Fall equinox. The mist is creeping in, swallowing all sound. Is there such a thing as a sun? Does the world really turn? Nothing moves, not even the fisherman on the rocks. The world has pulled a blanket over her head.

(Helsinki, Finland; October 2013)

To the left, the Atlantic; to the right, the Baltic. At the tip of the land the wind blows in one direction but the waves curiously crash into each other from opposite directions. Where Denmark ends one can keep walking, right into the waves.

(Skagen, Denmark; August 2013)

Once upon a time Europe was covered in ice. When the ice receded, three erratics, or glacier-transported rocks, were left behind, stubbornly confronting each other. Who knows how far they have traveled, but this is where they remain.

Today the site is used as a church by the local parrish. Perhaps, 10,000 years ago, this site was a church for another belief, and the firesite lay on the exactly same spot on the ledge outside? Perhaps there were sacred rituals and silent evening gatherings where our ancestors sat on the ledge by the fire, silently regarding the setting sun? And maybe, just maybe, if you stand still you will feel them smiling?

(Korsvik church, Pernaja, Finland; July 2013)

While the Tall Ships’ Race visited Helsinki, Small Ships’ Race was held in Loviisa. Some won. Others capsized. I had ice cream.

At night there was a party on the landing and everybody who was somebody knew everybody else. How estranged I felt when I knew almost nobody and everybody thought they knew me since my family are long-time locals, save my generation.

What a random and delightful day, just like the best summer memories always are.

(Loviisa, Finland; July 2013)

Imagine this particular warm afternoon, the heat, the bees in the flowers, and the complete lack of a breeze. The mallards teaching their young to smack while chewing sea weed, the fathers teaching their young to navigate while sailing, and the world not giving a damn about such a thing as winter and ice.

Memory is short. Summer is shorter.

(Helsinki, Finland; July 2013)

“I must go seek some dewdrops here
and hang a pearl from every cowslip’s ear”

(W. Shakespeare / A midsummer night’s dream)

(Loviisa, Finland; June 2013)

Any given Tuesday one could work – or one could have cocoa and cake way up above Oslo.

(Frognerseteren restaurant, Oslo, Norway; April 2013)

Winter has turned into spring when the color of snow is no longer white tinted with cold gray, but a sparkle of lemon yellow and aqua blue. And when the sea is steaming on cold mornings.

(Lauttasaari, Helsinki, Finland; March 2013)

At the edge of the ocean winter battles spring. Can you hear the clucking of open water against the underside of the ice? And like the Finnish poet Tynni, can you hear the hundreds of fish laughing in secret, underneath the melting cover?

(Lauttasaari, Helsinki, Finland; March 2013)

(snowmobile ride in beautiful Ebbenjarka, Swedish Lapland)