den 12 juli 2009

petrol perhaps but no green

Art kan never outdo or surpass nature's own way of expressing beauty, it can however try to interpret or explain. I'm not at all content with this thistle-softpastel, but I'm showing it anyway. When I was little I used to paint WITH thistles and paint made of "puréed" grass or flowers or mud and water... yet, when I'm sitting in front of my working desk with the opportunity to choose between hundreds of pastels I still can't seem to find the right nuance for the "flowerbrush".
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"Funny. It reflects no green" he says, the one I always complain to about things I don't understand - like colours. "Petrol, perhaps. But no green".
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Maybe that is why, in the middle of the summer, when my eyes are overflooded by green, green and green again (yes, I've been mowing the lawn this afternoon!) I need the thistles - not to drown and to wake me up.
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Because they reflect no green.
The way my blue eyes do.
Even if they're not really blue at all.
.

den 11 juli 2009

the strangest thing

den 8 juli 2009

... and that is when the trumpetist announces ...

"Hey, You know what! No one has performed "Summertime" yet this evening!"
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Anni Paananen in an open stage performance together with musicians accociated to Jazzoo at Andra Sjö Summerjazz, Nykarleby, Finland, 2 July 2009

den 6 juli 2009

watercolour

Last saturday I went to see "my lake" and it's surroundings. After more than a week of unusually warm weather - for Finland, that is! - the vegetation stood in full bloom. This evening was cloudy, not very warm and my lake is tiny, tiny, tiny...
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... but it sure does shine!



den 1 juli 2009

white for the blues

white for the blues

den 30 juni 2009

vanans makt

den 28 juni 2009

clumsy clot's chickpea pot

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Jaha. Jaha. Jaha. Så har man då semester och ändå måste man äta. Det här kommer sannolikt att få vissa er att skratta och ta er för pannan, för någon kock är jag då verkligen inte men just därför väljer jag att göra processen kort och därmed lindra obehaget köksarbete framkallar. Man låter alltså den äkta hälften grilla kycklingen och majsen och tillreder under tiden den varma kikärtssalladen till vänster på första bilden. Jag gillar kikärter.
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kokta kikärter ur egen gryta eller konservburk
- du får själv lov att anpassa mängden efter hur många som äter
finhackad gul lök
- en normalstor lök till ca 4 dl kikärter brukar blir bra
finhackad vitlök
- nåja, efter var och ens tycke och smak
hackade färska tomater
- enligt behag, men ta bort det sladdriga innamätet från tomaterna annars blir allt så blaskigt. Stoppa det i munnen genast istället, det är hälsosamt.
grön currypasta
- från burk, och ja, det är viktigt att den är grön. Här får du anpassa mängden efter styrkan på currypastan, den varierar har jag märkt. Ca en rågad matsked till 4 dl kikärter brukar jag ta.
slarvigt hackad färsk mynta
- enligt tycke
olivolja

Fräs hackad lök och vitlök i en kastrull eller stekpanna, på förnuftig temperatur och i vettig mängd olivolja - inte så att löken blir brun. Rör ner currypastan. Lägg i kikärterna och tomaterna, de behöver bara bli varma. Ta bort kastrullen från spisen. Ner med myntan och krafsa ihop allt lite grann. Jo, man får salta om man tycker att det behövs. Så där ja. Har den äkta hälften nu skött sin plikt vid grillen och ungarna dukat bordet är allt klart vid det här laget. Praktiskt och bra, och har man vegetarianer vid middagsbordet hålls även de nöjda och du kan med ännu bättre samvete äta upp kycklingen själv.

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Well. Well. Well. So I'm on vacation but still have to eat. This is likely to make some of You laugh out loud, for a good chef... I'm not. Maybe that's why I choose to keep the process of making food really short and thus alleviate the discomfort working in the kitchen provokes. We therefore now let the better marital half do the barbecuing of the chicken and the corn, while we prepare the warm chickpea-salad seen to the left on the first image. I like chickpeas.

cooked chickpeas out of Your own pot or tin
- You might want to adjust the amount to suit the people You are planning to serve...
finely chopped yellow onion(s)
- a normal size onion per 4 dl chickpeas would be advisable
finely chopped garlic
- well, according to taste
chopped fresh tomatoes
- as much as You please, but do remove the sluschy pulps from the tomatoes otherwise the whole salad will turn out watery. Put the pulps in Your mouth right away instead, they are good for You.
green curry paste
- from the jar, and yes, it is important that it is green. Here you should probably adjust the amount accordinly to the strength of the curry paste, I have noticed it varies. I usually add about one brimfull tablespoon to 4 dl chickpeas
carelessly chopped fresh mint
- according to taste
olive oil

Fry the chopped onion and garlic in a saucepan or frying pan, on sensible heat and in reasonable amount of olive oil - see to it that the onion and garlic does not get burned. Add the curry paste. Add the chickpeas and tomatoes, they only need to become warm. Remove the pot from the stove. In with the mint and toss it around little. Yes, You may add some salt if You think it's necessary. There You go. Now, IF the better marital half has done his/her duty at the barbecue and the kids have set the table everything should be ready. Practical and easy-peasy, and if You have vegetarians at the dinner table they will be satisfied too, and you can have the chicken Yourself with an even better conscience.

den 27 juni 2009

Andrew

Sometimes the internet allows You to stumble into beauty You would otherwise have missed, not really knowing that You unaware of it's excistense still longed for it from the very beginning. This can happen in various ways - art, nature, religion, understanding, friendship, love...

In this case it's music. Let me introduce to You my friend - Mr [Andrew M. Pisanu]

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Ibland händer det sig att internet låter dig snubbla över skönhet du annars hade gått miste om, och som du utan att känna till dess existens ändå hela tiden saknat - ända från begynnelsen. Det här kan hända inom många områden - konst, natur, religion, förståelse, vänskap, kärlek...

I det här fallet handlar det om musik. Låt mig presentera för er min vän - Mr [Andrew M. Pisanu]

den 24 juni 2009

Just a tiny little...

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... and then the life outside of it!

video

den 23 juni 2009

a place to drown

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den 7 juni 2009

lakealike music by the sea


Jag är 37 år och och ser inte en dag yngre ut.
När jag ställer mig på scen tänker banne mig inte utge mig för att var något popsnöre.
Brittan, X-tina, Duffan, Rhianna och alla Katiesar får skutta runt och do their thing
- Själv har jag tänkt sjunga.
Dani Strömbäck har lovat spela piano. Det gör han något otroligt bra.
Åminne Folkpark (vid havet ni vet!) Malax, Finland
Inkommande lördag 13.6 kl. 20.30 ungefär.

Välkomna då!

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I am 37 years old and do not look a day younger.
When I enter the stage I will not pretend to be a teenage pop-princess.
Britney, X-tina, Duffy, Rhianna and all the Katies may jump around and do their thing
- Personally I'm going to sing.
Dani Strömbäck has promised to play the piano. He does that incredibly well.
Åminne Folkpark (by the sea!) Malax, Finland
Next Saturday 13.6, 20.30 in the evening something.

Welcome then!

den 5 juni 2009

bowling

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When I was little I used to go to the bowling alley with my father. Since the town swimming hall was situated in the same building I always went swimming while he represented the bowling team of his working place. I was usually finished performing the crawl and the backstroke and the butterfly and the very, very interesting but maybe not so effective or accurate swimming techniques of my own invention before my father was done bowling, and so I'd sit and watch him and his team mates giving their best in the final run of every session.

It was fascinating. How did they do it! How did they manage to hit all those pins in a single stroke? I was filled with respect, extremely excited and very solemn and yet my father seemed more relaxed and humourous than ever. Why!?

This afternoon I went bowling with my colleagues. One of us is known for using not only one but several lanes for each roll, another one of us uses glasses for the first time in his life, a third has recently begun a new training programme and claims his body is trying to crawl out of his skin and as for me... well, I'm bowling with an arm that has been broken... twice... at the elbow... I still can't get it totally stretched out...

But it is not my failing elbow that finally makes me understand the nature of amateur bowling and why serious men and solemn women all of a sudden burst into laughter. No, no, no. It's my dear colleague P pointing out to me the way my right leg swings when I try to get that damn ball going in a direction beneficial for doing the ever-so-serious-sport-of-my-childhood- fascination some real honour. It's the way he claims that the POSES I STRIKE WITH MY LEGS are far more elegant than my performance with the bowling ball on the lane. "Are You doing the dying swan", he askes "or are You doing the tormented crow?"

Later in the evening I talk to my mother on the phone. "I've been bowling today", I say to her. "Oh! I must tell Your father!" she eagerly replies and calls upon him, still on the phone. In the background I can hear him state something like: "...it probably went pretty well, after all she's my girl and these kinds of talents are often inherited..."

I'm five seconds away from telling him about the dying swan and the tormented crow, but then again... nah! He does not need to know, does he! Let him keep the vision of his fascinated little girl, filled with admiration. The truth is though, I'm still quite intrigued by this sport! Not that I would ever admit that infront of h-i-m ...

... scared to death he would challenge me for a bowling session! I'm sure HE would laugh - but could I?


smileys


Thanks for the reminder, M!

den 3 juni 2009

Hot N Cold



Who's to say who's Hot N who's Not?

Var bara tvungen att låna lite material av dig, Kattis!

den 1 juni 2009

belliart

you you you you you you you you you you you

den 29 maj 2009

ain't misbehavin'



den 27 maj 2009

update

Well, well... what doYou know!

Thank You, [CARLOS] !

den 25 maj 2009

brilliant trees

den 23 maj 2009

toys to be taken seriously

Last wednesday I attended an event called "Ihanko pihalla?" held in Vasa, Finland. Among many brilliant performances and superb items exhibited these dolls made by young artist Carlos Nabb made an impression. I promise to get back to You with an update on the artist as soon as I manage to get some more information.

den 22 maj 2009

if I only could

den 21 maj 2009

memento

Inte klokt hur mycket talang som samlats inom den här familjen! :-)
Brorsans och brorsfruns fotograferings- och designföretag presenteras härmed.
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It's crazy how much talent has gathered into this family! :-)
Let me introduce to You the photography- and designcompany of my brother and my sister in law.

den 20 maj 2009

ärevördig lady bostik

Ibland kan en trevlig överraskning som förgyller dagen bestå av att en invånare från planeten Bostik plötsligt och oväntat en helt vanlig eftermiddag landar på ens skrivbord. Tack, D!

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Sometimes a nice surprise to enhance the quality of an ordinary afternoon may take the form of an inhabitant of the planet Bostik suddenly and unexpectedly landing on one's working desk. Thanks, D!

den 18 maj 2009

the hand of god?

den 10 maj 2009

SPRING

(click image for enlarged version)

Spring was late this year but IT IS HERE!

What makes a mother?

having one
becoming one
being one

Grattis på mors dag, mamma!

den 9 maj 2009

Jag är din flickvän nu

(klicka på bilden för större format)
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Ikväll blir det teater, gott folk! Sedan några år tillbaka har jag hittat en storfavorit och själasyster bland cyniska serietecknare och det är Nina Hemmingsson. Viirus-teatern tillsammans med teaterföreningen Blaue Frau gör i afton ett gästspel på Kulturskafferiet (Ritz) i Vasa med pjäsen "Jag är din flickvän nu" baserad på Liv Strömquists och Nina Hemmingssons seriekaraktärer.

Mitt cyniska sinnelag troget hoppas jag på det värsta och befarar det bästa.

decompression sickness

den 7 maj 2009

om svininfluensan / about the swine influenza

(click image for enlarged version)

den 4 maj 2009

your song from me

video
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"Blue" by Joni Mitchell, performed by Annika Paananen-Bergvik and Dani Strömbäck, July 2008
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Last summer I gave a concert at Malakta together with Dani Strömbäck, my eminent pianist. This is my personal favourite cover from that happening, "Blue" by Joni Mitchell - unfortunately recorded in mono, outdoors and with a fresch breeze sometimes blowing the sound to pieces - but still expressing everything I felt then, and still feel.

~ here is Your song from me ~

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"Blue" av Joni Mitchell, framförd av Annika Paananen-Bergvik och Dani Strömbäck, Juli 2008

Förra sommaren höll jag konsert på Malakta, tillsammans med Dani Strömbäck, min eminente pianist. Det här är min personliga favoritcover från tillställningen, "Blue" av Joni Mitchell - tyvärr inspelad i mono, utomhus och med en frisk vind som ibland blåste sönder ljudet - men ändå uttryckte allt jag kände då, och fortfarande känner.

~ här är din sång från mig ~


Så vackert som...

... det bara kan bli en vårkväll på Pavis i Jakobstad! Tack till er som var där i lördags, både nya och gamla bekanta, och Ann! - ibland träffar du huvudet på spiken utan att du ens är medveten om att du håller i hammaren. *KRAM*

puss & puss

Ni kan sluta pussa på mig nu, raring och darling!
Christian och Facebook är trötta på att förmedla.
scuba diving in the UK

den 3 maj 2009

swallowed by the earth

the abyss

Christian - only a few minutes before the mysterious disappearance
.
video

A: Hmm...

Ch: *sigh* We are stuck and we do not know where we are. Could life possibly get more symbolical than that? Well. That might be a slight exaggeration...

A: No. It's exactly what it's like. And the mud is ALIVE.

Ch: Yes. Maybe there's a great abyss down there that will swallow us whole, and then there will be nothing left of us when they come to rescue us.

A: With a tractor, mark my words.

Ch: Hmm. Swallowed by the earth.

den 1 maj 2009

million dollar bracelet

I'm not the bling-bling kind of girl, but when safetypins and tiny plasticpearls together look like a million dollar bracelet it's possible to convince me of wearing it. My hours spent at work are some days really worth their while and lately we've been making our own jewellery.
Best of all, for every little pearl there's a laughter, and of course: if You ever needed a safetypin - which You WILL, eventually! - You would know where to find one.


den 27 april 2009

pheasant (up-)date

"Well, here she comes..."

"Eh... what are You doing, dear...?"

"Ok, that's better."
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[previous episode]

sleepyhead with a waspish temper

SÖMNTUTA PÅ STINGSLIGT HUMÖR
.
Det har varit mycket varmare de senaste dagarna och våren tycks ha kommit även till de norra delarna av Europa. Marken är dock på sina ställen fortfarande riktigt kall och medan jag skyfflade undan några gamla och torra blad under spireabuskarna beslöt sig den här lilla sömniga krabaten i sin randiga kostym att åka snålskjuts på min hand, ut ur skuggorna och upp i solljuset. För en stund bara satt han där, till synes alldeles lugn och lydig, och jag lyckades t o m ta dessa foton... men inte länge förrän solen och det varma vädret fick fart på honom igen ...

... och JA, jag blev tvungen att SPRINGA!
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SLEEPYHEAD WITH A WASPISH TEMPER
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It's been a lot warmer the last couple of days and spring seems to have arrived even to the northern parts of Europe. The ground is still really cold though, and while shoveling away some old and dry leaves from underneath the spiraeabushes this little sleepy fellow in his striped costume decided to cling on to my hand in a attempt to get a lift out of the shadowlands and up into the sunlight.
For a while he just sat there on the wooden terrace, seemingly calm and obedient and I even managed to take these photos, but not for long until the sun and the warm weather woke him to his sences...
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... and YES, I had to RUN!

den 26 april 2009

unchain my heart

Mr Lovesick, the pheasant cock, from last spring is back in the little grove behind our house. Here he is, showing off in all his glory. (click images for enlarged versions)

I've decided to call him Joe, after Joe Cocker, because he... well, sounds like Joe Cocker, while he moans and roams and desperately searches for his missing better half.

... looking straight forward...

... looking to the right...

... looking to the left...

... but the chick is playing hard to get, and so he leaves...

" UNCHAIN MY HEART!
Baby, let me be.
Unchain my heart 'cause you don't care about me.
You've got me sewed up like a pillow case
But you let my love go to waste, so
Unchain my heart, oh please, set me free!"
.

den 25 april 2009

Happiness

... or the sound of angels passing my office door

I'm sitting by my computer doing administrative work - which does not apply to my talent, nor to my patience, but still needs to be done - when workdayangel nr 1 sneaks into my office:

"Sorry to interrupt, but could I please borrow one of the guitars?" "Sure" I answer "They're meant to be played upon". After a few minutes workdayangel 2 comes in, scratching his chin a little, the way he often does: "Hmmm... I was thinking... about playing a little... guitar... but I could use some help with the tuning... is that ok?" "Of course" I answer, "but the best one of the guitars is already taken - do You mind playing a less comfortable one?" "Yes... I mean no... it's ok."

Workdayangel nr 3 does not talk much unless he has to. He just very carefully opens the door, smiles and with an inquiring look on his face points his finger towards the third and last guitar - for some reason they're all kept in my office - and I just nod: yes, You may take it.

Five minutes later I'm still sitting by my desk, but with the door wide open. Well, not just the door: my soul is wide open too! From the other room melodies are flooding towards me with an emotional strength and beauty that almost makes me cry.

Since I have no device available to record the happening I decide to make an attempt catching the athmosphere with my camera instead - of course it's impossible, but trying's definately worth the effort.

"Aren't You done taking photos yet, Anni?!?" workdayangel nr 4 who has joined the scene grins and askes. "Not by far!" I smile and answer, well aware the angel himself loves to be the centre of attention.

I feel fortunate. They are dear to me. I should tell them more often.

I would like to give them wings.

den 24 april 2009

late goodbye

den 23 april 2009

necessities

My grandmother has a kit full of old pins and buttons and all sorts of "really necessary things" - the kind of stuff that You just might need one day but probably never will... I used to play with this kit when I was little and most of these small necessities have served a purpose I'm familiar with, but there is one thing that still makes me confused. Anyone can tell it's needle, but the needle is too coarse to be a regular pin, and when looking closely You can see there's a tiny bird of glass sitting on it...
.
WHY?

den 21 april 2009

Spring in Finland

Cellphone-photo from yesterday's stroll in the neighbourhood. Warm and cozy, eh? At least I've got the evening sun shining on my face - unfortunately it's not enough to melt the frost on my knitted cap!