Gratitude Sunday

There is nothing extravagant in our Easter days yet I am so grateful for everything; mornings without haste, child's laughter, his small hands into mine, little eyes full of happiness, family time, just enough chocolate, some low budget flowers from the market, home made pastries, catching up my reading, playing music together, gardening, dreaming about things that might come true and the joy of Easter. I am grateful!!

Happy Easter to you!!

hugs,
Anu

ps. I just LOVE that combination of pink and golden little chocolate eggs :) (first picture)

About trees and their ways

Do you ever think how much potential is hidden inside people near you? People are like trees. If there is enough warmth, enough caring and nourishment they will burst into bloom.  It is beautiful.

This is one of my everyday trees. I am so unpatiently waiting for it to wake up from it's winter sleep...... And then, all of a sudden, it will transform into green and alive again. It just needs the sun to kiss those branches gently, silently. Day after day.
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Photographing trees is something I enjoy tremendously. Trees speak to me the language of silence and they remind me about  fragility but also about strength and possibility to be renewed. I started this series last fall  and am going to share my love for trees with you by taking you with me to a journey to explore my everyday trees. There will be photograps about surroundings of my trees as well, like fields and  all kinds of natural beauty. I am sharing my photographs just as I have taken them (either with my camera or cell phone) so there will be no image processing. This series is about modest everyday meetings with trees, not about perfection. But then again I think there is often perfection like the purest kind of beauty hidden inside imperfection. Welcome to my world of Trees and their ways.

Surrounded by loveliness

Lately I have not had time or energy for my own projects. BUT  I do have organized my yarn stash. When I buy yarn I often go a little overboard....one more skein just in case. Do you know the feeling that you are afraid that you do not have enough yarn for your pattern to finnish it?  But of course I usually end up having too much. Actually it does not matter because I have enjoyed knitting little things from that left over yarn for family and friends but now I decided to donate most of my stash to my son's school for the kids to knit and crochet. Today that stash was given to my son's lovely teacher who was pleased to have yarn for the kids to enjoy.  It makes me happy too that the kids can experience knitting with quality yarn. It makes all the difference.
I left some of the stash for myself. There is enough for a sweater for my son (greys, blues and greens), for a few scarves and beanies (pinks, yellows and whites) and some for our crafting moments here at home. At the moment I have two cardigans I need to finish but now has not been an enjoyable time for knitting. But I am hopeful...this professional life I am having right now may turn into a more peaceful rhythm. I very much hope that I then I could have energy to do things I love more often. And guess what? I enjoy just seeing and touching those pretty colored yarn balls. I feel I am surrounded by loveliness.

Have a great week end my friend!!

hugs,
Anu

My week in cups of tea

Hi!  I am sitting in my kitchen drinking tea while writing this to you. This kitchen is one of my favourite places in the world. I can see over the fields, my eyes have room to wander. I often see friendly wild life while enjoying my cup of tea. Today I met a huge rabbit. He was staring me as if he wanted to say something through my kitchen window. The birds have also been very busy settling down to their new home. The nesting has begun and there is obviously plenty of "housework" for  them to do. How hard working they are! This morning I have also enjoyed  a decision I have made which gives me hope and peace. I am ready for the spring to come. Welcome friend!!
The color of the week has been green. I am so hungry for it right now. I kind of love that outfit in the second last picture (The Simple Things/21).  Are you hungry for some color right now?

Things I have enjoyed lately:

• my tea moments
• fresh flowers, especially hellebores
• willows, catkins
• color green - everywhere: on clothes, on my plate, in my tea cup, on flowers, pictures...you name it
• gratefullness!!
• my new shower cream called Spring rain
• the scent of spring late in the evenings
• purl soho -  beautiful fabrics
• birds singing outside our bedroom window in the mornings
• watching bird nesting
• seeing happiness in the eys of a loved one
• waking up to sunlight
• coming home in daylight
• starting something new with our son - piano lessons
• baking chocolate cakes 
• conversations with a true friend 
• these lovely parcels I have received from Anna and Liesl. Thank you both so very much!!!!

Anna had sewn me a blouse. LOVE IT!!! Thank you!

And Liesl had put together a sweet combination of plum and cocolate crafting material with lots of other treats as well. We were swap partners via Vibeke's  color swap. Thank you!

I am afraid I have a nasty flu for the second time of this year so today it is going to be just resting and drinking  hot, hot tea. At least that is  lovely :)
Have a happy week end!
hugs,
Anu

About trees and their ways

I have taken action to change my life towards a more peaceful way of living. I am seeking slowness and peace of mind. Sometimes it takes quite a lot of thinking to be able to find an escape but I can see an open door somewhere there in front of me. My path will go towards that door. Slowly.

I am already in spring mood but I still wanted to share these pictures I took some weeks ago. In these pirctures the quietness and peace are so intensely present.

hugs,
Anu

I am on vacation. Yippee!! It is so lovely to be able to breath freely and do small tihings with joy.

Things I have done lately:

•  I  hosted a party for some friends last week end 
•  I celebrated my dear friend's birthday just before my vacation started 
• We had a romantic dinner, just the two of us, me and my husband (It was our 12th anniversary)
• We watched a swedish Maria Wern movie, me and  my husband
• I got a new hair cut. Happy!!
• I bought 30 tulips (for sale) and have been enjoying them enormously
• I knitted a cardigan for my son's owl (on january)
• I visited Ateneum and got familiar with a new brand (for me at least), Mifuko,  in the museum shop.  Their products combine traditional African handcraft techniques with Scandinavian design.Mifuko web site:
  "Mifuko supports fair trade ideals. We have close working relationships with all our sub-contractors and actively assist them in developing their businesses. It's a two street, as we pass on our own knowledge and learn from them about their traditional techniques.

  We hope that our association with these small businesses will help talented artisans to obtain regular incomes, learn about new markets and adapt their existing skills to meet European standards."

  "We employ talented Kenyan artisans and provide them with regular income. We keep our relationships personal and don't aim to mass produce. "

To do and enjoy list:

• I am going to enjoy low budjet vacation with my family. There are so many things that do no recuire a lot of money. I am going to take little walks, enjoy home made food, play with our son and take him to aviation museum with my husband. We are going to sing and laugh, tickle eachother and dream about summer time. And every evening I am going to cuddle beside my husband on our sofa and enjoy our moments together.
• I am going to organize some of our kitchen cabinets
• I am going to knit a little
• and sleep!!

I am wishing you a happy week!

- Anu

Gratitude Sunday

Yesterday it was snowing. I love to walk on the new snow. Everything is pure and I can start making my own little paths from scratch. It is a fresh start. New Year's was a fresh start for me in life, too. For the first time, really. I've never felt such a need before. Last year was one of the hardest I have had in my life. Just after losing a family member we lost another loved one. In addition there were severe health problems concerning several family members and myself. There were also many other challenges and sometimes I felt really tired and hopeless.
Nevertheless last year brought many good things, so many blessings and joys. Our son started preschool and it is the most warm and wonderful school. It is a small christian school. It is a true blessing to see him enjoy his days there. He is a happy little boy.
One of my joys and reasons for gratitude is friendship and this blog I have. I needed to start from scratch last spring and left my old blog to start a new one. I am so grateful of the warmness I have experienced here in this wide world of talented and warmhearted souls. Thank you for that, dear friends!!
When the new year started I promised myself something inspiring and beautiful. I ordered two of the most beautiful hand made rings from Mariaela.  They are so, so  beautiful. They remind me of the beauty that surrounds me every day. The stone rings remind me also from the strength that God gives us when it is almost impossible to carry on. Now I have two of the most wonderful reminders of this. I am going to wear them with joy!

Other things I am grateful for today:

• knitting!! I have knitted something simple but with love for friends. I am wrapping those little presents today :)
• inspiration - looove this picture and that scarf.

• the courage to start using instagram :) I know. It doesn't sound anything big but you know I am the worst in all things that need computers, phones or programs etc. By the way, how do you people make links to another person's instagram account in your comments? I do not know...please help :)
• the snow!
• the light that snow brought with it
• winter clothes! And that I can wear them now when it is finally winter.
• scones :)

hugs and blessings,
Anu



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I really enjoy my visits in inspirational blogs. One of my favourites is Vibeke's A Butterfly in my hair and it was there where I found this idea of a Gratitude Sunday a while back. Vibeke wrote that she tries to join in on Gratitude Sunday with Taryn and all the others over at her blog Wooly Moss Roots. I am thankful for this lovely idea for Taryn and for Vibeke who brought this to my attention.

   I started listing things I am grateful for here in english (In finnish I have done that on and off for years in my diary). Those most important things I am grateful for in my life like my family and faith are the same as mentioned here. I have so much to be grateful for. We all do.