I was born in 1976 when my parents were still studying. Next year we moved to a foresty college in Southern Finland and the year after that I got my little brother. So. Basically we grew up in a forest. The college campus area was surrounded by 3 lakes so at very early age we learned to swim. Since then, all the forest and lake activities both in winter and summer were open for us. Of course at younger age only with the parent(s), but the older we got, the more freedom we got.
In winter there were forestry students. I have no memory how much there would have been. Summertime was basically for us. The teacher and other workers and their kids. At that time it was rather quiet, these days it's a very busy recreational area with lots of trekkers, nature lovers, fishers and people seeking for relaxation from busy city life.
We learned to skate, ski, fish, hunt, to recognize plants, trees, fish, animals, birds, insects etc. The nature provided a neverending entertainment. And 4 seasons gave a nice twist to that all. Also the primary school where we went, was a small one and I am grateful for that to give a good start on the long path of education even though for me it wasn't always a blessing later on in bigger schools.
So, this is just a short introduction to the topic of this blog. I'm going to write stories, short or long of my time growing up in the safety of the trees. Also, if you have anything to ask or you would like to hear about something specific, don't hesitate to ask. I have a few photos saved from our childhood, so some of the stories and memories are based on those and I will share the photos here too.
PS. By the way, my name means foxfire in English, a fire that burns above a treasure on a wetland, a fairytale kind of mystic creature. And my middle name means ray, ray of light, ray of sun. (Though here, where I live now, due to the lack of some Finnish letters in the alphabet, it translates to rain.) So maybe you can now guess with these hints what they both are. I have always liked both of my names, they are just me.
