Espoo – Blue Moment

Day 77: Reading Nook

April 23, 2026April 23, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Espoo, HomeLeave a comment

We have a balcony upstairs that we didn’t use much at first. Our large covered terasse downstairs acts as our living room every summer, so this space was largely ignored.

Two years ago we added a comfortable chair and a small table, and that was all it needed to become a reading nook. Being a little higher up, the balcony catches the last rays of sunlight in the evening and on a rainy day it is quite pleasant to listen to the tapping on the window.

And if you close the door properly, you are not visible from the inside.

Day 72: Nesting Coot

April 18, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Espoo, Nature, WildlifeTagged 365 Project, Espoo, Nature, SpringLeave a comment

A few kilometres from our house is a small pond that is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Several rare birds nest there and in the surrounding area, and there is a very active community alerting people to rare sightings. I am not part of it. I mostly know about it from my walks, when I occasionally stumble into clusters of people arriving by car or bicycle, or nearly running, binoculars in hand, asking breathlessly if they have “missed it yet.”

As it was a beautiful day, I cycled to the pond to join tens of others trying to catch a photo of a bird. I just wanted a pretty picture, so I would have been quite happy with a duck. Instead, I found this Eurasian coot building a nest. Although common in Europe, the Finnish population is critically endangered.

So, am I a birdwatcher now?

Day 71: Jumping up, up, up…

April 16, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Home, Kiara, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, Espoo, Home, Kiara, Outdoors, SpringLeave a comment

Last year Santa brought the girls a trampoline. I was a bit worried it wouldn’t be used much, but I didn’t need to worry. Last summer, there was barely a day that girls didn’t go jumping, at least for a bit. Most days, there would be several friends bouncing with them.

We set the trampoline up again today (you have to take it into storage for winter). Thirty minutes later, you could already hear the laughter of four little girls.

Day 70: Raking

April 15, 2026April 15, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Home, Outdoors, StuartTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Home, Outdoors, SpringLeave a comment

Raking is pretty far down the list of my favourite things to do. But there is some satisfaction in having a tidy yard. At least it has been dry, which makes raking easy. Keeping girls at task was harder.

Day 66: Open Waters

April 11, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Espoo, Finland, Outdoors, WaterTagged 365 Project, Espoo, Outdoors, Scenery, SpringLeave a comment

The sea is finally free of ice, although not many boats have braved the cold waters yet.

With sun reflecting from the beautiful calm waters, I occassionally wonder if we shoild get a boat of our own.

Luckily these moments of insanity do not last long.

Day 62: Trip Around The Neighborhood

April 7, 2026April 7, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Nature, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Nature, OutdoorsLeave a comment

Our house is in a nice suburb just next to the seashore and several small forests. Therefore, there are nice walking, cycling, and adventuring routes all around us.

Now it just needs to stop raining.

Day 60: Independence Squared

April 5, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, EspooTagged 365 Project, Activities, Espoo, Kiara, OutdoorsLeave a comment

The girls got new bicycles from Santa. They were delivered today amid huge excitement. Six gears!

In addition to just being great fun, the return of bicycle season adds volumes to girls’ independence. We have strict boundaries on how far they can go without adults or special permission – but even a distance of a kilometer or two is much faster on a bicycle.

Easier distance means more play, more friends, and more adventures, especially with the extended daylight hours.

For Stuart and me, it means fewer calls begging for a lift home.

Day 48: Early Signs of Spring

March 24, 2026April 6, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Espoo, Finland, Nature, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Espoo, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, SceneryLeave a comment

It’s been several weeks of above 0°C temperatures, and the snow is gone – except for the random piles covered in sand and pebbles that typically only melt at around midsummer (or at least it feels that way) and the sea ice. Plenty of ice left.

The sun was shining brightly and the neighborhood forest felt like spring. It is still early in the year and the nature seems unsure whether it can trust the warmth. There are no early flowers or green shoots in the trees yet. The first shoots of grass are rising from the forest moss.

Day 46: Long Way Up

March 22, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, EspooTagged 365 Project, Architecture, EspooLeave a comment

Most often, when I go to the office, I take the metro. I live almost at the end of the line, so even on the busiest of mornings, I can get a window seat, close my eyes, and listen to my audiobook.

Almost without exception, I come home after rush hour has passed. Rarely more than a handfull of people get off at my stop. I get the long escalator all to myself.

One of these days I will get off one station before, as that apparently has the longest escalator in Finland. So far, I have never prioritized the experience over getting home faster.

Day 40: Light in the dark

March 15, 2026March 15, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Espoo, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Espoo, OutdoorsLeave a comment

Days are getting longer with spring, but even that does not help, when your workday extends to late evening. Luckily, our winter lights are still in on.