a bunch of fireweed growing on the side of a charcoal mountain

i had big plans for last weekend, i went to helsinki on what was probably my only trip anywhere this summer. i had a two-day ticket to a great festival, a nice place to stay in within walking distance of everything i wanted to do. i would get groceries unavailable in my home town: for example shiratamako rice flour, maybe find velvet 'chinese shoes' mary janes for the summer. on sunday, a walk in the botanic garden before the bus ride home. well, friday morning i woke up with a sore throat, and while i managed to enjoy some great music later that day, i spent the rest of that vacation futon-ridden and alone, with high fever. only shopping was for tissues and a popsicle in the corner shop on saturday evening. forgot the nosewipes first time around and had to sway my way back. wanted a pack of aloe vera ones more than anything at that point but they only had regular. needless to say, my mood hasn't been the brightest.

on friday, though, there was pj harvey. only waited over two decades for that gig to happen... she is beyond my words. don't have many idols in any sense of the word but she is its purest expression. so much charisma and presence. music-wise i would have wanted to attend any of the previous tours, but even that didn't matter. the moment was worth everything. she was supposed to be the closing artist but due to severe weather versus fragile instruments, her slot was earlier, which worked for me, because after explosions in the sky, also kind of mind blowing and a blast from my own past, my back was already killing me and i had to leave. there was a glorious, peachy sunset and a huge rainbow as i walked to my lodgings.

the pain of missing the second day of sideways was alleviated somewhat by the relentless rain and winds resulting in stages being closed and acts cancelled or rearranged. i probably would have been uncomfortable in crowded places, soaking wet, anyway. still would have rather been able to enjoy the days away from everyday life a bit better. better luck next year, i hope...

my mother stayed with the rats and they'd had a good time at least. and i did manage to bring home a packet of shiro miso as well as a black millinery feather found on the street. it reminded me of pj harvey's headdress so i had to pick it up. also found a brochure for the sea fort suomenlinna where i've never been but always wanted to visit. i take it was a sign.

when i came home, savu was suspicious of me at first but then went all "did you bring back any treats, human?" sysi was asleep and ignored me when he woke, but when i scratched him anyway, he firmly gripped his front teeth onto my thumb, and tightly held it with one tiny hand as well. guess he did miss me a little after all... he wasn't biting, mind, just his way of holding on when something feels good.

still feverish and tired, so taking things easy today with lots of hot and cold beverages of various healing kind, and spicy foods to ease congestion. it's my first flu since having the rats, and savu is terrified when i blow my nose. don't know if it's the sound or his (!) nest material being used in such a horrible way. he is such a little paperphile.

finally made it to the allotment today, expecting to find a dead, barren rectangle of clay, but instead ended up very, very impressed by the seeds i'd sown. there were little sprouts everywhere, despite being abandoned during days of intense heat. added some more radishes and beans, and two rows of beets. next on the task list is preparing beds and support for peas. i want more strawberries, too, different kinds.

on my way back, i spotted a lovely blue spruce and couldn't help but pinch a few tips while they're still soft. i'm probably going to make a seasoned salt with them, with or without the rosemary, haven't decided yet. probably without because i already have lemon & rosemary salt. blue spruce sea salt has a lovely ring to it, no?

made myself a quick, nice meal from broccoli, asparagus, butter beans and rice noodles, topped with a dollop of homemade sauerkraut, which isn't quite ready yet but it's too tempting not to sample... the rats got their portion, too, but they don't like my kraut, apparently. a lot of asparagus was left over as well, although they went nuts for it the first time. guess it's not fresh enough any more for their delicate taste buds... introduced pineapple weed today and it was the first thing savu grabbed from a bunch of wild greens. it's always a joy to watch them enjoy new flavours.

having a separate shower room has proven to be handy in many ways. sysi and savu love to play there anyway, but not having to worry about the mess they make is a big bonus! here they are fishing for soybeans (which they peel before eating) in a big boy pool. tested if savu would dive into deeper water at first, but no. actually it was sysi who jumped in the water at all, after the level was lowered. the floor is heated, too, so they don't catch a cold playing when they get soaked, and dry a bit faster. sometimes i just let a bit of water onto the floor in the morning and they go and have a drink and a facewash. savu has been in the shower with me once, i left the door ajar and he made mad dashes in and out. nibbled my heels also, maybe he was trying to rescue me...

and finally, a silly selfie with the two of them wrestling on my bed, ignoring me and my needs for kissing ratty bellies, this (and pretty much every) morning.

 

today my pinterest feed was about 80% 'recommended for me'. clicked on each and every one of them to state that 'i don't like suggestions'. will they take a hint? probably not. i'm a very visual person and also highly sensitive so i want to feel in control of what i view. i would probably look at and like and repin suggestions if they were a separate feed i could choose to look at. i just would like *my* feed to feel mine. i love exploring pinterest, but they are making it harder and harder for me to even go there. instagram is doing a fine job of ruining itself, too. guess it's unavoidable in a money-driven world, but it's making me sad to lose these ways of relaxation and fun.

we've been hit by a heat wave so going out to the real world is not really an option for me. it's just too hot. i may be crankier than usual for that reason. just waiting for the evening so i can go get some groceries and visit the garden to water what's left of it.

been making progress on my crocheted top project. on monday i went to the beach to work on it when it was still decently warm. making it up as i'm going along, basically, and hoping to show off the finished garment soon. two skeins left. today i finished two waffle cloth hand towels that were meant for my housewarming party a month ago... i'm still proud of myself for doing anything at all with such sweaty paws.

the rats are now eight months old and starting to show some signs of being grown ups, occasionally. savu unfortunately is sprouting a tumour on his thigh so he has to have surgery this summer. i was hoping to get a third boy, but any adoption plans are now pushed further into the year. or they may be brought back, as surgery is never without risks... but that's not really something i want to think about. it's the best option to nip it in the bud, since there's no telling if it's a benign growth or not.

i weighed both after a long while and savu is still tiny at 576 grams but sysi has reached a handsome 714 g. he may have been more, to my eye he has shed some puppy fat lately, or it could be the sleeker summer coat... they are mostly good boys and eating their greens, but savu especially has so much energy, and he has now learned to climb the kitchen chairs onto the table and the forbidden windowsill... not pleased with this discovery but secretly proud. they're not the brightest young minds... but sometimes they're so clever.