After a pause of a few weeks (trips, flu etc.) I had a swim in the lake again. This time I yielded to sauna's temptation - but only AFTER swimming! After saunabathing I finished it all (of course!) with a last dip in the cold water before drying and dressing myself - and had that wonderful, relaxed feeling for the rest of the afternoon!
The weather was a few degrees colder than water, sunny and beautiful but I must admit the wind was a bit too "fresh" to my liking...

Today's hesitations reminded me that to keep this "hobby" enjoyable I must NOT let next time be farther than a week away!

This summer has been extraordinarily warm in Finland. In the southwestern parts, where I live, the warmer-than-average weather still continues. Nights have of course become colder tho still above freezing, so maples have started to get fall colors and waters as well in lakes as in the sea have turned cooler, meaning 55F in "my lake" yesterday when I took a quick swim - YAHOO - I have been able to keep it up, at least once a week!

Now, in Finland there is a long tradition of winterswimming because we have the SAUNA. Country saunas are usually by the lake or sea and taking a dip in a hole in the ice (or rolling in the snow) is customary for many people during saunabathing. In and around Turku there are three places where during winter a sauna is warmed three times a week and, when the waters are frozen, an icehole kept open for swimming - they work as clubs with nominal fees.

This year I am trying to continue taking a dip all year round if my arthritis just allows it, cold is good for it but hot is not - that's why I have not been to sauna for a few years. Now I'm going to try without sauna as long as I can and with sauna after that - as long as I can...

We'll see how it goes - GL to me!!!   If you don't know I can inform you that water under the ice does not get colder than 39 F - haha!

Well, my three daughters are all grown-ups and living in their own homes - I & hubby were left to take care of old Winkie, a very special Norwich terrier who was too old to move any more.  Puppy Penny came to liven us up when Winkie flew to dogs' heaven two years ago. Penny is half Labrador / half something else, is going to be 2 years next week and has she been lively! She is mostly good and even obedient in the house but when she is taken out ! there is no keeping her in line... As a puppy she accidentally fell to the sea and did not go to water since until this summer her Labrador friend Morgan taught her water games in the lake. She does not swim yet but goes deep enough to snatch Morgan's ball when he is still swimming and cannot defend his haul - haha! 

 

A discussion about flytraps led to mushrooms and wild fungi and eating them. In Europe they are largely used and some wild kinds are so appreciated that they are even exported, to Italy we sell for instance boletus. Here in Finland most people (not all, lo!) recognize at least three kinds but there are lots of enthusiasts who know more - I myself pick about 20 sorts and distinguish 3-4 most poisonous ones. The rule is = never pick an unknown fungus.

I was rather surprised when I realized during my visit to US that none of my American cousins in Illinois  or Minnesota knew or used fungi. Talking with a grab friend from Massachusetts it seemed to be likewise. This made me really curious, how is it in all the other states in US - I cannot believe that edible fungi do not grow anywhere there!  Of course there is prejudice - here too - but doesn't  ANYONE anywhere on that continent gather and eat them? Alaska?

And what about Canada?

Here are just a few examples of my picks, if prepared, fried umbrellas in cream for instance - mmmm, delicious...

Being the 1billion'th visitor to some site I just won a 2100 dollar holiday in Florida, with every luxury, car use included - and it was true, I called the number and asked,

BUT

I cannot afford the flight to Florida and back just now !!! 

Having not been abroad since 2003 I'm just LUSTING after travelling and as Venice is not yet possible even Florida would do - so isn't this an INFURIATING situation,  GRRRR RR R

(While laughing keep in mind that English is not our language, we speak Finnish)

 

> Real, authentic Finnish menus from restaurants  ( for visiting foreigners! ):
>
> Shrimp and crap salad for two
> You can have crap on your pizza
> Tepid chicken salad with bread
> We give you water only when you ask
> (Café Rico, Turku 1997)
>
>    Dead snails from Åland in garlic and butter sauce
> The cock is recommending today's beef
> We can serve your steak with much blood, some blood, medium or
> well-done.
> (Ramada Hotel, Turku 1999)
>
> The house's tart is called Torttu in Finnish and is warm. Ice cream
> with warm bear halves and toffee sauce Finnish mushroom salad -
> wild, salty and sticky mushrooms with cream sauce and pickles
> (Fransmanni, Turku 1993)
>
> Mexican burrito with mutilated chicken meat and salsa
> (Raxx, Turku 1998)
>
> Try traditional Finnish pee soup
> We can bring the nuts and drinks to your room (room service card)
> Drink something if you want (room service card) On our breakfast
> table you will find the cheese, the meat and some others
> Omelet is made with recent eggs from a local farm where the chickens
> are alive
> (Hotelli Helka, Helsinki 1993)
>
> This week is "bird meat week" but we also have a good selection of
> mammal meat.
> Japanese guests can have traditional breakfast with stinky rice and
> fishes
> Cocktails are served in bar and there only. You must drink cocktails
> there only.
> Blini served with cream and not real caviar
> (Hamburger Börs, Turku 1997)
>
>
> Tar ice cream with lingon berries.
> (Viking Restaurant Harald, Turku 1998)
>
> Children's hamburger is served with the French
> Pizzas after clock 21 are not. Sorry.
> (Memphis, Helsinki 1994)

My summer started today, had this year's 1st swim in a lake - water 17 degrees C, 63 F, VOW, felt cool and fresh but not really cold.  Weather  has been warm since yesterday but I only dared go and try this afternoon...  I hope I can keep it up all summer, better than the skiing which ended as soon as it started tho it was not my fault that snow melted so soon - or did I start a little too late?

 

Haven't been interested in the Eurovision contests for years and Finland has scored so badly that it often has not participated at all, and what happens quite suddenly - our show wins with a better score than ever in the history of Eurovision!!!

HAHA HAHA, the hard rock "monsters" called LORD make all Finland go just crazy, but really  C R A Z Y... and I don't know what to think - I don't like hard metal rock or monsters but  what else can I do but shout CONGRATS LORD, HURRAY FINLAND like the rest of us!

 

Well, my winter sports started late and ah, so well, but ended shortly.   Next day it started to rain - water, I mean - so there was no trail to go back to...

So instead of skis I'm now daily wearing rubber boots, fine Swedish "Tretorn" boots. In Finland we don't only have "Nokia" phones, we also have "Nokia" boots (- but I got the Swedish ones on discount, haha)!

In English films they always wear "Wellingtons" - what are the best rubber boots called in the US?

Now I REALLY must brag about something, I have been so BRAVE!

Two years ago I bought in a sale a new pair of skis and matching shoes, had a trial run of a few kilometres  - and then spring was there. What I had learned was that getting the waxing right  was a really hard job and bad waxing meant bad going.  Result: next year (last year that is) I did not have the courage to start waxing so I did not get on the trail at all.

My husband has taken to cross country skiing only a few years ago but he is really keen and has also learnt what needs to be known about waxing, so this year he offered to do it for me. But guess what - I have not been interested !!! though exeptionally we have had several weeks of good skiing weather even here in Southwestern Finland.

Until today when already birds are singing, sun is shining, snow is melting and the spring is almost there! On wobbly legs I really made the 3 km tour of the maintained trail which starts almost behind my house - and felt like winning in the Olympics. I am going to do it again tomorrow and maybe, if the snow stays a couple of days more, I'll go on a longer trail starting on the lake near by.

I had completely forgotten what a pleasure it is to ski slowly in the white woods. Even on a common trail you don't meet many people on a workday morning and you can enjoy the quietness of being alone in nature and afterwards feel you have achieved something when you come home hot in the face and happy! I have done a lot of crosscountry skiing in my youth and it' s like bicycle riding - you don't forget it. But what I must get back is the balance, strength and breath I have lost sitting in front of TV or online (in Grab!).

Better late than never, welcome better habits and longer life, my friends!