December - Day 7

The sun rose at 1037am and set at 1342pm. The length of the day was 3 hours and 4 minutes. No sun today, more snow, temperature below zero. 

These pictures are from the Rovaniemi airport... I go there quite frequently, it is only about an hour's flight to Helsinki to see my girls. 

One cannot escape from Santa Claus and his elves up here, since he has one of his residences set up here at the Arctic Circle. Every time I drive down to town or back home I cross the line and see his village. Once in a while one can spot his elves walking about in town and one can almost imagine living in a fairy tale when they come from their duties late at night when the streets are almost empty.

I always think of Christmas elves (Joulutontut) wearing grey clothing with red hats and this picture comes from Jenny Nyströms (1854-1946) illustrations. I tried to find in the net Viktor Rydberg's poem "Tomten" translated into English, but did not find it, the image he paints in that poem, is the image I am after with this new mitten. Edit: Here is the link, thank you Marika!

This is the beginning. There is the tubular cast-on, ribbing and stripes. The wool is Finnwool, perfect for a little, grey man with long beard walking with quick steps over the snowy yard --- 

I hope you can see him, and can see the moon, and the dog watching him walk, and as he stops, the dog wags his tail to him, they know each other well. The dog goes to sleep and the little man disappears into the shadows. 

Wool with you till tomorrow,

Lene