Regards from Äkäslompolo

We reached Ylläs Sunday night and today we spend couple of hours in the slopes. Mainly ski'ing in easy slopes with kids due to hard wind on the top of the hill. I took jus one run in the black slope at last and it was fine. But as I mentioned the wind was very strong and it made even hard to stand still at the top. Tomorrow we are planning to continue ski'ing Hopefully the wind is more kind to us.



Now waiting for sauna to be ready. One day more in thse ski slopes. 5 hours with kids and whole team safely at the base at the end. Wind is still very strong and getting colder all the time. Last night visited to snow village and to see exiting snow and ice arts. Tomorrow we are expecting hard snowstorm so it may be time for shopping and sightseeign. Tonight we are planning for lazy night to relax and refreshing ourselves for next days.

Now storm was really heavy and we just did some shopping and spending the rest of the day inhouse. At night we had a dinner with our friend in restaurant Poro in the center. Of cource rest of the night we are spending tgether and celebrating the coming new year with friends. This image is from monday because the day like this is not for photoshooting.

November update

Long time no see. I have been too busy to update the blog but now I diceded to do so. Latest update was the bell tower but now we have been able to start the yard construction and it is already proceeded well. We have used to live with our temporary yard that was prepared right after finishing our house 12 years ago. We decided that now it is time to take next step with help of professionals because own time and visions does not seem to give much progress.

Now these professionals (järviseudun viherrakennus) have worked for couple weeks and most difficult part is almost done. Some stones still missing beside the walls but major stone layers are done and asphalt (that later will be red) couple weeks ago.

During this time we also installed new waste water treatment system (Ecolator 10) that will replace the old treatment system. Replacement is good to do in this point when yard is rolled up and refomed. New system is now running and seems to be fine.

Next step will be reforming the shape of the yard at the front of the house and setting up the stone wall and walkway to barbecue house. Watersystem and plants are still waiting to their place on the yard.

The new building (double log garner) is almost ready. Only some electrical and data cable connections are still missing. That should not be a big issue after we get the right components on place. It has been fairly busy time with these tiny exersises hopefully I have more time for updates nexth months.

Bell tower is up and operation

Next phase is allmost ready. Bell tower is now up on the roof and it's even working. Bell has been available for long time but other activities like painting have delayed this project. Bell is casted by Kellovalimo Somppi in Lapua Finland and the sound is nice. Bell is electrically operated so no need for long rope and running outside to play it. Here is a sample video about the bell in operation unfortunately there is some high frequency interference in the sound.


First I built a prototype of the tower to see how the system should work, and then I built the final mounting construction and changed the ringing system totally. Mounting of the tower was little difficult because of the height.

Small electronics as I call it "e-suntio Torsti" (e-verger Torsti) is in operation but needs some nice box around it. Operation is with push button or with GSM phone. So if you like to say hello to us just call to number +358 40 370 9781. Torsti is not answering the calls but it nicely rings the bell couple of times. You can now ring the bell untill I limit the user group.

Some more interesting items shall be there but that is the different story, just wait and see.

Painting is going on now

Painting work is now about in the middle of the way. Two adults mainly doing the job and kids helping in when they can. Of cource this painting job consists all the log buildings in our yard from small one to big one and 4 as total. 1,5 weeks gone now and assumption is that one week still left. Hopefully we will make it before the Folk Music Festivals in Kaustinen.

New foal in our stables

The new foal has finaly born in our stables. Soleron Tähti, our finnish horse gave the birdh to a foal last wednesday morning. This colt is from Joihuri so we are are looking forward to see what it will be in future.

Yesterday we let them enjoy the sunshine outside. At the moment we are trying to find the name for this new family member. So far everything has gone fine and hopefully there will not be any problems in future also.

After 17 weeks

Visual outfit is now almost final only stairs and paint is missing. Electrical installation is still waiting to be finalised and hopefully that happends during this week. Of course there are some decoration issues still waiting for time to do it but that will be my own task.

As you can see also cleaning of the yard must be done before I can say it is ready. Hopefully the summer is nice and good so that I can do the painting work soon after other rush is over.

10th week in construction

10 weeks is now gone when we started to build the double garner on the yard. There has been fairly long period that I have't update this issue in the blog because the outside of the building has not changed alot during this time. Anyway now we had some nice spring days and we managed to build the brick roof was insalled about 2 weeks ago. windows and doors are also installed with all the decorations around them. So outside view is now as it will be only stairs and paint is missing. Stairs will be there when we had time to build them and painting takes place when weather is warm enough to do it.

Interior is also proceeding well. Right after the internal roof supports and protective papers were intslled the insulation was done by blowing the "paper wool" on the place. Ongoing task is the floor installation. Floor material is ready maid pine panels which is fixed by screws on the supports. About half of the floors is now installed one room downstairs and half of the top floor.

Installation of heating systems is also started. First of the tree systems is now up and running and it gives nice heat to one room in downstairs. Hopefully next week we also get rest two units installed and so the complete heating on. These outside units need to be hided somehow and that is problem that I have to resolve. OK but that is something I like (solving this kind of problems ;) ), unfortunately it takes some time to figure out suitable solution. Hopfully external pressure is not setting too much pressure to my process.

Traditional Eastern vacation in Vuokatti

(...continued) Vacation is almost over. Two days ski'in on the slopes. one day resting playing games, bowling etc. It has been nice and refreshing holiday enjoying couple of days away af normal routines.

We have also enjoyed about fine food prepared by my wife. Culinary taste of Finnish Eastern is "mämmi", which is now served together with vanilla sauce and sugar. Delicious as well as with cream and sugar as the traditional way is.

Unfortunately nothing good lasts forever and so we have to start preparing our journey back home again. Weather here in Vuokatti is quite bad, it is snowing fairly much and the road conditions are bad. Hopefully everything goes fine tomorrow.

Traditional Eastern vacation in Vuokatti

Our traditional Eastern vacation in Vuokatti goes on with slalom and resting. We have not forget the basic meaning of the Eastern. The happenings behind two thousand years follow us in our brakfast and supper.
This year we are accomodated in Marsalkka (Vuokatin Aateli) which is fabulous place. We have enjoyed the staying here allready and waiting the next day.

Blessed wishes to all our friends from snowfull Vuokatti.

Third week

Work is ongoing. Supports for the brick roof and plastic base roof is installed. Coloured panels are installed at the edge of the roof as well as below the eaves. Now we move inside the

The visual progres of the building will be minor from now on so I also reduce the frequency of this blog. Following major steps in near future will be insulation, inner roofs, floors, electricity, doors & windows and bricks to the roof. then there will also be painting that has to be done during the later spring. But one thing at the time.

Nineth day

Now are the roof supports up on the top. Hopefully the wind is not so hard tomorrow so that plastic foil installation is possible. Today the wheather was very cold and we have to hold our hats very carefully to keep from flying away.

Eighth day

Now all the logs are on the walls. 34 layers of logs are installed and we faced only few problems during the installation. This last day showed the hardest. One log in the left side wall missed one hole for the. Luckily we were able to replace this log with the similar one from the midle wall and make the missing hole with the chain saw and use that log in the intermediate wall. Thanks to Raimo you can hardly find the corrected log.

Weather today was very windy and we had to be very carefull just to stay safely at high level bridges. Anyway log building is now done and tomorrow comes some finishing work like fixing screws, removin the labels etc. Also installation of roof supports begin tomorrow and hopefully roof building don't take too much time so that logs will stay dry if the rain comes.

Seventh day

Seven workful days are gone and 27 layers out of 34 is now done. Front and back walls are now in their final height and still 2 layers to door wall and 7 layers up to the tip of the tiangle. Final shape of the front is now visible but some changes to vision will come when roof is built later on. May be one day is enough to finnish the log building and we can start installing the roof support at thursday. Hopefully the weather stays at least as good as today over the weekend.

Sixth day

As thought monday gave fairly much progress to bulding. 22th out of 34 layers is ongoing and there is still 12 to go. Rooms in upstairs are in the shape and we are not able to jump over the walls and normal doorways must be used when moving from room to room. This warm weather is not good for log building and traffic on the yard brings the mud on top and there is risk to sopil the logs with dirt. Anyway we are in good shape and only some days to go.

Apassionata four seasons tour

It is amazing how some people can handle these mighty animals so nicely. Saturday I travelled with family to see this great "Apassionata four seasons" show and it did not disappoint me. So many fine and beautifull horses performing their tricks with music and flashing lights. I can recomend this show if you want to see what horses can do. And if you know something about them you know how patient you have to be to make them follow even the smallest signals.

Fifth day

Fifth day is used to build intermediate floor supports inside the garners. Intermediate floor is good to use as support to build the higher layers of logs. So no visible development with the walls has happend today but monday we will continue.

Third & fourth day

I was travelling on wednesday so now two days at one time. When getting higher more time is wasted to prepare stands for installation. on third day there was need to set second level on stands and then some layers of logs and today more stands. Now we planned to install intermediate roof/floor supports. This seems to be good idea becasuse they have to be installed anyway.

17 layers are now installed and still 17 to go. Gable wall triangles are anyway short stubs and thou easier and faster to install.

Now the shape is well visible. Front wall will be build from very tiny stubs whichs are collected to the porch. Lower holes for railing is already visible on upmost layer.

Wheather has beed warm which is not very good for log building because logs get easily little wet. Also snow on the ground is very slippery.

Second day

Second day is now over and walls are getting so high that it is not possible to set the layers from ground or even from inside floor. So some time was spent to build stands to get foot of the ground. Wall height is about 2 meters and layer 12 is now ongoing and still it is 22 to go. Tomorrow morning there is some preparation work to do for higher stands. We also used grain to lift the logs to last walls today.

Some log packets are comletely used and more space appears for machinery. One good tip is to get good packing list from vendor and also draw a map where the packets are located in the yard. That will help to find the right logs when they are needed.

First day

First day is now closed and first 4 layers of logs are assembled. Everything goes as planned without any major problems. Ofcourse some minor issues are faced as bottom layer cable holes but theses are issues which can quite easily be corrected during the assembly work.


Final shape and size is somehow visible. Just waiting to see the next few days.

Now it starts

This is time to start the building. Almost all parts are now on place
and monday is the day to start. One full truck load of logs and other wooden stuff for builders to use for this building. Lets hope that weather is fine for next month to keep logs clean and work ongoing.

Finally snow

Winter came finally, yes. I was little worried about the weather because of my new construction project starting soon. Project is double log garner to my yard. This is a long time plan to give some extra room for hobbies. Building a log house is easier in winter climate when you don't have to worry about spoiling the logs with rain and mud.

I enclose some status of the project in this blog so here is first.

First scetch of the double garner. Plan is developed during several years and now it is ongoing.




First parts are already on the yard and of course concrete base is prepared in autumn. Now I'm waiting for the delivery of logs in next week and start of the building is planned in first week of February. Hopefully the winter continues.

Successfull new year to everybody

New year has begun and we finally got white snow to ground. Now I can start the winter hobbies as slalom, sleigh riding, etc. I also have two projects in waiting mode. One is new building in my backyard and the other is some tuning to my truck. New exhaust pipes for the car should arrive this week and logs for new building at the end of January. Maybe I put some images into blog to see how the projects are proceeding.