August Meadow Flowers & chive butter

In the soft golden light of a summer afternoon, wandering through a flower meadow feels like stepping into a quiet dream. The field sways gently with cosmos, morning glory, Iris, poppies, cornflowers, and buttercups, their colours dancing in the breeze like nature’s own watercolors. Picking flowers here is more than a simple act—it's a calming ritual, a moment of presence where the mind slows and the senses awaken. The rustle of tall grasses, the hum of bees, and the warmth of the sun all combine to soothe the soul. Back home, the joy continues: you can create a wild, abundant bouquet—an armful of tangled beauty spilling from a weathered ceramic jug—or place individual, delicate blooms into old crystal bottles and antique vases, each one a quiet reminder of the meadow's peace and poetry.

This beautiful meadow/sunflower fields is just a 30 minute drive from Helsinki. The exact address is Porkkalantie 274. I was alone on the meadow and got to enjoy all this beauty to myself.

Chive Flower butter

I made a beautiful chive flower butter using the delicate pink blossoms from countryside chive plants from my mother in laws garden, and it turned out to be one of the simplest, most flavourful ways to elevate plain butter. The process is easy and satisfying: just pick the petals from the chive flowers, chop a small handful of fresh green chives, and mix both into softened butter. The floral, slightly garlicky flavor of the blossoms pairs wonderfully with the sharpness of the chives. Once everything is mixed, shape the butter into a log using parchment paper and let it chill. The result is both rustic and elegant—perfect spread over a slice of my homemade sourdough. The subtle lavender hue from the petals makes it as pretty as it is delicious. Next, I think I’ll try making my own butter from scratch—it’s said to be simple, and I love the idea of taking one more step toward fully handmade kitchen staples.

Meadow Flower Bouquet

End of Summer Dinner Party

Last weekend, my husband and I hosted a traditional crayfish party for seventeen of our friends. The scale of the gathering prompted us to completely rearrange our furniture, creating a spacious five-meter table in the center of our living room. To ensure continuity, my husband crafted an additional table that harmonized perfectly with our existing setup. We were fortunate to have a variety of beautifully aged chairs in storage, which I refurbished with a chalk white finish to complement the decor.

As autumn gradually unfolds, I adorned the table with arrangements featuring fall hydrangeas, foraged leaves, autumn joy stonecrop, and dahlias. I adored the soft hues of dusty pink and muted green, harmonizing seamlessly with each other. To add a touch of wild greenery, I incorporated cascading vines from our balcony. The table sparkled with an assortment of candles in various sizes, alongside a collection of mixed silver vases and cherished trinkets accumulated over the years.

The evening commenced with cocktails and canapés, followed by a delightful pumpkin duck risotto as dusk settled in. The main event, succulent crayfish and snaps, unfolded amidst the cozy glow of candlelight. For dessert, we indulged in pavlova adorned with fresh figs, complemented by an array of smaller sweet treats. It was an unforgettable evening, marking the perfect transition into fall.

Cherry Blossoms in May

And then all of a sudden, it was cherry blossom season…

Summer came in an instant, where the sun blessed us with its warm rays and amazing heat wave. Just last week the weather was 3 degrees and rainy and today, it is +25 degrees and clear blue skies. Our morning began under the beauty of cherry blossom trees that opened up to bloom today. The sweet aromatic smell of cherry flower and the fleeting nature of life, the short-lived trees are just as stunning, every year. The pale pink trees take over the entire park, where we enjoyed our morning coffee amongst the singing of the birds.

Wild Flowers & Peace of mind

Just be silent and listen… So many of us are overwhelmed with anxiety and worry. Sometimes we just need to sit still and listen, remember what is important in life. Maybe because being in nature is such a big part of Finnish people’s lives, as we are taught this already at a young age, it becomes part of routine even in adulthood. It is known that nature can generate different types of positive emotions, such as calmness, creativity, joy and improve concentration. I can imagine that during the pandemic, spending time outdoors has been one of the key factors enabling people to cope with the stress.

That is why I love the feeling of being at the countryside, as you are constantly surrounded with woodland and water, breathing in the fresh air and soaking in all the goodness from outdoors. You feel it in your lungs and heart. It makes me feel better emotionally and clearly contributes to my physical wellbeing. It is also known to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. So, I cannot stress enough, but to encourage you to spend time outdoors, may it be in a park, forest or by the sea to clear your mind. At this current moment in time, I feel like I have a sense of peace of mind.

Still in my linen pj’s, I’ve made myself a frothy decaf cappuccino and walked down to the lake to dip my feet in the cooling waters. It’s only morning but the weather is already warm so it is nice to start the day by soaking my toes in the water. Siena always joins me no matter where I go, and together we gazed into the horizon as the day began to awake. That first sip of morning coffee is the best feeling in the world and pressing the tangy froth against my lips, while there is silence all around me, is a cleansing sensation. I think we sat here for twenty minutes or so, just reflecting on positivity around me and listening to the sounds from nature.

Our wonderful coffee moment by the pier was followed by a walk to the forest to pick some fresh wildflowers for the day. My mother loves flowers as much as I do, so we love to have flowers around us as much as possible. You can see how the sun sparkles through the trees that has not risen completely into the sky. A stone throw away, there’s a little meadow close to our cottage, that has old apple trees, an old barn and a little field filled with different flowers. Here you find bees and butterflies scattered in the long hay and it is the place to go pick some inspiration during different seasons. It’s funny when it comes to color, I prefer most neutral tones, but when it comes to flowers, I do appreciate some color. I picked some blooms into my basket while Siena lay hidden in the hay finding the joy in simple moments like these.