February 2018 – Northern Fever

International Polar Bear Day

February 27, 2018July 9, 2018 northernfeverLeave a comment

Today is International Polar Bear Day, a global event organised by Polar Bears International to raise awareness about the disastrous impact climate change is having on polar bear populations.

I want my daughter to see a wild polar bear. I want to see a wild polar bear. And I imagine that you too would like to see a wild polar bear. I want us all to see big, wild, healthy, flourishing bears dominating the Arctic skyline.

But, unless we all make an effort to take action, the likelihood of that happening diminishes every moment we continue to burn the planet up with our carbon output.

An excellent way of highlighting this global concern is by reminding people, all the time, about polar bears. And by reminding them about polar bears, you’re reminding them about climate change, as it’s literally impossible to think about a polar bear without thinking about their endangered situation, and the fact that unless we get our shit together, and act now, the Arctic will be empty of polar bears in 30-40 years.

You don’t have to do this with ranting lectures though. Instead, you can be more subtle with things you use on a day to day basis (like a tote bag or a necklace) and things you can pass on (such as greeting cards and cookies.)

It’s essential to get the kids involved too. By engaging them in reading stories about polar bears and having them play with polar bear toys, you can can educate them on the importance of us all doing our part to save these beautiful animals.

Below you’ll find 10 carefully selected products that will help you to remind yourself, your family and those all around you to think about the planets largest land carnivores, and how bleak a future would be without them.

Polar Bear Necklace / Quimmeq

Wooden Polar Bear Toy / Atelier Saint Cerf

Polar Bear Tote Bag / Kitsch Attic

Polar Bear Origami Cookie Cutter / Le Cuisinier

Organic Cotton Baby Harem Pants / Freya And Thor

Felt Polar Bear Hanger / Black Sugar Creations

Northern Lights Greeting Card / Lupi Art

Polar Bear Silhouette Mittens / Alaska Mittens

The Polar Bear / Jenni Desmond

Adopt A Polar Bear / WWF

If you’re interested in finding more inspirational things you can make/buy/see I’ve made a Pinterest board for International Polar Bear Day where you can find plenty to keep you occupied for the rest of today and beyond.

– Katie / Your Eyes In The North

Pulse Of The Arctic : Increase Your Arctic Awareness

February 17, 2018February 17, 2018 northernfeverLeave a comment

Watch : Polar Bear On Thin Ice

Read : You Can Help Polar Bears By Changing Your Diet

Climate scientists have stated that 330 grams of carbon are emitted for one single meal with beef, according to researcher M. Sanjayan, “that’s like driving a car three miles.” He added, “we’re probably eating too much meat…vegan is the way to go for the least impact on the planet.”

Listen : Ludovico Einaudi ‘Elegy For The Arctic’

Look : Art By Banksy

Where I Live

February 16, 2018May 21, 2018 northernfeverLeave a comment

I’m madly curious about people, especially where they live, especially when where they live is in the North. I’m also madly curious about what happens in their everyday. That’s why many of us read blogs in general and that’s one of the main reasons I established MostNorthern.

So, I thought it might be interesting for you to see some of my everyday, and in this instance, it was a hike in the forest surrounding our home, after a morning at my laptop writing about what mothers could be doing when their newborn baby is napping…

Winter is just giving and giving and giving this year, and I couldn’t be more grateful! After a morning of heavy snowfall, I trekked out into the trees to see what the skies had left, and here’s some of what I found.

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– Katie / Your Eyes In The North

Semla Season In Sweden

February 13, 2018May 21, 2018 northernfeverLeave a comment

Yesterday was Fettisdag (Fat Tuesday) in Sweden, a day when everyone in the country eats semla buns until the blood in their veins is running sweet and they can hardly move.

While you may have heard about the Swedish king Adolf Frederick who died in 1771 after eating a meal of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, kippers and champagne, followed by 14 helpings of semla with hot milk (a desert also known as hetvägg) you might not know what a semla (plural semlor) consists of exactly. So here I am to explain.

A semla is a hefty sized soft wheat flour bun, that’s been flavoured with cardamon, and filled with almond paste and whipped cream. It’s probably the most decadent thing you’ll eat in Sweden. Back in the olden days, semla were eaten at final celebratory feasts before Lent. Back then though, it was just a bun soaked in hot milk.

At some point, enough wise souls got so bored with their bun and hot milk that they decided to slice it in half and put in some almond paste and cream. Funnily enough – and thankfully – the Swedes never looked back.

While supermarkets provide everything you need to put your own together, the majority of people, including me, buy them ready made. (Though I think next year I’ll try and make a batch.)

My frugal sense has to be put to one side for the day – in ICA 4 semlor will set you back about 60kr or just under £6 – but though I silently complain about the eye watering price, I do think, as I take my first bite, ‘this was worth every bloody krona.’

Despite always feeling like a literal mountain after eating semla (yesterday was my third year) and vowing that I won’t touch another until next Fettisdag – I lied to myself yesterday and ate another one today because I’m pregnant and I can – Fattisdagen still remains to be my favourite celebratory day of food in Sweden. And if it doesn’t become yours too, I would be sincerely interested to learn why not.

If you’re not in Sweden, but need to taste a semla, here’s an excellent recipe.

If you’re in the UK and somewhere near/or in London, quick march yourself down to The Scandi Kitchen where they have semlor available until Easter. Elsewhere in the world, a quick Google search will direct you to any nearby Scandinavian eateries where you might be able to invest in one of the best tasting things to come out of Sweden.

Katie / Your eyes in the north

Listen To A Finnish Lullaby

February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 northernfever2 Comments

It was entirely by accident that I was introduced to Naku Naku, an ancient Finnish lullaby performed by the Finnish folk musician Merja Soria and her kantele (Finnish folk harp). Sometimes YouTube can get it so right that it almost makes up for all the adverts they inflict upon us.

I’ve been playing the track for baby bump for the past three mornings…I find it settles the restless one right down. (It might have something to do with the little bit of Finnish blood in him/her.)

Soria used to sing Naku Naku for her daughter when she was going to sleep, and her grandmother sang it to her before that.

I recorded this video last Christmas as a gift to my daughter. I wanted her to have something that would connect her to the generations of strong Finnish women that came before us.

Naku Naku was Soria’s first recording after many years of silence…and I just hope with all hope that her YouTube channel becomes a hive of musical activity, because the north and the wider worlds needs this woman, her voice and her kantele.

– Katie / Your eyes in the north.