120 :: Feathered Friends

Jaana: Hooded Crows are one of the most familiar feathered friends found in Finland.

Kia: The Chaffinch is common and widespread throughout Scotland, except in the largely treeless areas of some of the remoter islands, such as the Outer Hebrides and Shetland, where it is scarce or absent.

117 :: Yellow Leaves

Jaana: Yellow leaves on a Norwegian Maple by the City Hall.

Kia: The yellow leaves of a Japanese Acer on a sunny afternoon.

116 :: Migrating Birds

Jaana: Although Waxwings are migrating birds, most of them overwinter in Finland if the year is particularly good for berries.

Kia: In winter many of the European Goldfinches present in Scotland migrate as far south as Spain.

115 :: Red Leaves

Jaana: Fiery red leaves of an ornamental chokeberry shrub.

Kia: Ivy leaves in their vibrantly red-colored autumn costume.

110 :: Bridge

Jaana: A reflection of a bridge leading to Pikisaari islet.

Kia: The Fairy Bridge, near Dunvegan. According to a tradition, one of the chiefs of Clan MacLeod married a fairy; however, after twenty years she was forced to leave him and return to fairyland. She bade farewell to the chief at this stone bridge.

107 :: Pylon

Jaana: A close-up of an electricity pylon.

Kia: Pylons, with their geometrical structure, may be photogenic in their own way.

106 :: Art In The Park

Jaana: The Oulu Museum of Art recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with an art exhibition at the Hupisaaret park area. This piece, created by Essi Korva, is called 'Connection'.

Kia: Glasgow authorities have innovatively chosen street artist Sam Bates to paint in areas previously "plagued" by graffiti, like in Kelvingrove Park.

100 :: Heritage (Museum)

Jaana: The Sailor's Home Museum is located in the oldest wooden building in Oulu. In the past it served as  a Southern Customs Office, but now it's been furnished with items typical for a late 1800s sailor's home.

Kia: The Skye Museum of Island Life is a fascinating village of thatched cottages, showing how people would have lived on Skye at the close of the nineteenth century. Note the thatched roof held down with a net weighted with large stones as a protection against high winds and stormy weather.

This is our 100th post. Thank you for all your visits and feedback, much appreciated! Will you join us for the next one hundred?

99 :: August Scenery

Jaana:  August continued to treat us with sunny days and warm weather. It's been such a beautiful summer. Today the length of day is 15h 10m, sunrise at 5:43 AM, sunset at 8:53 PM.

Kia: August has been mainly cloudy, but everyone is still trying to enjoy the last few days on summer. Today the length of day is 14h 10m, sunrise at 6:14 AM, sunset at 8:24 PM.

How did August look like in your corner of the world? Do share by leaving a link to your photo!

A reminder of how our sceneries looked like in July, June, May, April, March, February and January.

97 :: Apartment Building

Jaana: Apartment buildings by a canal in downtown Oulu.

Kia: Built in 1886, the Anchor Mill was originally a cotton spinning mill. Closed in the 1980s, it has now been restored and converted into luxury flats.

88 :: Ducklings

Jaana: Mallard ducklings are growing up.

Kia: Mallard ducklings are so cute and fluffy that is almost a pity that they grow up so fast; it only takes them 50-60 days to fledge and become independent.

We'll be posting twice a week for a while. See you on Wednesday.

87 :: Pond

Jaana: If I had been more "brave", I would have snapped a shot when there was a wedding couple having their pictures taken on the white bridge.

Kia: All the ponds in the area are full of babies right now: cygnets, ducklings, cootlings, moorhen chicks.

85 :: June Scenery

Jaana: It's been a hot, sunny summer so far! Today the length of day is 21h 45m, sunrise at 2:28 AM, sunset at 00:13 AM.

Kia: June has been cold and blustery, with drizzle and heavy downpours and just a few sunny spells. Although, the meadows full of buttercups have been a really cheering sight. Today the length of day is 17h 29m, sunrise at 4:36 AM, sunset at 10:05 PM.

A reminder of how our sceneries looked like in May, April, March, February and January.

83 :: Fountain

Jaana: Those fountains in the Oulujoki river from another angle.

Kia: A putto statue standing on the top of a fountain in Torosay Castle's gardens, with a glimpse of Duart Castle in the distance.

80 :: May Scenery

Jaana: Spring took so long to arrive this year that it hardly had gotten here when summer already stepped in. Today the length of day is 20h 2m, sunrise at 3:03 AM, sunset at 11:06 PM.

Kia: The early-starting but slow-developing spring of this year has provided us with an unusual flower display for the end of May. Today the length of day is 16h 55m, sunrise at 4:47 AM, sunset at 9:42 PM.

A reminder of how our sceneries looked like in April, March, February and January.

Today marks the start of our second year with Finland vs Scotland, so happy 1st anniversary to us! As always, we'd love to see your take on the themes as well, so keep posting your links in the comments to share bits and bobs of your country with us, will you. Your suggestions for future themes are also welcome (scroll down the page for a list of labels to find out what we've already done). If there is something particular you'd like us to show you about Finland and Scotland, do let us know and we'll try to make it happen.

Thank you for stopping by! Happy June ahead, everyone!

75 :: At The Botanical Gardens

Jaana: Argentinian Bonnet Orchid in the greenhouse of tropical and subtropical plants at the Oulu Botanical Gardens. (Love those old tags.)

Kia: Fuchsias in one of the glasshouses at Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

74 :: Looking Up (A Building)

Jaana: The sun playing with shadows on the brick wall of the Oulu Museum of Art.

Kia: Fyvie Castle dates back to the 13th century and is the finest example of Scottish Baronial architecture.

73 :: Clock Tower

Jaana: The Oulu Cathedral was built in 1777, but the wood structures burned in the Oulu fire in 1822. The renovated church was completed in 1832, but the 56.5 meters tall bell tower wasn't erected until in 1845. The Cathedral is an example of Neoclassical architecture.

Kia: The turreted steeple clock tower by the Tolbooth Tavern in Canongate, Edinburgh. Erected in 1591, the Tolbooth served as council meeting chamber, courtroom and prison. It was one of three essential features in a Scottish Burgh, along with the mercat cross (market cross) and the kirk (church).

70 :: Bike Sign

Jaana: Oulu is known as the biking city of Finland. We've got the country's most extensive network of bike/walk routes (over 600 km), and you can see people biking around the city all year round, in every weather.

Kia: The weather in Scotland is not all that reliable, however there are many cycling enthusiasts who, come rain or shine, get out there and enjoy the beauty of the wilderness. Or just ride to work.

67 :: February Scenery

Jaana: The scenery still looks very wintry overhere, but now you can feel the sunshine again! Today the length of day is 9h 28m, sunrise at 7:48 AM, sunset at 5:16 PM.

Kia: We are still getting the odd flurries, but the delicate awakening of nature is already showing. Today the length of day is 10h 21m, sunrise at 7:20 AM, sunset at 5:41 PM.

A reminder of how our sceneries looked like in January.