Tap Sum Bong!

Are you familiar with a Canadian comedian named Russell Peters?
If not, you should definitely check him out...especially since the title of this post, "Tap Sum Bong".  It's not his best work - but it will do for the purpose of this blog.

Coming from Canada, one thing I was regularly exposed to - as young as a teenager (from what I can remember anyways) is the smell of drugs.  Marijuana or weed specifically.
I personally do not encourage or participate in ANY kind of illegal drug activity (or un-necessary drug usage).

Anyways, so I will explain my first encounter with drug paraphernalia in Finland...
Today, April 27th, a friend of mine kindly looked after my kids while I took the furrier ones to the local woods to run and exercise.  The husband was in Helsinki presenting a paper - hence why I was doing this!
I also forgot to ask the lady I was meeting (she has a puppy) for her number AND forgot about the Helsinki trip....so I HAD to go.

Her Mastiff pup was super excited to see us and everyone was having a good time...until I saw my younger dog, Loki, jump into a swampy area - neck-deep, swimming for some plastic THING in the water.
I thought it was a bread bag...then after a few attempts, he dragged out a plastic Coke bottle.

My oh my - it looked odd!  Turned out it was a home-made bong.
I don't have a photo of it yet...if it's still there - but if it is - I'll take a photo next time I go there!

It was a Coke plastic bottle with the cap on it, and the lower section (on an angle) was cut off and replaced with the top part of another bottle attached and a straw in that section...and it was a bong.
Funny how I go to these woods regularly and the most "extra-curricular activities" I've ever seen the evidence of was drinking, fireworks from New Years Eve and the odd (but rare) condom package.
Hmm.

**Please note:  I do not recommend creating any sort of bong or use of any kind of drugs whatsoever!!! I just wrote this because it was an experience in Finland.**

Blueberry Picking! (And some tips)

Today I went blueberry picking with a friend and had a blast!
I suppose, I should invest into a blueberry rake...but I think part of the whole picking experience is to get your fingers purple!

I didn't take many photos - but here we go:

A teeny-tiny strawberry on my walk to my friend's flat...I couldn't eat it! It was too cute!

I had already picked some and then I remembered to take a photo!

Some beautiful flowers near the forest (in front of the pharmacy).

On my walk home - this flower, as pretty as it is, grew in rather swampy water!

My stash!

• It would be wise to wear light layers (depending on what time of the day you go to pick and the weather)...and long pants, so the bugs don't have easy access to blood-sucking points (aka your legs). 
• If you don't like mud or ants crawling all over your feet and legs - wear rubber boots.
• Bring some "OFF" or some other product that prevents bugs from being attracted to you.
• Protect your skin from the sun (duh).  Even if it's cloudy - UV rays can still burn you.  Yes, even in a forest.
• Bring a large container with a lid - because nothing is worse than squished blueberries (if you weren't planning on boiling or baking them) - or tripping in the forest and WHOOPS! There goes your pickings all over the forest floor....(or if your dogs knock into you, while chasing each other or a rabbit...that's happened to me before).
• Bring a camera - why not?  
• Don't wear light-colored clothing...or new clothing - you will get a stain at one point.  And they can be difficult to get out (although it's not entirely impossible).
• If you're scared of spiders - perhaps you shouldn't pick blueberries.  I had at least 6 of them in my box of blueberries....because I was grabbing the bush and pulling the berries off that way...
• Most importantly: bend with your knees - NOT your back....
• Have fun!