My town -part 1

-The Hietaniemi cemetery-

There's something about cemeteries I enjoy.

The calm.

The beauty.

This is an inviting view once you come in the main gate.
Urging you to come explore...


This vast cemetery is downtown, by the sea. I love how the old trees shut out the bustle of the city and make you forget it for a while.

Mind you, I didn't come just for a walk with my camera... my grandparents' grave is in this corner by the sea.

I brought flowers along to plant :)

I'll have to go back in the fall and plant some beautiful white striped hostas together with daisies (my grandma's fave flower). Perennials. Finally.

Besides, I think my grandma would be giggling over the thought of her "pushing daisies" :D

I also stopped by my great-aunt.
She is why Niina's second name is Aliisa.

After that I just walked where my feet took me.

I found this aged bench by one grave.

I love the thought.. sit down and remember.

I enjoy the way lichen growns on the old stones.

I'm not a huge fan of the newer style of grave markers, but this was beautiful.

It has a little windowed nook to put a candle in.

Lilacs in full bloom.. the scent in the air was so sweet.

I wonder if this was meant to be a planter?

These days I think it serves as a bird bath.

More benches!

The cemetery is leveled, you get great overviews.

See the gardening tools at the end of the lane?

I would have loved this summer job. Taking care of the graves, planting flowers, watering, mowing the grass... in that peaceful environment.

I find that I rarely read the epitaphs, but this one jumped out.

"Here rests a pearl among women.."

One of the areas is called The Artists' Hill.

You'll find both older and newer graves of famous (at least in Finnish terms) people.

An author.

An actress.

(doesn't that look like a stage of sorts?)

A designer.

An actor.

Those rusted reeds are beautiful...

Also many angels.

Old..

..and new.

This military officer's grave also holds "Little Edi".. his tiny daughter.

This made me smile.

Hilma is a very old fashioned Finnish name.. that together with Antoinette?

And a priest's wife to boot :)

I was glad to see they water the main walkways to keep the dust down...

..cause this is what my sandals and toes looked like after an hour!

One more stop...

The military cemetery.

My great uncle.

It's a vast area.

Notice the low wall at the base of the trees in the background?

It has names of the Helsinkian soldiers missing in action.

On my out, this caught my eye... I wonder if he was an athlete or just a big fan? :)

I plan to visit again this summer, but this time with a map and looking for specific gravesites.

You're welcome to join me :)

Personally or virtually.

This was the first part of my personal mission this summer.

Head out into Helsinki looking through my viewfinder.

I already know what I'll be looking for next...

Get your teacups ready...

It's time for some fun soon.

I missed Vanessa's Annual Mad Tea Party last year as we were in France, but this year I have someone eagerly waiting....

I wonder if Alice will show up?

Goings on in May

..also known as a photoful catch-up post :)

***
This one is from three weeks ago.
My favorite part of May.
So many different shades of fresh greenness.

This is on my walk home from the store.

***
Early May was spent with Operation Lawn.
It was badly taken over by moss.
Out came the moss killing chemical, and after a couple days I raked it off.. and raked, and raked and raked some more.

Then Mika spread out a thin layer of a mixture of soil, fertilizer and grass seed.

Then we watered and waited.
Oh was it ever worth the work!
Look at that lusciousness!

***

We had this little lady over for a couple of nights.

She helped me in the garden while I pulled out daffodils, or as Julia put it "yellow flowers".

We played peek-a-boo with a see-through chair :)

Some of my favorite spring flowers: forget-me-nots

and primroses.

***
All of the above photos were taken with my point and shoot because my Canon was in the shop for repairs.

A fried main board and shutter... in a two year old camera!

Two thumbs up for Canon for excellent customer service as they provided new parts after one phonecall.

I got home on that rainy day and went out in the garden to test my baby.

There really is nothing as pretty as a wet garden.

Did you know that raindrops hide the most intriguing reflections?

You just have to get close enough.

***

On her second visit Julia discovered Niina's dollhouse.

She made me giggle by knocking on the front door before opening it :D

After that all the residents went up the stairs and down the stairs.

Many many times.

***

One of the sweetest things in May was the baby shower I hosted for a dear friend from work.

I saw an idea on Pinterest (the best way to spend hour after hour online!) of raindrops on a hanging umbrella for a baby shower...

Couldn't hang up an umbrella, but I remembered these lanterns.

Some scraps of blue cardstock and a sewing machine later...

Came out cute!

We had a lovely brunch with french toast on a stick, scones, cheeses and decadent brownies...

And sweet little spring posies picked from my garden and displayed in teacups.

So there you have it.

May in a nutshell.

Tomorrow I'll have to show off some layouts... and pick up on Project Procrastination...heh...

Summer....

Darling. Dearest.
Just like it was written on the pavement :)

After the traditional end of year school staff lunch (at a very nice restaurant, provided for us by the parents' association) a bunch of us continued to one of the nicest outside terrace bars in town.
Korjaamo.

I enjoy the way it is enclosed by the buildings and is like a nest inside the city.
Good music too.

They had free punch on offer... raspberries and lime galore..mmm..

To celebrate June I've decided to take this 30 day photography challenge.

Here's a self-portrait for you.
Well... technically I didn't take the photo myself, rather a colleague played around with my camera for a while. But it is me and it was taken on June 1st, so it'll do :D

Cheers!

Lego-style :)

The legos have been out for a couple weeks.
Even Saara got bitten by brick fever.

Voilá, the Eiffel Tower.

Niina added some tourists and locals.

I love it.

It is on display in our dining room now :)

PS. I have a back log of photos for posts to come in the next several days, so stay tuned.