OneWordSunday – Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Classic Firetruck wheel

Captures from Finland, Photography

Linked to One word Sunday at Debbie’s here and November Shadows at Becky’s here

Vintage firetruck dashboard featuring an elegant steering wheel and classic controls.

How to Survive November 2025 – 16

Black and White photos, how to survive November, Still life

So far so good, and today we have a surprisingly beautiful morning; the sky is blue, a lovely hue with few clouds, now three days in a row, However, despite the vibrant appearance of the day, unfortunately, the air is cold due to the wind factor, which feels like -2C / 28F, making it a bit too nippy for my taste. As I step outside, the crispness bites at my skin, urging me to bundle up more tightly in layers of clothing, savoring the clear skies while grappling with the chill that nips at my fingers and cheeks.

Today my post is going to include, obviously, How to Survive the November theme Round, which is crucial as we navigate the often dreary days of this month. In addition to that, I will be sharing to Becky’s NovemberShadows, where we can explore the interplay between light and darkness through photography. Furthermore, I will touch upon John’s Cellpic Sunday, an opportunity to showcase our mobile photography, which is one my challenges weekly. To conclude, I will delve into Debbie’s OneWordSunday, focusing on the theme Monochrome, where we can capture the beauty and depth that black and white images bring to our stories.

A beautifully presented bowl of rice garnished with seaweed, set against the backdrop of a dining table, showcasing round and the monochrome theme.

Now that is multitasking 😀 I have more than one posted food shot from Johns Cellpic, as we often dine out on Saturday. I am not going to change that delightful routine. The plates are round, elegantly showcasing the delicious dishes, the interior has shadows that play beautifully. With the variety of colors and textures, I can always convert shots to Monochrome, which adds a timeless quality to the images, enhancing the details and making the food pop even more against the understated background.

A monochrome close-up of elegantly shaped bowls filled with various side dishes, showcasing a captivating interplay between textures and shapes including round.

A cozy restaurant scene showcasing a woman serving food at a table, highlighting the interplay of shadows and light.

A delicious spread featuring grilled meat and various side dishes, perfect for showcasing culinary delights.

A beautifully arranged plate featuring a variety of sushi, sashimi, and side dishes, perfect for showcasing the theme of ’round’ in a culinary setting.

A delightful dessert featuring whipped cream topped with mango, mint, and a hint of coffee in a round serving bowl.

November begins, and we’ll keep this year rolling forward. The theme is ’round’, and you can interpret it any way you like. It can be a photograph, a painting, a drawing, a new or old picture, anything. Hopefully, it has ‘that certain something’.

Inlinkz- link for your entry is at the right column.

Shadows in Abandoned Spaces

Photography

This haunting scene featuring a shattered window in an abandoned room, offers a striking view of a desolate landscape. The dramatic interplay of light and shadow, as well as the presence of a broken chair and scattered debris. This imagery is shared in response to Debbie’s One Word Sunday theme, focusing on the concept of “shadow” also sharing with Becky’s NovemberShadows.

A shattered window overlooks a desolate landscape, capturing the interplay of light and shadow in an abandoned space.

A haunting view from an abandoned room, highlighting a broken chair, shattered glass and debris.

red, Simply red

Cities, Photography, Still life

A vibrant red sculpture resembling abstract cacti, showcased in a reflective urban setting.

this art cacti is for One-Word Sunday: red

A striking red art sculpture displayed in a gallery.

and Simply Red #6

Square

animals

One word Sunday

Capturing Rain

Captures from Finland, Photography

I seem to capture rain from the car or the safety of indoors mostly, but I should wonder out more often in the rain, preferably during the night and into the city to capture the unique mood and vibrant lights reflecting on the pavement. There’s something enchanting about the city at night when it’s wet, as the streets glisten and shimmer, creating a magical atmosphere.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday: Rain

Autumn is here, a time when it often rain, which might just be my new learning topic: capturing rain. I could explore different locations, experimenting with angles and compositions, and perhaps even play with long exposure shots to capture the movement of raindrops dancing on surfaces. This could turn into a creative project, forcing me to engage with the elements and see the beauty in the mundane, although I often doubt whether I will follow through. Probably not, but maybe it should be.

waiting

Photography

Debbies One Word Sunday: Waiting

Framed

Captures from Finland

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.