Operaatio Opossumi: Midsummer & cottage life

We celebrated the Midsummer Finnish style at Johannes' parents' summer cottage! It was the hottest midsummer that we possibly can remember!

24.-27.6.

The beach.

The cottage is located in Eastern Finland by lake Koitere. Drinking water is collected from a spring nearby and the water for washing and bathing is pumped from the lake. The closest grocery stores and public transport are 15 km away. The cottage has solar panels for small electrical devices and lighting and the fridge runs on gas. The cooking is done on fire or on gas. The dry toilet is separate from the house.

All ready to relax and lead the simple life.

Pathway sauna - lake.

The cottage is built for summer use but one can also stay during the winter. In the winter the first night must be slept in a sleeping bag in front of the fireplace before the cottage slowly heats up. The road needs to be plowed of snow to actually get to the cottage. Sometimes the owners of the cottage have walked the last 1.5 km on snowshoes carrying all their stuff, food and water.

All sorts of recreational things are available in the peace of nature:

One can swim!

Water midsummer roses.

Exercise.

Repel mosquitoes!

Stare into space.

Count the waterlily leaves.

Enjoy the haze.

Play.

Take naps.

Take midnight sun selfies!

Let's head for outings!

Ready for action.

Checking the fish traps.

Finland at its best.

A crafty granny!

A waterlily necklace!

The cottage look is complete!

We played a lot of different games:

Win some.

Lose some.

Win some more.

Never give up.

That fun lawn game is called "mölkky". In Australia it's sold as "Finska"!

Eating and cooking are also a very important part of cottage life:

Campfire pancakes!!

Catch or burn!

The beginning of autumn is also a really nice time to visit the cottage because that is the time when all the berries and mushrooms show up to be harvested, enjoyed and preserved. Our favorites are the blueberries! Or maybe the wild rasberries? Or cloudberries? Anyway the best places to find forest treats are kept a secret which are to be told no-one. Not even your own flesh and blood if they are the type that can't keep a secret (not pointing towards anyone in particular, Johannes).

Perhaps the most important part of the cottage life is the sauna-lake-repeat.

Before one starts the first cycle the water needs to be pumped and the sauna heated. One also needs to make bath whisks out of birch branches so that one can properly beat one's naked mates with them.