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

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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!

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!"

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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.

late goodbye

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...

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WHY?

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!

Jag ser stjärnor...

... vart jag än blickar när 44 finlandssvenska ungdomar äntar scenen på Kulturskafferiet i Vasa!

Gudarna ska veta att jag inte är lättflirtad när det gäller musikaler men VAUDE! överträffar helt sanslöst all mina förväntningar. Oerhört proffsigt! Ren och skär magi! Det fullkomligen dräller av unga förmågor i ankdammen och nu ser vi till att ta vara på dem: gå och se VAUDE!

[SPELDATUM]

Vapriikki - the factory and the birds

Vapriikki
the old days

Vapriikki
nowadays
restaurantpart


















Mitt förvärvsarbete gör att jag med tåg åker till Tammerfors denna arla morgon. Seminarier i socialt arbete väntar och även om tidtabellen är knapp hinner vi vid ankomsten till staden - p g a seminariernas placering: ett gammalt restaurerat fabriksområde - med en trevlig promenad längs älven.
Seminarierna är av det mer lättsmälta slaget, vilket aldrig är fel när man stigit upp på tok för tidigt och viss vårtrötthet börjar göra sig påmind, men desto mera vaknar jag upp vid lunch och det inte p g a den delikata gurksoppa med tilltugg som serveras utan för att...

Jag plötsligt befinner mig mitt i den exklusiva svanversionen av Hitchcocks kultfilm Fåglarna!
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Early in the morning, this very day, my work allows me to travel by train to Tampere. Seminars in social work are awaiting, and even if our schedule is tight - because of the location of the seminars: an old restored factory area - we on arrival have enough time for a pleasant walk along the river. These seminars happen to be of a more easily digestible sort -which is never a bad thing when You've gotten up way too early in the morning and spring fever is starting to remind You of its excistens - but the more I really wake up at lunch and not because of the delicate cucumber soup served ...

I suddenly find myself in the midst of the exclusive swanversion of Hitchcocks cultfilm the Birds!

hur en sann atlet länsar ett fågelbord

How a true athlete makes a clean sweep of the bird table

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Detta blogginlägg tillägnas [Lasse] och Håkan av [given anledning].

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This blogpost is dedicated to [Lasse] and Håkan for [obvious reasons].

easter hags

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Arriving at my parents house earlier this evening - we are here to celebrate easter - I found some old photos I just have to show You. This is a very common easter tradition among scandinavian children: dressing as witches (easter hags) and then strolling from one household to the other in the neighbourhood, whishing everybody a happy easter and - of course! - hoping for some candy to put in the coffeepot. I remember one year in particular when some of the older guys, who were perhaps considered a little too old for this somewhat childish tradition, dressed themselves up anyway and later in the evening threw firecrackers into the gardens or staircases of all the neighbours who had made a remark about their lack of maturity or refused to give them candy.

I was ALWAYS a NICE witch myself, though.
As a child, that is. ;-)

The first photo is one of me and my friends visiting my grandma's sister in law (I'm the third witch from the left) and the second photo is me (one year earlier, I think) in a very pretty skirt made from a quilted bedcover...

[LINK]

easter/påsk

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A HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF YOU!

GLAD PÅSK, ALLIHOPA!

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For the ones of You who do not want to decorate real easter eggs - to be eaten! - with artificial colours:
Peel some onions (yellow or red) of their outer, dry layers. "Dress" the eggs with the onion peel (use rubberbands or thread to fasten) Boil as usual, but with a tablespoon of vinegar in the boiling water. No salt.

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~ Improvised translation in the commentary field of this blogpost ~

Tasse für W

My german-speaking cybercompanions have got some kind of challenge going on. Seems it's all about showing off their beautiful, funny or strange cups/mugs in public. This challenge gives me the creeps, really, 'cause all my own cups are either boring, ugly or broken and if this is one of those challenges that goes on for thirty days my wholehearted participation might easily become the misery of a lifetime... so I wont...

... with ONE exception. And that is because Wortman asked, at Nirak's. I have a problem saying no to this guy. Unfortunately.

The text on the cup/mug above says: "I woke up this morning and it ruined my day"

your face

[LYRICS]

for Ron

Thank You, Ron! You made my day!