Hallelujah

I feel I have no words left. I used them all trying to negotiate a deal; you see I have managed to purchaise a stove that is 1cm too wide! I know! Guess how amazed I am! It really is 1cm too wide! Please do not ask me how it is possible to have managed to purchaise a stove that is 1cm too wide. I cannot tell you. So I have used all my negotiation skills possible, I have written e-mails and I have spoken on the phone. And now I have negotiated a deal, they will change the stove. I tell you, we started off with an unconditional NO we cannot and end of discussion. And here I am, many hours, many e-mails, many phonecalls later with an YES we can do that.

Hallelujah!
And here´s Jeff Buckley´s great version.

Will this ever become a chair again? Part II

Please do not look at the nailrows too close. I've undone the b****y (pardon my french) thing twice and I´ve come to the conclusion that it is simply impossible to get straight. I am not fond of lines that are supposed to be straight - but are not.
Well, what in life is straight anyway if you look close enough?
...hmmm...maybe I just paint the nail-ends with a coat of black paint, then they will not be so obvious...or try to live them the way they are;)

My fingertips have gone numb! And my hands are soooo heavy!

Now it´s time to make myself some dinner. I will make penne pasta with broccoli, garlic, oliveoil and pecorino cheese. It is a traditional italian cucina povera dish. So easy to make:

Cut the stem separate from the broccoli flowers. Cut the stem into pieces and boil in salted water for 5 minutes. Add the broccoli flowers and let cook for another 5 minutes or when the broccoli is al dente -ripe. Slice or cut 2 garlic cloves.
Lift the broccoli aside with a spoon and place penne pasta into the same water to boil.
Gently fry garlic in olive oil, but make sure it doesn´t burn. Add the broccoli into the pan and stir. When the pasta is ready, add to the pan and stir. Decorate your dish with plenty of pecorino cheese.
I usually also make a salad on the side.
And if you happen to have chilled white wine, go for it! Enjoy!

Cavalieri e l'amore per basilico

I bought a large basil today. The scent is heavenly. I´ve said it before and I´ll say it again: the scent of basil makes your selfasteem grow. Apparently. So watch out my dears, I might get arrogant if I continue inhaling...or at least you know the reason for my sudden arrogance;)

I also found a little collection of postcards of Lina Cavalieri. She was an italian operasinger, famous for her great beauty it says on Wikipedia. I don´t know, but it has a certain negative cling to it, to be famous for your beauty if you are an operasinger, hmmm...if I was an operasinger I would prefer to be famous for my voice or my interpretation, hmmm...
I have been thinking about fame, ther´s an ongoing trend that some people just want to become famous. It doesn´t matter how. They don´t have any other ambition in life, but to become famous and with very little effort. I read a comment on a friends status on facebook the other day, it was mainly about how spelling has changed (there´s a lot of x-endings in finnish that teenagers use which can be rather funny and also annoying for us grown ups) and she wrote how one of her students (she is a teacher) had written her future ambitions to become an actress (näyttelijäx), singer (laulajax), dancer( tanssijax) or celebrity (julkkiksex).
Although I have to say I find Lina Cavalieri very beautiful. So maybe it´s simply jealousy taking form in what I´ve written above;) I do love postcards that have handwritten messages on the images though <3

Beautiful sunny day here in Helsinki today. I have been listening to Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No 1 in G minor. I do love opus 26, Adadgio. Here is lovely version on Youtube. I do enjoy the whole conserto.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Katla

When moving one finds both lovely and not so lovely things that one has saved for a reason or other...and with one I refer to myself;)
Well, I found this old painting. I can remember the exact moment when I´ve painted it, but cannot for the life of me remember if I was seven or eight or nine years old. It´s not important. But what is important that I haven´t managed to throw it away over the years...I´m quite happy I still have it.
It is of Katla, a dragon that tyrant Tengil keeps in a cave in Karmanjaka. In the fantastic story called Bröderna Lejonhjärta/ Brothers Lionheart by swedish author Astrid Lindgren. A story I know by heart, I have read and lived it over and over so many times I´ve lost count. I still have my childhood copy of the book. I´ve seen the film many times and I also have an LP of the film. Yes my dears, I am that generation who had LP's of films;) I still have it!!!! I have LP's of other films based on stories by Astrid Lindgren, I have Pippi Långstrump (Longstocking), Emil i Lönneberga, Madicken...
I would like to have an audiobook read by Astrid Lindgren. She had the most gentle voice when she read her stories. In fact I think I might aswell treat myself to an audiobook of Bröderna Lejonhjärta once I have moved - as a housewarming gift to myself;)
I can just imagine myself, lying in my ironbed in the evening, wearing headphones and listening to Astrid read and the soft breeze from the open window plays with my bare toes and I feel sooooo happy and content...

Storms always happen before the coming of miracles

I quote my friend Elizabeth.

Thank you all for your kind words and your warm empathy. You are truly warm and kind.
Taken by surprise - out of the blue a huuuuge sadness appeared yesterday. I guess that when my new home now is almost ready, I´m about to move, my divorce is final. I´m about to turn a blank page in my book - and it is all taking place at the same time. That could have caused or triggered off the sadness.
I feel so different today and I´m back on track again. I suppose I needed to step away for a moment.

Force majeur

Today I woke up crying:(
I could not shred that feeling so I decided to cancel all that I had planned for today, climbed back under the covers and slept for hours! It was a force majeur situation.
I had a few appointments I could not cancel so took care of them in the afternoon, then took myself out for a cup of coffee and a large brownie, strolled streets and bought myself a cd. By finnish artist Johanna Iivanainen. I´ve only heard one song from the album, called Pitkä dejavu (transl. long dejavu) and I´ve felt a longing for that song, even though I´ve only heard it twice! I´m not terribly familiar with the singer either.
So, tonight I lit candles and listen to my new cd and relax. Tomorrow is a new day.

Will this ever become a chair again?

...as if renovating an apartment wasn´t enough, I had to start upholstering a chair. I´ve been planning to do it forever (or ever since I found the chair a frew years ago) but have I done it? No. So I´m doing it now;)
Or at least I´ve stripped it to the bone.
Will this ever be a chair again?

Renovation still underway

The apartment is slowly taking shape.
I now have a light in my toilet! And kitchen cupboards. Only one wall is still missing wallpaper. I keep putting it off as it´s a wall that has corners and nooks and doorways and...meaning a lot of shaping and cutting and it is not the most fun part in wallpapering.
Today I also had the final inspection of the plumbing and electricity work that has been done and they were approved by the housing company. Hooray!
I also have a new mattress for my ironbed (seen above). I lay down for a moment during the day and I almost fell asleep - so comfy was my new bed!

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Please do not consider me ignorant for not mentioning Japan during this week. I have no words to express my sadness and worry.

Renovation underway

Sorry for beeing a little absent. You know why.

Back to the future

I love these photos. The process must have been fantastic. Some of these photos make me laugh loud! Enjoy!
http://irinawerning.com/back-to-the-fut/back-to-the-future/

Hip hoooray!

I have three winners for my 400th post giveaway!

A lovely friend at A kiss from the past, sweet dear Genie at Paris and Beyond and lovely Alma at Des Brimborions.
Please send your adresses to ninacari(at)welho(dot)net Thank you!

Above is one rose-image I´m wallpapering in my little kitchen...my apartment is taking shape. Floors and ceiling have been painted, walls wallpapered...kitchen and hall still in a stage one can call unfinished;)

International Womens Day Today

I wish you all, women and men, a lot of strenght and inspiration with the work of women rights. Remember and celebrate the successes of the activism on the international womens day today.
The Day My God Died is an hour long documentary about child sex trade. A film that makes me cry, makes me sad, makes me sick and makes me angry! But it also makes me trust and hope that together we can stop human trafficking. The wonderful beautiful women of this film are the bravest. My thoughts today are for Gina, Anita, Meena, Jyoti and Maili. And all the anonymous millions of children around the world who have been victimized by the child sex slave trade.


Please watch the film. Because Human Rights are for EVERYONE.

Here is a webpage if you feel, like me, that you want to help.
http://www.thedaymygoddied.com/
I have today donated my todays earnings to Friends of Maiti Nepal. I have also agreed to do so monthly. With this I hope to challenge you to do the same. Enjoy your day!

Busy bee

I have been a busy bee with my renovation-project. A slight delay appeared today as the floorpaint had not dried so we have to wait another day to paint the second coat. I am totally in love with my new neighbours. I know I will be a very happy bee in my new home.

I attended a great birthday party last night. They had a great DJ and almost all the songs he played were my favorites, so nothing could keep me away from the dancefloor! Except when they served cake. Chocolate cake. I had two pieces!
Earlier in the day I had a massage. I felt I was floating when I left! She said my pectoral muscles were extremely tight and that could have been caused by emotion...I told her I had a rather sad autumn/ winter and she said she could feel that in my body. But she also said she felt the muscles loosening quite easily. I´m going back next week. But isn´t the human body just amazing? And all the emotions I seem to think I need to store in my pectoral muscles. My goodness.

Orchids and Great Tits

Yesterday I started renovation on my little nest.
I was greeted by my new neighbours as I entered the house. I cannot believe how warm and generous they all were. Especially my next door neighbour. She has over 40 orchids, she showed some of them to me and let me snif and experience their heavenly scent. Some of her orchids are on the upper landing of our stairs...and one of them descends from an orchid from the 30´s!!!

Above is an image of my window. All day I listened to the birds twitter outside and when I had my breakes I opened the middle window and watched the Great Tits do their thing and it felt as if they were there to greet me too. You do know I have a thing for Great Tits. There´s something about that little charming common bird that I find irresistable.

Oh lucky me!