Finland – Blue Moment

Day 248: Winding Down

October 29, 2026October 29, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Asikkala, Fall, Family, Outdoors, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Activities, Fall, family, Finland, Outdoors, Summer CottageLeave a comment

When I was a small child, our summer cottage (with no electricity or inside plumbing) was not suitable winter use. We would come for a day (or more) in autumn to rake the leaves and close everything up for winter.

I mostly remember having hot chocolate and sandwitches in the sauna steps with my brother, while the adults did… whatever adults do in these situations. We would spend the night at my grandmother’s house in a nearby town.

Now we can stay overnight and cook proper meals in a warm kitchen.

The girls spend time on the shore, doing many of the same things I did with my brother.

Unfortunately, I am now the adult doing whatever adults do…

Luckily, that is not too much.

Day 247: Family Halloween

October 28, 2026October 28, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Asikkala, Fall, Family, Festivals, Finland, Kiara, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Fall, family, Finland, Holidays, Kiara, Summer CottageLeave a comment

Our family tradition of celebrating Halloween at the summer cottage started somewhat by accident. It is the right time of the year for some autumn maintenance and gardening. A few years ago, our work weekend happened to fall on Halloween, so we turned it into a celebration.

So now, even though we were several weeks early (calendar juggling is a reality even within the family), there is no reason small enough for a celebration.

Halloween is definitely not a Finnish tradition, and has only caught on here in the last 10 years or so. When I was a kid, it was as distant as Carnival in Brazil. You had heard of it, but it had nothing to do with you.

So, I still find it hard to believe my kids will grow up carving pumpkins every year.

Day 246: Weight Of the Family

October 26, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Family, Finland, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Black&White, family, Finland, History, LearningLeave a comment

I picked up two family Bibles from my uncle today to deliver to my mum.

They are no light reading. The older of the two was printed in 1849 (177 years!) and weighs around 8 kg. It is impressive that it has remained in the family for so long.

I also find the written Finnish in the Bible fascinating. I can understand about 80% of it – and much of that is because I can guess the words from context, or already know the passage. But a lot has changed in less than200 years.

That’s a weighty piece of history.

Day 244: Short Days

October 24, 2026October 24, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Fall, Finland, Nature, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Fall, Finland, Nature, OutdoorsLeave a comment

Even though it happens every year, it is still a shock to the system how quickly the days get shorter in the autumn. All of a sudden, it is dark when you go to work, and dark when you get home. And it’ll only get worse from here.

It says something about how extreme the change is that, in Finland, the winter blues (or kaamosväsymys) typically start in the autumn, rather than in the dead of winter.

Combine that with the usual (predictable) chaos of life – most intense preparations for peak season at work, the girls’ schoolwork and hobbies – and it is no wonder one feels a bit weary.

But a few sunny, brilliantly colored days do wonders.

Day 242: Ruska

October 21, 2026October 22, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Fall, Finland, Nature, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Fall, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, SceneryLeave a comment

Ruska, in Finnish, is the word for the time in autumn when the leaves change color. It encompasses the colors, the season and the particular affection Finns have for the phenomenon (or, at least, for the few beautiful, sunny days we typically get at this time of the year.

In our household, the season is more typically marked by going through all the “midseason wear” the girls need between summer and winter. And buying six pairs of waterproof gloves to replace the ones lost during sping.

Day 240: More Mushrooms

October 19, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Cooking, Espoo, Fall, Makro, Nature, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Activities, Espoo, Fall, Finland, Nature, OutdoorsLeave a comment

I went mushrooming on my own. Major feat. Actually bringing home almost 10l was an even bigger feat.

Good mushroom spots seem to be big secrets, shared only with the closest family. Asking experts (or anyone who regularly picks mushrooms) where to go is almost sacrilege. You either get a very vague answer, or they tell you outright they only go to their family spot. Even internet forums come up empty.

Having no family who go mushrooming – especially not in Espoo – I was on my own. I used AI to identify a right type of forest. And went in blind.

The first hour was pretty desperate… Not helped by the fact that it had been windy, so the forest floor was covered in fallen leaves – each exactly the same shade as the mushrooms I was looking for.

But then I found them. And the best thing is that where you find one, you are bound to find another.

I marked the spot.

Day 230: Colour Me Cold

October 9, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Fall, Finland, Nature, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Fall, Finland, Nature, OutdoorsLeave a comment

It’s here. All the prettiness.

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 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.