We’re just around the corner from December. The frost is pushing down daily, almost to twenty below, the corners of the cabin are cold, but the atmosphere is warm and cozy.

The home lake is finally completely frozen over. One morning, as it froze in the intense cold, it made such a racket that it was hard to believe it was coming from nature at all. The ice twisted and turned, cracked and howled. It moaned and sizzled. At times, it cracked like a cannon was being fired. I walked along its shores, and every step echoed all the way to the other side. The ice groaned and split with cracks beneath my feet. The soundscape was eerily beautiful.

Practically, the lake froze over the course of the night and morning. You could hear it, how the steel-like ice froze the already cold water and locked its surface in place until next summer. Soon, we’ll be able to cross it again, shorten our routes to the opposite shores, and ski through countless islands and coves.

In our home village, Christmas is already being awaited. Nearly everyone has already hung up Christmas lights on the corner of the houses or barns, and at least E is humming Christmas songs almost every day. It’s quite contagious. The icy and now slightly snowy landscape also adds to the Christmas spirit.

This year, we will have our village's Christmas carol gathering again. We started the tradition on a whim last year, wanting all the villagers to sit at the same table at least once a year. We weren’t sure how it would be received (since we’re not originally from here, and everyone else is), but everyone we invited came, and the atmosphere was heartwarming. Over the past year, there’s even been a bit of concerned questioning, asking if the Christmas carol gathering will take place again this year. Yes, it will.

At the Christmas carol gathering, we sing familiar songs in our home, eat some homemade baked goods, and share the winter’s news. During the winter, when everyone tends to stay mostly within their homes or yards and we see each other less than in the summer, it’s especially nice to gather in one place, chat, and spend time together. You know, just like people used to do back in the day.

In addition to planning the Christmas carol gathering, I’ve been trying to keep my business running. Many of you already know that I have a small business here in this little village, tucked away in the wilderness. It’s wonderful, thrillingly interesting, and extremely motivating. I couldn’t think of a better way to employ myself than through my own ideas and creativity.

At this time of year, with Black Friday (the whole concept is awful, if you ask me) just around the corner, I always wonder how on earth anyone can compete with giant companies that throw prices around willy-nilly and can offer goods by the container-load all over the world.

I don’t know. Us small ones try to scrape by here in the middle of nowhere, and a bit embarrassed, we quietly try to market our creations with a Finnish-style modesty.

I was thinking of suggesting, what if this Christmas we all supported small businesses with our holiday shopping? Our favorite musicians, artists, writers, bakers, photographers, authors, actors, and craftspeople. Those who, amid the giants, are still trying to hold onto the hope that it’s possible to make goods, services, and products in ways other than cranking out Chinese-made wonders by the dozen and selling cheap, low-quality items.

Sorry for my frustration, but sometimes the state of the world is annoyingly infuriating.

If you decide to support me, a small business owner here in the Arctic wilderness, you can order my photo prints from my online store here.

They’ll make it anywhere in the world before Christmas if you place your order before December 5th <3