LED-Lanterns

We need some lanterns for Lappala. Because of the fire safety for this valuable old traditional house, we don't want to use real candles or petrol lanterns. That's why I bought new similar LED String Lights for Lappala I installed in our sauna at home. They work with the batteries.

Other parts of these lights are recycled. You can see I have wind the string around a green wire. It is recycled fine wire mesh from our garden. I was a bit worried if the wire should be metallic shade but He could not find anything available for my purpose on the moment. I tried the green and we can see that's just fine. 

The lanterns are recycled from our garden. I just washed them well. I got even the glasses out. They are metallic and have last much longer than the wooden ones which I bought at first years ago. These are already rusty but that creates just more character on them. 

Can't wait to see the moss and lichen start to grow over them in the future now when I just let them be. Now I can let the nature grow over them, because I don't use the real fire anymore inside them.

Now they are ready for Lappala to lighten up the dark polar nights. Later we'll see where I will place them.

SaunaLights

Now it is finally installed: the new lights for our sauna. We had to wait until they arrive to the local shops and now it's there.

It is nothing very rare or special. Just something not available around here up in the north by the arctic circle all the time. None needs them over the summer season when there's daylight even during the nights!

It is LED String Light for home decoration purposes only. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It works with 3 x AA battery. It has 50 small warm white shade lights. Best of all is that it has the timer you can adjust to work 6 hours on and 18 hours off. We placed it all between the window glasses. Yep, between. Not inside because there would be too hot because of the sauna heat. Not outdoors because they are better safe from the frost and snow indoors. In Finland we have multi layer windows to keep the cold to stay better away. There's a small space between the glasses. These tiny lights fit just perfectly in that space. It's not inside temperature but much warmer than outside. That makes also the batteries to last longer.

BathroomWallCabinet

I bought this traditional style and beautiful old small wall cabinet this week. I paid 20 € for it plus 8 liters of petrol to fetch it. I cleaned it gently but well.

After cleaning it, I oiled it by Extra Virgin Macadamia Nut Oil that I still have for my save the parquet flooring project. It looks very beautiful now. It is hand made small wall cabinet used usually by hired men at the estates. They kept their personal items in these cabinets: small hand mirror, comb, razor and soap.

This cabinet is for Lappala. Lappala is a traditional house. We will cherish Lappala according to the traditions. That's why we are going to recycle as much as possible. In Lappala is a small toilet which needs updating. We have already bought the new hot water boilers: one for electric sauna and the other for the toilet. Also, the toilet needs new seat. That one we had to buy as new, like the hot water boilers. But other things we can try to recycle. This bathroom wall cabinet is one of those old things which can have a new life in Lappala. 💚

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!