Last week was Jokkmokks annual winter market.
The market was smaller this year the traditional craft stools continue to dwindle in number as the number of stools selling sweets incearses.
I spent some time out on a frozen lake watching the reindeer racing.
During one of the races, the reindeer ran into the perimeier fence and then took the fence with it around the whole course
It did not take long to repair the fence, so that races could continue.
During the last four days it has snowed continually and over a metre of snow has fallen. No one can remember so much snow falling in such a shoer time in living memory. To give you an idea of how deep the snow is now, I placed Kelly’s pram on an area where snow has been ploughed away and behind you can see where the snow has been left.
The snow that has fallen is very powdery making it dificult to walk in snowshoes, skiis or drive a snowmobile.
Starting to feel better now and so I have made some items.
A Birch bark container, an new armband for me and a taditional reindeer leather salt pouch.
At some point when I had pneumonia I have coughed so hard that I have fractured two of my ribs! As a result I still cannot do a great deal at the moment.
My Christrmas present from the children was a new set of Ruskovilla merino wool thermal underwear. I bought my first set 10 years ago and apart from the colour having faded, they are just as good today as they were when I purchased them.
Ruskovilla is a Finnish company:- http://www.ruskovilla.fi/EN
“Ruskovilla – ecologically produced clothes and textiles from natural fibres. We are committed to quality in a very deep sense: in all phases of production, from raw materials to the finished product, we take people and environment into consideration.
Ruskovilla, established in 1981, is a pioneer of environmentally friendly textile manufacture in Finland.
We wish to bring you closer to nature and its authenticity. What engineers attempt to invent in their laboratories, nature developed thousands of years ago. Nature’s produce and their uniquely suitable qualities cannot be copied.
Natural fibres bring the luxury of feeling good into your life. Clothes against your skin can make you feel either comfortable and pleasant or, for example, chilly and sweaty. The natural fibres – wool and silk – have a unique ability to cooperate with your skin. They breatrhe as your skin does and keep you always nicely warm and comfy. It is important for your skin to breathe well:you are feeling better when it is breathing naturally.
Our choise is an ecologically and ethically more sustainable world, and we are not alone. Numerous energetic people around the world make this same choice every day, the choice for sustainable development, for a healthy planet and mankind.
Although we support nature, we are not opposed to technology. We wish to communicate with you and therefore we are also on the Internet. Please take a look at our pages and send us tour message, feedback or comments. Naturally, you may equally well contact our customer service or retailers. We want to answer any questions you may have.”
“Our wool is ethically produced organic merino wool ( mulesing free ). The wool is produced in South America: Argentina and Uruguay.
There are many aspects included in ecological production e.g. environmental and social factors, which we wish to support by getting our raw material from producers using this method of production.
Ruskovilla organic merino wool is produced according to the criteria of IVN (Internationaler Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft e.V.). The yarn is spun by a german spinnery, and it is certified by IMO (Institute for Marketecology).
Dyed wool products
The spinnery uses as few synthetic chemicals as possible for dying woollen yarn. The dying process takes place in closed system with the use of reactive dyes causing the fibres to react completly with the dye and preventing the dyes from running. Therefore, reactive dyes are safer option for garments that are in direct contact with the skin. No crome dyes or heavy metal salts are used in the organic production process. Any harmless auxiliary products that are indispensible in the dyeing process are flushed out in the post-dyeing rinsing process.
Merno wool – an inimitable natural product
– Feels soft, elastic and pleasant
– Lets air through and does not cause perspiration
– Absorbs moisture without feeling wet, warms you even when damp
– Neutralises skin excretions
– Fireproof
The sheep is man’s oldest domestic animal. Its wool has been used for clothing by man for as long as 10,000 years. Scientists around the world are trying to copy the properties of wool with man-made fibres, but without success. Wool is inimitable.
The reasons for the unique characteristics of wool are to be found in its chemical and physical properties: crimp, elasticity and an ability to absorb moisture which cannot be matched.
The crimp derives from the difference in tension between the ortocortex and paracortex of the main tissue. Products made of crimped wool are porous, enhancing thermal insulation.
The crimp also gives the fibres elasticity and resilience. Because of the elasticity, the insulating properties of wool do not fade with time and use. Wool does not crease and quickly returns to shape.
Wool is a warm fibre. After absorbing moisture, chemical reactions take place in its fibres. These reactions release heat and make the fibre feel warm against the skin.
Wool is capable of absorbing up to 35 per cent water without feeling damp.”
Unfortunately there is no UK retailer, but they now have a webshop where you can buy there products.
https://webshop.ruskovilla.fi/tryhma/12
I have the “Outdoor top and underpants.”
You can read more about the benefits of wearing wool here:- https://naturallore.wordpress.com/2007/12/08/submersion-through-ice-at-30-degrees/
Found a real bargain in a sports shop here in Gällivare last week. A Fjällraven Luhkka, which should have cost 2800SEK was in the sale for only 800SEK!! They had only one and fortunately it was in my size.
The Luhkka is a traditional woolen cape worn in winter by the Sámi people. The luhkka protected the furcoat from getting wet from melting or falling snow. When skiing the luhkka protected against snow from the trees and cold. For skiing you used a luhkka with longer back side, that could also protect the backpack.
Just before Christmas I was diagnosed with Pneumonia and given a course of anti-bionics.
On Christmas Day Kelly had a diarrhea and sickness bug and of course four days later I caught it. I had diarrhea the whole of last week and was not able to keep any foods and liquids inside me. Our health helpline recommended that i eat rice, carrots and sweat corn as these help to block up the stomach and digestive system.
It helped for 24hrs but then the problem returned again. Then the doctor gave me Vi-Siblin testa ispaghulae which are granules that you mix with water and drink. After a bit I research I found that this is made from the seed husks of plantain (plantago sp), one of my favorite herbal species of plants https://naturallore.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/greater-plantain/. This has been very effective and I am feeling much better now, however the pneumonia unfortunately persists and so I was unable to travel to England yesterday as planned.
When i did some work with the US Airforce in 2005
they taught about using different types of ash from a fire to help the digestive system by using the saying….”tight – white, black – slack” which means if you have constipation, mix white ash from the fire with water and drink to relieve symptoms and if you have diarrhea, use black charcoal from the fire mixed with water and drink to relieve the symptoms. These methods work very well.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 64,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
