Fall – 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 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 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 212: Soukka Day

September 22, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Espoo, Fall, KiaraLeave a comment

Finns are not very good at building neighborhood communities. In general, Finns are not very good at casual socializing. Having lived in our current house for five years, only now – through Scouts – have I realized there is actually any community activity at all.

So today was a Soukka Neighborhood Day. The girls participated in a Scouts skill trail, which rewarded participants with a free crepe and jam.

Grassroots participation.

Day 198: Reinvention

September 8, 2026September 8, 2026Posted in 365 Project, FallTagged 365 Project, FallLeave a comment

All over the world, the New Year is a time to reinvent yourself, to start something new.

However, September as a fresh start is only a concept in the Nothern Hemisphere. In the South, the school year begins around the start of a calendar year, so there is nothing “new” about the fall.

That means we get double the nudges to reinvent ourselves. With the best intentions.

Day 188: Back to School

August 28, 2026August 28, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Espoo, Family, Getting started, Kiara, Stuart, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, Espoo, Fall, Getting started, Kiara, Learning, StuartLeave a comment

First day in the second grade.

New backpacks, pencil cases, and sweaters.

I wonder how many years we are still allowed to walk the girls to school on their first day.