White

Today, a lovely comment from my sweet blog-friend from JARDIN ANGLAIS reminded me how much I neglected this blog. So here I am ! I am fine, and so it is my whole family. Did I say we already celebrated two birthdays this year ? My youngest doughter turned 12 and I turned 40. She is growing, while I experienced some kind of regression, I probably mixed up forty with fourteen. So in the last month I spent so much time drawing, listening to music, writing and spending time outside. I am dreaming of a long series of teenage-like things I want to do. I wonder if this is just normal once you become middle-aged. I mean, I don't need to prove anything anymore, I don't need to compete, I don't need to behave. It's kinda fun, even if few of your children might think you've gone nuts ...
So what about the odd title of this post ? Wait and see, white is the perfect word in this moment ...

Have a wonderful week, and a great new month <3

Love, Flavia

First snow

Tonight the magic happened again. The water turned into snow and sugar coated the world. May the miracle of snow bring peace to our lives, as we slow down our pace to wonder, nose up to the sky, if the white falling might really be the feathers of angel's wings, as we used to believe as children....

Have a peaceful and happy sunday dear ones !

Lately

In the last few days we experienced at least three different seasons. We went from spring, to winter to autumn. Of course we're not really pleased ... let's saying we were enjoying our early spring quite a lot, but of course whatever it comes it is right, so we simply changed our pace to 'cold' and implemented our indoor projects. After nearly four years living in Finland I am a bit tired of feeling cold all the time, and so is all my young crew, so everybody prefer to stay in waiting for the sun to come back ....

Can you imagine how deluded we've been when outside the window we saw snowflakes flying in all directions ? We closed the courtains. We didn't want to see it happens ...

 I was so disheartened that I started painting some fun cards summer-inspired ...

do you like them ? I think they're nice. I think I might make postcards out of them.

A child and a box. Poetry.

Sheep-day ! 

To see other children's activities check my Homeschool Blog  

later today.

 And here Milla and James are painting together, lovely !

How's your today ? Hopefully warm and joyful.

Have a nice day, dear friends !

It's a kind of magic ....

After three days of snow the world looks much better. I can't stop  looking outside and grabbing the camera for just one more shot and finding excuses to get out for a moment to enjoy the outdoor. This is our fourth winter here in Finland and I can't still get used to the magic that happens with the snow. I love nature, I love God's creation, I love to be a part of it. Never a dull moment when living in awe and gratitude.

( And yes, of course I know that bad things do exist and yes, I have my share of problems and concerns and why not anger, but I want and I need to focus on the good )

And now few pictures from today.

Crocheted snow flakes in the entrance 

Outside in the garden. I still can't believe something can be so beautiful.

... country road take me home ...

And the sun decided to come out at some point. Glittering and shining and glowing are just few of the words that started popping on my mind at this sight.

 And such a huge gratefulness for all this.

Nature Journal

A new entry in my nature journal. Tonight we had a very heavy snowfall that lasted until this morning with big and fluffy flake gently falling down. While I was having breakfast I felt the urge to draw the beauty of my neighbours' garden. I'm happy i did because now we're in the middle of a wind storm with rain and all the snow it's alrady gone ....

I have added a new page in my blog where I'm going to collect all my watercolors, either from my nature journal and from other illustrations I make. You might like to have a look :)

Baking with Jimmy

Today we woke up in the snow wonderland. It has been snowing all night, with strong wind. So after lunch we all headed out for some outdoor fun. Jimmy enjoy a lot to be pulled in Seba's Stiga sledge and it's always a problem to bring him back home ( or I should say drag him back home). So Milla and I started walking back and forth in our street pulling him. The first time we passed in front of the house he declared ' Not inside mom, lt's walk for a little while more '. So we walked back and forth two more times. At the third he called me ' Mom, let's go back home for a while now .. I'm frozen ' eheheh so veeeery sweet.
But of course inside we went, and to warm up I thought that it could be a good idea baking something. As usual James is eager to help me...

 Woderful, the world covered in a soft blanket

He is such clever and sweet helper, learning everyday something new, but mostly learning the meaning of being a family : togetherness.

So after a couple of hours we had several goodies ...

Shortbread cookies (before and after cooking )

And two loaves of bread, one of normal shape one braided ( my first attempt, it turned out well in my opinion )

This time I cooked the bread at a lower temperature for longer time (180C for 50 minutes ) and the result was a super soft bread with a delicate crispy crust .

Delicious !

Have a nice week !!!