday! waaahhhhh...)

Just lovely...

...do you know what happens when you walk outside in -22C (-8F) weather?

You take that first breath and start hacking like a chainsmoker. Basically your lungs are screaming at you "ARE YOU INSANE?". But they do recover. In a few minutes.
Then, after you've walked those few minutes, tears start streaming down your cheeks. Making your cheeks freeze even more. Then the tears start freezing in your lashes, so every time you bat your eyelids, the upper and lower lashes get stuck frozen together.
I know Courtney knows what I'm talking about...

I'm so over winter at this point, LOL!
Although it does look pretty through the window.


Sorry, it took me longer to finish our tour. I took Saturday off and we had a lovely lazy day. On Sunday we visited my in-law's, came home late, tired and over fed. Heheheee...

So up the stairs-

This is the upstairs tv/play room


Niina's room right ahead.


I'll be doing some painting here this coming summer. Pretty pinks and greens with a dash of yellow.

Quick look into the bathroom


Next up is Saara's room.

A boxed IKEA shelf waiting to be hung up and my my... she did make her bed this morning, although all the furry toys were left in a huge pile on the floor :oP

Through the double doors into our bedroom.

No bedpread... LOL.

Another room waiting for a facelift. After 6+ years of blue we are thinking chocolate, to warm it up a bit.

This is what the cold weather does to the window. Pretty... and telling us new insulation tape might be a good idea...

Hi! Come on in...

...you are very welcome to take a look around my home. Click on the photos to make them bigger.


(these pics were taken a couple summers ago, the yard looks more inviting in summer)

The house was built by my grandfather in 1952 on a servicemen's plot. The state issued plots of land for the soldiers who fought in WW2, my grandfather Jorma being one. He was a contractor by trade so he new what he was doing :o) We renovated the house in 1999. MAJOR renovations, lifted the roof higher..lets put it this way... the basement level, outer walls and fireplace are original...
The grey tiled house you see is my Mom's house.
And the smallest house is the playhouse.
Our frontdoor is right where the two houses meet, behind that bushy tree there, LOL.

Step in, step in... but please take off your shoes now. House rule. You'll find this applies to pretty much all Finnish households.

Thought I'd show you this curious detail... pay no attention to the overflowing baskets of scarfs, hats and gloves :oP My builders calculated the floor a tad wrong... when the new stairs arrived we realized there was a big gap between the railing and the floor. Basically, one step and you'd end up in the basement... flying. I had found this shelf in the attic and we bolted it to the wall as a temporary thing. Six years later it's still there, we've grown to like it.

Shall we go to the livingroom next?

I didn't even try to merge these photos...sorry...
I love this room. The ingenious built in bookshelves were made by my grandfather. It's a long and narrow room. And very much still a work in progress.

There's an odd empty corner behind my recliner (yes, mine..all mine!) that houses the Christmas tree for a few weeks. We are planning on a nice big floor lamp. We also need to find a new chair to replace the red one peeking from behind the fireplace.
Now let's turn around in this doorway (no doors though) and face the diningroom.


This room faces north. Doorways lead to the kitchen and the office. The furniture has been in this room since the 60's, even the chandelier.


The grandfather clock was a 50th birthday present for my grandfather (naturally), it has stood in that corner since it arrived in the house. The cool huge photoframe was a going away present from my friends and neighbors as we left Michigan.
Oh and please ignore the green couch... It belongs upstairs, we brought it down while our red one was being repared. It's going back up tomorrow.

Off to the office and my scraproom, aka disaster zone...

DH and I share the long desk, everything to the right of the lamp is my area :o)
The cupboard (actually opens to a desk) houses most of my scrapping stuff. Stickers etc are on the top and papers are in a IKEA cube on the floor behind my chair. The rug is old and dead ugly. I hope to be rid of it soon... same goes for that horrid lamp hanging from the ceiling.

An unfinished wall hanging and a unfinished quilt on the green chair...sigh. You'll also notice my pile of ironing, Saara's pillowcase project on the floor and an empty canvas and tubes of oilpaint waiting for a revelation...
The room is also screaming for paint.

Quick peek into the half bathroom .


There are photos of our trips to lighthouses along the walls.

OK, kitchen next.

Another long and narrow room.
The granite countertops RULE!


My fave detail. The old name plaque from the door and an old coffee tin and sugar cutters from my grandmother's kitchen cupboards.


The other end of the room. And Niina hauling stuff upstairs LOL.

Kitchen shelf for cookbooks but mostly for my collection of comic books. Classic stuff like Tintin, Asterix, Piko & Fantasio, Lucky Luke and bunches of the weekly Donald Duck magazines. And my Calvin & Hobbes books :o)

This is what I sorely missed in the US, the drying cupboard!
And ok...go ahead... you can look in a few other ones as well :oP



So that is the downstairs.
Maybe tomorrow I'll let you climb up the stairs
*grin*