Christmas Peace

I'm sorry. Haven't been around. Those feet are still happy. Increasingly so :-)

Now it is almost time to leave for another holy journey: will spend Christmas week at Levi in Kittilä, Lapland. So it is the same place and setting as in April: voluntary work at the chapel, some music, some skiing. However, it is significantly darker now as the sun won't rise at all in those areas above the Arctic Circle...

This is how it looked there last Christmas. Yes, I'm looking forward! And yes, there will be two of us going.

Pieds heureux

I've been too passive writing here, I admit.

And there are all kind of good excuses. For example, just last week I was busy exploring the flora and fauna near Lac Neuchâtel in Switzerland. - Came across with some happy feet too ;-)

The stay with the sisters of Grandchamp was gentle and full of blessings. The group I was with was also very special; all I could do was admire their trust and openness.

Nous rendons Grâce à Dieu!

Balcony Party - before and after

Last Friday we celebrated the six years of good balcony life... which will now be interrupted by a major renovation in the whole house.

The party was most enjoyable :-)

Before the party, it all looked very bright and clean.

On the following day, I invited neighbours over. Two of them played very actively - until sleep came.

Ukki on my mind

My two-day stay at Ukinranta was an encouraging one. The spontaneous meeting of old and new friends was really refreshing. The rooms are nice! And so are the views. I felt at home - pretty much like in the good old Morbacka, which we now have left behind us.

After my annual ritual or rug washing, the pier railings became neatly decorated. Ukki makes for great swimming too!

We also did some visioning/brainstorming on the future of Ukinranta. What would be its true mission? We are fond of its name, "ukki" meaning grandfather (and "ranta" beach or shore). What kind of grandfatherly wisdom or care could be nurtured - and shared - in that house?

Cloud staring

It has been over two years since the last public appearance of the Happy Foot. (Which, of course, is entirely different from the pair of voting feet, right.) Time for an update, huh?

The foot and its owner spent an enjoyable week in the ever-refreshing atmosphere of Heponiemi. Despite the largely exciting voluntary work that was assigned to me, and several laid-back conversations, there were many lovely moments suitable for staring at clouds, the lake and the many birds (whose names I rather leave as a mystery, hmm) ... And to listen to the soothing song of the waves.

Voting with my feet

Last Tuesday I noticed - somewhat by surprise - that all the items on my work to-do list had been cleared. This means holiday!

The first few days were then spent with my nephew who's just returned home from his exchange year in Spain. Yesterday, along our bike tour, we found some fun & thought provoking pieces of environmental art in the Kivinokka recreation area. This one is called "Vote with your feet".

There are many things and commitments planned for the forthcoming 5 weeks. Three weeks will be spent in silent retreat houses, combining rest and voluntary work. Yet two weeks remain unprogrammed. Beautiful.

Reminiscence

I have always felt some unease with celebrating juhannus i.e. Midsummer. The way Finns typically celebrate it doesn't appeal to those of us who are less big on drinking and who haven't got huge family cottages - or families, for that matter - to gather at.

So it is today too. I'm having a day off, with a very loose agenda. It feels quite nice to stay at home after an intensive 10-day residential course with all the social interaction - however much I loved it there.

On such a day it is also nice to think back to past Midsummers (hence the picture).

Little joys

There are people close to me who are in the habit of carrying home tons of presents from pupils every year this time (and just before Christmas). These people are called teachers. Their supply of flowers, chocolate and other goodies is totally overflowing at the end of school year.

Now I'm not a teacher. Therefore, receiving surprise presents from choir members and clients earlier this week felt just sweet. It was so unexpected. And, as everybody will understand, it is not so much the presents themselves but these people's caring and good will which bring all that joy.

Die Grünen

It's been a while since the last entry I reckon. Well there have been so many other things: work, friends, parents, vappu. Morbacka, Lerins, Stuttgart. Back ache and other bits of everyday life.

Ok, enough with excuses! Meanwhile, summer is really getting closer. These pictures taken between 1 May and this morning should make it clear. I just love the pale spring green colour of birch leaves...

Let there be... water

The older I get the more fascinated I am about seasons. The coming of spring, especially, fills me with indescribable enthusiasm.

Ice is gone, new life awaits. - And so it is also in our lives :-)

Unfortunately, there are also other aspects to getting older. Since yesterday, I'm being troubled by some unexpected back pain. Ordinary sitting is no good, and sleeping was difficult. Having dealt with daily back aches ever since 1988, this should be business as usual. Yet this feels different and somehow deeper. I'm taking it very easy and canceling some activities. And then what?


(Btw the same spot was also photographed on 2 July, 2007. "Sans paroles".)

Bright Light Therapy

Been exposed to an huge amounts of light energy! Sun glasses were a must around these areas.

Levi was beautiful. Beyond words (in this context).

Life goes on in the rainy south. Beside work, four concerts/performances are coming up this week, heippa.

Lapland calling

Helsinki is having yet another snow storm. For me, it is time to change sceneries. Heading towards the ski tracks at Levi. And the chapel! (Welcome on Friday evening, or any day between 11 and 15.)

Ursula

Did some necessary work in the morning. Then enjoyed a 2-hour lunch with a friend at Café Ursula. What would be nicer on a day like this?

P.S. Two more days before skiing hols!

Light Breaking Through

The older I get the more inspiration I find in light. (In case you didn't notice it yet!) And, sometimes, the lack of it. This all the more true now, right after Equinox, when waking up to new days is plain fun. Well, on most mornings, anyway!

I made this piece of Art 6 days before Equinox, during a Spiritual Direction weekend.

Let there be light

I am back. Well, at least I decided to inform any potential reader of this blog that light is less (and less) scarce these days. We still have loads of snow and ice. But skiing season is practically over. (Except for those of us who are going to Lapland soon :-)

Life off line tastes good. Fasting from Facebook was a good decision. But there are nice things over there too. After all, things tend to be less black and white.