An Estonian girl who has found a home in Sweden.

Tuesday, May 23

May 23, 2006 Posted by Vaire

The visit went as well as it could have. Funerals are never fun. It is over now, all that remain are memories.

While in Stockholm I took an opportunity to take a few pics of the cats.

Ursus, all grown up

Ursus, all grown up.

Mao

Mao, energetic and climbing as usual.

Now we're off to Double Wars. Toodle-oo!

P.S. The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual music festival where the participating countries perform one song and the populace of Europe votes which one is the best. Finland has been part of it for 40 years and never won, has done very poorly, actually.

Sunday, May 21

May 21, 2006 Posted by Vaire

Finland won the Eurovision song Contest! Woot! Well done! (Happy dance.) I've been checking the Estonian, Finnish and Swedish papers online for articles, here's one by BBC.

While reading reader's comments of Postimees online, I came upon this one. It was in Estonian and I took the liberty of translating it.

Finns And The Climate

+15°C (It won't get any warmer in Finland, so we begin here.)
The Spanish wear winter clothing and gloves.
Finns sunbathe.

+10°C
French try desperately to make the central heating to work.
Finns plant flowers in their gardens.

+5°C
Italian cars won't start.
Finns drive cabriolets.

0°C
Distilled water freezes.
The water of river Vantaa in Finland thickens a little.

-5°C
In California, people almost freeze to death.
Finns have their last grill parties of the season.

-10°C
Brits begin to heat their houses.
Finns begin to wear long sleeves.

-20°C
Australians flee Mallorca.
Finns end their midsummer festivities. The autumn has arrived.

-30°C

Greek freeze to death and vanish from Earth.
Finns begin to dry clothes indors.

-40°C
Paris begins to crumble from cold.
Finns queue to buy hot dogs.

-50°C
Polar bears flee from North Pole.
Finnish army postpones the winter survival courses; they are waiting for the winter colds.

-60°C
Korvatunturi (the home of the Santa Claus) freezes.
Finns rent a video and sit at home.

-70°C
The false Santa moves to South.
Finns are upset that they can't keep Kossu (Koskenkorva vodka) outside anymore. Finnish soldiers attend winter survival courses.

-183°C
Microbes in foodstuffs die.
Finnish cows complain that milkmaid's hands are cold.

-273°C
All atom-based movement ceases.
Finns curse: 'Perkele, it is cold today!'

-300°C
Hell freezes over.
Finland wins the Eurovision song contest.

Thursday, May 18

May 18, 2006 Posted by Vaire

The funeral is on Saturday and I'll be flying over tomorrow. I will be able to cuddle with Mao and Ursus again! I only wish it was a happier occasion I am traveling to Sweden for.

There are no real news, it's the boring life: work-home-eat-sleep. I haven't accomplished anything, although I've got several projects going on. Among these are: a complete revamp of the blog, a sideless surcoat, a handtowel and another pincushion inspired by Göss Vestments.

Next week we'll be working two days and then we're off to Double Wars. Woot!

Sunday, May 7

May 07, 2006 Posted by Vaire

Thank you for your kind words, they are very much appreciated. I still catch myself thinking: 'I should get this for E, she would have liked it'. And then I remember that she's gone forever. I am glad that I met her and that she accepted me, not everyone is blessed with in-laws like her. I miss her.

Meanwhile, I've been busy trying not to think too much about this. Mind you, I haven't accomplished much. I've been starting projects and then ripping them or casting them aside. Except one. The Göss pincushion is finished.

Göss pincushion knot side

Side with a knot. I used a counted stem stitch to embroider this.

Göss pincushion cross side

Side with a cross. Long-armed cross stitch for this.