Frost angel

Freezing temperatures around here really aren't that common, but my little one has been asking lots of questions about seasons, like why isn't it snowing if it's wintertime?  (Right now I'm asking myself when it's going to stop raining, and it's only just begun!)  As it turns out, we had almost two weeks of below-freezing temperatures at night, which meant beautiful frosty mornings.  It was difficult to explain to my child why frost wasn't actually just snow.  Duh, because you run out with great excitement to see the snow, and with the frost, you stay safely inside with coffee and baked goods.

Näyttää jo paljon paremmalta

On new year's day 2010 we had this much snow! This year we are still waiting, waiting, waiting... Yesterday was truly the darkest day of the year. Sunrise 9.23 am, sunset 15.14 pm, finished off with plenty of clouds and rain. Indoors it's looking a lot better now - and it's about time, because in Finland Christmas eve is the day of celebration.

Wishing you all a lovely Christmas! Hyvää joulumieltä kaikille!

Even Santa has to eat

...but I still can't believe the good people at Edgefield would make Santa slog through a buffet line with the rest of us southerners.  And my advice to Portlanders:  Reserve these Breakfast With Santa tickets early- they sell out fast, and now I can see why! 

Korkea katto

I spent Saturday afternoon shopping in town. Meanwhile my husband took the kids to his parents' house to pick out a Christmas tree. I received a message from him asking did I mind if it was tall. Later that evening, while I was in another room reading Amy's post from last week, my husband, who is generally the most sensible and reasonable person I know, brought this in.

Even if he had said "tall", somehow I didn't imagine 3,6 meters (almost 12 feet). I must say he decided to make the most of the high ceiling in our living room! His defense was that his family has always had a Christmas tree that reaches the ceiling... but in their home there weren't any rooms 3,6 meters high. He didn't consider it a big project at all! He said if he had spent half a day putting it up or had to attach it to the walls with string to make it stand up, that would have been a big project. He asked did I want him to saw it in half. I said no, because it's so ridiculous that it makes me laugh! After such an exhausting year we need laughter in this house! As hubby said, let it be the children's reward for putting up with tired parents all year.

Now that I'm used to it, I'm loving it. Especially that its fragrant presence can be felt in three rooms: kitchen (downstairs), living room (middle), and bedroom (upstairs). Welcome Christmas! Thank you, rakas, for thinking big!

Winter lights

This was my first year ever going to see the ZooLights, and wow!  It was beautiful!  And COLD!  I have surpassed my wildest technological aspirations to bring you this slideshow- if you can't see it, don't ask me!  But I hope you can!



Here are some more highlights...

Poor tiger.  Just what he needs.

This morning we had a good-old-fashioned free light show, right here at home.

Taikatalvi

The pictures are of our Christmas curtains, which I found second hand for 4 euros last summer. I hope next year I'll be feeling energetic enough to iron them! Do I need to mention all of our kids love them? Even the littlest one points at the characters, and he especially likes Tuutikki, the one with the red-and-white striped shirt. The design of the fabric is based on Tove Jansson's wonderful novel Taikatalvi (Moominland Midwinter), in which Moomintroll, who usually sleeps through the winter with his family, suddenly wakes up and can't go back to sleep. He then gets acquainted with new friends, a strange season, and a phenomenon called Christmas. Everyone should read this book! By the way, speaking of Christmas trees, that sure is my kind of tree. Actually, my kind of Christmas!

Tree time

Did I ever mention that I live right in the middle of Christmas tree country?  It's nice to have a really short drive to something, even if it's just once a year.  I guessed that Oregon must be one of the top producers of trees, but a little research reveals that 40% of Christmas trees in the U.S. are grown in Oregon, more than double the second place state!  (Any guesses on #2?)  We also seem to be the only state with more trees harvested per year than we have residents!  (Did I mention I love looking up statistics?)

Talviuni

Every now and then Amy and I play with the idea of visiting each other, and we hope that some day flying across the ten time zones will come true. In a private e-mail just yesterday, we were talking about what would be the best season to come to Finland. I would recommend spring, summer, or early autumn, because there's just so much more to do, and the long hours of daylight allow lots of time outdoors. But I recognize how winter can also feel very intriguing especially for those who aren't used to it. One thing I love about this little town is that after the bustling tourist season it gradually goes into a state of hibernation, with plenty of space and quiet. Just look at the last few pictures to be convinced! It really is possible to walk through the old part of town and see more birds than people. (For an even better idea of the atmosphere, imagine the vicinity of the sea, and some smoke from someone's chimney lingering in the air.)

Picture 1 is from one of the highest points in town, pictures 2-8 from the museum, and pictures 9-13 from the main street in the old town.