3rdWeekend

Again this week on Friday after work we drove to Lappala. This time I was just travelling so I had 3 hours of time to crochet granny squares. It is going to be a blanket for Lappala. For this blanket I use AAW yarn (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool and 10% nylon) (100g = 238m). I have plant dyed the yarns by weld (yellow) and cochineal (red).

This view proves we are soon there. We will across the lake Kemijärvi by Lapland's only ferry and in few minutes we'll be there at Suomu. Despite we use private car, Suomu is accessible by public transport. You can get for example by a night train from Helsinki to Kemijärvi and by a local bus from Kemijärvi to Suomu. Suomu is a small and sleepy, very private feeling location by the Arctic Circle. That's why there is not many public routes daily to Suomu and back, just few, but that's all you need.

This was our 3rd weekend at Lappala. We are still in the middle of cleaning and arranging the places. But this weekend we also sat down to welcome friends. We had our very 1st visitors at Lappala. It was nice to chat with friends about Forest Sámi culture and help out by volunteering in Forest Sámi costume history by bringing into common good my own knowledge. The flowers in the picture have traveled a long way to Lappala's kitchen by the Arctic Circle. 💝 You can notice, Lappala's kitchen has finally got new old curtains. I have 3 of these and I have made them years ago for our veranda at home. I brought all 3 to Lappala and later you will see the other 2 windows wearing them.

This weekend we were also able to build instead of just cleaning. Unbelievable but true, this bed fit into that tiny box. At the end it was practical because we were able to transport it in the car and didn't need a trailer for that. If we have a trailer with us it wastes more petrol. So, it is more environmental friendly to pack it all up into a tiny box and make a customer build it. It needed 3 hours to finish it. But yes, it was possible to do so. 😂

You can spot BlanketNo9 on the bed. You can also notice an old lace pillow case I brought from home with the pillow. The lace bed cover is original from Lappala. The bed cover under the lace is temporary until I will find or make the right one under the lace blanket. The right side table is actually an original plant stand from Lappala which we use now as a bedside table. The space between the bed and wall is small but the plant stand fits perfectly in. It is just enough to place your glasses and book on to it. On the left side stands the original chair from Lappala. At least temporary it plays the role of a stole and a bedside table. 

This weekend we had just few hours of time to explore the possible routes we want to investigate in Suomu. 

Lake Kemijärvi is big and it is impossible to miss it if you are visiting the area. Because of its form it seems to be just everywhere.

It is a big enough to feel almost like a sea. But it is not. Even the dogs have notice the biggest differences compared to the sea.

It smells different and tastes different than the sea bay by the Gulf of Bothnia at home. Our sea at home is not so salty but at the end it is a sea and has salt in it. But lake Kemijärvi is a lake and not salty at all. Every time Nuka and Pii reach the shore they really need to taste it to see is it still un-salty or not!

The lake and the shores also smell so different. It all is very exciting and new to both of them: Nuka and Pii.

Nuka is already 11½ yrs old. She is still in a good physical and mental fitness. She had her vet check up in August. She has some osteoarthritis and we updated her "just-in-case" meds for that because her beloved hunting season has just started. She will have her dental care in November. Pii will have hers too.

In Suomu and all around in Lapland are also something else interesting than water. There are free running reindeer that are someone's cattle. That's why you need to have your dogs always as chained: on a  leash. No matter how well they obey, there is no exception. The most common damages to wild game and reindeer is done by tourists' pet dogs that are set run free on their Lapland holiday. No matter how sweet and pet they seem at home, when they meet the wild they will turn out predators. Make sure your dogs are chained and don't get free by accident. 

Chained and on leash your dogs can enjoy these beautiful routes and outdoor without worries despite you might suddenly spot a reindeer or another wild animals.

Many people travel to Lapland only for the winter and snow. Also autumn is a beautiful time. Local people are back to work after the summer. But local hunters usually have their summer holidays actually on autumn. You don't need to fear them. But if you do, wear something red or orange to make sure they will notice you.

NoBrown

You know I have had the plant dye experiment going on since the summer 2025. I finally have received the last result and skein. Against all the odds, that I learnt in summer 2025, instead of brown I received green. That is very extremely interesting. And beautiful. All for my upcoming book about Forest Sámi costume history.

2ndWeekend

Last weekend was our 2nd at Lappala. I was back with Him, my mom and the dogs. We still used many hours to clean it all up. 3 hours on Friday, 13 hours on Saturday and 9 hours on Sunday. 2 persons cleaning and 1 renovating, like on the 1stWeekend. My arms are sore, my back is aching but my heart is pumping because of the love.

Slowly we are turning to the point where we can start to decorate instead of just cleaning. Not yet, but soon. I can see it already. You can be sure I am not going to use many window hiding curtains. The view to the lake Kemijärvi and fells is amazing at my corner of Suomu. 💚

1stWeekend

This Friday we drove for the 1st time for the weekend to Lappala. Last weekend He and YoungLady made a day-trip to drive the 1st load to Lappala, but this weekend was the 1st ever we spend in this beautiful traditional house. We needed 2 cars and a trailer to drive the 2nd load.

For example the recycled LED-lanterns traveled to Lappala. They lighted up our moments at the wood burning traditional sauna where is no electricity or drains. They are really beautiful!

This is the view I woke up this weekend. I just need to open my eyes and see this fabulous view. I love the old trees that can tell many stories.

This is the view I see when having a breakfast at Lappala. There are many young trees also. I do love them all. I do love the lake too. It is so big that it feels almost like the sea bay at home.

This is the view I see through the bedroom window. Autumn colors arrived early this year and at the moment outside is very beautiful.

Lappala is going to be quite a lot recycling. All we can't recycle, but we do recycle as much as possible. In this picture you can see the old beds with new mattresses, old rag rug and old curtain.

Pii had a rough weekend at Lappala. She meets my mom very rarely and never at over night visit. Now my mom came with us. Pii decided it is her job to look after granny. It was endearing how seriously she took her self-imposed duty. She even slept beside my mom's bed and didn't move until she woke up. My mom was there to help me with cleaning Lappala. Believe me or not, but we didn't made it in one weekend. Not even we worked 3 hours on Friday, 13 hours on Saturday and 10 hours today. It really is a forgotten old traditional house which none has been serve in years. I'll be back with my mom next Friday.

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! 

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!

FurBlanket No1

Do you remember how I made TrapperHat No1 for Him? Now I took the fox fur coat and made something from its hem. It is my own design.

I took off the lining and wool filling but left everything else there to support the structure.

Then I cut off the hem just under the armpits.

After that I selected the wool fabric shade for the new lining.

Then I cut the new wool lining into its shape and pinned it. You actually should not use pins for the leather or fur because they make permanent holes to the material. In this case I used the pins because the holes can't be seen through the fur and I pinned it in the way that no visible marks left on the leather parts. After pinning I sew it and closed the pockets from the front side.

It is wild fox. You can see it from the facts that the fur is not even and thick all over. You can also notice the shades vary quite a lot. Those are great examples to separate the wild fox from industrially grown fox fur. 

The deep red wool lining matches well with the wild & red fox fur.

It is ready for the winter and snuggle up! 

It is FashionNow.