this is about the same time that they run the Idiiterod Trail race to Nome

isn't it? Well Auk it's a little cold or at least it was when we arrived

But it had been a long time since we had seen the Huhtala's and in fact

while Susy has corresponded with Lea for years, the two had never met. It was time to correct that situation.

So one fine day a couple weeks ago we left sunny Istanbul and headed for Helsinki.

-and sure enough snow was what greeted us as we pulled up to Tuuli's house