The end of October..

Happy Halloween to those of my friends who celebrate :)

We don't really celebrate it here, but I do let these ghosties reside in my dining room for the month of October. A little homage to the years spent stateside, and the Halloweens I thoroughly enjoyed.

And that Halloween loving part of me is happy I work at a school that does celebrate Halloween due to tradition. Our school was founded by American nuns nearly 70 years ago and Halloween has always been a part of the school.

These days it is a party day for the elementary school. Grades 1-6 dress up and just have fun. Grade 7 puts together a Spooky Trail for the kids. I believe this years' bunch created something very hard to top... I didn't get a chance to go through it myself, but what I heard about it, convinced me. It was a mental hospital gone very very very horrid...

We had it a little easier in the teachers' room. This is the table I set up:

I asked our school librarian if she had any books she was throwing away and I got four copies of Johnny Tremaine to have fun with.

Two were folded in different ways, one torn apart to make a wreath and one cut to look like a vase.

The witch and her cat were cut into one of my old books...

I wanted my costume to be simple. So I ended up being completely batty all day...

The little ones just looked at me oddly and didn't get it. However the middle school kids and my collegues enjoyed it ;D

As did I.

November tomorrow... I'm eyeing led Christmas lights...

And I confess in buying some ornaments yesterday. I blame it on the sparkle.. they were just so pretty...

Who cares if I already have enough to dress two trees..

I don't.

*grin*

Autumn thoughts...

Saara was outside with her BFF doing biology homework (they have to pick plant leaves and identify them) some days back, when she told me there was a woodpecker up our pine.
I wish I had an even bigger zoom.. he was just sooo high up..


I'm by no means a birdwatcher, but there are some I wait to show up. These guys tend to come this time of year for the rowan berries. You know they have arrived when you hear this "srrrrrrrr...srrr..srrrrrrrr" sound.


I love their English name: Bohemian Waxwing :)
Tilhi in Finnish.

Driving back from my bro's new place a week ago, I realized that once I got home I would have to dash and get my camera and go catch the golden light.

Darkening autumn evenings yield unexpected reflections..

But the days can offer awesome skies..

And snowy countryside views.

Yes i took a photo while driving.. no, I don't recommend it, but I was driving slowly on a empty country road. Just stuck the camera on AV mode and clicked..

Raking.. a neverending job in October.

Once I got the front yard raked, the next day I woke up to this

It had been a very cold night and once the sun came out, our big birch decided to drop ALL its leaves in a matter of two hours.

It was literally raining leaves.

Very hard to take a photo of, but you kinda see it here.. just follow the arrows :)

And then the morning after that it rains...

And then the next morning it snows...

October doesn't seem to be able to make up it's mind.

Well, it's almost November...

Habitare '10

I love textures.
Especially unexpected ones.
I love new ideas in decorating.
Ideas that make you go "ooohhh".
I love beauty in ordinary things.
Brought with a twist.

This year's Habitare exhibit for me started at the parking garage.
It's brand spanking new, parts of it are still being built.
But look at what was on the walls...


More textures that jumped at me from inside the exhibit.

Made from this soft wood.. almost balsa like in weight.


Cow hide rug, with a twist :)

Feathers and rust.

*swoon*

Beautiful texture, but I'm not sure if I'd like this rug.. wool felt and glitter??

New Marimekko glasses.

Called Rolled Socks.

Silly little things that make me happy.

*grin*

I could live with something like this on one wall.. making a statement..

How to get something beautiful out of a piece of old tattered woven rug.
Räsymatto for us Finns.
I've made some of these rugs with my grandmother, cutting up old clothes for material.
I may have to make one of these bouquets at some point...

Rag rugs are apparently all the rage now.

They always make me feel at home.
Cozy is what they are.

A Fortuna game!

I had one as a kid.
Only this one has been turned into a piece of art...

Ooooohhh... cool.

Yes.

I've already done this to one book.

You'll see more this coming week, once I finish our teachers' room Halloween decorations.

Understatement in color.

Who knew that by turning an ugly painting backwards, you can find beauty?

Ok.

I want this rug.
Only three times bigger.
Love love love it.

Looks comfy enough doesn't it?
Don't let looks deceive you...
That couch is hard plastic.
What? Why..?
For outdoors I guess, sure, but then they had it set up with the rugs.. odd..

Aahh.. I rarely love gadgets, but this I did.
You can get a table set up with a charger.
Just stick that round bit to your phone and on your desk.
One of those tables please?

This year's theme was light.

hmmm...

Really?
Crystal icicles hanging from your ceiling?

I'd keep looking up to see which is ready to drop on me.
Pass...

Texture..again..

Saara fell in love with this lamp.
It's all she wants for Christmas.
At 300 euros.. I'll happily pool together with our closest family and friends for this one.
(if you are reading, you know who you are :) I'll be in contact)

Made with recycled fabrics.

What to do with the bulbs that the European Union in its wisdom has banned?
Make a lamp..heh..

A pillow lamp.
Might look a bit creepy on your couch...
I mean, would you lean into this?

Of all the conceptual lamps this was my favorite.
Light and flower vases in one!
So very beautiful.

No, she hasn't grown that much!

It was the Iittala display... tiny rooms in different colors.

Was there anything we thought we might buy?

Yes.
Two of these lamps:

Hopefully we'll get around to paint the bedroom next year.
At that point we'll get new lighting.
These were simple and pretty.
Plus at 40 euros each, fairly cheap too.
By an Estonian firm.. I see a trip to Tallinn in my future.. :)