Last days of the year

30.12

Today was last bigger reindeer separation for this winter. At least in our region. All the reindeers and herders are now safely at home.

And then to tonights program wich contains some snowmobile maintenance. That means that have to chainge fuel filter and repair some cover fastenings.

Well thats easier said than done. In this model you first have to take of the seat and fueltank, because pump and filters are in the tank...

31.12

Today we had visitors from Mexico and Hong Kong... We had a really nice day. feeding reindeer by foot and with snowmobile.

When all the reideers got their food, we made fire to our reindeerfence. There we cooked some reindeersausages and reindeermeat and had some hot chcolate with them.

Great day ended with a great way: New years party with new friends in nearby village

And the best thing today was having a good time with so nice people. Hope we will see again someday!

Great thanks to Philip, who took the great picture and helped us to get it here!

Darkest day of the year

Days just rush by when working with reindeers... And suddenly you notice that it is 21.12 the darkest day of the year. There is not much daylight especially because there is a dence fog. Caused by sudden change of the temperature(15*c in just one day). 

Short daylight and a dence fog. Picture at 2pm

Visibility is allmost zero but it doesn't matter because we can now stay in home and focus on handicrafts.

Reindeer sleigh needs to be finished and some reindeerfur shoes and fox fur hats.

And few driving reindeers wait allso for some training.

Reindeers waiting for training

So "to do list" is very long... 

Gathering reindeers

Blizzard follows each other and snow gets deeper... Reindeers start to move to their winter lands. For herder that means it's time to start gathering reindeers to fences for last separations before middle winter arrives.

Reindeer herders day starts early in the morning, way before daylight arrives. Have to feed reindeers, wich are allready in fence and start collecting those wich are still outside.

When there is enough reindeers in fence for separation. It's time to check if there is some calfs still without earmarks. If there is (this time there was plenty), those have to be marked.
After that starts the real separation work. Reindeers are driven to smaller fence where reindeer owners decide wich are going to continue their life and wich are going to butchery.

Work lasts as long as there is daylight. Then quick coffee break and headlamps on... And back to the work wich continued to late evening...

And finally... At home. Some reindeersoup and home made bread... But it's not time to rest yet. House needs some warming. Luckily there is some firewood in the house.
And now clock is allready 10pm. Time to get finally in bed... And wake up is tomorrow as everyday 6am... But even if the day was hard, just have to take a while to admire this view...

Tomorrow it's time to slaughter some reindeers... And that means fresh traditional delicaties like blackpudding and blacksausages

Blue moment

It has been quite busy two weeks in our family. Separatin reindeers, moving them in to our fences or in to butchery, feeding and stuff... Every day dark falls upon Lappland before our day is finished...

Here's some pictures from past few days and nights

Feeding reindeers in the morning

Feeding reindeers just before dark

Last reindeers separated for today...