Once you delve into blogging, it can become quite addictive.  The whole world of opinions, lives, experiences and achievements is brought right into your home.  The best surprise for me is the unexpected friendships made around the world, from comments, or a simple push of the "like" button.  It seems so abstract and removed to view things online, but when people comment and communicate, suddenly it is a very small world.

I met the most interesting gentleman from Finland yesterday who commented on my blog, thereby causing me to go back to view his blog.  And what a treasure!  I am sure that today's post is just one of the many things I will bring to you that I have found on his site:  sartenada.wordpress.com

It was hard to choose what to feature first, but his personal favorite is the carved wooden art from Finland, so I will begin there.

Finnish Outsider Art, photo by Sartenada

Outsider Art, or Art Brut, is known in Finland as ITE-art. ITE means “Self Made Life” when translated from Finnish.

Photo by Sartenada

I love the rough forms of carved outsider art, especially the forest troll below, mythology come to life.  Trolls are such a huge part of Finnish folklore, there is actually a doctoral dissertation on these little guys. (http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1101978425335)

Photo by Sartenada

I searched the web for this place, located in the town of Ilomantsi, near the Russian border, but could not turn up much information.  What a hidden gem, about 6 hours drive from Helsinki.  I think I found the restaurant Sartenada has in his photo: Parppeinvaara Bardic Village

Parppeinvaara Bardic Village, photo by Sartenada

A remote, special place in the world.  And how many might go there, thanks to the photos of Sartenada!  See more of the carvings here:  http://sartenada.wordpress.com/2011/08/