Found objects

When on a beach, do you stoop? Search for shells? Have you ever brought sea shells home? Put them in a glass jar maybe? I have. And then I wanted to make lamp out of it.



About five years ago I turned an old apothecary jar into a lamp. The transformation was pretty straightforward with a simple bulb and switch combo that can be bought at a hardware store. For the jar of shells I didn't have the possibility to dash into the store again, so I had to improvise a bit. Luckily there was a spare simple lamp base (from Ikea, ridiculously cheap of course) that was just small enought to fit into the glass jar. Add shells and there you go!



Once upon a time there was an old (and I mean falling-apart-old) school desk that had been painted the most marvelous light blue. I got it from my neighbor who got it from someone else and you know how it goes. Anyway it sat out in the rain and sleet and snow for years because I had no place for it and nobody wanted it. The kids got plenty of play time out of it in our backyard, but this summer it came to its end. I kept a bunch of the better parts, for something, I didn't know what but I just couldn't throw away the planks because they were so beautiful.



And then came the a-ha! moment. I made a little sign out of the desk lid.



And then I did it all over again, in 1/12 scale. More about the miniature versions in my dollshouse blog.

My greek

Have I told about my love for tzatziki? I could eat it every day. With anything. Here's how I make it.

Tzatziki

thick greek-style yoghurt
cucumber, grated and drained
garlic
lemon infused olive oil
white balsamic vinegar
black pepper
salt

Tzatziki reminds me of Tim Winton's book, The Riders. There's a scene where in the middle of uncertainty tztatziki is made from the few simple ingredients around, it has etched into my mind.

There must be an little greek living in me. My greek is non-existent (I only know the letters in the greek alphabet due to my engineering background), but it's a language I'd like to learn one day. I have a dream of inhabiting an old little wretched house on one of those jewel-like islands of Greece. Eating feta cheese and olives, enoying the occasional glass of chilled ouzo. Kalispera!

Worms, whole

I've been a bit of a lazy gardener this year, mostly admiring the perennial herbs sprouting automatically. Peppermint, chives and oregano have followed the crazy growth spurt of our rhubarb. I finally managed to throw some flat-leafed parsley seeds in as well.



Our kids treat seem to admire most living creatures, no matter what the size or how slimy the appearance. It seems that all those times I've bit back on my tongue not to give away any "oh yuck" sentiments has paid off. The gazillion-legged bugs living under rocks get the same gentle treatment as the big worms found in our tiny herb & flower garden. Bees and spiders do not rouse screaming but gentle admiration towards the littlest creatures carrying about their businesses in our world.

(Matti has not severed his right arm, he's just playing with an empty seed packet after we planted peas).

A short story

Lemony and cross

This handy little thing is absolutely the best way to juice lemons. And you won't hear me complaining about its color either.

I like to keep lemons at hand all the time, not just for cooking purposes. A few good lemons add zest to any old kitchen and are a bit like proof of actual cooking taking place at times. And the scent of lemons! How can so much energy be packed into a single fruit, miraculous.


A spritz of lemon juice instantly upgrades plain water to something more, well, lemony. A simple summer thrist quencher.

And finally, we do have summer in Finland! I have been enjoying the sun and warmth and observing the hilariously happy kids running around. At times I've been lazily trying to figure out the Helsingin Sanomat crosswords, a bit tricky this one, I must say. I've had to to succumb to using an eraser as well...lack of practise, or something.