Sleep in sunlight and feel warm

Gloominess vs skijumping and finished socks

I went for a walk today and everything I saw was grey, wind was blowing and dropping the snow from the trees and making my face red. The canal was frozen and there were some footprints on the ice, but I decided to stay on the shore. Also my camera refused to work because it was so "cold" (-1 celsius). I got some nice photos, although they all seem so grey. I felt kind of gloomy myself too...

Today's saviour was skijumping on TV. I'm not a big fan of competitive sports, but there are 2 exceptions -> skijumping and athletics. I used to do track & field sports when I was in elementary school and I loved to run 100 metres or do long jump. I didn't practice skijumping understandably (of course I wanted to!), but I went to Puijo skijumping competition every year since I was in kindergarten. I can still remember how cold it was then, how fantastic the jumps were and how the fireworks lighted the dark evening sky after the competition. This year I'm going to go there again, because the atmosphere just can't get through TV screen. Too bad they don't serve soya sausages there, because sausages with mustard are a MUST in Puijo! And Salmiakkikala candies are a must when I watch skijumping :)


I also finished my first socks ever. The yarn (Noro Kureyon sock) was tearing my skin and I had to use hand cream every evening I went to sleep. However the socks were worth all the small cuts I got on my fingers.

Next in line I have one pair of red fingerless mittens (special wish) and then I'll try to make a top for the first time (I've never tried knitting with circular needles before!). I already bought the yarn (Noro Cash Iroha in purple) and it's just waiting for me and my needles. As you may notice, I'm really in love with Noro yarns, just because of the colours! It's really hard to find colourful yarns from here, maybe most of the knitters prefer black, brown, beige or pastel colours. Because pound is so cheap at the moment, I've ordered some yarns from England and I got very good service and quick delivery from Stash Fine Yarns. Big recommendations!

Whiteness and warmth

Today I went to the shop and it was so white all around me. I hope the snow would last forever, but next week it will be +degrees again.

Today I made quite tasty couscous salad. My relatives often tell me it's really hard to come up with something to make for vegetarian people to eat. This salad is a very good example how vegetarian foods can be the most easiest foods to prepare! I used only couscous, tomatoes, cucumber, onions, fetacheese, cabbage and basilika, mixed all and...that was it! Dessert was delicious and simple too, blue- and raspberries with vegan vanilla sauce :)




Like always, I love to drink green tea after eating. I've felt that green tea somehow helps your digestion, because if you've been eating too much, green tea makes you feel a lot better. In the mornings I drink black tea to wake myself up, daytime I prefer green tea and in the evenings my cup is filled with herb teas. My favourites are for example Clipper teas, Celestial Seasonings -teas and a special healthy favourite is Sonnentor's Pu Erh tea, which tastes and smells like horse shit :D

I got Taika mug as a christmas present this year and I absolutely love it! It's big enough for tea, because I love to drink big amounts at a time. I guess everyone has their special mugs for drinking tea or coffee :)




I also started aerobic season yesterday. I bought old Fitness-magazines from the library on wednesday and I've been reading them, watching TV and knitting yesterday and today. One thing annoys me though -> those magazines constantly offer new "programs" for readers, like "how to get flat stomach in 3 months" or "you can run even faster if you follow this program". Is it so, that people really need to program exercising too? Why not exercise just because you like it? And when you don't feel like it, then just stay at home :)

Quiz failure

I started to go to a local pub quiz last autumn, because I thought I know something. Previous months have proven me wrong. Last week we ended up first (a miracle happened for sure!) and today we dropped back to our normal place -> we were 6th.

I knew a couple of answers, about japanese food and Sarah Palin. Most of the questions were just impossible once again, but it was fun anyway. I just can't understand how someone can remember stuff like "the 5 islands on the Pacific which are under British jurisdiction"...


I really need to buy a new memory card for my camera. I took some photos today and although the quality was not very good, I could take only 10 photos :D I should also study taking photos, now I just aim and shoot and I have no idea about lights or shadows. I also feel a bit uncomfortable, when I have to take photos on public places. I seem to need more practice.



Luckily my yarns can't run away and they're very willing to appear in photos. I'm still making the second sock (the yarn keeps breaking my already dry skin) and it takes a while but at the same time I'm planning on making a top, other pair of socks and fingerless mittens.




I got lots of yarns as a christmas present and I also took part in one yarn swap before christmas. When I got home from my holidays I received a package from Italy, including local yarn (picture below), chocolate and christmas ornaments. At the same day I also received organic teas from Canada, lovely Ivan had collected them from local shops. I'm so happy to have friends :)

So I received the camera in the morning...

But I'm way too busy to write anything now. I'm supposed to go to the centre, take the stupid passport photos (only because I need them for my aerobic card...), then aerobic, pubquiz and then I can start to practice my camera moves :) I was surprised when I found out that the camera is so small, but the main thing is that it works. I took couple of pictures already and because I'm a proud mom of a new sock, I want to publish the picture of my new baby.

New blog - now in English!

I'm going to start a new blog soon (when I get my brand new camera!). I'm going to write mostly about knitting, food, ecological lifestyle and whatever comes to my mind, so basically about everything. My English is not perfect, so try to tolerate my mistakes. The main thing is that my friends know what's happening in my life, because 1) I'm too lazy when it comes to writing letters and 2) I don't have money to travel and visit everyone.

So, lots of photos, stories, sunshine to come. See you soon!