My Funny Valentine

"My Funny Valentine.
Sweet comic valentine.
You make me smile with my heart.
Your looks are laughable,
unphotographable,
yet your my favorite work of art."
- Frank Sinatra


Today I hosted a 'Valentine's Day' play group at my house through the AWC (American Women's Club). I joined the club last fall hoping to meet other English speaking mothers with young children. Unfortunately they only have 3 formal events planned annually, parties associated with Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. Not wanting to wait until April, we organized an informal play day that was a success.


Our house was filled with mothers and kids ranging from 10 months to 6 years. We decorated cookies, made special Valentines, snacked, and played, played, played. All the kids had a blast and the mothers were very interested in doing something monthly, rotating between each other's house.

The Garden

"Come into the garden, It's magical trees. Dapple the sun as they sway with each lazy breeze; They'll set your mind at ease.
Pretend you're a child, with nothing to hide, Then we'll join hands and let the universe swing wide; We'll lay our fears aside"
- Carly Simon


After successfully making it through a day where temperatures dropped to the -20's (-30's with the windchill), we rewarded ourselves with a visit to Helsinki Gardenia. Located in the heart of Helsinki University campus, the triangular green house is a tropical paradise...no mittens, snow suits, hats, or scarves required!


Once we entered Gardenia, our winter wear was shed and left on a hook as we imagined we were living in the tropics. Warm, humid air filled the room. Friendly fish and turtles greeting us too. The garden was full of orchids, herbs, ivies, ferns, palms, bamboo and millions of other plants.


The boys enjoyed the faux bug and spider exhibits as well as running on the stone paths. After touring the garden we sat in the small cafe where we shared a few cookies. Then the boys played in the 'children's learning corner.' Bird houses and nests, a fox habitat, pine cone hole, frog pond, and coloring tables were set up for a small hands-on experience.

Sushi Bar

"Healthy menu.
It's my favorite Japanese meal.
Ooo, colorful art of the food.
It's a beautiful Japanese meal.
Sushi, sushi, sushi bar!
Going to a sushi bar!"
- Shonen Knife






Monday morning the boys and I headed over to a friends house for a beginners lesson on making sushi. While the boys entertained themselves (for the most part), I learned the secrets of sushi. From how to create the perfect rice, to rolling in-side-out rolls...the lesson was a success. When the seaweed and ingredients were gone, we all sat down for a delightful lunch.












The rolls we made were combinations of crab, salmon, avocado, carrots, red pepper, cucumber, and cream cheese. I was quite impressed with the outcome. I still need to practice the 'rolling' technique, some could have been rolled a little tighter.


We finally returned to the city at 1500...just in time to get the house ready for our Monday night Football/Superbowl party (thanks to Slingbox and TiVo)! We had a few friends over for burgers and beer, and some delicious s'mores for dessert.

Our Land, Maamme (Finnish National Anthem)

"Our land, our land, our motherland,
Sound loud, O name of worth!
No mount that meets the heaven's band,
No hidden vale, no wavewashed strand,
Is loved, as is our native North,
Our own forefathers' earth."
- Vänrikki Stoolin tarinat, Johan Ludvig Runeberg









February 5, 1804, Johan Ludvig Runeberg was born. Known as the national poet of Finland, his works focused on rural life in his country. Fänrik Ståls sägner, his most famous piece, opens with the poem Our Land, Maamme which became the Finnish National Anthem in 1848.






Present day, Finns celebrates February 5th each year by eating a Runeberg's tart. This Finnish pastry, seasoned with almonds and rum, topped with raspberry jam in a sugar ring on the tart is delicious and are available only during this limited time. Special stands are posted outside each market to ensure the most fresh Runeberg's Tarts in town.

Meltdown

"Now here it's gettin hot hot hot...
It's getting hot out and hotter.
Man it's getting hot hot.
getting hot around here.
It's a meltdown.
it's a meltdown."
- AC/DC


When we arrived back to Finland 2 weeks ago, so did the beautiful winter weather with tons of 'light' snow. Ever since there has been at least a 6 inch ground cover of snow so light, almost sand-like, that you could not even pack it to make a snowball. The temperature has been steady, well below freezing...until yesterday.


Our winter wonderland has now turned into a slushy mess. The dormant grass is now visible beneath a sheet of glass that freezes each night. The piles of snow are now turning into mini-lakes and forming small streams down each street and sidewalk as they melt. These warm temperatures are only predicted for one more day until they plummet down to -19 C (-1 F). Then our slushy mess will turn into one HUGE iceberg. This is going to be fun!