Another real winter day in the middle of this eternal November!
Ken and Kaarna enjoy it by hiking in the woods. It’s the days like this that make everything easy.
When sipping hot chocolate in the sun it’s Kaarna can forget Geordie’s magic.
And Ken can spend a moment without worrying about Trump and Putin and Elon Musk and Petteri Orpo and Riikka Purra.
Ken has so much energy that he even goes skiing.
It’s lovely to slide slowly on the ice and let the sun warm up his face.
After almost four months of suffering, this feeling of being alive again is unbelievable!
Kaarna even finds her long lost inspiration to paint again! The power of the sun really is incredible.
Sadly the sunny days are soon gone and the gray down pressure returns.
This apparently is the new normal: the winters are getting more and more impossible each year.
Ken and Kaarna get fed up with Instagram and decide to spend two weeks completely without the social media.
And it´s actually really nice. Along with the increasing daylight they feel lighter and happier.
One day Ken realizes that if he uses Instagram on the computer, it's so unpleasant the he won´t get stuck. He can just post his own pictures and check out what's going on with his friends and then leave. No endless scrolling with the brain rottening videos!
Kaarna decides to stay away completely:
- I'd just end up stalking Mari.
One day when Hector comes to visit them, he gives Ken a bag full of fabrics.
- Mom sent these for you. They are from her stashes, she´s too old to sew nowadays. If you can´t find any use for them, just throw them away.
- Wow, beautiful! I already see a winter dress and a longsleeved shirt! And a summer dress!
- Girly fabrics, Kaarna says.
New fabrics with pretty patterns are very inspirational. At first Ken makes an easy shirt. Orange is not his favorite color, but it goes nicely together with his old denim skirt.
The white fabric with cherry pattern is summery, and Ken needs to be somewhat creative to make a dress out of such a small piece of fabric.
And finally he sews a wrap dress.
This floral fabric is his favorite of them all.
Maybe it was a mistake to log in Instagram again? Ken sees how the flowers are already peaking out in the other parts of Finland. JuhaSusanna has found crocuses with her dog.
It´s still very much winter in Melukylä though.
One evening Hector comes to visit.
- I brought you some chocolate.
- Thank you thank you thank you!!! Chocolate is so expensive now, that we really can´t afford it anymore! I´ll put the kettle on, come in.
When they sit down and enjoy the ridicously expensive chocolate with strong Earl Grey, Ken asks how come Hector didn´t bring the dog with him this time. Hector says:
- Sulo is with a friend of mine.
- Which friend? Ken asks.
Hector starts to tell:
- His name is Janne. We've known since November and he has turned out to a be a very special person.
- Like a boyfriend special...?
- Yes. We are together now. That´s actually why I came here... I wanted you to be the first to know, since you are my best friend.
- Is he a good guy? Does he treat you well?
- Yes, he´s maybe even too kind and helpful. Very thoughtful too.
- Just like you then! This is such great news! I´m so happy to hear this! Now I don´t have to worry about you anymore! I always worry that you are sad and lonely.
- I have been, to be honest. But I´m happy now.
In the evening Ken tells Kaarna about Hector’s news:
- And they invite us tomorrow to meet Janne and have lunch on the campfire dock of the little pond near Hector’s cabin.
- I’m not coming!
- Please, do it for me! It might be awkward if it’s just the three of us. Sulo will be there, you can play with him.
- Okay, and we’ll get free food also… I will come, but not willingly!
Hector and Janne are already building the fire, when Ken and Kaarna approach the dock.
Ken is anxcious to meet this new guy, but Kaarna can´t think nothing more unpleasant than spending time with a stranger. Luckily there´s Sulo, who already runs to her whacking his tail.
Ken and Janne shake hands and Janne says:
- I’m so glad to finally meet you! Hector has told me so much about you!
- He has told very little about you to me, but only good things! So I’m also happy to meet you!
Hector says that there´s plenty of food for everyone:
- We have sausages and Carelian pies and tea.
- No chocolate?! Kaarna screams.
- Ha! Of course, your favorite brand.
- Hell yeah! I was almost on my way back home already!
Kaarna makes sure that everybody gets an equal amount of this brown gold.
Ken and Janne get along great from the first minute. Janne tells more about himself, since he already knows just about everything about Ken. He´s the same age as Hector, but he doesn't care about sports like Hector does.
- I do have a motorcycle though. We both appreciate motors on wheels! Can´t wait for the snow to melt!
Janne tells that he´s got two grown up children. Since he really likes kids, his hobby is to be an adult buddy for boys who live without a father figure.
Ken likes to watch how the two men communicate with each other. There´s warmth and respect between them.
Hector looks genuinely happy and Janne really seems to be thoughtful and kind.
When it´s time to go back home, Janne gives Ken a big warm hug and says:
- You are just as nice as Hector said.
- I can say the same about you!
At home Kaarna wonders:
- That Janne dude is so different than you! I never thought Hector would like a big and hairy bear like that!
- Well, there might be a reason why we're not married anymore. Even Santtu was quite a masculine guy... but so wrong for Hector! Oh heavens... I´m so happy that didn't work out! I still hate that guy. But Janne seems to be perfect for Hector!