365 Project – Blue Moment

Day 227: ‘Shrooming

October 6, 2026October 6, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Fall, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, WildlifeTagged 365 Project, Activities, Fall, Finland, Food, Learning, Nature, OutdoorsLeave a comment

Everyman’s rights are a fantastic concept, recognised throughout the Nordics. They allow anyone to walk, camp or gather berries and mushrooms in forests – no matter who owns the land.

Picking mushrooms is therefore all the rage among us middle-aged Finns.

In all seriosness, I have been interested in mushrooming for a long time. But it is not something you should attempt if you are totally clueless.

Out of the approx 400 species of mushrooms in Finland, only 5-6 can kill you. Another 50 or so just make you sick. However, those are not odds I am willing to gamble on. Especially as only about 30 actually taste good.

So, I took a course. Six hours with a very competent teacher in a sunny forest.

Now I believe I can confidently recognize five edible ones.

Day 226: Then The Heavens Opened

October 6, 2026October 6, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Fall, Finland, nightTagged 365 Project, Fall, FinlandLeave a comment

Autumn rain feels very different from summer rain. And there is nothing more autumn-ish than a day-long cold drizzle.

Today was not it.

From an almost clear sky, the heavens opened for 10 minutes. The temperature dropped by 10 degrees. And so autumn arrived in full.

Day 225: Kids Comic Book Fair

October 5, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Helsinki, KiaraTagged Children, Alanna, Kiara, Activities, 365 Project, HelsinkiLeave a comment

There was a kids’ comic book fair in Helsinki today. If not for a friend who sent us a note, we never would’ve known about it. And unfortunately, based on how few people there were, not everyone has such a clued-up friend.

I often wonder how much cool stuff we miss, just because we never see the ads.

But we made it to this one. The best activity was designing their own characters for a comic graveyard. Alanna’s two-tailed cat zombie laughed out loud while scaring others and swinging. Kiara’s 10,000-year-old worm was actually not dead. He was too stubborn to die – but liked hanging out with the dead. But then again, he was bad at math, so who knows how old he really was…

Now we wait to see if either of these characters makes the cut for the actual comic book.

Day 224: City In The Dark

October 4, 2026October 5, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Fall, Helsinki, Long exposure, night, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Fall, Helsinki, OutdoorsLeave a comment

I met a friend for dinner tonight. We didn’t stay late – and therefore it took me by surprise how early it gets dark. Again.

Winter is coming.

Day 223: Blue Moment

October 3, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Espoo, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Architecture, Espoo, SceneryLeave a comment

Catching (almost) the blue moment among all the blue houses.

Very appropriate for this blog.

Day 222: Murals

October 2, 2026October 3, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, EspooTagged 365 Project, Architecture, EspooLeave a comment

Alanna’s comic school is in a neighborhood called Karakallio. It’s a bit of a drive, so it makes sense for me to wait there for Alanna to be done. I typically spend at least part of the time walking around the neighborhood.

The most interesting part of the area is the large-scale murals decorating houses here and there.

It’s like a treasure hunt. Suburban version.

Day 221: Change of Season

October 1, 2026October 1, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Fall, Finland, NatureTagged 365 Project, Fall, Finland, NatureLeave a comment

It’s that time if the year when the autumn just crashes in. Right now, the majority of leaves are still green. The trees are yellow only in spots, reeds are turning brown and streets are painted with fallen leaves.

In a week, the world will be all yellow and brown. With a dash of red.

Day 220: Bedtime

September 30, 2026September 30, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Family, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Black&White, ChildrenLeave a comment

As said before, bedtime in our house is a long and complicated multi-step affair. But routines are good for kids, especially at bedtime. Right?

Ever since the girls were one, a bedtime story has been the best part of the routine (before that, it was the bath). For the last year or so, we have been listening to the Potter series. Regardless of anything else related to J.K. Rowling, she has an extraordinary ability to create a world that completely draws you in.

We are almost at the end. I need to find a new series.

Day 219: Dragonfly, Dragonfly

September 29, 2026September 29, 2026Posted in 365 ProjectTagged 365 Project, Animals, NatureLeave a comment

A dragonfly sat on my shoulder. And my day immediately improved.

Unfortunately, it is really hard to take a picture of your own shoulder without moving.

Day 218: Comics and Animation

September 28, 2026September 28, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, AlannaTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Black&White, Home, LearningLeave a comment

Alanna started a comic school this fall. She is beyond excited. Comics are her obsession. And more than just reading them, they are also her preferred way of expressing herself. Alanna has a very observant drawing style, and she tells a story with every image she draws.

The course also goes through the basics of animation. This has been a totally new discovery for Alanna, and it has been interesting to see how she has already learned to adjust her drawing style. Her animations are – by necessity – much simpler than her other drawings.

Where are the beginner comic book courses for adults?