-17ºC today. It’s a bit colder day, but the bright sun appeared! My white Amaryllis is in full bloom now. 🤍🤍🤍 For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with cucumber, egg, pickled anchovies, capers and cold smoked, surface roasted rainbow trout and kiwi, blood orange, pear, coffee. 🍜

It's Wednesday, the first pinball event of the year is taking place at Hopeakuula Arcade tonight. ✨✨✨ For hubby’s brunch: cucumber ‘ grapes, kiwi, honeydew melon, Cantaloupe melon, watermelon, bell pepper, apple, cherry tomatoes, radishes, persimmon, cheeses. 🍜

-6˚C today! For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with horseradish spread, smoked pork loin, kiwi and cold smoked, surface roasted rainbow trout, crème fraîche, vegan roe and baked cottage cheese, passion fruit, coffee. Here’s info of Kala-Lappi products: kalalappi.fi/en/

Hubby and I started rewatching the series "Keeping Up Appearances." I've always wanted to answer the phone like Hyacinth, but our last name wouldn't sound as refined as Bouquet! For dinner: I made a sausage and vegetable soup. It's a great way to use up extra roots in the fridge. 🍜

Bird feeders were popular today, pheasants, crows, black birds and many little birds were enjoying seeds. Squirrels also were looking for an easy, free meal. For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, kiwi, persimmon, an omelette, grapes, honeydew melon, watermelon, Cantaloupe melon, apple. 🍜

-17ºC today. Hyvää loppiaista! Happy Epiphany Day! For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with cucumber, cranberry glazed liver pâté, cherry tomatoes and horseradish spread, smoked turkey and grapes, blood grapefruit, baked cottage cheese, coffee. 🍜

The U20 World Championship continues tonight: FIN - CAN. It promises to be an exciting match, with two frustrated and disappointed teams fighting for the bronze medals. 🥇🥇🥇 For dinner: I thawed pea soup and heated it while I made and puff pastries for dessert for coffee. 🍜

My Calamondins are ripening. They’d have no chance of surviving outside! ☃️🥶 For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, persimmon, blood grapefruit, apple, egg, melon, kiwi, grapes, blue cheese. For dessert: Runeberg Torte and coffee to console the loss in the U20 ice hockey championships! 🍜

-19ºC today. I bought liver pâté with cranberry glaze and Kala-Lappi's two types of cold smoked rainbow trout. 🍋‍🟩🐟🍋‍🟩 For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with cucumber, liver pâtė, persimmon and egg, cold smoked rainbow trout seasoned with lime and persimmon, kiwi, coffee. 🍜

The thermometer showed -17˚C, but no wind, so hubby and I went for an evening walk. The full moon shone brightly in the sky. I didn't want to cook, so we opted for an easy solution: a shared pizza at a local pub: smoked bacon, asparagus, red onion, bell pepper, rocket on the top. 🍜

U20 Hockey World Championship 2026 will see the winner tonight! Exciting games ahead, good luck to all teams. 🥅🏒🥇🥈🥉 For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, apple, persimmon, blood orange, grapes, cheeses, watermelon, honeydew melon, Cantaloupe melon, kiwi. 🍜

-16˚C outside, cozy +22˚C inside. My white Christmas amaryllis opened, it has four stems. The view from my kitchen window. For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with cucumber, smoked ham and egg, cold smoked rainbow trout, vegan roe and baked cottage cheese, blood orange, coffee. 🍜

-11˚C today. Our U20 ice hockey team offered an amazing thriller last night: FIN - USA 4-3! Hubby and I had lunch at Höyry restaurant. I chose the buffet lunch: meatballs, mash, and a bacon beef burger with salad. Hubby had his favorite: fried vendace and mash. 🍜

There's something so soothing about watching old classic movies. The African Queen is heartwarming and the chemistry between Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart is intense.🎬 For dinner: pan fried rainbow trout medallions, yogurt/dill/lemon sauce, mash and a fresh side salad. 🍜

A great day to watch old movie classics: The African Queen, Dr. No and Seven Year Itch. 🎬🎬🎬 For hubby’s brunch: tomato, bell pepper, kiwi, persimmon, blood orange, figs, radishes, pear, watermelon, honeydew melon, grapes, cheeses.🍜

-10ºC today. It’s a bit warmer day, the weather forecast promises more snow, so hubby and I will get some exercise! ☃️☃️☃️ For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with cucumber, Brie, pear, grapes and, cold smoked reindeer, figs and persimmon, melon, blood orange, kiwi, coffee. 🍜

Ski jumping from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany on TV today and A Knives Out Mystery: Wake Up Dead Man on Netflix. 🎬 For dinner: thin pork chops in a brown onion gravy, served with mash and a fresh side salad. I like to dip sourdough bread into the gravy, it's so good! 🥰

This new year brought a white and wonderful winter here. The branches of the trees are covered in kuura, beautiful ice crystals illuminated by the pale sun.❄️ For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, persimmon, cheeses, figs, grapes, blood orange, pear, pepper, wild mushroom salad, melons. 🍜

-16ºC today. What connects you, my X friends and me today? It’s the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert! What a wonderful treat! For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with cucumber, smoked salmon, vegan roe and pork/mushroom sausage, persimmon and orange, pear cheeses, coffee. 🍜

Hyvää uutta vuotta! Happy New Year! 🦊 🍜

This past year has offered both happy and less happy moments. I hope this new year brings you all lots of joy, happiness and new experiences! For hubby’s brunch:cucumber, mandarin, bell pepper, kiwi, grapes, egg, smoked salmon, persimmon, honeydew melon, watermelon, figs,cheeses. 🍜

-12˚C today. Finally a proper sunny winter day, what a way to spend the last day of the year! ☃️❄️ For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with horseradish spread, cucumber, egg, vegan roe, cold smoked rainbow trout and sun dried tomato spread, smoked salmon and kiwi, melon, coffee. 🍜

It’s great to finally see the landscape wintery and white. I shoveled soft snow under the feeders. All the big birds, like pheasants, can now find the seeds better. For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, persimmon, kiwi, radishes, blood orange, bell pepper, grapes, apple, melons, cheeses. 🍜

-5˚C today. The pale sun retreated behind the clouds and snowflakes slowly began to fall.☃️❄️ For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with ice lettuce, blue cheese, persimmon and horseradish spread, Prosciutto crudo and baked cottage cheese, blood grapefruit, kiwi, egg, coffee. 🍜

It started snowing as I walked to grocery shopping. Big fluffy snowflakes danced in the wind. 🌬️💨❄️ For dinner: siskonmakkarakeitto. It‘s a soup that contains Finnish fresh sausage, carrot, rutabaga, onion, leek and this time I added some leftover peas. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siskonmak…

I have to go to grocery shopping today. Traditional Christmas dishes are quite nutritious, so fresh salads are welcome now. For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, bell pepper, kiwi, radishes, blood grapefruit, avocado, an omelette, apple, watermelon, honeydew melon, grapes. 🍜

-4ºC today. Bright, sunny day, two days until the new year. Time to use up the Christmas leftovers. 🎄 For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with ice lettuce, wild mushroom salad, kiwi and horseradish spread, smoked salmon, avocado and kiwi, blood grapefruit, grapes, coffee. 🍜

The bright sun appeared after the storm, a lovely winter day. There isn't much snow, so no need for shoveling yet. Today on TV there's ice hockey and ballet: Giselle. 🏒 🩰 For hubby’s brunch : cucumber, grapes, kiwi, bell pepper, radishes, apple, egg, avocado, melons, cheeses. 🍜

-5˚C today. The storm passed without causing any damage, only my wheelbarrow fell over! We had snow, not much, but the garden looks nice. ☃️ For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with lettuce, egg, cold smoked rainbow trout and liver pâté and baked cottage cheese, persimmon, coffee. 🍜

I hear the wind starting to pick up, I watched the latest news, there're already power outages in the western part. 🌬️💨 For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, persimmon, radishes, egg, avocado, apple, blood grapefruit, honeydew melon, Cantaloupe melon, watermelon, grapes, cheeses. 🍜

+2˚C today. The weather forecast shows a storm hitting in the evening. I wonder if we'll finally get snow. ☃️ For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with egg, Kalle’s roe paste and horseradish spread, tender smoked turkey, avocado and baked cottage cheese, blood grapefruit, coffee. 🍜

U20 World Hockey Championships starts tonight! Our first game: FIN🇫🇮 - DK🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. It's time to take a look in the fridge and use up leftovers. Hubby doesn’t like ham, so I made meatballs in onion gravy with mash and served them with rosolli, peas, steamed broccoli, cucumber, tomato. 🍜

Days are still short, but the bright sunshine has brightened the landscape! No snow, but at least some light after all the gloomy and rainy days! For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, bell pepper, persimmon, apple, kiwi, grapes, Cantaloupe melon, watermelon, honeydew melon, cheeses. 🍜

-1˚C today. Boxing Day started here in bright sunshine. Pheasants came for breakfast, males showing off their shiny breast feathers. For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with lettuce, Danish White Cheese, grapes and air dried tomato spread, smoked ham and kiwi, persimmon, coffee. 🍜

+5˚C today. All the snow melted during the night, but at least we had it on Christmas Eve! For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, apple, persimmon, kiwi, watermelon, honeydew melon, Cantaloupe melon, cheeses, grapes, radishes. 🍜

Santa visited us, he always comes on Christmas Eve before he starts his world tour. Hubby and I had some mullet wine before our Christmas dinner: picked Baltic herring, cold smoked salmon, rosolli with sauce, smoked ham, swede stew, peas, wild mushroom salad, boiled potatoes. 🍜

I’m dreaming of the White Christmas… 🎶 and it came, not much, but enough that the ground is covered, even the pale sun showed up. I made rosolli, the traditional salad. For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, grapes, persimmon, bell peppers, avocado, cheeses, apple, blood orange, melons.🍜

-2˚C today. Hyvää joulua! Merry Christmas! 🎄 For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with cold smoked reindeer (don’t worry, it’s not Rudolf, he‘s safe and sound with Santa in Lapland), cucumber, blue cheese, persimmon and baked cottage cheese, blood orange, grapes, coffee. 🍜

Tonight I‘ll make lanttulaatikko, swede stew, it’s a traditional Christmas stew served as a side dish with ham. I'll make some rosoli tomorrow and tell you more about it. For dinner: pan fried rainbow trout medallions with yogurt/lemon/dill sauce, mash and a vegetable salad. 🍜

-8˚C today. Not much snow, bright sun greeted us, what a lovely surprise. I have some grocery shopping to do before Christmas and I'm not too keen on crowded supermarkets. For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, persimmon, orange, avocado, grapes, apple, radishes, melons, cheeses. 🍜

Hubby and I went for an evening walk and admired the Christmas lights and decorations in our neighborhood. Hopefully we'll get some snow tomorrow. 🎄☃️ For dinner: I pan fried small chicken steaks and served them with herb butter, mash and a vegetable salad. 🍜

I bought two different creme cheeses, one with sun dried tomatoes and the other with roasted bell peppers, both are great for charcuterie boards or sandwiches. For hubby’s brunch: melons, apple, radishes, cheeses, pear, orange and for dessert: Viipurin rinkeli and coffee. 🍜

-6˚C today. There’re many different ways of serving and eating baked cottage cheese: you also can put pieces into your coffee. For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with cucumber, egg, Kalle’s roe paste, Brie, kumquats, blueberries and baked cottage cheese , grapes, orange, coffee.

It was a rare rain-free evening, so we went for evening walks, grocery shopping, and stopped to say hello to our pub owner over a pan pizza: smoked bacon, peach, red onion, yellow bell pepper, asparagus and a lot of fresh rucola on the top. Foxy loves the painting on the wall. 🍜

I saw lots of beautiful red-breasted bullfinches and heard their calls today when I went to fill the bird feeders. The pheasants saw me and also came to get their share of the seeds. For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, kiwi, grapes, melons, orange, apple, pear, cheeses, radishes. 🍜

+6˚C today. It's the shortest day of the year. The weather forecast promises cold weather, there may even be snow by Christmas. For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with cucumber, Brie, grapes, kiwi and egg, cold smoked rainbow trout and baked cottage cheese, pear, orange, coffee. 🍜

Hubby and I planned to go for a walk and eat pizza, but instead decided to stay home and watch ski jumping on TV. For dinner: I made mixed salad plates for both of us, this is mine, it has sourdough bread and cold smoked salmon too. Foxy loves especially the smoked salmon. 🍜

I was hoping for a miracle when I looked out my window, but there was no snow! Fortunately we still have 3 days until Christmas Eve. For hubby’s brunch: cucumber, apple, honeydew melon, Cantaloupe melon, watermelon, grapes, egg, smoked salmon, blood orange, persimmon, cheeses. 🍜

+6ºC today. Our Suvi Minkkinen won silver medal in biathlon🥈. My Christmas flowers are in full bloom, hyacinths have such a lovely scent. For breakfast: sourdough rye bread with smoked salmon, avocado and cucumber, Brie, grapes, persimmon and blueberries, blood orange, coffee. 🍜

+6ºC today. Hubby and I skipped breakfast and went to the local shopping mall. We ate lunch at Höyry restaurant: a salad buffet for starters. Hubby chose pan fried vendaces and mash for main course and I chose breaded pork schnitzel with wild mushroom sauce and French fries. 🍜