January 24, 2012

Hello again everyone!


Like I promised, I bring you a whole blog post about nothing but dogs. Dogs, dogs, and more dogs. Dogs which I have never seen before in real life. Dogs which don't even look like dogs. Dogs big and small, wide and thin. Dogs famous in these ends of the world. Just dogs.


So, as you may have remembered, this Saturday and Sunday were Luca's (families Australian Shepherd) big days. He was to be shown Saturday morning at 10:30 against other dogs of his breed. Unfortunately, he did not win a thing or even qualify for the second round. However, his breeder won the best breeder award of her dogs and went on qualifying with some of her Australian Shepherds. To make this story short, Luca spent the whole day in his cage, a failure of his breed (apparently missing some teeth!) while my host sister and I walked around and watched the dog show.


It was great to see all of this in person for I have only seen it on TV before. Some of the dog breeds I have never seen before in my life and some I had only seen in books and magazines. The amount of dogs at this show was staggering. For each dog show group (by breed) there were as little as two competitors to as many as 52! And that wasn't even including the puppies who show as well! No wonder it takes two full days to complete the show. 


Anyways, as I said earlier, Luca lost and was put in his cage (Don't worry, Luca hates the shows anyways. He just sleeps showing little to no interest in anything around him.) while my host sister and I walked around the huge dog show arena. 


It is best to just show you all of this though. Enjoy!

 We're here! Already the arena is full of people and their canines ready for competition.

 People and dogs mixed together, scrambling for space to train their dog before the show.

And so it begins. If you look closely in the far back there is a line of dogs being shown. And an audience of many watching.

 Since it was morning Luca was one of the first breeds to show. Here he is, calmly watching his shower's hand and waiting for it to end so he can sleep in his cage again.

Luca running around the area as the judge watches is anatomical movements. 












But, alas, Luca didn't do very well at all. Placing last out of all dogs he competed against. Therefore, here begins the photos of all the dogs I had seen. I would like to label them all by breed, but it would prove way too difficult given the amount of dogs at the show. And, as a recent quick thought, I will categorize them by actions. Whether it be grooming, show, standing and waiting, and maybe even, "Oh my gosh is that even a dog?".

Grooming

 Aw isn't he so cute!? Just a big ball of fur.

 More balls of fur. Obviously requiring more grooming than the rest of the dogs.

 Alright, now this qualifies for the sections "Oh my gosh is that even a dog?", but they are being groomed as you see. What is that you ask? I don't know to be honest, some alien created space dog with a giant brain and missing fur patches. No just kidding its a "Bedlington Terrier", I found the name under an article claiming it is the world's eighth weirdest dog breed. Ironic.

 This also looks strange but not as strange as the later. I don't know what this is either, but apparently I can't find it by googling "werid dog breeds".

 He doesn't look like he is enjoying that.

Haha I love this picture! Can you see the annoyance on this dogs face from being surrounded by three, clearly gossip-addicted women bearing hair brushes as weapons? 

I wouldn't mind owning this dog. So cute!

Show

Like father like son, but for dogs.
Can you see the resemblance?!

Running, running, standing, then running, running, running now stop! That's what its like in the show area.

Now that is a pretty dog!

 Little puppies competing for best puppy of their breed.

 Big German Shepherd breeds in show.

 For some reason this dog looks like he knows more than he should. Or just really smart. Some kind of German Shepherd with a mix of something.

Standing so proper. Wonder if she won? If I was the judge I'm sure she would win... along with all the others! They all look the same to me!

 Haha oh so cute! Something like a stuffed animal it would appear to be. Or a poodle...

Fat, stout, and broad, must be a bull dog.

 1, 2, 3 cute little Australian Shepherd puppies!

Five, umm... rat dogs as I like to call them; awaiting the judges call.

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a dog,
Fuzzy Wuzzy had lots of hair,
Fussy Wuzzy was very fuzzy, wasn't he?

Pretty Spaniel!

Standing and Waiting

 Cute dog but much too thick fur! High maintenance is calling!

 Husky excited and ready to show! The complete opposite of Luca.

 Another Fuzzy Wuzzy! Interesting breed don't you think? It's like a German Shepherd/Fuzzy Wuzzy mix.

 I got full attention on this shot. Cute dog.

 A giant Fuzzy Wuzzy!

 Hmm... some kind of dog.

Another rat dog with less fur!

 The ultimate Fuzzy Wuzzy! Pure Fuzz and Wuzz...

 Rawr! Or, I mean, ROOF BARK BARK! Very intimidating little guy.

I've always loved these Pomeranian-like dogs. So beautiful!

 Border Collie! There were many at the competition, but none that come near to the beauty and intelligence of my dear Boe, of course.

 This looks a little like our old dog Freckles! R.I.P.

 Another fuzzy wuzzy mop dog, just because they make me smile!

"Oh my gosh is that a dog?"

The moment you've all been waiting for. Dogs, which don't look like dogs, but are dogs. Did that make sense? 

First we have this... dog. Which looks like a "giant walking white wig". Well at least it won something apparently!

 Another Fuzzy Wuzzy, but with human-like qualities; i.e. little boots and pretty hair-do!

 I'm not sure if this qualifies as a dog, or as a giant wolf. Either or, its back came up to my waist, and its head reached my shoulder. Now you have a good visual for "Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (read that book by the way its great).

 Eeeek! Another rat dog, but with more fur. I don't know this dog creeps me out just a bit.

 More giant wolf dogs. Good thing they're well-behaved.

 Just so you don't forget the magnitude of weirdness this dog possesses, here it is again!

 Hahaha! This is not so weird, but cute. Little rat-dog and big rat-dog.

 If aliens weren't at work at this dog show, then robots where. Here we see a Robot Bernese Mountain Dog at it's finest.

Apparently a poodle, but I personally can't categorize it as a dog.

Well there you have it! My first dog show, complete with free sample dog food and soiled shoes (You can imagine what happens when hundreds of excited dogs get together. Some can't make it outside, lovely isn't it?). Regardless of the stench, it was a great experience seeing all these different dogs and watching a dog show in real life instead of on TV. However, I will stick to watching them on TV, the smell was awfully strong...

Hope you enjoyed this! And don't be offended by my preference in dogs, I love them all. It's  just that some are too strange for my tastes, as you might very well agree. Hope all is well back in Michigan! I've heard there have been many snow days this month! Must be nice, here in Finland the only thing that cancels school is frozen pipes, and the odds are slim that that will happen, especially with the crazy "global warming-like" winter we have had.

I will post another blog soon of course. Maybe about ice skating and sledding here in Turku with Emma. Until then, give your dogs and pets some lovin' for me! I miss mine very much!

Love,

Karlee

January 17, 2012

Hello everyone!

It's been a while since I last posted something here and I have come bearing many stories and photographs of my adventures here in Finland.

I hear that the snow has finally come to both sides of the world finally. I was beginning to think we would reach spring without a snowflake on the ground. But none the less, the snow is falling daily and the Mother Nature can't make up her mind to be at a comfortable winter temperature or a freezing one.

But, with the snow comes new hobbies and things to see here in Turku. And with this I bring you to the day I went to watch Luca (the Australian Shepherd) and my host mother Eija in an obedience competition.

I was the only audience member... if you're not counting the concession stand lady.

Luca and other contestants getting ready to sit for two minutes while their owner hid behind the judging shack.


















Now all the dogs had to lay down for two minutes. Luca recieved 10/10 for both sitting and laying down.

Luca had to walk wherever Eija walked but had to remain on her left side at all times.

Luca running towards Eija from across building while Eija motioned for him to stop.

 Again, Luca watching Eija as she either orders him to stand, sit (istu), or lay down (maahan). 10/10 for this one too!

Eija walking towards Luca after he had to run and sit in the middle of a yellow cone square. 10/10!

Look how eager he is!

Luca waiting for Eija to tell him which bone to pick up; left, right, or middle. 8/10, I guess he hesitated or something who knows...

Boe! No... not Boe. :(

And the star of the show, Luca himself! Receiving a 3rd place trophy and ribbon out of five dogs. Yippy!

     The show was enjoyable enough, however, it would have been much nicer if it hadn't taken place in an unheated building. The 5 degree weather that morning was something to reckon with! Anyways, you will be glad to know that this Saturday, Luca will be in another dog competition! This one, although, is a dog show competition with dogs coming from Germany all the way south to Italy! Lot's of dogs! Should be a fun experience, AND the building is heated!

That Saturday was filled with dog competitions, cold weather, and sipping hot chocolate. The next Saturday on the other hand brought family visits and art museums! 

Eija's younger brother decided to drive over from his home in Helsinki to visit and brought along his adorable two little girls! We had fun teaching each other our native language by pointing to random objects in the house and saying what they were. They do say the best way to learn another language is with children! But this game, at last, had to end and we drove to Turku's Taidemuseo (Art Museum) and got a first hand look at original paintings from Sweden's most famous painter, Carl Larsson!

First, here is a short and summarized article of Carl Larsson from Turun Taidemuseon (Turku's Art Museum website), read if you like;

The endearing world of the Swedish master Carl Larsson (1853–1919) comes alive in an exhibition in the Turku Art Museum from 16 September 2011 to 8 January 2012. Carl Larsson – Dreams of Harmonydepicts the influence of the artist’s family and surroundings on his work. The exhibition especially focuses on early paintings made in the village of Grèz-sur-Loing in France and on works created in the artist’s home in Sundborn, in the Dalarna region of Sweden. The artist captured the character of both locations and their everyday life in romanticised rural portrayals whose douceur de vivre, sweetness of life, can leave no viewer cold.


It was a turning point for Carl Larsson when he met his future wife, the artist Karin Bergöö (1859–1928), in Grèz-sur-Loing near Paris. Also Larsson’s art found a new direction in Grèz; here he adopted the French plein air painting and painted the first of many intimate pictures of his family. His masterful use of watercolour and sophisticated eye for colour earned Larsson the recognition for which he had yearned for a long time. After his return to Sweden, Larsson’s style began gradually to develop towards the linear fashion which is today considered his trademark – a manner that reflected the influences of Japanese art as well as Art Nouveau. Karin, their children and home were for Larsson a constant source of inspiration, and his works became quintessential images of idealised Swedish family life and as well as picturesque Bohemian lifestyle. Larsson and his idiosyncratic, decorative style are best known from watercolours depicting homely motifs, where time stands still in the balmy and serene mood of childhood Sundays.


The vignettes painted by Carl Larsson of his family and home life became known throughout the world in picture books. Publications such as De mina (1895, My Loved Ones), Ett hem (1899, A Home) andSpadarfvet (1906, A Farm) brought fame to the artist, his family and their home Lilla Hyttnäs. Carl and Karin Larsson were forerunners of the modern ideal of interior decoration. Their home was set apart from the typical bourgeois houses of the time with their heavy furniture and dark colours. The Larssons felt that a home should be a reflection of its occupants. They modified furniture to their liking, mixing different styles and breaking the boundaries between outdoor and indoor spaces. One important element of the interiors were modern textiles designed by Karin.


Larsson himself said that his guiding stars were lightness and happiness, even though his personality did not always reflect these values. Behind the mask of fame that grew into mythic proportions lived a discordant and sometimes melancholy artist, who met with difficulties and criticism, especially as regards his public works. The versatile Carl Larsson also illustrated numerous publications, of which the exhibition includes his superb original illustrations for Victor Rydberg’s Singoalla (1894).


Part of the official Turku European Capital of Culture 2011 programme, the exhibition is one of the highlights of the jubilee year. It is the result of several years of preparation in cooperation with theAteneum Art Museum, where works by Carl Larsson will be exhibited from 10 February to 29 April 2012. The works in the exhibition come primarily from public and private collections in Sweden. An extensive catalogue presenting Carl Larsson’s art and life will be published in conjunction with the exhibition. The Ateneum and the Turku art museums also cooperated a century ago on the first major presentation of Carl Larsson’s work in Finland, which took place in Helsinki and Turku in 1913. Larsson’s dream of harmony continues to touch people’s hearts, and new generations interpret his work in novel ways. The exhibition in the Turku Art Museum provides a unique opportunity to enjoy artistic beauty and virtuosity, and offers an intimate portrait of an artist whose goal was to paint himself into the hearts of his audiences.

Carl Larsson – Dreams of Harmony is part of the Turku European Capital of Culture 2011 Programme. The exhibition is produced in cooperation with the Ateneum Art Museum, and in addition to the Turku 2011
Foundation it is sponsored by IKEA and the City of Turku.

"Turhan Tärkeys." Turun Taidemuseo. Web. 17 Jan. 2012. <http://www.turuntaidemuseo.fi/?cat=73>.

 Such a cutie! This is Eija's brother's youngest girl, her name is Sanna.

 Turun Taide Museo (Turku Art Museum). Also, Eija's brother looking back and oldest daughter in bottom left corner.

The girls and I in front of the giant Carl Larsson poster.

"Falun Home" (Notice traditional Swedish clothing) 

One of Carl Larsson's more famous water color paintings; "Breakfast Under The Birch".

"Christmas Eve"

One of my favorites; "Brita and I".

"Karin By The Shore"

"Spring Princess"

Self-portrait 

Another favorite of mine; "Late Riser's Miserable Breakfast".

"Flowers By The Windowsill"

Another favorite, okay, yes I'm a fan; "Brita, A Cat, and A Sandwich".

It was so neat to be looking at these beautiful works up close, especially since they were all originals! To think that Carl Larsson himself touched them but 150 or so years ago! Fascinating... All in all it was a great time spent admiring Larsson's works and spending time with the girls. I hope they will have other familiar artist exhibitions in the future.

I shall close this lengthy blog with pictures Emma took of me this past weekend, during our walk by the Aura River. We spent the day walking around and through Turku, beginning with some vanilla lattes from our favorite cafe, and ending the day at our favorite Thai restaurant.

Here ends another blog of my amazing adventures here in Turku, Finland. Each day I truly feel more blessed than the last to be experiencing all that I am. I hope you enjoyed this blog! Look forward to the next one which will be all about dogs. Dogs, dogs, and more dogs! Until then!

Love,

Karlee