30-31.12.2009

When the sun has gone down there's that lovely magical deep blue of winter outside.
Occasionally you can also spot multiple UFO-like reflections of your kitchen lamp in the window :)


After midnight the streetlamps turn it all into a warm lit world where every sound is muffled...

Until dawn arrives again with yet again another hue of light.

One you can only get on a cold, cold morning..

The last day of 2009.

I've been thinking of perhaps digging into the photo project 365 for 2010.. but I'm not committing fully. Because I know myself, I will miss days :)

And then I'll have no option but to kick myself.

Hoping to complete more POD (photo of the day) months though...

She growls no more...

Tawny dearest..
After the box arrived..

...she's been all smiles!

Licorice the cat has been played with ALL the time.

Except when Niina's been outside covered in snow :)

Thanks sis!

We love you!

PS. Let me know how you liked the new Tupla..

Umm yes I did.. :)

Get a couple nice presents myself.
Like this tiny green beauty that keeps me company on my walks.

The new shuffle is insanely small... love it.
Plus it's apple green!
What could be better, I ask?

I also got an easle.
I got rid of my old one some 15 years ago..
Why?
I don't know.. some odd idea.

I have empty canvases, paints and palette knives (no brushes for me, thanks).

I had forgotten how much I enjoy painting.

Here's my latest in daylight.

It'll get a counterpart.
The paintings are a xmas present for my bro's family.

I gave them a giftcard that said the paintings would be delivered in January as soon as they dry :)

I think I'll paint the other one tonight...

More random photos

Hello there my friends!

There's just nothing like a sparkling tree...

Except quiet kids...

..playing with daddy's iPhone.

Some playing ball...

(Julia kept giving me curious looks as I was under the coffee table taking the shots..)

Others had their new mobile to explore...

And I had one of these in my hand :)

We've been getting new snow nearly daily.

I love the top hats these seedpods have..

And you can never have enough little lights outside making it even prettier!

Guess what?

It's snowing again...

I foresee more snowy photos to come.

But now I'll go gesso a canvas.. or two..

I have a set of six new palette knives I need to break out!

Even later

The Hietaniemi cemetary with thousands of lit candles is quite possibly the prettiest place in Helsinki on Christmas Eve.
I go alone to light candles on my grandparents' and great aunts' graves.

And one for my mom.

After dinner

Presents!

And smiles.

Christmas Eve in the dining room

The tree was up.
The table set.
Candles lit.

A crooked white hyasinth graced the table.

Food was plenty.

Dessert chocolatey..

[another pic for my reflections series]

A white and silver vignette.

A paper snowflake inspired by...

..the chairs I so love.

Cooking

Wednesday was spent in the kitchen.
Mostly wishing I had two ovens...
*grin*

I did manage a few photos along with the insanity.

Took out my mom's old recipe notebook.

For my grandma's traditional sweetened potato dish recipe.

I love having my camera ready when something catches my eye.

I was boiling beets, had just checked their ripeness with the fork.

That's when I noticed those beet red droplets on the fork.

I also had time to test what a licked lollipop looks like when you stick a Christmas light behind it.

Heh..
More photos later :)