Renewal of Aitta #2 (The Importance of Friends)

Home is where one starts from - T.S. Eliot

Philajakosken sää tänään : High of 28. Low of 17.

If one wishes ever to roam to Finland, I highly recommend coming here in June.

June was a month filled with many new memories and laughter. June is the lightest month of the year, where even the shadows on trees at night aren't dark. June is exciting, with many people visiting the lakes all across Finland. And June is beautiful, the colors makes one feel only joy.

Teemu and I have been blessed to be able to share Räntämäki with friends, strangers, and family this past month.

I celebrated my first Juhannus here, which felt like Christmas in summer. For many reasons.

Some of them being that the food and drink and gathering of close family felt the same as when Christmas rolls around the corner. In other ways, it was that feeling of contentedness, when one can slip into their sweater in summer and feel satisfied at the sight of rain again.

The days leading up to the lightest night of the year, or the longest day of the year, (called Juhannus in Finnish) were the brightest I had ever seen. The flowers glowed at night under the invisible sun. It was warm all the time. And I never needed to bring a flashlight to the outhouse anymore. But ironically enough, on Juhannus Day, a storm came through Päijanne that pushed us closer into our cottages and farther away from any kokko (midsummer fire.)

A normal summer day...

Juhannus Day...

But that didn't stop us from having an enjoyable time.

In the morning of Juhannus, it is a must to have a morning sauna, some say to shoo away any unwanted spirits. In a column in the Appcheive it reads,

"The cleansing that going to sauna provides was seen as something almost supernatural and therefore sauna was the place where people tried to expel the spirits. It’s common to use “vihta”, a bunch of birch twigs, in a Finnish sauna to gently beat yourself with in order to relax the muscles and to soothe mosquito bites, and in Juhannus sauna vihta is a must! Also, the flames of Juhannus kokko were believed to chase away the evil spirits"

I can say it is one of the greatest ways to wake up. :)

Juhannusta vietetään perinteisesti mökkeillen

During the day, Teemu and I went to a home called Seppälätalo, where Teemu's relatives and ancestors have lived in since the 15th century. There were children playing the accordion, cakes and tea, and the cheerful sound of more then 40 related Finns whispering their stories and giggles. Regardless of the weather, I believe that Juhannus is the happiest day of any Finns year. And I was grateful to be apart of it. :)

After some enjoyable hours there, we left Seppälätalo and headed to an island where we spent the rest of the day with family, friends, babies and dogs and a beautiful view of misty rain across the lake. We had pig that was roasted underground for 12 hours, and toasted each other to the rest of summer with white wine.

One tradition that some Finns celebrate on Juhannus is collecting seven wildflowers and tucking them under your bed, in wish for a lover, or good health. Teemu and I ran around that night in the rain, collecting colorful roses, bright buttercups, and clovers.

I knew Teemu was keen to head back to the farm the next day, and continue our continuous projects there.

I don't know if I have ever seen a man work so hard on so much for so long without any paycheck at the end of the month! Teemu has found his passion!

These past days, we have started painting the Aitta with natural red and yellow tones. These paints are traditionally made by boiling color pigments from rye and wheat flours from Finland. Nordic folks have been painting their beautiful homes with these classic colors since the 16th century. And, you can eat it. If you really want to. ;)

I woke Teemu up early the first day, and dashed out of bed like it was a holiday. Except, it was a big working day in the sun.

I was so excited to start painting this old wood and being part of an extraordinary rebirth of something old and forgotten. The old logs sucked up the paint faster then I could lather it on, like the wood was finally getting a drink after 100 years of fasting.

For me, painting is just as good as meditating. I love the effect it has to one's home and one's mind. Even though the bright red is vibrant and fierce, all we felt while painting was calm and joyous. Such a simple thing really, but it helped us grow and stay in the moment. Neighbors and visitors passing by honked at us in applause as Tapio and the sheep attempted to chase after their dusty tracks.

We decided to keep the ends of the logs as they were, as in honor of their age and time spent in one place, standing still.

I had never painted such a neglected and well deserved building as this one.

In Norway, I spent a month painting a families home red like this one, except it was well-looked after and the difference between the old and new coat wasn't very prominent. On the ship, I painted the interior different shades of greens or blues, but that was just as normal as whipping the lines on the deck as well.

This Aitta had been painted only once. Maybe 80 years ago? The bottom logs look prehistoric, as if the endless seasons from the freezing to melting sun had turned them into white rocks.

It was hard work but good work. The kind of job that makes you excited when you think about it. Tapio, (of course) ended up with some red streaks on his white wool and face, scaring people as they thought it was a bloody lamb cantering happily around.

Teemu and I were exhausted after the day spent in the heat, and our arms shaking from holding buckets of paint up high on the ladder.

Luckily, my best friend Niilo drove up the road that evening in an unfamiliar sports car with a man in a suit next to him. Smiles fell from the air onto the sheep and garden when we embraced again, after a year of not seeing each other.

Niilo had come for a few days to help on the farm, share his recent stories of India, and give us many laughs throughout the days. With him, a young man named Timo had picked up Niilo hitchhiking, and delivered him all the way to our door! (Entrance, we don't have a door anymore!) We were so happy he had came as well, and we invited them into our outdoor kitchen.

Timo seemed very surprised and interested in our little life here. He had never seen anything quite like it. A young Canadian and Finn getting together and living on land that hadn't been lived on in years. Fixing what some had thought would never be touched again. Sculpting something out of this old farm like two potters with never ending clay.

"The possibilities here are endless." We told him.

"We are just playing farmers!" Teemu said with a grin.

Timo smiled back as us, as if he understood completely. He kept looking around at the animals grazing freely, the quirks of the hand-made kitchen, and strange but delicious food we offered him, deep in thought. It was like he had done this all before. Somewhere else. I saw hope in his eyes.

Timo is working for a job I regretfully cannot remember the name of. But I do recall it being about money, real estate possibly? But even that didn't bring down his spirit as he was intertwined with the nudges of woolly sheep, the warmth from tea, and new exciting stories from Niilo.

I think it surprised and interested us as much to him as we enjoyed his company being here. Regardless of his own path, we have all had arrived at the same center. There was no difference between us. Amazing how we can all get along when there is no pressure not to.

We hope he comes back one day with his wife! On his way out, Timo had nudged against the freshly coated paint and we fell stark white as we started to mention it to him. Teemu laughed as he said, "it will wash out of your nice suit," but I don't think Timo was as optimistic as we were...

Meet Niilo!

Niilo ended up staying for a month, and helped us out with all kinds of things we never believed would happen this summer!

Haawa, kiitos, and thank you, dear Niilo...

Here are the before and after photos of our now, livable Aitta. This Aitta that has been through more years then we have ever experienced, been walked in by more people then we have ever known, and has survived more seasons in Finland that we will ever go through. We are pleased to say that this Aitta is a perfect summer home. :)

Bedroom:

Kitchen:

Outside:

After painting the Aitta, the entire atmosphere of the farm changed. There was a new feeling of life and renewal.

Räntämäki hasn't had a big shift like this in decades. I really do believe it effected everyone around that knew Teemu's Grandfather and the farm. People came that we had never met before, and told us good stories about their own time spent here with Esko many years ago. It has attracted people like a magnet, with having little lambs frolicking around, slow folk music playing, and now, a freshly painted building in the front view!

Summer is double the length here, having the nights never change from days. We have enjoyed the rest of our time swimming, having 4 hour long saunas, quading to the cafe, playing music around our campfire, walking through the forest, and dreaming together of future projects and fun.

I am leaving in a few days back to Canada.

Strange to leave somewhere sooner then one anticipated.

I had planned to stay here with Teemu until the end of August, but family was calling me home. Grandfathers come first. And I know this place will always be here. :)

I will continue writing the blog from Haida Gwaii, if Teemu remembers to send me photos!

Thank you,

Kiitos for reading once again,

Have a wonderful and memorable summer!