1stSnow

 

We had the autumn break at Lappala where the 1st snow fell down 14.10.2026. It all is starting to get ready for the winter season.

We visited also Suomu playground. Suomu is not anything new in Lapland. It is not a mass tourism attraction. You may not have heard about it before my blog posts. But it has been there for decades. It is silent and sleepy, favored by locals and other persons who prefer outdoor sport activities instead of night clubs and shopping centers on their holidays. When you look at the play ground you can see the old ideology of Suomu reflecting there. There are mainly activities that encourage children and adults play together and practice their physical skills especially in balance and climbing.

It is not marked as adult activity park but the equipment are strong enough for teens and adults too. The whole family can play together there. It does a good for adults mental health to play together with the children. Not to mention how great it is for the kids mental health. 

By the playground there is kota where you can put up a fire to warm up and cook. Remember the good local manners and provide a room to the other people. Don't forget, when its getting full, the one who arrived 1st is the one who leaves 1st. These are public places and for the common good. Private sessions are not allowed.

You can find info about the routes here and there. If you go alone, remember, this is not where you practice, it is what for you practice.

Let the reindeer herd free and without the distribution. Always keep your dogs chained. That is one thing that makes sure you are welcome to the winter wonderland by the locals.

InTheForest

Today we were in the Forest. The hunting season is on, but this time were were in the woods without the dogs. Well, He kept His eyes open for the birds, of course. But we were there to make the photos for my upcoming book. 

We managed to shoot the photos I wanted. It was a beautiful frosty autumn day. It was +4 C but the ground, even the surface of the swamp, was frozen. Past few days it has been blowing creepy cold from the North. That's where the winter arrives. Be ready to get your sweaters ready! 

Tomorrow I will start to work with the pics we made...

PS. All the mittens I made in 2023 are in use and very warm. I wear woollen gloves under mine.

Today

Today I have finally written it all into my Forest Sámi Costume History book. Today I have edited it all. Today, from now on, we step into the final edition and illustration of the upcoming book that tells for the 1st time ever the history and present of Forest Sámi costume history in Finland. I started this journey 4 yrs ago. The moment of the publication is closer than ever. Today I can see it. Wait with me. 

PaperSnowFlakes

I think we all have done it: paper snow flakes. I have always loved to make them. This time I did it in a different way. I picked up some maple leaves from my garden and used them as stencils to cut off these paper snow flakes. Aren't they beautiful. At work I actually made copies of the maple leaves on A3 size paper. I can use them later on winter season with my students when all the real leaves are hiding under the snow. Paper snow flakes are excellent budget home decoration for winter season.

4thWeekend

The 4th weekend at Lappala made us turn our indoor activities to outdoor. This was the 1st weekend we actually had time to start to operate outside the buildings. Even there are still a lot to do indoors.

This weekend I had time to take a closer look to our stairs to the lake shore. Autumn and nature looks beautiful on the stairs but it is actually quite dangerous because it makes it all very slippery if it is moist or frost weather.

Now it is more safe. Now I can bring my grand child for the lake shore adventure and allow her to use the stairs without fear.

This weekend we had time to start to mow the lawn. We got the ride-on mower to work. For the 1st time ever in my life I used the ride-on mower and fell in love with it. Despite it needs petrol to run. We have almost ½ hectares to mow so you really need something powerful fir that. But we have some plans to reduce the lawn that needs mowing. 

Can you spot the forgotten vegetable garden in the pic? It is fenced because of the reindeer who love to eat everything your grow. Yep, there are free running reindeer around the village.

This weekend I took my mom for a holiday weekend. She's been such a great help in cleaning it all up at Lappala. She really has deserved some desired special moments. I took her to a small village farm markets and walks in the woods.

The forest, lake and autumn colors are everywhere. At Suomu most of the leaves have already fell down but it all still looks great. 

I think I will start to call this little cottage of ours "Tonttula". That means a place where the tomtes live. We set up the season lights for Tonttula this weekend. 

Indoors at Lappala I continued my work to turn recycled old lanterns to useful sources of the light at Lappala for the polar night season.

We have taken the recycled bathroom wall cabinet to Lappala. The mirror is also recycled. The bathroom lantern in new and works with the electricity. The walls are not quite finished yet, but He has done a great job painting it all white. I won't show you before and after pics of this, because it would be a bit too humiliating for Lappala. We all want us to be seen at a good light on internet, don't we.

This Lappala bed room I can show you before and after. The walls will go through the decorating. This is how they look now. The frame of this bed is recycled but everything on it is new. For the hygiene. 

On the bed you can spot those two beautiful bed runners made of recycled fur. The FoxBlanket you can see here and the muskrat blanket here. 

On the right side of the bed you can see a very old wooden table. It plays the role of the bedside table at the moment, but it won't be its final position.

This is something we will use as recycled. It needs to come home for the electric safety check up and upholstering. I have an idea already...