Activities – Blue Moment

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 53: Happiness

March 30, 2026March 30, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Family, Finland, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Finland, KiaraLeave a comment

The girls and I decorated the willow branches for Palm Sunday. The combination of bright colors and cheerful catkins make me happy – especially as we had fun decorating them together.

Projects like this can be hard to start after a full day at work, but once you get going (typically bacause you have to, like now, with no other opportunity before Sunday) they are well worth it!

Day 52: Knitting

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Everyday objectsTagged 365 Project, Activities, Everyday objectsLeave a comment

I love the idea of knitting. Every so often, I get excited, dig out my needles, and start a new project.

What draws me to knitting is the thought that, once you have learned it, your hands can create something beautiful, while your mind wonders elsewhere.

The problem is that I don’t have the patience to get to that level. I try, make mistakes, undo the progress, try again, get frustrated, and leave the project.

Until next time.

Day 51: One More Trick

March 28, 2026March 29, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Home, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Activities, KiaraLeave a comment

Kiara and Alanna go to a circus school every week – and love it! Before this, we tried dancing and gymnastics, but they were not quite right. My girls don’t want to move as they are told, they want to move as they feel.

So circus school fits their personality better. They still practice flexibility, performing, and working in a group – but they can also do tricks, climb, juggle, and build pyramids. And they are encouraged to find their own way of doing things.

Now, Kiara has gotten it into her head she wants to start cheerleading. She is small, so she wants to be a ‘flyer’. We’ll see.

Day 50: Catkins

March 27, 2026March 27, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Makro, Nature, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Activities, Finland, Makro, Nature, Outdoors, SpringLeave a comment

Appearance of willow catkins (pajunkissa) is a sure sign of spring – although the whole reason the catkins have “fur” is to protect the flowers from the cold.

In Finland, there is a tradition of collecting willow branches before Palm Sunday, decorating them and having kids go around the neighborhood to exchange the branches for candiy. It’s a Finnish version of “trick-or-treating”.

Or, actually, you should say that trick-or-treat is American-style virpominen. After all, the Finnish tradition has been around for hundreds of years.

Day 36: Miniatures

March 11, 2026March 12, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, StuartTagged 365 Project, Activities, StuartLeave a comment

Last Father’s Day, girls and I got Stuart a small wooden model car as a present. He really enjoyed putting it together. It’ fiddly, but you see the progress immediately…

Now he is building a train. Much more fiddly, apparently.

Day 30: The Law of Inertia

March 6, 2026March 6, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, HomeTagged 365 Project, Activities, HomeLeave a comment

Over the years I have realized that the only way I exercise regularly is to have everything I need ready at home. I actually enjoy going to the gym. But after a long day, or facing a cold early morning, getting there just takes too much mental effort.

Instead I just step into my shoes at home for a “quick 10 min stretch” and 90% of the time, once the initial friction is beaten, I keep going. Law of inertia.

And when I really can’t be bothered, that’s fine too. Ten minutes of stretching is still better than nothing.

Day 28: Music or not

March 4, 2026March 4, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Everyday objects, HomeTagged 365 Project, Activities, Everyday objects, HomeLeave a comment

I’m not big on music. I occassionally listen to something in the background, but more often I listen to books or (much more rarely) podcasts. The only exception is during exercise. You really need rythm to motivate yourself to run or lift weights.

Stuart plays guitar and I’m glad girls have inherited some of his enthusiasm. At this stage (with no training at all) it is too early to judge talent. But they play every music instrument they have with gusto!

Kiara especially likes to listen to music while she draws or does crafts. I’ve been surprised to realize she enjoys classical music too – and for one whole summer her favourite song was a Swedish choir rendition of Santa Lucia (a reference that probably makes more sense to anyone from Scandinavia).

Day 26: Muizenberg Beach

March 2, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Africa, Alanna, Family, Kiara, Stuart, Travelling, WaterTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Kiara, Outdoors, Scenery, South Africa, TravelLeave a comment

Cape Town faces the Atlantic, so the water is pretty chilly even in summer. Muizenberg Beach is a popular surfing destination because of the good waves it gets, but any sane surfer wears a wetsuit.

Despite the cold, Kiara and Alanna squeezed every bit of fun out of the waves, sand, and sun in the last hours before heading to the airport. Since they were soaked to the skin and covered in wet sand, we had luckily scheduled time for a shower before starting our trip.

Day 23: Cape Winelands and impossible-to-spell Franschhoek

February 28, 2026March 1, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Family, Nature, Outdoors, Travelling, WildlifeTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, family, Kiara, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, South Africa, TravelLeave a comment

I love proper breakfast. Whenever I find the time, I cook different dishes even just for myself. I adore eggs in all forms, sauces, mushrooms, avo, bacon, salmon, yogurt, jams… you name it. Funnily enough, breakfast is the only meal Stuart does not cook. And rarely eats.

But there was no need to twist his arm to get him to enjoy a great breakfast in Franschhoek. The market was even on, so we spent a good few hours around town before taking a scenic drive to Vredenheim Wine Estate to meet the whole wider family for lunch.

A day of beauty and decadence.

And yes, despite visiting Franschhoek at least 15 times over the years, I still need to check the spelling every time…