Snow play and Finnish ice lamps…

Could this be our first ever white Christmas? It is snowing as I type. Our usually, dull, grey, damp London is looking like something out of a Dickensian novel… and we are loving it. All of us are now on holiday (yippee!) and I am finally catching up on the backlog that built up due to ‘exhibition neglect’!

Isabella spontaneously decided to experiment with food colouring in the snow – red and green making this most intense, lush colour. It reminded me of a beautiful Finnish tradition I discovered during the winters I spent there. Candles and light are so important during winter and in a country so far north as Finland, especially so. Many Finnish houses have blocks of candlelit pink ice block on their porches so that a walk in the neighbourhood is guided by these beautiful pink, glowing ice lamps. You make them  by putting water and beetroot juice (or food colouring) in a bucket, with a smaller bucket inside. Leave it outside to freeze then remove the buckets to reveal your ice lamp then place a large candle in the hollow. Beautiful. We are going to try it tomorrow and will post pics!

Last Friday, we finally bought a sled and the next day, pulled the children up the hill to buy our Christmas tree. I know for many of you blog readers, this is not so remarkable, but we feel like we are in a Christmas movie – expecting Jimmy Stewart to walk round the corner (“Zuzu’s petals, Zuzu’s petals!”).  Gosh, we had fun and the sound of my kiddies giggling with glee as they wobbled on the sled will stay with me for a long while.

Hope to get time to post our pink ice lamp pics before Christmas day! In the meantime, happy preparing and a heartfelt thank you for all the lovely comments you left in the last post – very much appreciated 🙂

PS. Finally got to hanging our Christmas tree and our boughs in the hallway which I first made when we moved into our home 16 years ago. See the little round golden wreaths? They are made from dried tortellini (you buy them dry in packets) spray painted gold then strung on wire into a wreath shape – they are wearing pretty well for 16 year old, home made ornaments, don’t you think?

5 Responses to “Snow play and Finnish ice lamps…”

Read below or add a comment...

  1. Amelia says:

    Hi Concetta,

    what total, busy fun you always seem to be having. Taking the sled to buy an xmas tree. I am still to buy a tree, get the decorations up although there was a snowman built in the garden and a snowbound trip in a taxi to buy some goodies wtih grandpa! My, I have so much catching up to do. All day sunday (which was meant to be a sledging day) ended up being an entire day clearing out months of non-housework in my house. Felt so much better but torn I wasn't doing kiddie snow things! oh my, the perils of crazy motherhood and working etc!

    Have a beautiful Merry Christmas and New Year!

    Amelia.x

  2. jacqueline says:

    dearest sweet Concetta, such fun with the snow! I really adore the sled! 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing these beautiful photos! Wishing you JOY and LOVE for a wonderful Christmas my sweet friend..thank you for all the blessings you have given me this year. Love to you and yours!

  3. Kerri says:

    love the tortellini ornaments! 16 years, huh? that pasta is pretty durable, eh?

  4. Concetta says:

    Thank you all for the Christmas wishes and hoping your is full of magic and peace in the midst of the ordinary life moments! And yes Kerri, I am rather amazed at the longevity of the tortellini!! x

  5. Suzanne says:

    I know what you mean about loving the snow, and really enjoying it. We live in Florida, but went to Ohio for Christmas. My kids were out playing in the snow, throwing snowballs, but their Ohio cousins stayed indoors. They hate the cold weather. I can understand, because they get snow on the ground for 3-4 months straight. We loved it, especially the snow tubing we did down a small hill.