20th door of the Advent Calendar

A very famous phenomenon in Finland is Advent Calendar. Every other finn has one. Or two. This is mine.

Ok. We decided to buy a natural christmas tree this year, not to use the artificial tree... I let my husband and daughter deal it, buy have to admit now that this is the first and last time as they will buy the christmas tree togheter!

Well, they made a good choice for sure: it is natural finnish spruce from Aitoo, fresh and very beautiful thick and perfectly shaped - and so so so expensive, 45euros! Almost the prize in Helsinki area!? (Oh well the trees are even more expensive there, normally up to 75euros... And this was his friend, a wood sales man, but still..)

I wonder if my husband did ask beforehand the prize. Probably not.... I am almost sure he thought he would have some discount, as the salesman was his friend. No, he was not offered any and did not ask.

After we had drove it home, I told them already that next year I will choose and buy the tree and it for sure is not this expensive: My mother's xmas tree was finnish spruce too, from Hämeenkyrö, and almost like this - for 25euros and it did not take 90km driving to fetch it!

Our splendid luxorious xmas tree is now standing wet in the garden: I had to wash it as it was on the car roof as we drove home in the middle of salted roads and rain.

In the blip there is one of the grandmother's amaryllises with my tiny glassball. We visited them too, as I had to pick our tiny pre- ordered smoked christmas pork and turkey from the small butcher's of the willage.

For the christmas carrol of the day I chose a peculiar song. Composer has made it beautiful and maybe not too sad to be finnish anyway. The song tells about three wise men in the lyrics, as they wondered "who is that child"... The singer is famous Jari Sillanpää and the song "Kuka tuo lapsi on"

Sunday. I am a bit fed up somehow. Or tired...
Unfortunately I still have some work to do tomorrow.

Susanna