I am a bit strapped for time, so here is one post for many challenges I want to participate in . I hope you don’t mind me combining them this week 😀
I visited Hailuoto in Oulu this weekend. The day was cloudy, but it didn’t dampen the mood, the place was still beautiful as I remember it being.
For Monday Window.
For Debbie’s One Word Sunday.
For John’s Cellpic Sunday.
It was a windy and cloudy day and we did not feel like barbequing so we drove to Lahti have lunch. We drove to Vuorikatu and first thing I noticed that lots of construction had been done and the sea of signs was the second thing I noticed as we got out of the car. it’s a jungle out there.
Looking down the hill you can see the ski jump hills, a landmark of the city. Behind the fence was a (Harjun koulu) school. I took a photo of the entrance. In the last two photos you can see some of the yard, and an apartment building and the tower of the Lahti City Hall
From the hill you can see to the hill on other side , (Ristin Kirkko) the Church of the Cross it is the main church in Lahti, Finland. The modernist church, completed in 1978, was one of the last design projects of the renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The first photo in the gallery below.
And then we drove up the hill to see the radio masts of Lahti an other landmark of the city
Lahti is an important radio city because of its old radio broadcasting station. The Finnish Broadcasting Company was established in 1926. It was soon found that the radio broadcasting station in Helsinki was not powerful enough. The first long wave station in Finland was built in Lahti because of the city’s central location. Built in 1927, the 150-metre-high radio towers became a landmark of the city. Lahti’s broadcasting station was inaugurated on 22 April 1928.
The popularity of radio increased quickly in the 1930s, and it became necessary to expand coverage. In 1935, a new long-wave station was completed in Lahti (today the Radio and TV Museum Mastola) with a powerful 150 kW Marconi transmitter. In 1953, ultrashort (FM) waves and transmitters were introduced in broadcasting. In the same year, the transmitter of the Lahti long-wave (AM) transmitter was replaced. In 1958, Suomen Televisio was established and began its television broadcasting. Currently, FM and television transmission operations in Lahti are run by the Tiirismaa station, completed in 1967.
The AM station in Lahti stopped broadcasting in 1993, as the Finnish Broadcasting Company discontinued its long-wave service. Mastola
John’s Cellpic Sunday
Johns Cellpic Sunday
Before thunderstorm on Saturday at the countryside. Love the contrast of the sky, and nature
Framed view from a Cafe in Mankala, Iitti. The Brita cake alone made the drive there worth it. So delicious. The picturesque surroundings, the warm, inviting atmosphere of the cafe enhanced the visit, making it a delightful escape.
For Debbie’s One Word Sunday.
For John’s Cellpic Sunday. I took these with a mobile phone
Recipe ingredients
12 servings
The bottom of Brita cake
125 g margarine or butter (80% fat)
1 DL sugar
3 yolk
1 ½ dl wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 DL low-fat milk
On top of Britankaku
3 of egg protein
1 ½ dl sugar
Brita cake filling
3 dl whipped cream
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp vanilla sugar
200 g raspberries
To decorate Britankaku
3 dl raspberries and blueberries
½ dl lemon balm or mint leaves
Brita cake – instructions:
Beat the fat and sugar. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time.
Combine wheat flour and baking powder. Mix them into the dough alternately with the milk.
Grease the baking paper. Spread the dough over it in a sheet the size of a baking pan.
Wash and dry the beaters. Whip the egg whites until stiff and gradually beat in the sugar. When the mixture is stiff and shiny, spread it over the base dough. (If you want, add almond flakes on top.)
Bake the brita cake in the oven at 175 degrees for 20-30 minutes until the meringue is beautifully light brown. Let it cool.
Whip the cream until foamy and season with sugar and vanilla sugar.
Halve the cooled cake plate. Place the other half on a serving platter. Spread the whipped cream and raspberries on top. Place the second cake plate on top.
Decorate the brita cake with raspberries and blueberries and lemon balm or mint leaves.
Tips!
Britakaku combines a thick cake base and a light meringue. The crunchy base tastes suitably almondy and toasted. Part of the cake’s charm is its carefree appearance. Spread the meringue dough with a clean spatula. If fatty cake batter is mixed with the meringue batter, the foam may settle.
A traditional brita is usually made on a baking sheet, cut into two parts and filled with whipped cream and fresh raspberries, strawberries or other summer berries. If you use frozen raspberries, choose Finnish ones and use them plump. Thawed frozen raspberries color the filling and crumble.
Vary the brita cake filling according to your taste. As an addition to the whipped cream, you can use cream cheese or curd, you can replace the raspberries with other berries or fruits. You can put, for example, cherries, lingonberries, strawberries or rhubarb between Britakaku. Also try the wonderful apple brita, chocolate brita and charming Christmas brita!
You can bake the bottom of Britakaku the day before, but you should only fill the cake right before serving. This keeps the meringue crispy.
Lahti Radio mast is a local landmark, here it is seen from Mukkulan kartano on the other side of the lake Vesijärvi.
Posted for John’s Cellpic Sunday
Had a nice morning by the lakeside summer market at Vuolenkoski.
Johns Cellpic Sunday
Folks from their summer homes came to the market on boats, the marina was so full some people had to wait for open spots on the docks
I have to admit that lately I have been a lazy photographer, and most of the time I’ve taken photos with my mobile. I have two previous posts about the beauty of summer nights and these were taken the same night. I took these first, then went to get my camera to take better shots of the moon. The iPhone has a great camera, with a RAW option, and you can get great photos with it; even the zoom is okay. But you can also edit and crop the images as a way of enhancing it.
It’s amazing how much the technology in smartphones has advanced, allowing us to capture stunning images without the need for additional equipment. The convenience of having a powerful camera always at hand has certainly made me rely more on my mobile for photography. Despite its compact size, the iPhone truly delivers remarkable image quality, especially in low light conditions. The ability to edit and refine the pictures directly on the device further adds to the appeal of mobile photography, providing a convenient way to enhance the visual impact of the captured moments.
The color of the sky, clouds and mist set such a beautiful view, that I only slightly edited the contrast and light in Lightroom app – nature did the rest.
Whispers of Birch
Birch trees stand sentinel, white and tall, Their leaves a verdant canopy, a gentle sprawl. Mist weaves through their trunks, a spectral dance, As dusk paints the sky in hues of chance.
The evening cradles them in twilight’s hark. Silhouettes against the canvas of fading light, They sway, entwined, in nature’s quiet rite. And there, where fog and foliage converge, A sacred silence settles—a tranquil surge.
So let us linger here, beneath their boughs, Where time suspends, and dreams are allowed. In this ethereal embrace, we find our place, As birch and fog weave magic, leaving no trace.
Visit to the outhouse around 11 PM, the sun is setting, nothing spectacular, but always a joy to see colors in the sky. The spots on the window, just dirt. Plus, this is an unedited shot, something I rarely post. Live dangerously… 🙂
The header shows the colors at slightly different direction.
This is for Cellpic Sunday and Sunday Stills
I took these dandelion shots yesterday and edited them on my phone using Lightroom John’s Cellpic Sunday
John’s Cellpic Sunday
Today, our local youth clubhouse at our summer home village burned down. Nothing left, fortunately no lives were lost.
We drove to our summer house to start the season and stopped at Kumia mylly to see how high the water level was this spring- and it was high
Cellpic Sunday
We went to have lunch and I decided to enjoy a cider while my husband chose a beer. We did also enjoy some good food 😂
For John’s Cellpic Sunday
I was closing the blinds when I noticed the moon behind the clouds, the trees on the hill beautifully framed it. I had my mobile at hand as I was about to place it on the bedside table for my night time clock. As we all know everything is on that thing. This is the last photo I took last night for Cellpic Sunday , otherwise you might have gotten a shot of Tinka.
I am rather amazing how great shots you can get with the mobile phone even in the darkness.
I did go and get my camera, and these are the comparison shots. There is a slight difference to be noticed I think.
And as I’ve just done an abstract photo challenge – with a little handshake – this is what you get 🙂
Once again it has been a slow week behind the camera, Tinka to the rescue. While I was doing my posts she came to me clearly wanting me to open the window so she could enjoy the fresh air. She was once again so cute, I just had to take a photo
This week, I captured only a few photos worthy of sharing with my mobile. Despite Tinka’s reluctance, she remains a pretty little cat always ready to pose. These are my submissions for Cellpic Sunday.
Yesterday felt like the first day of spring, the temperature was about +9C the sun was out – shining bright and there was hardly any wind. I ended up sitting on the patio and watched the snow melt. It’s truly fascinating how the change in weather can bring about such a delightful shift in our surroundings. The gentle warmth of the sun, the gradual disappearance of snow, and the newfound opportunity to spend time outside can truly rejuvenate our spirits. It’s moments like these that make us appreciate the beauty of nature and the promise of new beginnings.
For Cellpic Sunday
The process of selecting a subject for a weekly post can be somewhat unpredictable, and this particular week presented a unique challenge with fewer photo opportunities. However, in situations like these, it’s always helpful to have a reliable and beloved subject to feature, such as our charming and endearing little cat Tinka. Despite the limited number of photos taken, the warmth and affection that Tinka brings to our lives is always a worthy focus for CellPic Sunday.
I edited the images in Lightroom
I spent the day studying – doing graphic art – monotype. The day outside the window was foggy- a white or actually a grey blanket covering the view. I took these photos of foggy roads while on my way home.
Actually these images are very suitable for an inspiration for monotype technique. It is funny how much energy goes into this creative process of doing and learning. Mostly being disappointed in the outcome.
For John’s Cellpic Sunday
Spent few hours with a friend on Saturday, catching up and making the world a better place. At the same time I took these shots looking down to the escalator. But I could not resist editing few versions of it.
Posted for John’s Cellpic Sunday
Click if you wish to see bigger images.
John’s Cellpic Sunday
On the road again. Lines and lanes leading us towards a beautiful sunset on the warm and wet Saturday here in Southern Finland.
For OneWordSunday and Cellpic Sunday
I was trying to get shots with theme. Create a movie scene – and as I was at it very late in the challenge this was one idea. I did not end up using these, but since I took and edited them why not share them – I did take them and edit them on my mobile.
Last rays of light fell on to the bed, where the lonely lady had placed her loved childhood toys to rest on the pillows. I hoped to create a different mood by changing the colors and contrast and light. The last one is the most positive, the two first ones I wanted a to create a more sad and lonely mood to to them
Posted for John’s Cellpic Sunday
As stated summer is a state of mind and age is just a number.
Usually we are somewhere in warmer weather at this time of the year, away from the cold and dark winter, we usually fly to catch some sun, D- vitamins and new places to be refreshed and relaxed. And when we come you can already notice the increased light that is more visible in February.
Well you need the catch the rays where every you can. 😂
John’s Cellpic Sunday
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 