Marjut and Jari’s log cabin, just half an hour from home: “In the midst of this silence, there’s a special kind of Christmas magic”
Finding a cabin was more challenging than found the gray kelo log cottage made of weathered pine, they felt like they’d won the lottery. Ever since they bought it, they haven’t even thought about spending Christmas at home.
You can sense the bubbling humor of this cabin setting when you look out over the lake. There, Marjut is perched on a red kicksled while Jari stands behind, pushing hard. Despite his best efforts, the sled stays put. Their laughter carries from Lake Keitele all the way to the cabin’s yard.
Marjut and Jari’s children and grandchildren are always welcome at the cabin, which Marjut decorates for Christmas with conifer branches. A wreath, tied between wooden yoke pieces, adorns the entrance, while sturdy gnomes she’s fashioned from greenery and wire stand by the steps.
“I bake all the Christmas treats at home ahead of time,” Marjut says.
When the couple met four years ago, Jari had a boat slip in Äänekoski’s harbor. That’s where they started taking boat trips together.
“We went boating pretty intensively for two summers and even slept onboard,” Jari recalls.
Compared to a cabin, the boat had one shortcoming. As Marjut puts it, a handyman can’t go without a project. During those weeks on the boat, the long stretches of downtime led them to think about finding a permanent place.
But finding the right place wasn’t easy. Some cabins were too far away or on impractical plots. Many board-built cabins were overpriced yet in poor shape.
“We got lucky with the people selling the cabin. They cleared out everything we didn’t need but left behind treasures that fit the wilderness vibe.”
“Even though I could have renovated a rundown place, the prices for cabins needing a full overhaul were too steep,” Jari says.
Marjut had the idea to place a want ad in the local paper, and they soon got a call. The seller offered a kelo log cabin just half an hour from their row house in Äänekoski.
“We drove into the yard and knew right away this was it. The building was made of sturdy kelo logs—our dream. Only the price worried us because we thought it might climb too high,” Marjut recalls.
Still, Marjut and Jari managed to buy the cabin at a fair price.
“We got lucky with the people selling the cabin. They cleared out everything we didn’t need but left behind treasures that fit the wilderness vibe,” Jari says.
There was no need for a full renovation. Marjut simply updated the kitchen cabinets from white to gray using adhesive film.
“We spend a lot of time here. I often work remotely, and Jari’s renovation sites are often nearby. We might eventually put in running water to make winter life easier—although Jari certainly sprints off with water whenever it’s needed!”
Besides the main building’s sauna, there’s a small sauna by the shore and a kelo outbuilding for overnight stays. At the far end of the yard, there’s an outhouse with a composting toilet.
“We plan to move the little sauna beside the outbuilding and extend the seating area with extra decking. It seems we always need a project,” Jari says, laughing.
On winter evenings, candles twinkle around the cabin, and log torches light up Christmas Eve. Only candlelight and the stars brighten the snowy path to the Christmas sauna.
“The darkness here is different. A rustic Christmas at the cabin is a dream come true for both of us,” Jari says.
“Since buying the cabin, we haven’t even thought about having Christmas at home. In the midst of this silence, there’s a special kind of Christmas magic,” Marjut adds.
“Since buying the cabin, we haven’t even considered Christmas at home. In the midst of this silence, there’s a special kind of Christmas magic.”
“Time seems to stand still at the cabin. The darkness here is different.”
