Happy Midsummer! || Iloista juhannusta!

The juhannus 2021 crew (minus my grandparents)

It is finally that most special time of the year again — juhannus! Last year, I had a few Finnish and Finnish-American friends up to our family’s cabin in Northwest Wisconsin. It was delightful. Here are a few photos from that most magical weekend.

How are you spending your juhannus this year?

Mölkky tournament

Mölkky tournament in progress

Final scores

“The kids’ cabin” built by my dad and uncle out of our childhood swing set and reused cabin parts

Aino, Alec, Cristina, Brian, and Elizabeth hanging out in the lastenmökki (kid’s cabin)

Nearly endless days — the light lingers

Mökkielämä (Cabin life)

Grandpa — captain of the pontoon

Cabin sauna — yup, it’s a Kuuma

Mark prepares the loimulohi (flame-kissed salmon)

Mark pounds in the wooden nails to hold the salmon in place for cooking

Minna and Mark tend the fire for the salmon

Minna and Mark brought mustard from Finland!

Midsummer bonfire || Juhannuskokko

Nothing quite like waking up in a tent. Thanks, Michelle for being the ideal tent buddy!

Pannukakku for breakfast

Hiking the North Country Trail in Solon Springs, WI

The Solon Springs Historical Society had a copy of this gem!

Cristina looking Finnish AF outside of the Solon Spring Historical Society

Brian and I crashed after a long, fun weekend of Finnish(-American) fellowship!

Lake time between sauna rounds after our guests had left — the absolute best way to recover and celebrate a special time with our friends