rainy day

Lovely prints by Matte Stephens, 'cat bird' and 'happy cloud'.

Rain forecast for the whole weekend, today has been showers all morning. A good opportunity to stay in and catch up at home. I hope summer show's a ray or two in July.

Cozy days in make me think of baking, warm bread from the oven. smitten kitchen's last of the loafing and beaming, bewitching breads are an inspiration to get some ingredients in.

Bloesem's 'knitting spree' weekend read is the essence of all things cozy at home. Full of great knitting ideas and suppliers.

I would like both the pretty books;  Pies and In the Mood for Food. Homely titles with delicious ideas.

mid point

Kamalaya lotus ponds from Pookilicious' plant & flower set on Flickr. This image is so serene and peaceful.

Resting today and now time to think about my blog. I have been keeping this blog for six months and here it is the middle of 2007, already past the summer solstice. Usually I like to pause to consider such days but the week sped past.

Less posting has helped me get other things done but I feel a bit less connected to all that I had discovered. I have made some great contacts through this experience. Enthusiasm on a subject is a great thing to share. I have appreciated every comment made.

The librarian in me has reorganised my labels, if anything to help keep my blog more focused on what I enjoy. All the recipes I add, the things I find seemed to make a messy list of subjects.

A little while ago I added chaffinch :: online to the side bar. Inspired by Abigail and her online links organisation. I haven't yet worked out what to use the blog space for, perhaps my antique postcard collection could feature.

So looking back and looking ahead, a bit of consideration to make a better blog, a bit more often! A funny little pastime, which to friends shy of the web still don't understand the point when I try to explain. Put simply I suppose it is a creative connection to the world. port2port press answers make an insightful read and shows the value of shared creativity.

My love of good food keeps me searching for a recipe from around the web. Raspberry and elderflower fool, a summer treat for when the sunshine returns.

Good luck Grainne Morton for the Jerwood Applied Arts Prize 2007, winner to be announced on Monday.

a day trip to estonia

A souvenir from Tallinn, a trip out of Helsinki, last month. A summer recipe, Marzipan Cake with Strawberries & Cream from 'Estonian foodie' Nami-Nami!

sweet pea

June has been a busy month with much growth involved in my garden and at work. Yesterday my first sweet pea blossom revealed itself next to my clematis flower.

Today between the rain storms the vivid pink bloom has opened more and since yesterday another bud has gained some colour. I am hoping the sweet pea flowers will take to the trellis and cover it with multi coloured flowers.

An appropriately named unusual recipe, Sweet Pea Cake with Mascarpone Cream from Italian Cooking & Living.

I am enjoying Jen's new lets travel to... feature. Brings back memories of discovering Bergen at the end of a trip exploring Norway, beginning in Oslo. Finland now feels ages ago. When I returned my friend at work gave me an article reviewing the Nordic Bakery in Soho Square, London. I have yet to get there, must make time to sample the rye bread and try their other bakes.

finland post

A visual correspondence of my impressions of Finland. A trip to Moomin valley exhibition, Tampere. Such a treat, a second dose of fresh Spring and small wonders of nature.

Tampere to Helsinki by train.

Helsinki; an exciting, peaceful city with much to explore.

Impressive architecture on arrival at the train station. Plenty to admire at the Arabia shop and one of the many Marimekko's in Helsinki.

Wandered around to find the Ivana Helsinki shop in the Design District. The shop currently decorated with graphic moth illustrations and suspended fabric butterflies.

Helsinki harbour market, so much to see; fresh pea pods by the cup, Sea buckthorn berry jam, a man carving tiny bears from chunks of wood, lily of the valley by the bunch, wooden spoons, many types of fresh fish, rye bread rings. Little gingham printed stools and tables from which to watch the world go by.

Many Russian influences in the city and we travelled to Tallinn, Estonia for a day by boat. A packed four days of inspiration.

Finnish crêpes.