The Reading Challenge 2026 - Part 4

In August 2026 I've read two books in English. These ones are quite untypical for me to buy for myself. Still, they are very useful, practical, educative and  great souvenirs from your journeys and can take you back there where you were time ago.

Bernard Meehan's The Book of Kells -Official Guide (in English, mine) is a great book about the famous book. It provides excellent illustration, explanations and information about this historical object. We went to see The Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland in June 2024. It was great to see that place and the book itself, even the library was under the renovation. I bought this book as a souvenir because you can't actually touch the original book, not to mention investigate it by your own hands. I usually don't buy this kind of guide books but in this case I think it is the only way to get to see The Book better. And investigate at least some pages of it. In August 2026 I finally read the whole book and paid a special attention on its illustration and refreshed my memories about Ireland and its history. Nice way to travel back there again in my memories.

Valerie Ryan's The Story of Russborough House (in English, mine) was another untypical book I bought on my journey to Dublin, Ireland in 2024. Back then I visited the place, and now I returned by the book. Unfortunately I noticed my copy was missing 4 pages of 35!!!! And the last sentences of the book revealed that I must live much longer to find out what's written in the Alfred Beit diaries. They must have something connected to Queen Elizabeth II.

ForDad

My dad used to sew small things for himself when he was younger and healthier. He has asked me to fix something for him only few times. This zipper is one of those few times. 

Now it is done and proper working again. I just changed the zipper. It is FashionNOW. And this is much easier than to do it with the pants. Here you can see my tutorial how to replace a broken zipper of the pants. I made the tutorial in 2014. That´s 12 years ago!!! Can you image! 

FurBlanket No2

Earlier in August I designed and made FurBlanket No1. Now I repeated the process. I designed and made another fur blanket by using recycled muskrat fur coat which He bought a year ago at a second hand shop just by 30 €. 

For the lining I used again 100 % wool fabric. It is a twill wool fabric and makes the fur blanket inside feel so soft.

The fur coat hem works great in lap blankets because it creates a slight A-line for the blanket. When you sit and cover your pelvis and legs area by it, it falls over your legs but also covers the side parts of your legs to keep you warmer during the cold winter season.

This muskrat fur blanket goes to Lappala with the fox fur blanket! Yes, a bit of luxury. But 1st of all, because of the warmth. You can wear it both sides up, depending on it how much warmth you need. The best of all is that it is recycled so the Planet Earth says thank you. It is FashionNOW.

45 kg

Lappala arrived into our life in the way She is and has been all these years. She has also plenty of old traditional rag rugs. Last time I brought home for about 45 kg of rag rugs. You know I discovered the self service laundry opening this summer in Kemi. I didn't even try to wash Lappala's rugs by my own hands. I was happy to be able to use the self service laundry.

Now the washed rag rugs are at home. I was so pleased 24 Pesula has also the drying cabinets. At this time of the year when the autumn colors are arriving, drying rugs at home is almost impossible. We have spread the rag rugs around to let them breathe. Breathe? Yep. They should breathe before I roll them up and back into the bags. They were warm when getting out from the drying cabinet. You need to be 110 % sure the textiles are dry until you storage them. Otherwise they start to stink and may even mildew.

But, this is not all. I still have at least another 45 kg of rag rugs in Lappala waiting for to get into the self service laundry! 90 kg of rag rugs is quite many rag rugs. Why Lappala needs so many? You will see that later.💙

Lappala

Previously, in early July, I told you about the cottage life in Finland and the traditions connected to it. From that you know that we didn't have our own cottage. Until now! 💙 For about 3 long years we've been seriously seeking the match made in heaven for our cottage to be. This summer we found Her. 

Her location is very special, rural and secret. You get there by the only ferry of Lapland, Finland. There are other ferries but they are in South Finland. Her ferry is small but runs non stop from 6 am to 10 pm with only 4 breaks of 20 minutes. It's free and only few car fit in on board at the same time.

The ferry across one point of the lake Kemijarvi nearby Suomu. Suomu is a hidden and secret gem in Lapland, Finland. Suomu is a quiet place and far away from mass tourism. Suomu locates by the Arctic Circle like Rovaniemi but is so much more authentic meanwhile Rovaniemi has turn out tourism industry center like Barcelona or any other European city.

We chose our very own cottage to be in Suomu. Exactly today we became Hers. We've been there twice before. 1st to see Her and find out if She feels the right one. And for the 2nd time with the inspector to see if everything is ok with Her. 

From Her windows we can see the lake Kemijärvi. Through Her windows many people have watched before us.

See, actually She is not a cottage at all. She neither is any kind of young lady anymore built after the wars. She was officially born in 1.1.1907. But it was the heart of the winter by then. Nothing was built in January by then. So, according to the old traditions and way of life, She probably was finished in summer 1906 or 1905 or 1904. It just took some time to travel through the wilderness to the authorities to get it all stamped officially. 

But that's not all of Her. She was born much earlier. She burned somewhere at the end of 1800 and was only re-built after the fire. And that's not all. She was originally built -long long time ago- on the place where Sámi people had their summer season home, when they arrived to fish by the lake Kemijärvi. That's from where She got her name by the authorities written on the official books. Her original and very old name is Lappala = the place where Sámi people live. 

We belong to Her now. And I will share our life with Her with you in the future in this blog. Isn't it all very exciting!