Changes

This summer brought lots of changes, both foreseeable, and unforseeable ones. We parents moved downstairs, and our last child at home, 16-year Totti, moved upstairs. This meant small renovation jobs, such as shifting furniture plus all the stuff that has accumulated over all the years. (Writing like this makes me feel ancient!). There were a lot of jobs that had to be seen to outside the house as well, and that kept Mr. Blue eyes busy even during his holiday. Luckily we spent a few weeks traveling by car & ship to Lago Maggiore in Italy (more about that later), so even my Bob-the-Builder husband had some time off from the demands of the house. My spunky mother-in-law turned 90 in August, but sadly her mind and physique suddenly deteriorated so much that she's now permanently in hospital. Along with family and friends, we celebrated her birthday in hospital. She herself thought she was celebrating her 100th birthday! Well, who knows, perhaps we still will... 

For me, this summer also meant a shift in our role as parents, as a family. Still, I'd say it was a good summer. The weather was very accomodating. Contrary to what many people believe, summers in southern Finland are bright and sunny, with the days usually not too hot. That's exactly how I like it. The rains came at night, so it was perfect for the garden as well.