Easy holiday moods

Every holiday has it's highlights and less nice moments. We prefer to take pictures of those easy and happy moments. When obstacles come on our way we often focus on solving the problems and not making any documentation. The story of our two and a half weeks time in Finland would be different if I would have taken pictures of our little arguments or when the wheel of our car got flat on a sandy road, when it was raining days and days, when we were tired of just driving to get to the next location, when everything is just so expensive and when I had to wear woolen socks in July :). Now we can laugh again to those typical grumpy moments.

Today I was watching all the nice pictures from our trip and missed already so many things and most of all the different colors, friendliness of people, our family and friends and all sensations and views. I could live again in Finland one day! I felt comfortable, I felt the power of the language and the environment making it easier to find out things and laugh about things. 

After living so many years away from my home country, I'm always surprised how easy I seem to fit in the system  as a visitor. Reality might be different and the flexibility that you develop after trying to adapt to new places during the years abroad made me a more adventurous mind than I used to be. The nordic way of living is more connected to Nature, but I'm afraid it's more conservative and less flexible than I remember. I love staying in Finland every summer, it's clearing my mind and giving me a boost of confidence, more clarity of mind. I'm planning to make a tour alone next year to see some people and friends that I lost a contact a bit. 

       

Back to this summer and back to energy giving moments. We were in many places: Kajaani, Sotkamo, Kuopio, Tammisaari and Helsinki. I have only pictures from Sotkamo and Tammisaari and I regret not taking more pictures. Maybe I was tired and we were just enjoying the flow of our vacation. Just a way it is supposed to be. There is no must and rush. 

Idyllic Tammisaari

  

We made a nice apple crumble with my friend

Silly pose dear, but the colors are nice!

Loving the softness of summer evenings

Maitohorsma- underrated beauty

The best holiday moments are sometimes just small sudden changes of light, wind, sounds and flying thoughts during the morning coffee. Experiencing the Nature and the details are giving a calm feeling and teaching bigger things about life and the existence. 

Warming up the Sauna

Petanque

Lake "Oulujärvi" and the Island "Ärjänsaari"on the background. 

We want to enjoy the last weeks of summer in Holland.It's quite hot compared to Finland right now, but it will change next week. I'm airing our house during the night and stay in the shadows during the days. Many people in our neighborhood stay hours and hours in the direct sun on a grass field by the canal. I do not see any fun in there. The most beautiful moments for me are the darker evenings of August when it's still possible to be outside. 

Then I breath in the air 

and sure remember  the fresh forest smell from Finland again.

And the laugh and the rhythm of the language

those sounds are staying in my head

making me smile

Rowing in  lake "Sapsojärvi" in Sotkamo

Green grass everywhere!

There are so many hidden places and corners at the Park in the Summer time. The grass is so high at some spots that you only can follow the walking paths, because the green jungle has been spreading all over. It is also the high season for all sort of bugs, including the Tick. I would not maybe sit on these benches in the picture below, the surrounding grass looks like a Tick Paradise. I actually love all sorts of green plants and especially the spiky grass with strong graphic lines and the sharp compositions that these plants seem to be naturally arranged. It symbolises to me the vitality of the Nature and the huge, fast power of growth.

I had two nice walks this weekend with my daughter. This was one of the rare weekends this summer without the rain or cool weather. The evening walk was interesting. In a good Weather all sorts of groups are gathering at the park and you see happy looking people grilling, listening to music, playing outdoor games and enjoying the open or hidden spaces at the park. One bigger group even had their own DJ.

I don't go often for walks later in the evenings. The normal evening routines with the Children are taking so much time and then it is already too late and almost a sleeping time. But I think I should go more often for a walk in the evening. It just gives a peaceful feeling and the fresh air (as fresh as it can be in the City)just clears the mind and the Nature with all its colors gives more space for positive thinking and for the open mind. And with that sort of balanced peace...it is easy to go to sleep.

Nice picnic: Someone was painting, there was a small band playing..like a hippie meeting and looked like a lots of fun!

On Sunday morning we went to Vondelpark first for a Coffee and then watched a little bit the the Half Marathon at the park. There was the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam last week. We go often for a coffee in "Vondeltuin", which is a nice outdoor Cafe just in the opposite end of the Vondelpark if you walk or cycle through the park from the Centre. There is a playground and a big, high slide where the kids love to climb. In the Summer they also organise "a silent Disco" for a few times. Everyone is wearing earphones and dancing! The people living in the neighbouring houses can sleep in peace and it must be fun to look at the people dancing like this. I would really like to go there once this summer:-).

       

Vondelpark

Inspired from the weekend, I went for a jog and I am ready for this new week! It was good to be outdoors first thing in the morning. So my "feel good recipe" is having some fresh air in the evening and in the morning and I guess every time when it is possible!

The memories from the Summer time are a collection of small moments that matter to you and give a smile on your face. It doesn't have to be something big and spectacular, the best things are connected to the small flashes of feeling, noticing the moment and being present to yourself and the people around you. And the Nature is full of wonders to see if you stop and have a closer look!