happiness is

a walk in the woods along the joining of lake Saimaa and lake Kuolimo, picking mushrooms on the cliffs and admiring the ruska in a language that has a word for fall colors.

 

this is Finland, folks. (thanks to Tuuli for this picture)

 

puppy frolicking in the reindeer lichen,

 

and posing for a christmas card picture.

 

we were on the lookout the whole time for edible mushrooms. we did find a lot, though these aren't them.

iskä admiring the view.

 

a loud whistle carries a long way here and echoes back at you from the hills.

 

ruska!

 

lakes and trees and lakes and trees. this place is magical, I'm telling you.

 

speaking of magical, we soon entered a descent into a misty valley where was to be found a quantity of mushrooms.

 

"this is where the trolls live" ~iskä. I just may join them one of these days.

 

as we exited the mist and came again upon the lake shore, it began to rain.

 

as the rain intensified we found the laavu and iskä used his puukko (!!) to split wood for a fire by which we sat until the rain lessened and we started heading home.