Celebrating Runeberg

Today the 5th of February we celebrate our national poet

Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-1877).

He wrote the original lyrics of our National Anthem 

Maamme / Our Land - in Swedish Vårt Land, 

then translated in Finnish and composed by Fredrik Pacius.

On the internet there are many translations, here is one:

Oh Our Land Finland Fatherland
Echo Loudly Golden Word
No Valley No Hill
No Water Shore More Dear
Than This Northern Homeland
This Precious Land Of Our Fathers
No Valley No Hill
No Water Shore More Dear
Than This Northern Homeland
This Precious Land Of Our Fathers
One Day From Your Bud
You Will Bloom
From Our Love Shall Rise
Your Hope Glorious Joy
And Once Your Song Fatherland
Higher Still Will Ring
From Our Love Shall Rise
Your Hope Glorious Joy
And Once Your Song Fatherland
Higher Still Will Ring

This drawing is made by the famous Finnish artist Albert Edelfelt.
It is the cover of The Tales of Ensign Stål
written by Runegerg and tells about the Finnish War in 1808-1809
after which Finland was separated from Sweden and became
part of the Russian Empire as the Gran Duchy of Finland.

Every year we modern Finnish people enjoy
The Runeberg Pastries - Runebergin torttu.
They look like this and taste very good with that raspberry jam.
I like this kind of traditions!

This week I read the very interesting and tragic biography of Marilyn Monroe
by Donald Spoto.  My post can be found here.

I participated in the Makrotex Challenge with my clock photos...

... and in addition to snow my January 2016
was filled with also vibrant colors...

Linking with 

Five on Friday

Wishing you all a very good weekend!

Pysytäänpä ajassa!

Makrotex-haasteena on tällä viikolla kello - a clock. 
Tämäpä olikin hankala kuvattava kiiltojen ja heijastusten vuoksi!

Kuvasin kahta pyöreätä seinäkelloa,

toinen terästä ja varmaan Ikean, toinen musta ja ties mistä.

Kuvasin myös pikkuruista juhlakelloani, mutta niin pieni kuvattava
tarvitsee kunnon makrolinssin.

Teräksinen Ikean kellokin näytti tylsältä,
joten kelpuutin tähän postaukseen vain mustan.

Mutta opin sentään jotain!
Vihdoinkin keksin mistä napista saa kollaaseihin värilliset välit!
Tästä löydöstä iloitsen kovasti.

Kellopeliä enemmänkin Pienen linnun blogissa.

January 2016

Always afterwards it seems that a month has passed without doing anything special. But looking at my posts and photos I find that a lot has happened! I had so many pictures to choose that I made 2 collages, one with pale winter photos and the other with colorful shots.

We got at last snow and a period of cold weather -20 C up till -28 C. The scenery was beautiful indeed. I enjoyed it and good I did because now we have had rain and ugly. My best shots in January were made of Sissi the cat, frost at the window, Lunaria annua in the snow and pale pink tulips.

But I had also colorful days! The salmon soup, yellow tulips, fruit, oranges... And I read a few books as well. I find this monthly summary very nice indeed - and the blog as well. They keep all my memories!

I'll link to the Makrotex-challenge at the blog of Pienilintu.

And Judith's Mosaic Monday.

Please, look at the posts and beautiful photos you find there.

Wishing you all a splendid first week of February!

What a week!

This horrible weather and a cold have made my week miserable. 

It's grey and raining and very slippery. All the beauty of white winter is gone. 

I've been tired and aching, no fever though.
I tried to find some positive and nice things:

Tulips have delighted me in the vase with a promise of spring...

I found The Stephen Fry Chronicles very interesting and entertaining... 

If you want to look, you'll find a post on it at the right side bar.
The book is worth reading!

The Australian Open via Eurosport has been fun to watch

allthough I find Mr. Djokovic to be way too good... 

So good that the tournament looses some of its interest!

Summer photos are a must these grey days...

Not many positive things.
I do hope your week has been better than mine!

Linked to Five on Friday. and Fun Friday Favourites.