Is the summer coming or not?

It's May. A month of almost hot sunny days, but as well chilly snowing every now and then. Just yesterday it was very warm and summerlike weather. And today around 0 celcius, wet snowing, gray, chilly wind like in October.

Almost all of the snow has melted, but lakes are still mostly covered with ice.

Today I spent most of the day inside. Sewing knife sheaths and watching the rain and snow taking turns. Walked only 2 hours in the forest. Yesterday I saw a first mosquito of the year. No sign of them today in cold weather. I don't miss them, but many birds would find some use for them I'm sure.

A female capercaillie came right in front of the window, looking like just about to ask if there's some food to offer. Hopefully early summer won't be cold and wet like the weather now, as it would mean hard times for nesting.

In the east wing of my company's knife manufacturing facility is the ultra modern professional sheath drying laboratory; the sauna.







Sheaths stithched, left to dry, waiting for tomorrow's dyeing. Now it's good time to bring back some memories from last week's skiing trip in northern parts of Inari municipality. Pretty perfect weather, some skiing, ice fishing, skiing, ice fishing... not bad at all!

My friend hauled his stuff in a pulk...

...and I had a packback, as usually. Not much difference in effeciency, as the snow didn't get really soft at all even during the daytime.

Graylings were a common catch. Some to eat in the evening, and something to take back home too.

It was a last trip on the skis for this season. Even in these northern parts pretty good amount of ground was exposed already. Not really slowing down yet though. But now a week later with raining and temps constantly above 0 it's a different story already there too. Will be on foot and paddling the canoe for the next 6 months. Now waiting for lakes to open for setting fishing nets and getting some fish to table again.