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.