#finnish fireplace

[moreariivlephotos]

back in time, part 1

[rilayagifs]

Minneapolis Rustic Living Room An illustration of a medium-sized, enclosed living room with a light wood floor and a stone fireplace in the corner.

[reasonsforhope]

"A 1-megawatt sand battery that can store up to 100 megawatt hours of thermal energy will be 10 times larger than a prototype already in use.

The new sand battery will eliminate the need for oil-based energy consumption for the entire town of town of Pornainen, Finland.

Sand gets charged with clean electricity and stored for use within a local grid.

Finland is doing sand batteries big. Polar Night Energy already showed off an early commercialized version of a sand battery in Kankaanpää in 2022, but a new sand battery 10 times that size is about to fully rid the town of Pornainen, Finland of its need for oil-based energy.

In cooperation with the local Finnish district heating company Loviisan Lämpö, Polar Night Energy will develop a 1-megawatt sand battery capable of storing up to 100 megawatt hours of thermal energy.

“With the sand battery,” Mikko Paajanen, CEO of Loviisan Lämpö, said in a statement, “we can significantly reduce energy produced by combustion and completely eliminate the use of oil.”

Polar Night Energy introduced the first commercial sand battery in 2022, with local energy utility Vatajankoski. “Its main purpose is to work as a high-power and high-capacity reservoir for excess wind and solar energy,” Markku Ylönen, Polar Nigh Energy’s co-founder and CTO, said in a statement at the time. “The energy is stored as heat, which can be used to heat homes, or to provide hot steam and high temperature process heat to industries that are often fossil-fuel dependent.” ...

Sand—a high-density, low-cost material that the construction industry discards [Note: 6/13/24: Turns out that's not true! See note at the bottom for more info.] —is a solid material that can heat to well above the boiling point of water and can store several times the amount of energy of a water tank. While sand doesn’t store electricity, it stores energy in the form of heat. To mine the heat, cool air blows through pipes, heating up as it passes through the unit. It can then be used to convert water into steam or heat water in an air-to-water heat exchanger. The heat can also be converted back to electricity, albeit with electricity losses, through the use of a turbine.

In Pornainen, Paajanen believes that—just by switching to a sand battery—the town can achieve a nearly 70 percent reduction in emissions from the district heating network and keep about 160 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere annually. In addition to eliminating the usage of oil, they expect to decrease woodchip combustion by about 60 percent.

The sand battery will arrive ready for use, about 42 feet tall and 49 feet wide. The new project’s thermal storage medium is largely comprised of soapstone, a byproduct of Tulikivi’s production of heat-retaining fireplaces. It should take about 13 months to get the new project online, but once it’s up and running, the Pornainen battery will provide thermal energy storage capacity capable of meeting almost one month of summer heat demand and one week of winter heat demand without recharging.

“We want to enable the growth of renewable energy,” Paajanen said. “The sand battery is designed to participate in all Fingrid’s reserve and balancing power markets. It helps to keep the electricity grid balanced as the share of wind and solar energy in the grid increases.”"

-via Popular Mechanics, March 13, 2024

--

Note: I've been keeping an eye on sand batteries for a while, and this is really exciting to see. We need alternatives to lithium batteries ASAP, due to the grave human rights abuses and environmental damage caused by lithium mining, and sand batteries look like a really good solution for grid-scale energy storage.

--

Note 6/13/24: Unfortunately, turns out there are substantial issues with sand batteries as well, due to sand scarcity. More details from a lovely asker here, sources on sand scarcity being a thing at the links: x, x, x, x, x

[meazalykov]

baby its cold outside

barcelona femeni x salma paralluelo x finnish!reader requested

summary: the request

merry christmas!!!

the snow crunches beneath your boots as you lead the group toward the log cabin nestled deep in the forests of rovaniemi. 

the cold bites at your cheeks, but it doesn’t bother you. this is home, and it’s always been beautiful no matter how many winters you’ve spent here. you glance back, a grin tugging at your lips as you watch your girlfriend, salma, and your teammates—vicky, martina, sydney, jana, and kika—trying to maneuver through the snow, bundled up in layers upon layers of thick coats, scarves, and hats. 

for most of them, this is their first experience with real snow, and their reactions are nothing short of hilarious.

“i swear, i’ve never seen this much snow in my life, shit i think my eyes are blinded by the brightness” vicky says, her voice muffled by the scarf wrapped tightly around her neck. 

“do people actually live here?” kika mutters, her portuguese nose red from the cold as she tries to step into the packed down path you’re making for them.

you chuckle softly, slowing your pace so they can catch up. 

“yes, kika, people live here. it’s not that bad once you’re used to it.”

“used to it?” martina exclaims, dramatically pulling her gloves tighter. 

“my toes are going numb, and we’ve only been outside for five minutes.”

salma catches your eye, her own lips twitching into a small smile as she shakes her head at the antics of your friends. her cheeks are somewhat flushed from the cold, and the spanish woman tucks a stray strand of her dark hair into her hat. 

even in layers that nearly swallow her whole, she’s beautiful. the sight of her here, in your world, makes your chest feel warm despite the icy air around you.

when you finally reach the cabin, you pause and turn back to them, throwing your arms out. 

“ta-da!” you announce. 

the girls gape at the cabin. it’s exactly what you wanted—cozy yet spacious, its wooden exterior dusted with snow, smoke curling from the chimney, and fairy lights strung along the railings of the porch. a warm glow spills from the windows, promising comfort and warmth inside.

“it looks like it came straight out of one of those christmas movies jill shows me,” jana says, her eyes wide.

“please tell me there’s a fireplace,” sydney adds, stomping the snow off her boots as she makes her way to the door. 

you laugh, grabbing the keys from your pocket and unlocking the door. 

“of course there’s a fireplace, and hot chocolate waiting inside.”

as everyone piles in, kicking off their boots and shedding their layers, you guide salma toward the couch by the fireplace. she sinks into the cushions with a sigh, and you sit beside her, pulling her close under the thick blanket already draped there.

“better?” you ask, tilting your head to look at her.

she nods, resting her head on your chest. 

“much better.”

meanwhile, the others are exploring the cabin, voices echoing through the space. sydney is already inspecting the kitchen, while vicky is pulling an xbox out of her carry-on bag, much to everyone’s confusion.

“you brought an xbox?” martina asks, her tone caught between disbelief and amusement.

vicky shrugs nonchalantly. 

“we have downtime, and fifa’s a must.”

you roll your eyes fondly, turning your attention back to salma.

“so, what do you think? worth braving the cold?”

she leans into you, her dark eyes meeting yours with a teasing glint. “baby, it’s cold outside,” she murmurs, a playful pout on her lips.

you laugh softly, brushing your lips against her temple. 

“yeah, love, we are in finland. what did you expect?”

salma’s laughter is warm and light, and it makes your heart swell. moments like this, with her wrapped up in your arms, make you forget the freezing temperatures and the chaos of bringing your friends to your hometown.

the next morning, you decide it’s time to introduce the girls to some true finnish winter activities. breakfast is a lively affair, with sydney teasing kika about her dramatic reaction to the cold, and martina snapping pictures of the snowy view outside the window. after everyone’s bundled up again, you lead them out to a nearby trail for cross-country skiing.

“okay,” you say, holding up a pair of skis, 

“this is one of my favorite winter sports. it’s not as hard as it looks, i promise.”

your words are met with skeptical stares. salma raises an eyebrow at you. 

“are you sure about that?”

“positive,” you reply with a grin. 

“just watch me.”

“alexia is going to freak out if you come back to barca injured!!” vicky calls out. 

“i won’t, i know what i am doing!” you laugh. 

“we don't!” sydney protests.

you strap on your skis and push off, gliding smoothly over the snow. the wind bites at your face, but it’s exhilarating, the kind of freedom you’ve missed since moving to barcelona. you glance back, expecting to see the others following your lead… instead, you’re met with chaos.

kika is flat on her back, her skis tangled beneath her, while martina tries—and fails—to help her up. jana wobbles dangerously before falling into a snowbank, and vicky is clutching onto sydney for dear life as they both struggle to stay upright. 

salma, to her credit, manages a few awkward glides before losing her balance and landing on her knees.

you can’t help but laugh, the sound echoing through the trees. 

“come on, it’s not that bad!” you call out, stopping to wait for them.

salma glares at you playfully, brushing snow off her gloves. 

“easy for you to say, ms. finnish! you’re a natural.”

“and you will be too, with a little practice,” you tease, skiing back to her. you help her to her feet, your hands lingering on hers for a moment longer than necessary. 

“you’re doing great, though.”

her expression softens, and she leans in close enough for only you to hear. 

“you’re lucky i love you.”

your heart skips a beat, and you grin. 

“i know, and i love you too.”

by the time you all make it back to the cabin, everyone is exhausted but in high spirits. hot chocolate is the first thing on your mind, and you quickly set to work in the kitchen, heating milk and stirring in cocoa powder while salma hovers nearby, sneaking marshmallows from the bag.

when the mugs are ready, you carry them to the living room, where the others are already sprawled out on the couches and floor. vicky has fifa up and running, and the sound of friendly banter fills the room.

you hand a mug to salma and sit beside her on the couch, draping the blanket over your laps. she takes a sip, her eyes fluttering shut as she savors the warmth. 

“delicious,” she murmurs.

you steal a sip from her mug, earning a mock glare. 

“sharing is caring,” you say innocently.

she rolls her eyes but doesn’t protest, leaning against you as you both watch the chaos unfolding around you. kika is yelling at jana for a missed goal, while martina and sydney cheer on their teams from the sidelines.

the xbox, as ridiculous as it was to bring, has brought the perfect amount of holiday cheer to the cabin.

outside, snow begins to fall again, soft and silent. inside, the warmth of the fire and the love of your friends make the cold seem a distant memory. 

you tighten your arm around salma, pressing a kiss to her temple.

“thank you for bringing us here,” she says softly, her voice barely audible over the laughter and shouts of your friends. 

“this is… it’s special.”

you smile, your heart full. 

“you’re welcome, love. i’m glad you’re here to share it with me.”

masterlist

[skywalker1dream]

Title: Northern Lights

note: something nice for our boy mika, hope you like it, i hope you are having good day or night,drink water and eat healthy

Mika Häkkinen x reader

@augustina-silver-mountain-s-blog

-----------------

The chill of the Scandinavian night was a sharp contrast to the warmth radiating from the fireplace in the cozy log cabin. You sat by the window, wrapped in a thick blanket, watching the snowflakes dance through the air. The tranquility of the Finnish wilderness had a soothing effect on you, a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

A familiar sound broke the silence: the low hum of an engine approaching. You stood up, your heart fluttering with anticipation. Mika had promised to be back by evening, and the sight of his car pulling up the driveway filled you with joy.

Moments later, the door creaked open, and there he was, Mika Häkkinen, two-time Formula 1 World Champion, and the love of your life. His smile was enough to chase away the winter cold as he stepped inside, shaking off the snow from his boots.

"Sorry, I'm late," he said, his voice deep and warm. "The roads were a bit tricky."

You walked over to him, wrapping your arms around his neck. "As long as you're here now," you whispered, leaning in for a kiss. His lips were cold from the outside, but they quickly warmed against yours, the familiar taste of him grounding you.

Mika shrugged off his coat and hung it by the door. "How was your day?" he asked, taking your hand and leading you back to the living room.

"Peaceful," you replied, snuggling back into the blanket as he settled beside you. "I was just enjoying the view, waiting for you."

He chuckled softly, pulling you closer. "Well, I have a surprise for you," he said, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

Your curiosity piqued. "Oh? What kind of surprise?"

Mika reached into his bag and pulled out a small wrapped box. "It's nothing too fancy, but I saw it and thought of you."

You took the box, your fingers trembling slightly as you unwrapped it. Inside was a delicate silver necklace with a pendant shaped like a snowflake, adorned with a small, sparkling diamond in the center. It was beautiful.

"Oh, Mika," you breathed, tears pricking at the corners of your eyes. "It's perfect."

"I'm glad you like it," he said, taking the necklace from your hands. "May I?"

You turned around, lifting your hair to give him access to your neck. His fingers brushed against your skin as he fastened the clasp, sending shivers down your spine. Once it was in place, you turned back to face him, his eyes reflecting the firelight as he admired the pendant resting against your collarbone.

"It's beautiful," you repeated, touching the snowflake gently. "Thank you."

He smiled, pulling you into his arms. "Anything for you," he murmured, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

The two of you sat in comfortable silence for a while, the crackling of the fire the only sound in the room. The warmth of Mika's embrace and the gentle glow of the fire made you feel content, as if nothing else in the world mattered.

After a while, Mika stood up, extending his hand to you. "Come with me," he said, a playful glint in his eyes.

You took his hand, letting him lead you outside. The night air was crisp and cold, but the sky was clear, stars twinkling brightly overhead. Mika led you to a clearing just beyond the cabin, where a blanket had been spread out on the snow, surrounded by lanterns.

You gasped, looking up at him. "Mika, this is... incredible."

"I wanted to share something special with you," he said, sitting down on the blanket and pulling you into his lap. "Look up."

You tilted your head back, and there they were...the Northern Lights, dancing across the sky in vibrant shades of green, pink, and purple. It was a breathtaking sight, one that left you speechless.

Mika's arms tightened around you as he whispered in your ear, "I wanted us to have this moment together. Something magical."

Tears filled your eyes as you leaned back against him, overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. "It's perfect," you said softly. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

He kissed your temple, his breath warm against your skin. "I love you," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.

You turned to look at him, your eyes meeting his. "I love you too, Mika," you replied, sealing your words with a kiss.

As the Northern Lights danced above you, you knew that this moment would stay with you forever, a perfect memory of love, light, and the man who made your heart race both on and off the track.

[pforestsims]

Tag search:

# Buymode stuff 

# Lights

# Plants

# Decor items

# Defaults

# Defaults - TS2 Clothing Tweaks

# Custom TS2 Clothing Tweaks

# Bodyshop stuff

# Tutorials

My SFS Folders :

🪴 Decor 🪑 Furniture 💡 Lights ‍🎨 Recolours

Other:  ⚙️ TS2 Defaults 👚CAS Defaults CAS stuff 👱🏽 Just hair | creator resources

All my old MTS2 uploads (if something's not there, it's on SFS already)

Popular WCIF & FAQ

👾 If you’re curious what other games I’m playing here's this almost empty blog.

❕ I create CC for The Sims 2 only. I don't do requests but I'm ok with receiving CC suggestions / ideas (for TS2).

📣 Updates:

07.01.2025

Photo frame overlay replacement now includes caption UI resources so there's no green. Added Box link.

14.11.2024

Alternative version of my Atomic Fireplace Default is available - I've added emissive map to make the burning logs more realistic - Download (SFS) (Standard Material Shader Edit is required)

04.11.2024

Edited Round Wall Lamp from G&B set, light settings switched from white to yellowish.

01.11.2024 05.11.2024 11.11.2024

Updated my edit of Trait Chemistry Mod, fixed Lua script issues so Alien TO, Facial hair TO work. A few more things fixed in upd. 2 & 3

Download (SFS) , (BOX)

03.10.2024

My ko-fi account's up.

30.06.2024

I've shared updated versions of ceiling lamps from my Lamp Collection - lamp canopies are not hidden in the ceiling anymore /Note to ppl playing on Mac: most of these edits are not mac-compatible.

25.06.2024

Fixed outdoor square shadows for my Wicker Lantern Set . Download (SFS)

21.05.2024

Fixed missing texture in 'TightDressMidiSlit' repo recolor number 10. Download (SFS)

07.05.2024

Finally fixed the Bar Surface OMSP I shared along Wedding Bar Default. Please note it's basically a new object but with the same GUID so if you have old version in the game, the objects placed on that one will disappear Download (SFS)

Updated NonSlip Bar Mat mesh included with Bar Decor Set, now it can be placed on all surfaces. Download (SFS)

More recent updates below the cut:

08.04.2024 - Bar worktop OMSP was edited and now it doesn't block bar functions, I also added second (1 slot) bar OMSP for the lower shelf.

07.04.2024 - Edited Deco guitar floor stand - now it can be placed on surfaces without moveObjects cheat.

26.03.24 - Updated Toast Flute Default - now glasses are already half-full when Sims toast at the table.

11.03.24 - Fixed EM grey repo recolor 01 for 4t2 Dogsill Amari hair. Here's only the fixed file: (SFS), and here's all of it (SFS)

10.03.24 - Night time Decorative fireflies effect is now available - fireflies only show up at night.

09.03.24 - RDN Sleeping bag edit was made compatible with ACR.

27.02.24 - Another update of Bamboo Sconce (Tropical Lamp add-on). When I fixed the shadow I shared some half-assed version of it ?? Now it has warm light color, correct price and description. Download HERE (SFS)

30.11.23 - Updated LL Billie hair recolors, these are now enabled for all clothing categories

12.11.23 - I've updated witch hat & LL Luanne hair combo recolors so those should be now flagged as hats and disabled for Townies

11.11.23 - Updated Restored Car Paint Colors default, Added Finnish, Norwegian and Portuguese/ Brasilian-Portuguese translations

31.10.23 - Updated Bowling Alley defaults, all files are now separate. Added smoother bowling ball

14.07.23 - corrected shoe sound effects for my Long Dress recolours - changed it from heels to normal shoes

10.08.23 - Fixed blue shadow in Bamboo Sconce (Tropical Lamp add-on.

*If you use RPC you probably haven't experienced the blue shadow flashing but I recommend you update the sconce package anyway.

Old updates list is HERE<<

[vestaignis]

Зимняя сказка в Какслауттанен Отель & Иглу Виладж.

Winter wonderland at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.

Какслауттанен Отель-это оригинальный курортный комплекс в окружении дикой природы расположен в горнолыжном районе Саариселькя региона Финская Лапландия, в 250 км от Северного Полярного круга.Он находится в 5 км от Национального парка имени Урхо Кекконена.Зимой здесь царит рождественская атмосфера, правят Санта-Клаус и Снежная королева, а с августа по апрель можно поймать в свои объективы чудо северного сияния.

Какслауттанен Отель предоставляет к услугам гостей стеклянные дома иглу, традиционные деревянные шале и самую большую в мире финскую сауну. В построенных из термостекла иглу имеется спальня со стеклянной крышей и роскошными кроватями . В числе удобств шале - гостиный уголок, камин, собственная сауна и кухонные принадлежности. На территории курортного комплекса работают 2 ресторана, где можно заказать фирменные блюда лапландской кухни, в том числе оленину и лосось, приготовленный на гриле. Любителям активного отдыха стоит попробовать сафари на северных оленях и хаски, а также прогулки на снегоходах.

Kakslauttanen Hotel is an original resort surrounded by wild nature, located in the Saariselkä ski area of ​​Finnish Lapland, 250 km from the Arctic Circle. It is 5 km from Urho Kekkonen National Park. In winter, there is a Christmas atmosphere, ruled by Santa Claus and the Snow Queen, and from August to April you can catch the miracle of the northern lights in your lenses.

Kakslauttanen Hotel features glass igloos, traditional wooden chalets and the world's largest Finnish sauna. Built from thermal glass, the igloos have a bedroom with a glass roof and luxurious beds. The chalet includes a seating area, fireplace, private sauna and kitchenware. The resort has 2 restaurants serving Lapland specialties, including venison and grilled salmon. Fans of outdoor activities should try reindeer and husky safaris, as well as snowmobile rides.

Источник:https://www.tripadvisor.ru/Hotel_Review-g667560-d293333-Reviews-Kakslauttanen_Arctic_Resort-Saariselka_Lapland.html#/media/293333/350585657:p/?albumid=101&type=0&category=101, /www.booking.com/hotel/fi/hotelli-kakslauttanen.ru.html, /www.sodis.ru/disp?s=hotel&id=342630228.

[foulfeast]

Dogpelt serves the great lioness, what he will call the noble deer, after the old translation of lion to finnish. Just bc it sounds awesome.

He's lean, all long limbs, taught muscles and tough skin like well cared for cows leather- difficult to puncture, surprisingly soft despite its age and wrinkliness, coarse around the hands. He is pale but his cheeks often have frostblush, and his eyes are so deep in his face yhat you ever only really see the shadows and a mysterious reflection- or source- of light.

He's scary- but he is so gentle. He isn't even much for hunting itself, only for devotion. He's the sweetest person youll ever meet. And not in a naive way. But what is right is to provide warmth and a meal to a cold and hungry person, and he will always do what is right. His dissappointment is far more painful than his anger. his anger is scary, but will never be directed at the ones who he cares for. His anger is an instinctual, feral snapping, a trained reaction.

Either way thooo more literally i think his vibe is just like...

An entity u meet when lost in the woods and he shines a bright old flashlight box at you and tells you to follow, and his dogs goad you along as if youre suddenly one of them, and in a little cottage he feeds you fatty moose soup with plenty of potatoes and some rye bread with a bunch of butter, a warm change of clothes and you sleep on a couch covered in crisply halfwet dogs, their breaths lulling you to the heaviest dreams youve had in years, and he just sits around the fireplace and stokes it and stares into it almost like hes talking to it.

And you wake up and you go home, and you keep returning to him to eat after that, and to sleep next to his heavy dogs, and old, smooth, cool cotton bedsheets.

This is rly just me manifesting "a happy place" ill b real 😭😭😭 idk if there will ever be a story here but i dont care i just want to daydream about a comforting old cabin in the middle of winter woods

[b4mpyre-k1zz3s]

Could I request something fluffy with Bam where he and the female reader get married? You write soft moments so well, takes the asshole out of him

Nice Day for a White Wedding

Preparing for a wedding isn’t easy, especially considering who you were getting hitched to.

Bam Margera X Fem!Reader

(Fluff)

919 Words

Warnings: Suggestive content, crude language

An: Thank you so much for the request!! Seeing as how my shorter fics are all pretty successful, I thought I’d shake up my pattern of writing these behemoths :] A lot of this was based off of Unholy Union which i haven’t seen a ton of content for on here! I have never personally gotten married so I hope this is all pretty accurate to the experience! Thank you for the request and please keep sending them in!!

You had been breaking your back with this wedding and all Bam had done thus far was screw around with his buddies and play hooky from your meetings with the planner. Every time you tried to covertly bring up how you were thinking of tiger lilies for the center pieces or which catering companies you were considering, he’d flat out ignore you, instead opting to re-grip his skateboard or touch up his black nail polish with a sharpie marker. Once, after you pestered him about the guest list for the third time that day, he grabbed the notebook you were jotting down ideas on and tossed it into the fireplace. Even though it was a joke, you still told him off for that. It seemed that you were the only person taking this whole marriage thing seriously and time was ticking.

“Come on, Bam! The wedding’s in less than a month.” You groaned, leaning over the back of the couch to peer over his shoulder as his eyes were fixed on whatever was on tv, “You gotta get your shit together.” The last time the two of you did anything related to the wedding together was a month ago when Bam drove you up to New York to go dress shopping at this fancy department store, despite April’s protests about seeing the bride before the big day. There were stars in your eyes as you tried on dresses for hours, oohing and aahing at all the fancy gowns that looked straight out of a fairytale. Bam didn’t mind waiting because he got to look at you half naked.

But shopping for a tux didn’t provide as much eye candy as dress shopping and your boyfriend knew this. Bam groaned in frustration, rolling his eyes childishly, “Okay, fine! Fine! Let’s go then.” He tumbled off of the couch and went to put on a coat. You didn’t mean that you needed to leave right that second, but you weren’t going to say anything.

There was this tux store at King of Prussia mall in downtown Philly that you ended up at- nothing insanely fancy, but it would do. Bam was dragging his feet as you held him by the arm when a nervous sales associate came up to the two of you. “Welcome! Is there anything I can help the two of you with?” You elbowed Bam whose eyes were glazed over, too busy thinking about when he grabbed your ass last month in the fitting room when the measurement lady wasn’t looking. He blinked awake, clearing his throat, “Well, we’re looking for something in, like- a purple velvet? Maybe red?”

“No, we are not!” You playfully swatted Bam’s arm and he cracked a smile as you scolded him, “You are not going to wear a velvet tux to my wedding- not unless you’re gettin’ hitched to Ville.” Since the beginning, he had been begging you to get that Finnish rock star he was enamored with for the reception, so you had been teasing Bam about ditching you for him at the altar. He chuckled, pretending to consider the prospect, “Okay, fine! Well, maybe…no!” The sales associate cleared his throat, stuck in the middle of all of this, “Uh…do you think we could get the gentleman’s measurements first?”

The two of you were ushered into a fancy looking back room with lots of mahogany cabinets and tall mirrors. A serious looking man walked in after you who you assumed was a tailor as you took a seat on a bench at one end of the room with a smirk, watching. Bam awkwardly followed his deadpan instructions as he got measured- take off your shoes, stand with your feet together, turn this way.

Leaning down, the tailor guy wordlessly looped the yellow measuring tape between your boyfriend’s thighs and you could’ve sworn you heard a yelp from Bam as the tape was yanked tight. He popped up onto his toes and the man, who was at about crotch level at this point, spoke with absolute sincerity, “Can you please try to stand still, sir?” You couldn’t help but let a snicker escape at the sight of the red on your boyfriend's cheeks as he sighed, muttering something under his breath. Bam turned to you and mouthed something about the guy touching his balls and you mouthed back how a lot of people have touched his balls and this isn’t any different. Rolling his eyes at your response, you chalked it up as karma from the time he giggled when the fitting lady said your bust measurements out loud.

The rest of the fitting went off without a hitch and you eventually settled on a somewhat sensible black tux- on the condition that Bam could invite all of his idiot friends to be the groomsmen. Both of you headed out to the parking lot to load your purchases in, you bending to hook the wire coat hanger the suit was on to one of those handles in the car before getting into the passenger seat, “You know, I’m looking at invitations tomorrow if you’d wanna come.” Sliding in the driver's seat, your boyfriend shook his head, smiling, “You can do whatver you want- I don’t really give a fuck about that shit…” He leaned over the center council maybe a couple inches from your face, “I just wanna marry you.” Closing the distance, he pressed his lips against yours, kissing you sweetly, exactly the way he couldn’t wait to at the altar.

[alwayschasingrainbows]

I am a bit shy to post this poll, but also, very curious about your opinion, so here we go.

After reading the Finnish sequel to Emily of New Moon series, and comparing it to the later Anne books, another question came to my mind:

(the "Emilia Kent - Runotytön tarina jatkuu" by Satu Koskimies and Vilja-Tuulia Huotarinen spoilers under the cut - as well as the origins of this question and my own opinion):

Thank you all for voting!!! I really appreciate each one of your answers ❤.

The origins of the question (and spoilers of a Finnish sequel!) under the cut:

SPOILERS for Emily's sequel (my opinion is beneath the summary):

It was a quite important issue in the Finnish sequel. Emily was very apprehensive when it came to an eventual motherhood. It was stated multiple times that she had no maternal instinct whatsover (very Rilla-like). She didn't want to sacrifice her writing - and she felt that she would have to, if she had children. One of the things she was dealing with in this sequel was writer's block - she found it very difficult to write. Thankfully, she overcame the issue and wrote another novel, at the end of the story. Emily was not exactly against having children (more like, resigned "If they come, there is nothing to be done"), but she certainly was not excited about the idea, unlike Anne.

Emily went as far as telling an annoying reporter that she and her husband were NOT going to have any children. Teddy, on the other hand, was described as wanting a family (which, for a short time, was a bit of a sore issue between them).

Emilia Kent - Runotytön tarina jatkuu takes place during the first two (?) years of Emily and Teddy's marriage. They don't have any children during this time - yet the narrative suggests that Emily is pregnant during the last two chapters (nothing is said straight-forwardly, though).

END OF THE SPOILERS for Emily's sequel.

My opinion:

I personaly have trouble picturing these two as parents. They seem far too invested into their work to find time for their eventual children.

On the other hand, LMM herself wanted children - and it was quite difficult to prevent pregnancy at these times (not impossible, of course, but difficult). Usually, marriage meant having children.

Also... Rilla, who did not like babies, couldn't help loving little Jims. We learn from "The Blythes Are Quoted" that she and Ken had, indeed, become parents to young Gilbert Ford.

Rilla's maturation is partly described via taking care of her war baby - as if to say that even people who seemingly had no parental instinct, could grow to love a child (it is not exactly true in a real world, but LMM seems to use this trope rather often; Aunt Elizabeth with Juliet and Emily, Marilla with Anne and the twins, Andrew Stuart with Jane, etc).

Also, this paragraph from Emily's Quest suggests that Emily might have wanted children at the end of the story:

"Daff," she said, "there is an old fireplace in that house—with the ashes of a dead fire in it—a fireplace where pussies should bask and children dream. And that will never happen now, Daff, for Mabel Geordie doesn't like open fireplaces—dirty, dusty things—a Quebec heater is so much warmer and more economical."

Emily's dreams are connected to the Disappointed House - I always felt that she talked about her feelings there - but that is very far-stretched and the only thing that might suggest something.

So, if I were to answer my own question: I would probably say: either none, either 1 or 2. I definitely don't see her as having a big family.

I am very curious about your thoughts!!!! Sorry for the long post.

[elodiedreams]

Sometimes I am the devastation wagon. I was just thinking of the name because of the devastation around here. 

Rabbit recently uncovered the truth about Old St. Nick.  A week or two ago, we were shopping at the bookstore and he had his eye on something that I suggested he buy.  He protested that it was “expensive”. I joked back to him that I wasn’t asking him the price, I was asking if he wanted to bring it home with us and that I’d spent many thousands of dollars on him over the years and it’s just not an issue. Flippant remark, stupid flippant remark. Out of seemingly nowhere he said, Do you mean you bought the new gaming computer, mama????? (the one that was left under the tree for him this past Christmas).  And in that moment, knowing Rabbit, knowing he’s 11, knowing he will be starting middle school in the fall, and assuming that the question was BECAUSE he knew the answer… I just answered honestly.  Yes, I did.  

And he was aghast. How were there sooty footprints all over the house leading out of the fireplace every year.  How did we have that footage of the reindeer in our actual house in front of our actual fireplace? (incredible AR that was so realistic it could have fooled anyone) Who built the train set that first year? And then wired up the covered bridge a couple years ago? How did the carrots get so shredded and left all over the floor around the plate we leave out every year. what about the time the elves came into MY room while I was sleeping and left me my own tree all dressed with decorations? Who wrote all those long letters to me that Santa leaves every year.  They’re not in your handwriting, mama. You made it all up?  

And then, The easter bunny, too?  The tooth fairy?  The leprechaun? 

But the devastation, I’ve come to realise, is Eino.  Eino is our Finnish nisse.  He started coming around during Covid.  When we discovered a youtube channel for a children’s puppet theatre group in Great Britain that started putting their productions up on YouTube during quarantine.  That first December, 2020, they made a series of Advent Videos called The Christmas Nisse.  Come back every single day in December and watch the unfolding of this perfectly charming story about a boy, his single mother and the nisse that comes into their lives.  We’ve watched it every day of December for 4 years now.

He was charmed, so enchanted by this whole thing and so, I added it to the repertoire of magical things in his life. I wrote these miniscule notes in Finnish (me and the translate app writing in letters so small I had to buy a special ultra fine tipped pen just to make them) and left them to be found in out of the way places… and then translated them for Rabbit, who was always elated by these tiny missives. Eino would leave crumbs and spilt milk, evidencing his visits.  He would leave little trinkets and we knew he took things when we couldn’t find things sometimes. He told us the story of his life and adventures, he was 400 years olde and very wise.  Rabbit took to writing notes back to Eino. Eino would randomly come and go, never a seasonal nisse, he was just the nisse who came.

When Covid began, Rabbit had just turned 7. I see, now, that his notes to Eino were mainly about his fears and worries.  He wanted to be sure Eino was keeping an eye on us and that we would be safe.  Eino kept his word and kept us safe from Covid and from most everything during all the time he has existed for us.  

And with my flippant impulse, my decision for the first time not to turn the question back around to Rabbit “what do you think?” I destroyed Eino in one fell swoop.  Oh, but we fuck things up as parents. How careless. Eino gave him more comfort than I properly understood, and was perhaps more important to him than even Santa Claus himself. Maybe Rabbit had an inkling about the magic of Christmas being inside your heart, but he was not ready to fully let go of the idea of real magic in the world just yet.

And it was only tonight, when Rabbit asked if Strider was allowed to sleep in his room at night, instead of mine, that I realized.  He said he gets worried at night and can’t sleep sometimes now because he always knew Eino was keeping an eye on him. Even when Eino wasn’t leaving notes and stealing oatmeal, he knew Eino was keeping us safe. Now he knows Eino is not real, so can Strider please sleep with him now? (and yes, Strider is alongside his bed now).

These are the days.  Just, heavy heavy boots days.

[opera-ghosts]

OTD in Music History: Composer Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957) is born in Finland. One of the greatest musical nationalists of the 20th Century, Sibelius remains a Finnish cultural icon who is widely recognized as one of the most important symphonists of the modern era. Sibelius’s international fame can be traced back to the tremendous success of his ever-popular tone poem "Finlandia" in 1899, and his stature only continued to grow during the next decade. His good friend Ferruccio Busoni (1866 - 1923) premiered his 2nd Symphony in Berlin in 1901, and noted British composer Granville Bantock (1868 - 1946) commissioned his 3rd Symphony in 1907. The justly-famous Violin Concerto (1903) also dates from this early period, although Sibelius didn’t published what are arguably his finest works -- the 5th Symphony (1919), the 6th Symphony (1923), the 7th Symphony (1924), and the tone poem "Tapiola" (1925) -- until after World War I. But then came the silence. For the last 30 years of his life, Sibelius suffered from one of the most monumental writers' blocks in musical history. He produced next to nothing, although rumors (some stoked by Sibelius himself) continued to swirl that he was preparing an 8th symphony. According to his wife, one day in the mid-1940s, the elderly Sibelius got drunk and then sat down and burned a tremendous amount of manuscript material in the fireplace at Aino. And that was that. Apparently, Sibelius found this bonfire to be "cathartic," and no substantial unpublished manuscripts were found after his death a decade later… PICTURED: A c. 1930 real photo postcard showing the middle-aged Sibelius in a rather pensive pose.

[beardedmrbean]

Hearings of an extensive human trafficking case involving Thai berry pickers begin at Lapland District Court on Tuesday, reports Helsingin Sanomat.

The CEO of berry firm Kiantama faces a total of 56 counts of aggravated human trafficking.

According to the prosecutor, wild berry pickers were subjected to conditions of forced labour, with the alleged crimes dating back to 2022.

The numerous trafficking cases in the berry industry have triggered changes in how Finnish companies recruit pickers. Last week, the government said wild berry pickers should mainly be seasonal employees by 2025.

Until now, berry companies have relied heavily on pickers recruited from Thailand arriving in Finland on tourist visas, allowing them to gather berries for up to three months.

Going solar

Taloussanomat's most-read story explains how an EU directive coming into effect at the end of this month mandates that solar panels be installed on all new residential buildings.

In practice, this means that when designing new residential buildings, architects must assess how to utilise solar energy by, for example, calculating how sunlight can most effectively reach the roof.

While the rule calls for all new residential buildings to be equipped with a solar energy system, the directive includes a loophole. This means that the requirement is not absolute. Builders can forego solar requirements in shady areas or houses in the middle of the woods.

Moomin roots

Moomin creator Tove Jansson's childhood home is on the market and generating international interest, according to Ilta-Sanomat.

The asking price for the top-floor 164-square-meter apartment equipped with several original fireplaces is just under one million euros.

The 1904 building in Helsinki's Katajanokka district inspired Jansson's blue Moominhouse, according to the paper.

Born in 1914, Jansson lived on Luotsikatu 4 until she finished school at 15 and moved to Stockholm to study art.

[csjwrites]

#1: Keep Fighting

Keep fighting. You're more powerful than you think.

"Your history is in our ancestors, and everything they were has been passed down to you.

As long as you're alive, nothing is ever truly lost."

I was eighteen years old, when I suddenly found my people. When, unexpectedly, my origin, that was not to be spoken of, was presented to me as something to be proud and loud about.

"As long as you're alive..."

My grandmother spoke these words to me one lonely morning, when it was just us. Everyone else was still asleep, and she would sit my the fireplace in the library and smoke while I would keep her company.

We speak about these subjects often, and every time we circle back to the same feelings that have lived in our family for years by now;

That complicated, unexplainable grief that seems to have no reason or end, the feeling of hopelessness and like something is missing. The inability to trust 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴, and the overprotective tendencies over family.

Outside of those late nights and early mornings, my family doesn't talk about feelings or anything similar. Even then, talking is hard for grandma. It is to me as well, but I'm learning.

They call it intergenerational trauma. I call it an average Tuesday.

Helplessness.

There's a whole culture and language out there that's supposed to be ours. Yet, I feel so disconnected. I know a mere fraction of all of it. I'm stuck in the gray area, the in-between. I'm not Finnish, so I can't give up, but I don't know anything, so maybe I should.

I wonder quietly how many tears have been shed so I could exist, so I could keep demanding,

See us, hear us, acknowledge that we exist, acknowledge what you've done!

Where's the hope and faith in that?

I imagine myself telling my great-grandmother, who was my age in 1943, that I still have hope, I'm still fighting for my place in the world, and for a moment I believe it myself.

Great-grandmother,

Would you be proud of me? Do you have any reason to be?

[nei-ning]

Just woke up from a dream where I was a demon. I didn't see myself but I knew I was male, very human looking with light brown skin color. I only had fangs and horns + pointy ears and long tail.

I was searching for myself! I was with group of other people, arriving to this old Finnish country mansion, made of wood. It rested on a little hill right at the sea shore. As others remained indoors, I went outside through open window. At the shore was big and tall wooden pole so I jumped to squat on it, looking all around at the sea, looking for Nei. I think I had some kind of ability to see heck far since, at my right, I saw thick old forest with a line of people or some creatures, all covered with black hooded capes with torches, who were coming towards us in line, making horrible loud noises.

I jumped down from the pole, rushed back to the house calmly, opened the same window what I'd used to get out and jumped to hang on it with crossed arms on the window's lower part. To my right was a bed with a naked couple on it, staring at me. Next to them on left was 2-4 people more, naked as well. There was a window behind them and next to the window, on the left from my point of view, was old ancient Chinese drawer. Then, to my very left, was open doorway to another room. This room already was fully, but simply, decorated with old Chinese ancients stuffs.

I sighed at the people in my mind, knowing they had been having sex and that a night had passed already even that I was outside maybe 10 seconds, weather remaining the same. Out loud I growled at them slightly, demanding: "Where is Nei?" (I used this name even in the dream instead of my real name). They didn't answer right away so I tried to scream that question out, it turning out to be horrible demonic scream with high voice mixed with weird words.

Now one pointed towards the open door so I climbed inside, telling them to clean the place spotless, making everything be exactly the same way how they were when we came there. I headed in next room which, too, was old room. This room looked more like old British fireplace room with old black fireplace, big reddish carpet, reddish ancient wooden table in the middle, big curvy windows, red curtains, old bookshelves and so on.

To the people in this room I also told to clean the place spotless. However, there was big indoor plant which had fallen over, dirt spreading on the carpet and the plant itself was broken and partly eaten. I was shocked! I had no idea how those people had done that or how they would fix it!

I returned back on searching myself, finding white little hallway, very weird shaped, which had heck weird tiny ladders and other climbing things hanging from the ceiling and wall. They went to attict and I knew Nei would be there - or so I'd been told. I started to climb there, thinking how much in good shape I was! Climbing was easy but still nicely challenging. If I would had been myself, I wouldn't had been able to climb at all!

I came to this small, well kept darkish brown attict. It was heck tiny space with small wall which separated the room in two (left and right). On the left side was nothing but on the right side, behind the wall, I saw part of mattress, bed sheets etc. I had to crawl on all fours to get there, my heart filling with unspeakable warmth and hope as I thought Nei's name once. I wanted to see her, find her and make love with her. Show her how much I love her but... She wasn't there. I slowly turned sad, starting to feel slightly hollow.

I don't know what would had happened next if 2 men wouldn't had make a noise downstairs, luring me out. I watched them carry this big rolled fabric on their shoulders, asking what they were doing. They just happily and with hurry announced it was filled with cowberries. I had NO idea what the heck they were doing - or where they got those berries - but at the same time I, kind of, knew it was for protection against those black things which were coming to our way.

Sadly I never finished the dream since I suddenly just woke up. Damn.

[dctrreids]

------@medicbled gifted, " she wakes with a spark and it’s warped into something entirely more menacing under the painted night sky. the haze of a snowy midnight but they’re more than warm and she’s less willing to enjoy it alone ( even if he looks so peaceful sleeping ). the first is a soft kiss to his jaw, skin to his beneath the layers of blankets. “ wake up, mi amor.” a raspy purr against him, gloria shifting at a languid pace to climb on top of spencer. her hands thread through hair, as if she’s soothing him awake; distracting him from every little hungry intent. Lips to his chin, carving a path down the column of his throat—she licks her way back up to his mouth, hips giving a gentle roll. “wake up, your wife needs you.” "

------WIFE. IT WAS a word that felt quite foreign on his tongue, but one that tasted delicious nonetheless. their eloping was met with pleased, soft excitement from the rest of the team and their honeymoon had been granted with immediate approval. finland, time spent exploring the history and sharing it in turn with the woman he was blessed to be in union with. for the rest of his life. doctor spencer reid had a wife ---and it was a woman he'd been in love with for years, no less.

they'd fallen asleep beneath the stars, covered in blankets, with their clothing tossed askew in the privacy of the finnish woods ... a clearing, more precisely. she'd coaxed him into nature, to step out of his comfort zone and into places he had only dreamed of exploring before. beneath the northern lights, the spray of stars above, he dozed. their cabin wasn't far from their setup, the promise of a cheery warm fireplace replaced with the pit beside them, throwing off enough heat to balance out the soft nest of snow buried beneath layers of thick blankets.

it was not the first time he stirred from rest by the nuzzling plea of attention from gloria. the press of her pillowed lips to his jaw had a soft hum pulling from his throat, the rasp of her voice luring him from the land of lucidity. spencer shifted beneath the blankets, unknowingly accommodating as she shifted to perch herself astride. not unlike a cat he leaned into the pat of her fingers, trifling through curled and whimsical strands of thick dirty blond near-curls, and he hummed once more (more clearly) at the touch. hazel eyes slit themselves open, caught gaze of the way the stars, the firelight highlighted her form. she was absolutely gorgeous, ethereal and not unlike a mythological goddess as she lapped a line along the column of his neck. it was the roll of her hips that had his lips parting, haughty exhale turning into the softest of whines, lost against the crack of the fire beside them.

his wife. never in his life did he dream he'd marry, though he'd wanted that life so badly for himself. somehow he'd convinced her to love him. convinced her to wed him. the thought had him training palms, splayed fingers, along the expanse of her thighs. they stopped at the curve of her hip, squeezed in a manner that might be considered possessive if spencer reid were capable of being that sort of man. " my wife ... " sleep rasped at his tone, the lazy smile curling the corners of his lips upward. he lifted his head in slight to capture her lips with his, a kiss as hungry and affectionate as he could manage. " she can have anything she wants. "