Rinta-Valkama farm 2010

This photo was taken by Arja during the summer of 2010. the red house behind the tall trees is Rinta-Valkama-farm, newly painted.

Shortly after this photo cousin Helka decided to renovate the house. She asked cousin Arja to help her. Alja worked as an architect so this project is just right for her. They planned on re-doing all the major buildings on the farm, not just the main house. They are keeping the original design of all buildings. Just modernizing them to be functional now. It has taken a long time. Helka will make the farm her home. She will probably move in around May of 2012. There will still be work to do but it will be livable. Arja and her daughter's family spend a lot of summer time at the farm. Their cabin is what once was the sauna. Arja has sent me picture occasionally showing the progress, it is a big, big project. At one point, they had students from a vocational school in Helsinki come and learn how to hew and shape the logs that are used in some of the buildings. What a great opportunity to learn a lost art. Arja and Helka (and her husband) will visit Nanty-Glo in the summer of 2012 to attend the Hakanen reunion.