SNOW!! But first …
I spent the morning at the Cleantech Finland Conference in Lahti. Several very thoughtful presentations were given and I plan to return to get into greater details and specifics on their waste reduction and utilization practices. (Yes I know, it perhaps does not sound exciting, but it really is.)
The conference included lunch followed by a concert at Sibelius Hall – neither of which I could attend due to an already over-scheduled afternoon. So instead, I headed back to Helsinki for the first snow of the season. By the end of the day only about 4 or 5 centimeters had fallen, but wonderful nonetheless.
What is it about snow? Watch any child and you cannot help see their sense of wonder and delight playing in it, catching snowflakes and of course throwing snowballs. Kids don’t complain that it is cold or that the days are darker. For them, winter isn’t a cause for unhappiness. Rather they revel in the miracle of snow, in the entertainment of seeing their own breath in the frost air and the discovery of the mysteries of the trees now revealed in the absence of leaves. Winter means popcorn by the fire, the beauty of candlelight and piling in under quilts and blankets. Sometimes as adults we focus more on the drudgery of winter than on its pleasures.
I got to thinking about this because of our dog, Deckard, who simply revels in the cold and snow. Here he is yesterday afternoon catching snowflakes with his tongue and generally romping without a worry in the world.
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
We looked at the pictures of your beautiful dog and were wondering if Deckard is a labradoodle or a standard poodle? Or maybe something else?
Labradoodles are still rare in Finland. We got ours from the UK last spring and love this active and friendly breed. Elli is now 10 months old and looks just like Deckard, she has a long tail, however.
Many people have already asked if Elli is the same breed with the US ambassador´s dog. They have seen the interview on TV and admired Deckard, the same way they admire Elli as well.
Best regards
Kaisa Olkkonen
Although many people think that Deckard is something else, he is actually just a very tall and long-legged standard poodle. We do not keep him trimmed in a standard poodle cut, which may be way so many people wonder what he is. Like all poodles and many (but not all) Laradoodles, Deckard doesn’t shed or have a dog smell because he doesn’t have fur, but has a coat that is like sheep’s wool.
As we go walking around town I will keep an I out for Elli – Deckard loves to play!
BJO