Joulukuu – Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Countdown to 2021-23

Tomorrow is Christmas eve. Yesterday we baked s Scandinavian ginger nuts, piparkakut in Finnish, they are tasty as they are but, apparently go very well with cheeses that we have for Christmas. We also wrapped some gifts with Christmas songs playing in the background.

I slept so well last night, after two really bad ones, so I am happy. Feel like a sane person, with clear thoughts. Two previous day were as I was in a blur… Well anyway, this morning I woke up to happy sound of our grandkids in out backyard making a snowman. They came to ask behind the window of my husbands work from home office for a carrot for it, which we did not have. As you can guess, we got a little bit of snow last night. I don’t know if it will last until tomorrow, so we could say we had a white Christmas, but the boys were so happy that they had something to do outside

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-22

Photography, Still life

Two days until Christmas eve. Yesterday we decorated the tree. Traditionally using the same decorations we have had for years, some that I have inherited from my childhood home.

The lunch was delicious. Always a pleasure to have food prepared by someone else.

Fried salmon and
horseradish yogurt sauce

Mudcake with granberries and icecream

Cappuccino

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-21

Flowers, Photography

Today: Sunrise at 9:26- Sunset 15:16- Length of day 5:50 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes .Two minute less of daylight than yesterday. Today is winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. It is nothing to celebrate, but it marks the end this years voyage to darkness.

Now towards the next goal counting days until Christmas eve. Today I am meeting one of my friends for lunch. She kindly invited me to meet at out local restaurant for lunch and I was not going to say no, we both have been basically staying home all the time and neither on is having any symptoms. It is so sad where we are with this pandemic. I am in a nice situation regarding this illness, that no one I know has had it, sadly this is not the case with many people, but I am lucky that way. This bubble I am in is small, I have not met many people since March when this really hit us.

Today is also the day we are going to decorate the tree. I will have to take a snap of it, even though it will look the same as it has so many years previously as I have not brought any new decorations for years. Traditionally safe look. There is something to say about traditions, this one is OK 🙂

I am really trying to come up with something to photograph, I had no inspiration. Here is slightly frost covered plants from 2013.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-20

Photography, Still life

Today: Sunrise at 9:25- Sunset 15:15- Length of day 5:50 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . A minute less of daylight than yesterday. A day until winter solstice. Tomorrow!

One more rainy, misty December day with drizzle and temperatures of +5c, no feeling of winter or Christmas. Slept late, woke up at the same time the sun was supposed to rise, if it did I sure have not noticed. We went to grocery store in the hope that it would be emptier today to do some Christmas food shopping. No luck, lots of people on the move, maybe with the same idea as we had to avoid the crowds.

I am really trying to come up with something to photograph. Here are some seasonal lights and a traditional Christmas paper star light.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-19

Cities, Photography, Still life

Today: Sunrise at 9:24- Sunset 15:15- Length of day 5:50 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . A minute less of daylight than yesterday. Only 2more days until winter solstice.

One more rainy, misty December morning, no feeling of winter or Christmas. Gone are the days of white Christmas here in the south of Finland – or at least they are very rare and far apart. Our local church looks nice even with out snow.

I can look at old photos of snow…

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-18

Photography, Still life

Today: Sunrise at 9:24- Sunset 15:14- Length of day 5:50 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . A minute less of daylight than yesterday. Only 3 more days until winter solstice.

Yesterday was somewhat peculiar, regarding to my job hunt, really odd. As most of the days there are no contacts in anyway or form to my applications, email, calls. Well yesterday, just before lunch I had a phone interview – it went well in my opinion. We are forwarding to the next step, maybe, hopefully, a F2F interview. By the way, these are no way related to the one I posted about previously, that did not go further. NO response at all. These are new opportunities.

Then when I was having lunch, I got another call. I was what, who can be calling – I mean two calls a day, what has this world come to 🙂 It was another company asking me to come for an interview in person. Wow! That was a nice surprise. Glad I answered the phone.

This morning already on the road by the time I usually start to wake up. It was dark, wet morning. The road soaked all the light, I had forgotten these mornings in the car. I was there on time even if there was surprisingly amount of traffic.

I had the interview with two nice ladies. I thought it went well, nice conversation with me trying to sell my experience and skills, but who knows. Most likely I will not get it, (the salary request) but it was nice to get the opportunity introduce myself in person. One more experience for the road.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-17

Photography, Still life

Today: Sunrise at 9:23- Sunset 15:14- Length of day 5:51 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . A minute less of daylight than yesterday. Only 5 more days until winter solstice.

Old Friends they shine like diamonds
Old Friends you can always call
Old Friends Lord you can’t buy ’em
You know it’s Old Friends after all

We met over dinner with old friends, we usually have had a tradition, that my girl friend for 40 years has hosted a pre Christmas party to a certain group of friends – four couples in December at her house. This year that tradition has broken due to this odd year. This year is we decided to have celebrate friendship and Christmas with a dinner with them in a nice restaurant just the four of us. No hugging, greeting smiles from distance and sitting across the dinner table. All good and safe. Delicious meal. For a starter I had flambeed snails (anise liqueur), Duck leg Confit for entree and for dessert Chocolate cake and beetroot sorbet.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-16

Photography, Still life

Today: Sunrise at 9:22- Sunset 15:14- Length of day 5:52 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . A minute less of daylight than yesterday. Only 5 more days until winter solstice.

Today I was listening to the new albums albums by Taylor Swift, Folklore and evermore, that she produced and co-wrote much of the albums alongside Aaron Dessner of the National. I liked them – evermore more. Long story short.

Reading news in so depressing, the positive news are so few and far apart. Negative are not so easy to miss. I try not to post my views here so I won’t go into it. Looking at old photos on the other hand is nice trip to memories of my family not present anymore

Something that makes me feel good – Veikka the Cat

I have learned to do so many variations of macaroni casserole, today one more. this is Everyday food that can be done quickly. You cannot go wrong here.

Todays ingredients: 400g of macaroni boiled in bouillon, 300g minced meat seasoned with salt, pepper mix, garlic and onions, 1 Creme Bonjour Cuisine fraiche 240g sipulisekoitus and 150g of crated cheese. Oven 175c – 40 minutes. So easy.

If you got this far, great – thanks 🙂

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-15

Photography, Still life

Today: Sunrise at 9:21- Sunset 15:14- Length of day 5:53 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . A minute less of daylight than yesterday. Only 6 more days until winter solstice.

Times are odd, I’ve started to read and even execute recipes I find. Most of the time I read them and slightly change them. Like with this fish recipe I found for pike-perch, it was meant to be done in the oven.

I sliced an onion, three garlic cloves, and thump sized ginger that I had grated, I first fried them in an oil and butter mix, then I placed the salted pike-perch fillets on it to fry. for a side I used the potatoes left over from the previous day and fried them also with onions. Our Sunday meal was ready. It was so tasty 🙂

it didn’t look all that great, but the taste was delicious.

I also decorated this glass vase for our kitchen table with Christmas balls.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-14

Photography, Still life

I finally got around to replacing my spring, summer and autumn wreath on our front door. I also really wanted to place this red wooden heart to it, but as it had nothing to hand it by I just took a photo of it. I have seen prettier, but this will do fine, I’m not going to be picky knowing the doer.

Today: Sunrise at 9:20 – Sunset 15:14- Length of day 5:54 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 9 more days until winter solstice.

Red heart with feathers and red and white ribbon

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-13

Photography, Still life

Sunday morning, sleeping in late. Coffee and bagel for breakfast. Reading the newspaper taking the time. Sunday morning. Time goes on, tik tok, tik tok. An Old clock my son found in an abandoned house years ago, we still have it, for no good reason at all, as it does not work anymore.

Today: Sunrise at 9:19 – Sunset 15:14- Length of day 5:56 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . Three minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 10 more days until winter solstice.

Old clock my son found in an abandoned house years ago, we still have it, for no good reason at all as it does not walk anymore

One photo trying to capture white with Xmas theme 🙂

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-12

Photography, Still life

We made an online order for our Christmas meals starter – we ordered fresh fish from a local smokery. For years now the starter is the more important part of the meal. Fish, roe, caviar and all the side dishes that go with it.

Today we need to do some shopping, so lets go on on a hunt for something red… like an ambulance.

Today: Sunrise at 9:17 – Sunset 15:15 – Length of day 5:57 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes . Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 10 more days until winter solstice.

I was listening to music and I thought I’s share one artist I often listen to Paolo Nutini. He seems to have disappeared from the scene, but I do love his voice and songs. Nothing to with Xmas, but good music is good music.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Lovely moment

Landscapes

Countdown to 2021-11

Photography, Still life

Yesterday went by with nothing worth mentioning really, Blaa, Blaa. Dull, Boring. But now is Friday…. 🙂

Today: Sunrise at 9:16 – Sunset 15:15 – Length of day 5:59 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes . Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 12 more days until winter solstice..

I took this picture of the wooden Xmas decorations I talked about in a previous post, the ones I made for school sale. I was even too lazy to set them up, I just put them on the side table and took a photo with my mobile.

Only thing happening was trying to figure out what to get our grandkids for Christmas. The kids don’t have that many requests. One of them answered their dad when he was asking what would he like Santa to bring him: Not now, I am having fun playing. That is a bad translation.( Ei nyt, kun on kivat leikit 🙂 ) This is not even happening in our household, a hearsay.

As I was thinking what to post I came across this old car city with happy families in the cars. This one is at our summer house, these I think are my husbands old toys.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-9

Photography, Still life

We walked through the mall today and saw Christmas decorations to try to lift our Christmas spirits, as I for one, really do not have any.

Today: Sunrise at 9:15 – Sunset 15:16 – Length of day 6:01 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes

Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 13 more days until winter solstice..

It was so nice to sit and chat face to face, enjoy nice lunch, that I did not make myself. Like a journey to the good old days 🙂 LOL , yeah.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-9

Photography

Today: Sunrise at 9:13 – Sunset 15:16 – Length of day 6:03 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes

Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 14 more days until the direction moves towards light and winter solstice is here.

Candles are something that I associate to winter and Christmas, they bring wonderful soft light that I appreciate at this age, as I, for sure look prettier in this light 🙂

Today I am meeting a friend for an early lunch or coffee. These encounters are so rare these days, but personal contact is so much more meaningful – even if there are no hugs and you sit within certain distance from each other. But to to see expressions give the conversations more depth and warmth.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-8

Photography

Today: Sunrise at 9:12 – Sunset 15:17 – Length of day 6:05 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes

Three minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 15 more days until the direction moves towards light and winter solstice is here.

My cats love playing with the decorations. Here is Tinka doing her thing 🙂

I was wondering why the Finnish flag was flying in the pole, after checking I found out that 8 December, is the birthday of the composer Jean Sibelius; the occasion is also celebrated as the Day of Finnish Music.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-7

Landscapes, People, Photography

It was a beautiful morning, I had to go to have some labs taken so I was out of the house early as 8:15, but was in too much of a hurry to take a photo of the lovely pink sky then. So i took one at the Health Center at (:30 and ten minutes later when I got home. It is 10AM and we have sunshine and blue skies. After two days of grayness this is bliss.

Sunrise at 9:10 – Sunset 15:18 – Length of day 6:08 hours – time of dusk 0:56 minutes

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-6

People, Photography

Today is Finland’s 103rd Independence Day. We are celebrating it by lightning two candles at 6 PM to the window. We also placed our Xmas light outside. I also lit some candles in my office, this I just took minute ago with my mobile..

Now is time to have some Pizza

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-5

People, Photography

Today is, well Saturday, it is gray and and grass is green. The small amount of snow that fell yesterday melted as it rained rather heavily last night.

As I said the grass is green, so is the moss.

Today we are going to visit our son to celebrate our grandsons birthday, even though his actual birthday is tomorrow, he is born on the 6th of December, our Independence Day. This picture is from his first Christmas in 2011. I love this – those eyes

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-4

Landscapes, Photography

It’s snowing! It’s Friday! It’s Weekend!

I got out of bed 9:20, as do not have to hurry to go nowhere. It was dull gray no sigs of brightening at all, and it didn’t, it started to snow, side ways.

Friday again, I am not able to keep track of the days anymore as they tend to be all the same. Same, Same but different. I had to check from the newspaper really Friday. It was 🙂 Nothing to write about – so this is todays post!

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-3

Photography, Still life

First, I have to correct all who thought I did anything resembling the decoration in my previous post. No! Those decorations were from a store display – at Aarikka. I will later post my handicraft, they did sell well, but they were unique pieces – all different 🙂 I must try to be clearer in my ramblings.

Secondly, I would like to let you know that I survived the dentist, as far as a dentist visit goes, it was good. Check up, one cavity – fixed. The local anesthesia was given so that it did not hurt at all, that was the first!. Cleaning. Out of the door! Until next time in a year or two!

I took these photos are for FB photo group I am in, the theme is white. One of these images I added there. can you guess what my pick was?

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-2

Photography, Still life

Here we go, December has started continuing with the grayness of November, no snow, it melted as quickly as it came.

Yesterday was not the best of days, slept badly the night before and ended sitting on the sofa most of the day, not a very productive day. Today starting with an other note. I have something to look forward to, a dentist appointment. I am absolutely scared of it, but it needs to be done. It is only a check up, but still. Thumbs up, I will survive this too 🙂

I took these photos from a display window, and remembered I have done some wooden Xmas decorations, years ago to my boys school sale and I kept few to myself as they sold rather nicely back then. Yes, I will have to take a photo and share it now that I remember.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021

Photography

I was pondering about what to post in December. I liked thatabout November, I did not have to think about the title for each post, it was enough that I daily changed the date. So I voiced my thought and Sue from WordsVisual came up with this title and said she’d join by linking the post to mine.

Would you like to join us?

I will be posting new and old photos somehow related to winter, Christmas and eventually anticipation of new year. My aim is to take one new photo a day, but not going to stress over it, if I don’t come up with anything. We started a 3 week lockdown and it is recommended that you basically stay away from people and public places.

Today I decided to repost pics I have in my media library of candles. Time to take out my candle decorations, I noticed I have hardly any out.

This certainly will be a different Xmas season. I think I will have to play some Xmas songs at home as I won’t be hearing in stores, as it’s online shopping mostly for Xmas presents. I will have to put on Sportify and go online.

Peaceful

Photography

In this week’s Wild Weekly Photo Challenge, we’re challenging bloggers to get outside & photograph things in nature which make them feel peaceful!

I do not like winter,but it is beautiful now that the snow has arrived to brighten the few hours of light we have here in the north, this scenery is peaceful in spite the fact that it’s freezing.
Continue reading “Peaceful” →