Dagmar's Spring, Finland

Hi,

I'm back on my Blog again!

'Going to be posting the occasional video from a recent project I started called 'My Big Fat Finnish Portfolio'. I've already set up and started this project over on Facebook and Instagram, plus I now have a YouTube channel and Pinterest board dedicated to it also.
'Would be great if you could join, add or follow any of these platforms.

For now here's a little clip I made not far from where I live in Finland. It's a nice little place called Dagmar's Spring, a natural spring with beautiful surroundings and easy-going nature trails.


All the best for now,


your friend, 

Alan.

My Finland 100 : 91- 100

Finland became an independent state on 6 December 1917. Already there have been numerous events staged throughout the country to celebrate this centenary year. The theme of the centenary year is ‘Together’. 

As I have been a resident of Finland for the past ten years I wanted to do a little something. For this I decided to post 100 images to my Instagram account on social media with the hashtag #finland100_igchallenge .

Anyone familiar with the Instagram application will be aware of the vast amount of wonderful photography posted every day online. There are so many amazing images to be found featuring Finland's stunning nature and landscapes. I imagine my photography may be lack lustre in comparison and as a result may not be noticed. So I decided to simply look closer in and around my new home for another approach. I have posted a variety of images found around my own house and neighbourhood. I didn't know much about Finland before I moved here, so I view this as an opportunity to show others a few things I discovered about or associated with Finland and it's culture. I have included everyday items, nostalgic items, locations, food and also some Finnish-themed artworks which I painted myself while living here. In other words, a bit of everything!!

The images are in no particular order of importance or preference, and now I'll finish with 91-100!

91/100
...a much aquired taste, Salmiakki is a salty liquorice sweet/candy from Finland which I tend to keep well away from.🍬 . Instead I prefer it's alcohol-infused cousin in liquid shot form (served cold!)
🍷😀 ...'bottoms up! .. Have a good Saturday!!!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 16, 2017 at 8:41am PST

92/100
...Sunday sounds! Hailing from Kitee in Finland, Nightwish have to be the most successful Finnish band internationally ever. The ultimate in symphonic metal! ..Play extremely loud!!! 👊😎

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 17, 2017 at 4:43am PST

93/100
'Pohjola' is the Finnish word for North. This and many other soapstone sculptures were made by Finnish artist Hilda Flodin for the facade of the Pohjola Insurance building in Helsinki. Her sculptures were inspired by Finnish folklore and blend in perfectly with the wonderful art nouveau style seen throughout the city. They're one of my favourite features in the capital. I painted one of the sculptures with a little 'tongue in cheek' addition of some mobile phones. I called it 'Holding for Hilda'. 

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 18, 2017 at 5:41am PST

94/100
'The Snow Tree' (acrylic-on-canvas, 2009)

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 20, 2017 at 6:19am PST

95/100
..this is the Joulupukki in Finland also known as the Julbocken or Yule goat, a very old Christmas tradition in northern europe which won't be found in my old country Ireland. The joulupukki can even be found on some Christmas beers up here. ...so cheers!!! 🐏 🍺😀 (ps. Santa Claus is also called Joulupukki in Finland)

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 21, 2017 at 3:03am PST

96/100
...fakenews and ad-free technology and my favourite era of mobile phone evolution. Nokia have now moved on to creating smartwatches amongst other things. A long way since kiddies' shoes! (see 15/100).

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 22, 2017 at 1:28am PST

97/100
.. Vodka Veekend! #finnishvodka #tgif 😀 🍸

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 22, 2017 at 1:18pm PST

98/100
Postcard from Karis!
...The best little town in Finland!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 23, 2017 at 2:26am PST

99/100
... Christmas in Finland means glögg with vodka!! ..kippis! ..skål!! 🍷😂

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 25, 2017 at 9:26am PST

100/100
Merry Christmas from the home of Santa Claus! ...Hyvää Joulua!! ...God Jul!! ...Have a good one!!🎄🎅👍

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 25, 2017 at 11:17am PST

Click below for more:

1- 10

11- 20

21- 30

31- 40

41- 50

51- 60

61- 70

71- 80

81- 90

91- 100

Share this blog!

Thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to share it with any of your friends.

- Alan

 

My Finland 100 : 41- 50

Finland became an independent state on 6 December 1917. Already there have been numerous events staged throughout the country to celebrate this centenary year. The theme of the centenary year is ‘Together’. 

As I have been a resident of Finland for the past ten years I wanted to do a little something. For this I decided to post 100 images to my Instagram account on social media with the hashtag #finland100_igchallenge .

Anyone familiar with the Instagram application will be aware of the vast amount of wonderful photography posted every day online. There are so many amazing images to be found featuring Finland's stunning nature and landscapes. I imagine my photography may be lack lustre in comparison and as a result may not be noticed. So I decided to simply look closer in and around my new home for another approach. I have posted a variety of images found around my own house and neighbourhood. I didn't know much about Finland before I moved here, so I view this as an opportunity to show others a few things I discovered about or associated with Finland and it's culture. I have included everyday items, nostalgic items, locations, food and also some Finnish-themed artworks which I painted myself while living here. In other words, a bit of everything!!

The images are in no particular order of importance or preference, so I'll continue with 41-50...

41/100

The sandwich cake! .. the smörgåstårta can be found at many celebration parties throughout Finland. This savoury dish has been perfected in Finland, as shown here by a great chef from Bromarf! These two sandwich cakes were made specially for my birthday and were delicious! ..Thanks Tanja!! 😊🍰

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 13, 2017 at 2:16pm PST

42/100
'Autumn Birches' (acrylic-on-canvas) #finland100_igchallenge 42/100
..posting a series of random images (including some of my own art) from or associated with Finland to celebrate the country's 100th birthday! ...'probably should've posted this earlier, all the leaves have fallen at the stage! ☺🍁

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 17, 2017 at 3:56am PST

43/100
..late night snack! A national dish of Finland 'The Karelian Pie'! ..yum!!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 17, 2017 at 1:48pm PST

44/100
...in Finland you're never too far from nature. I took this photo only 2 minutes from my house today. 🌲🌲🍁🌲

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 20, 2017 at 8:36am PST

45/100
..I was never too fond of mustard back in Ireland except for a tiny bit of Colmans on a toasted ham & cheese sandwich. But the mustard in Finland is more to my liking, especially 'Turun Sinappia' on makkara (finnish sausage).

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 21, 2017 at 5:45am PST

46/100
...these ABC service stations are everywhere in Finland, at least everywhere I've travelled. They're a one-stop shop for petrol, grocery shopping and dining! 🚘⛽🚘🚚🚕 ... 'took this photo at my local ABC today!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 21, 2017 at 7:02am PST

47/100
...a painting of a house in my neighbouring town of Ekenäs in Finland. 'The Green House' (acrylic-on-canvas), ...well it was green when I painted it! 😀🎨

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 21, 2017 at 9:00pm PST

48/100
.. a crafty old Finn I once knew handcarved these butterknives from old juniper wood. Some say Santa Claus started this tradition but these ones are definately the upgrade! .🎅..

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 22, 2017 at 4:18am PST

49/100
...as world leaders in coffee consumption Finland needs to have the best coffeemachines! That's why you will find one of these in most Finnish households, the 'Moccamaster'. I have this Ferrari red model and it makes an amazing brew! Although the machine is made in Holland I regard it as a part of my Finnish experience! 🍵

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 23, 2017 at 3:30am PST

50/100
... throwback Thursday ..the beautiful Havis Amanda photographed last summer in Helsinki.

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Nov 23, 2017 at 8:14am PST

Click below for more:

1- 10

11- 20

21- 30

31- 40

41- 50

51- 60

61- 70

71- 80

81- 90

91- 100

Share this blog!

Thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to share it with any of your friends.

- Alan

 

My Finland 100 : 21-30

Finland became an independent state on 6 December 1917. Already there have been numerous events staged throughout the country to celebrate this centenary year. The theme of the centenary year is ‘Together’. 

As I have been a resident of Finland for the past ten years I wanted to do a little something. For this I decided to post 100 images to my Instagram account on social media with the hashtag #finland100_igchallenge .

Anyone familiar with the Instagram application will be aware of the vast amount of wonderful photography posted every day online. There are so many amazing images to be found featuring Finland's stunning nature and landscapes. I imagine my photography may be lack lustre in comparison and as a result may not be noticed. So I decided to simply look closer in and around my new home for another approach. I have posted a variety of images found around my own house and neighbourhood. I didn't know much about Finland before I moved here, so I view this as an opportunity to show others a few things I discovered about or associated with Finland and it's culture. I have included everyday items, nostalgic items, locations, food and also some Finnish-themed artworks which I painted myself while living here. In other words, a bit of everything!!

The images are in no particular order of importance or preference, so I'll continue with 21-30...

21/100
..Monday sounds! #finland100_igchallenge 21/100 - Finnish band Damn Seagulls 2009 album 'Hunting Season' bears up well! 🐻🐻🐻

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Aug 28, 2017 at 4:18am PDT

22/100

Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki would have been 70 today. (30 Aug 1947 – 14 Jan 1987) - His nickname Badding was derived from Paddington Bear.

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Aug 30, 2017 at 12:01pm PDT

23/100
'Had to try this springwater despite extreme arm pain today. Maybe it has some miracle qualities?!!! 😇✨💪 ....A nice new public park called 'Dagmar's Park' opened recently near where I live. A wonderful gift from the Fiskars corporation to the Finnish people and friends of Finland to celebrate Finland's 100th year anniversary.

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Sep 3, 2017 at 8:52am PDT

24/100
Late night tv, a Finnish dvd movie called 'Rööperi'. Decent crime movie set in Helsinki with good Finnish humour.

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Sep 8, 2017 at 3:33pm PDT

25/100
Congrats to Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki who's film 'Toivon tuolla puolen' (The Other Side of Hope) has just won the International Federation of Film Critics Grand Prix 2017 award for best film. It's the second time he's won this award, the first time was in 2002 for this film 'The Man Without a Past'. If you haven't watched any of his movies then I recommend this one or my favourite 'Drifting Clouds'.

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Sep 12, 2017 at 3:39am PDT

26/100
Bronze statue in Helsinki of Elias Lönnrot, 'best known for writing the Finnish national epic 'Kalevala'. ..The long-bearded guy beside him is Väinämöinen the hero of the story. Statue by Emil Wikström 1902. 

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Sep 14, 2017 at 7:17am PDT

27/100
...around this time every year in Finland the big MEHU-MAIJA comes out of storage. It's a finnish juice extractor and it's making apple juice to be frozen for the long cold winter. 'Just need to plug it in and wait for the good stuff!! 🍏🍏

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Sep 16, 2017 at 1:24am PDT

28/100
...the dish drain closet! A great idea invented in Finland. Any water from the dishes drains into a hole at the bottom of the closet and down to the sink underneath. Best of all it's functional, eco-friendly and keeps wet dishes out of sight!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Sep 22, 2017 at 2:13am PDT

29/100
Finland is the biggest consumer of coffee in the world per capita and here's an old coffee can by a Finnish company called Paulig of Helsinki @pauligfi . The text is printed in Finnish on one side and Swedish on the other, the two official languages of Finland.

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Sep 27, 2017 at 4:11am PDT

30/100
The word 'Sisu' is best described as the will to persevere through all to achieve ones goals, or determination, or 'to have guts'. It is held by Finns themselves to express their national character. Sisu is also the name of a Finnish truck manufacturer who's factory has been a close neighbour of mine for the past ten years.

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Sep 30, 2017 at 1:29am PDT

Click below for more:

1- 10

11- 20

21- 30

31- 40

41- 50

51- 60

61- 70

71- 80

81- 90

91- 100

Share this blog!

Thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to share it with any of your friends.

- Alan