Winter arrives

We couldn't resist another pre-dawn row this morning - in quite different weather conditions. It had snowed! Lightly, but, when we saw Lauri later, he said it was the first snow of the winter which felt quite special. 

We didn't hear a peep from the swans though, which makes yesterday all the more extraordinary. Dad rowed out to the main lake and it felt really Christmassy with the snowy roofs on the log cabins we passed dotted along the shoreline. (Particularly Santa's house with twinkling lights!) 

It has a really different feel on Lake Puruvesi with its huge expanse of water. Glad I wasn't navigating!

We saw a few swans out there, visited a little rocky island, spotted my walk from yesterday and headed back in through the channel to our snow-dusted cabin. 

A few cups of tea and breakfast set me up for a walk. The sun had come out (after a few more snow showers while we were inside) and it was really beautiful out. Woodpeckers, waxwings and wonderful light along with a sunlit forest floor full of toadstools.

More cups of tea and some waterbird watching from the window and it's time for dinner. Dad's built a fine fire. Will I be able to stay awake to check for Northern Lights or the Milky Way?!

Update: funny how you wake up! We had a walk to the other side of the peninsula at about 9.30pm and how worthwhile it was! The universe, glistening with stars, was twinkling back from the huge expanse of still water below. Standing on the jetty felt like the edge of the world.