A busy September has come to an end. Over the weekend, it gave way to October, with cold winds and rain marking the change. The air now smells of snow, and they're predicting some by the end of the week—maybe even the first snowfall. Hopefully.

Our cabin has been warmed by the wood-burning oven for a couple of weeks now. Once we finally figured out the right combination of dampers, the chimney draws well, and we’re no longer filling the house with smoke like a sauna. The two-meter-wide stone wall of the oven gets so hot at times that you can't even touch it. Inside, especially in the evenings, it's cozy, warm, and peaceful.

As I mentioned in my last post, the biggest time commitment in September has definitely been the harvest. Juices and jams have been preserved from various berries and fruits, with all sorts of combinations. I don’t drink a lot of juice myself, but I may need to start learning to enjoy it because we have an awful lot of it now!

I also started my first sourdough starter! I'm incredibly excited about it and can’t wait for it to be ready so I can start practicing making my own sourdough bread in the wood-burning oven. For now, it’s happily developing on the warm bathroom floor. I’m prepared for a few mistakes and trials before I get it right, but I’m ready for that.

Besides the harvest, we’ve already begun preparing for next year’s gardening projects. E and my little sister bought me two apple trees as an early birthday present. My birthday isn’t until October, but we had to buy and plant the trees now because by the time my birthday rolls around, there will probably be snow. We planted them on the south side of the yard, supported them with stakes, and wrapped them in wire to protect them from reindeer and hungry hares. So far, the trees seem to be doing well—fingers crossed they’ll survive the winter. That’s the biggest challenge around here—for trees and for everyone else.

The neighbor’s boy came by with his tractor to plow some extra field space behind the barn for next spring. It would have taken us until, well, spring to do it by hand with shovels! It’s fantastic to have more growing space. We’re planning to plant potatoes and onions there. A family friend also gave us garlic bulbs to plant for next year. The harvest just keeps getting more diverse!

Despite being busy, we've managed to go on a few hikes. There are so many amazing natural spots in the nearby area and just a short drive away that we’ve barely scratched the surface, even though we’ve been living here for nearly half a year. The large national park offers countless breathtaking natural sites. We often choose spots from the map that seem less traveled.

How do we find them? By noticing that they aren’t mentioned anywhere online, yet they look intriguing on the map. Like this river valley in the middle of the national park. We didn’t see a single person—just a vast expanse of beautiful nature.

Nature has started preparing for winter. Most of the beautiful autumn colors have already fallen from the trees, and the air smells like winter, even when the sun is shining. Different flocks of birds fly over the lake by our home, calling out their goodbyes as they head south, their voices echoing against the hills. It always makes me feel a bit wistful, but I still wish them a safe journey and a warm welcome back when spring returns.

The village has already quieted down in preparation for winter. There are some summer cottages and seasonal residents in the surrounding area, but the last of them have returned to their homes, leaving just a few of us locals to face the coming winter together.

Perhaps my greatest joy this September has been the library bus that visits our village. Oh, the happiness it brings! I’m a huge lover of books and reading, and with the nearest library almost 50 kilometers away, I rarely make the trip. But now, twice a month, a brand-new library bus parks just 100 meters from my home, filled with wonderful novels, gardening and farming books, hiking guides, and craft magazines. It’s a treasure trove!

At the same time, the library bus serves as a communal gathering for the village. Nearly everyone squeezes into the bus for 15 minutes, catching up with one another and grabbing some new reading material to enjoy during the long, dark autumn evenings. Oh, how I love this village life.

The reindeer have started showing up in the yard almost daily, becoming bolder in their search for food. I have mixed feelings about their visits. On one hand, it’s wonderful to have nature and its animals literally on the front doorstep, but on the other hand, they eat everything. I find myself worrying about the apple trees and winter garlic, rose bushes, and strawberry plants.

I still refuse to fence off my yard to keep the reindeer at bay, so for now, they keep sneaking around the house until I go out and shout at them to move away. They seem pretty accustomed to humans, though, because despite my yelling and waving, they only take a few steps before calmly resuming their grazing in the field. The dogs are the best at keeping them away, so they've now taken on the new job of being the reindeer patrol.

September has been a wonderful month, full of the beautiful colors of autumn. I've especially enjoyed the dark, cozy evenings that feel so comforting in the warmth of my cabin. The firewood-carrying routine has started, with logs being brought inside at a steady pace. I’m already considering using a wheelbarrow to make it easier to carry larger loads instead of multiple trips with two bags.

I wish you calm, winter-scented days this autumn. It’s so lovely to have you here ❤️