Memories Of Finland

As I sit here sweltering, despite my fully air-conditioned home in Saudi-Arabia, not able to go out because the heat is so unbearable, I dream of those cool and breezy summer evenings in Finland. Sitting on the porch listening to seagulls and watching the water and skies turn pink, I am in no hurry to go anywhere. The air is fresh and there is no breeze, the sea is calm. I will go for a midnight swim and then return into the embrace of the warm sauna.

We spent the past summer in Finland again, I would not miss it for the world! Summer is absolutely the best time of year in Finland in my opinion. Since I moved to Saudi I've made sure to spend as much time as possible in my home country every summer. The past three summers my husband has also joined and he really loves it too!

I love the midsummer's midnight sunsets and the soothing sound of rain falling on the cottage roof. I miss eating blueberries, raspberries and strawberries straight from the bushes outside the summer house and making a salad from what grows in the garden. The therapeutic sounds of the waves softly splashing on the rocks next to the cottage and the early morning bird orchestra are just music to my ears!

I hope all these experiences have an everlasting effect on my baby daughter and she will always feel at home in Finland and surrounded by nature. She surely enjoyed her time there to the max. Our days went by swimming, running and playing in the grass and with the dog, searching for treasures like ladybugs, seashells, or flowers, watching different kinds of birds, going to sauna, eating delicious healthy foods and playing with her little sweet cousins.

I can say she's a true Finn because my daughter absolutely LOVED swimming in the cold (+18c) water and would even cry when taken out! She even learned to use a vihta (my father made especially a baby sized one) and how to throw loyly in the sauna.

What I miss the most about the summer in Finland is being able to spend 90% of the days outdoors. In contrast here in Saudi I fee like I'm spending 90% of my days indoors. It's simply too hot for me to venture out right now, I'm too pregnant to tolerate the heat! So I'm really looking forward to the weather cooling down and being able to go for daily walks with the stroller in the neighborhood parks.

 In the meanwhile I try to remember those lazy summer days by browsing through my pics, it makes me feel relaxed and happy to go through all those memories. Here are a few pics I wanted to share from my lovely country Finland!

Midsummer festival is the highlight of the summer for many Finns. Bonfires are a part of the celebrations.

My dad prepared some "rosvopaisti" for the midsummer celebrations. Fresh herbs and rhubarb from our garden.

It's lamb that's wrapped in foil and we dig it under a burning fire, then cover it up again for many hours.

When it's done the meat is so tender and delicious it's soft like butter.

The midsummer bonfire is lit at midnight.

The swan is the Finnish national bird.

The children fell asleep in the boat and here they are napping on the island.

A baby seagull we found which had a broken leg. We tried to feed it and find a safe place for it to stay, but the odds of it surviving were low.

Chives grow wild everywhere in this area.

Seagull feather in a pond.

The kids feeding carrots to the horses, the breed is Finnhorse, they are very strong and used for farm work.

The scenery at many farms has remained unchanged for many decades.

A natural beach on an island we went to by boat.

All kids like to eat sand!

Tiny seashells.

A ladybug on the go.

My husband's artistic side.

 Net fishing at Baltic sea.

 Saudi women are born to drive!

 "Koivukuja" lane of birches.

Finns used to give birth in saunas. This is an antique birthing stool from our sauna.

My sisters house will be built here.

Ramadan greetings to dad back in Saudi!

A typical Finnish farmhouse.

An old iron works factory next to a river called Fiskars.

Bright summer colors.

I love the pink clouds!

A meadow of flowers and a very traditional Finnish house.

Fragile.

The Kalajoki sand dunes are endless!

Our dog supervising the children picking blueberries.

Wild strawberry catch.

Enchanted forest.

Not many berries made it to the buckets.

 Blue skies!

 On the road again.

 A beach in Northern Finland.

Lonely seashell.

Ready for take off.

An old wheel cart.

 A castle from the middle-ages.

 Resident crow at the castle.

 Splashes of color.

Until next year..