MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope this holiday season finds you happy and healthy, and you get to spend time with your family.
We celebrated our Christmas one day early this year, so that we could have an entire day at the house with no packing or driving or moving. It was fabulous. Maddy is a wonderful age for Christmas and was such a delight. Spent the day unwrapping gifts and playing games with her and eating Christmas ham and goodies.
It's hard not to be in Canada for Christmas, but it helps when I have such wonderful little peeps here in Finland to spend my day.
xoxo
Kim
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Butter and Bread Crumbs
Yesterday I made my last trip to the mall for the rest of the year (knock on wood). The grocery store was a madhouse. But I'm happy to report that I have made all my purchases for our Christmas celebration at our house, at Jussi's house, and most of the preparations for when Grandma and Grandpa get here!
I plan on making cheesecake, a Myderwyk holiday tradition for dessert, and found it interesting to locate certain items at the grocery store. I was happy to locate icing sugar, which I'd never purchased here yet. The trickiest part was the graham crumbs, which they don't have here. When I spoke to one of the managers of the store (keeping in mind that we go to a mega-superstore-grocery store in Finland), she said they don't have any such thing but she was aware of what I was talking about. Pointed me to the cookie aisle and said I need to buy digestive cookies and crumble them all up myself. I really hope this works out, I'll keep you posted.
Finland (as well as many other European countries) are experiencing a shortage of butter. I spent several trips to the grocery store frustrated for the lack of butter before I read in the newspaper that it's a growing epidemic. There is more demand and they can't keep up. Now the main problem is that people are starting to hoard butter - of which I am guilty, since I bought four sticks one day when I found some on the shelf. Yesterday I noticed a huge sign saying that there is now a limit of 2 per person, so perhaps next year will be better.
So with my digestive cookies and my butter in hand, I'm hoping my Finnish version of the Myderwyk cheesecake is successful. And that the four of us have a wonderful weekend.
I plan on making cheesecake, a Myderwyk holiday tradition for dessert, and found it interesting to locate certain items at the grocery store. I was happy to locate icing sugar, which I'd never purchased here yet. The trickiest part was the graham crumbs, which they don't have here. When I spoke to one of the managers of the store (keeping in mind that we go to a mega-superstore-grocery store in Finland), she said they don't have any such thing but she was aware of what I was talking about. Pointed me to the cookie aisle and said I need to buy digestive cookies and crumble them all up myself. I really hope this works out, I'll keep you posted.
Finland (as well as many other European countries) are experiencing a shortage of butter. I spent several trips to the grocery store frustrated for the lack of butter before I read in the newspaper that it's a growing epidemic. There is more demand and they can't keep up. Now the main problem is that people are starting to hoard butter - of which I am guilty, since I bought four sticks one day when I found some on the shelf. Yesterday I noticed a huge sign saying that there is now a limit of 2 per person, so perhaps next year will be better.
So with my digestive cookies and my butter in hand, I'm hoping my Finnish version of the Myderwyk cheesecake is successful. And that the four of us have a wonderful weekend.
Finnish Christmas
This is the first year in my 30 years of life that I missed Christmas this year at home. All of my siblings have always been there, so I started a bad thing. Hopefully we don't make this a habit. It was nice that I could Skype with everybody, so it felt like I was there a little bit. Plus I saw a ton of pictures (thank you Adam!) and got a play-by-play from my sister Rose so I have a good idea of what everybody got for Christmas and the cute things all the kids were saying.
I'm excited to experience a Finnish Christmas! Last year we left on December 11 and didn't come back until January 2, so we pretty much missed everything.
Last weekend we strolled through Helsinki, enjoying the Old Student House Christmas Market, the St Thomas Christmas Market, Aleksanderinkatu Street Christmas lights, and the esplanade. Would have been nicer if there was snow instead of rain, but we'll take what we can get.
Maddy is off school now for the next two weeks and is anxiously counting down the days until Santa comes, and also when Grandma and Grandpa come.
As sad as it is to be away from home, I've enjoyed my observations about how the Finns celebrate Christmas so far. It's not as commercialized as it is in North America, so children don't get a zillion gifts. Also, Santa comes on Christmas Eve during the evening, and hand-delivers the gifts to all the children. Trees are purchased and decorated on Christmas Eve morning and the big meal is also on the 24th. So actually Christmas Day is not the main event.
In the grocery store, shelves are stocked with glogi, a Finnish traditional holiday drink, which is served either with or without alcohol. Add raisins and almonds for extra flavouring. There are also a million types of Joulu bread, certain type of rye bread that is served for the holidays.
And as my Finnish language skills begin to improve, I'm recognizing more words and piecing together things. Like the Finnish word Joulukuu, which means December. It literally translates to "Christmas month". Practical.
We are also going to Jussi and Anita's house, our Finnish friends whom we met in London (Canada), to learn more about Finnish holiday traditions.
From my house to yours, I wish you a fabulous holiday with your friends and family, and a peaceful and prosperous 2012.
Hyvaa Joulua. (Merry Christmas)
xoxo
Kim
I'm excited to experience a Finnish Christmas! Last year we left on December 11 and didn't come back until January 2, so we pretty much missed everything.
Last weekend we strolled through Helsinki, enjoying the Old Student House Christmas Market, the St Thomas Christmas Market, Aleksanderinkatu Street Christmas lights, and the esplanade. Would have been nicer if there was snow instead of rain, but we'll take what we can get.
Maddy is off school now for the next two weeks and is anxiously counting down the days until Santa comes, and also when Grandma and Grandpa come.
As sad as it is to be away from home, I've enjoyed my observations about how the Finns celebrate Christmas so far. It's not as commercialized as it is in North America, so children don't get a zillion gifts. Also, Santa comes on Christmas Eve during the evening, and hand-delivers the gifts to all the children. Trees are purchased and decorated on Christmas Eve morning and the big meal is also on the 24th. So actually Christmas Day is not the main event.
In the grocery store, shelves are stocked with glogi, a Finnish traditional holiday drink, which is served either with or without alcohol. Add raisins and almonds for extra flavouring. There are also a million types of Joulu bread, certain type of rye bread that is served for the holidays.
And as my Finnish language skills begin to improve, I'm recognizing more words and piecing together things. Like the Finnish word Joulukuu, which means December. It literally translates to "Christmas month". Practical.
We are also going to Jussi and Anita's house, our Finnish friends whom we met in London (Canada), to learn more about Finnish holiday traditions.
From my house to yours, I wish you a fabulous holiday with your friends and family, and a peaceful and prosperous 2012.
Hyvaa Joulua. (Merry Christmas)
xoxo
Kim
Friday, December 16, 2011
Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe (Interlaken, Switzerland)
What an experience!! While we were staying in Lucerne, we planned an amazing day to go to Jungfraujoch, which is the top of Europe. 12000 feet in altitude!!! We had to get up at 4:30am to drive to Interlaken, which is surrounded by three mountains Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. We took three trains to get up, including the last cogwheel train that actually went through the mountain. It took 2.5 hours each way, but wow, what an experience.
On our descent, we took an alternate route, which let us visit the adorable town of Grindelwald. I love Austria and Switzerland, with the flower pots hanging on every windowsill. Super adorable. It was also neat to hear the cowbells ringing in the mountainside.
It was hard to pack for this day, since I had to have hats and mitts and a snowsuit for Maddy for the top of the mountain, but then shirts and shorts at the bottom where it was a very warm day!
A once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Top of Europe!
On our descent, we took an alternate route, which let us visit the adorable town of Grindelwald. I love Austria and Switzerland, with the flower pots hanging on every windowsill. Super adorable. It was also neat to hear the cowbells ringing in the mountainside.
It was hard to pack for this day, since I had to have hats and mitts and a snowsuit for Maddy for the top of the mountain, but then shirts and shorts at the bottom where it was a very warm day!
A once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Top of Europe!
Lucerne, Switzerland
Lucerne was a beautiful stop along our trip!!! We stayed at the Swiss Chalet and ended up getting a double upgrade to a beautiful huge room overlooking Lake Lucerne. It was gorgeous! We spent a day walking around the Old Town, admiring the Lucerne Lion, the Chapel Bridge and the adorable town squares. Lucerne is a very expensive city but it has a fabulous location on the lake, with the Alps in the background. Stunning!!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
We left Innsbruck and drove towards Switzerland. We actually drove through the tiny country of Liechtenstein, which is only 160 square kilometers with a population of 35,000. It uses the Swiss franc currency and the Swiss police.
Since we only had one afternoon here, we took a small tourist train to drive us around the "hot spots" of the capital of Liechtenstein, Vaduz. There is Vaduz Castle, which houses the prince of Liechtenstein and his family. And a few other important monuments such as the Postage Stamp Museum :)
It was a very hot day, and there were sprinklers and water fountain displays through the pedestrian streets which Maddy (and I) enjoyed immensely. Liechtenstein is a tiny little country but it's neat to say that we were there.
Then we continued on our journey with a beautiful drive to Lucerne, Switzerland.
Since we only had one afternoon here, we took a small tourist train to drive us around the "hot spots" of the capital of Liechtenstein, Vaduz. There is Vaduz Castle, which houses the prince of Liechtenstein and his family. And a few other important monuments such as the Postage Stamp Museum :)
It was a very hot day, and there were sprinklers and water fountain displays through the pedestrian streets which Maddy (and I) enjoyed immensely. Liechtenstein is a tiny little country but it's neat to say that we were there.
Then we continued on our journey with a beautiful drive to Lucerne, Switzerland.
Innsbruck, Austria
After our crazy schedule in Salzburg, we drove to Innsbruck. We had an amazing hotel location right in the Old Town, overlooking the town tower and the Golden Roof. We enjoyed walking
through the Old Town and seeing all of the architecture and really nice shops. The streets were lined with wrought iron signs that added a neat touch.
In the afternoon we went up the Hafeleker mountain, where we had gorgeous views of the city and the Alps. We also had a wonderful lunch of schnitzel and beer.
I love the picture of Maddy and Andrew overlooking the mountains. My peeps are pretty darn cute.
through the Old Town and seeing all of the architecture and really nice shops. The streets were lined with wrought iron signs that added a neat touch.
In the afternoon we went up the Hafeleker mountain, where we had gorgeous views of the city and the Alps. We also had a wonderful lunch of schnitzel and beer.
I love the picture of Maddy and Andrew overlooking the mountains. My peeps are pretty darn cute.
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