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I arrived on Monday night back home in Syvilla.

It was already dark and I was wondering while sitting on the train how thick the snow layer might be on top of the car which we parked at Parkano railway station 11 days earlier (when we left for Stockholm and Amsterdam workshops).

The snow layer was not there, the weather had gotten warm for a few days and some snow melted away during that time.

It was -5 celsius though when I arrived and the car windows were icy and needed scraping. ❄️

After warmer Amsterdam I took a few moments getting used to being in colder Finland and in the darkness too, here we do not have road lights much.

When I got home to Syvilla the first thing I did was to set up a fire in the living room fireplace and make some tea (peppermint is my favorite alongside sweet chai at the moment).

I unpacked a little and put on a fire in the upstairs fireplace too to get the bedroom nice and cosy.

My clients cancelled a session which I was pleased about, I had the evening all to myself (Pete was staying a day longer in Amsterdam).

I ate a sandwich with tofu, avocado and spinach.
I took my book out.
Added more wood to the fireplaces.
Watered the plants.

Started to write this newsletter.
I felt inspired to write about this experience of coming back home.
It is now almost one year since being full owners of Syvilla!

I had left the heating on low so it was around 14 degrees in the kitchen and living room.
I put on Pete’s huge grey fleece which he got from my mother for Christmas.
It goes to my knees and is so warm.
(and not very sexy!)

I felt good.
Calm in my body.

I was wondering what it is about me that makes me feel so good in this home.
I think it is a combination of several things.

I love the silence.
(I am pretty sure this one you have heard before!)

I sleep so well here.
I like our yellow bedroom, I like sleeping in a rather cool temperature and having a wool blanket under me and extra duvet if I need it.
I like having my late father’s art on the walls.

I like watching birds in the feeding place when I have my breakfast.

I enjoy the trees and the scenery.
I often greet the lake when I wake up.
I love seeing the sunrise (in the winter I am able to see it – summer time I am fast asleep that time).

I just feel at home. I relax.
Slow down.
I enjoy doing practical things like keeping fires going and carrying firewood.
Cooking.
Doing laundry.
Adding more seeds and fat balls for the birds.
Cutting wood.
Organizing the house.
Even cleaning. (can you imagine?)

Reading my book.

I do like having space even though 200 m2 is far too much for two and good when we are hosting retreats or friends.

This is also mine and Pete’s first home together.
A home we chose and set up.

My last home before this was a bit of a compromise.
Close to my my son’s school, close to the railway station, close to the airport.
Quite new.
A bit sterile to my taste.
Not a big personality of a place even though I had also good times there with my son.

There is plenty of history everywhere in this house and outside too.
Farm tools and machinery.
Old furniture, table cloths, china and curtains.
Old buildings.

We have learned a lot about the family history from the former owner Hannu.
And he hung pictures of the original owner’s family – Kristian and Julia – on the wall. Those events date further than 100 years back by now.

I notice I have this longing for being here even longer times without leaving anywhere.
Getting ready for retirement?
Not really! And slowing down feels like a good idea for me.
Creating peace and presence.
Even kind of emptiness or silence.

Let me ask you:
Where and when do you feel most at home?

How important feeling at home is for you?
What makes home special for you?

Love,
Tuulia ❤️

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