Lood ja laulud

Sinugi lood on Sinu sees
- Your stories are inside You
ja piiluvad vahel välja.
- and peek out sometimes.
Kuigi kannad neid eneses,
- Although you carry them inside yourself,
saad nendega vahel nalja.
- sometimes some fun happens with them.

Sinu laulud on Sinu sees ja murravad vahel välja.
- Your songs are inside You and break out sometimes.
Räägivad Sinust enesest ja teevad Su kulul nalja.
- Talk about Yourself and make fun of You.

Sinu elu on Sinu ees. Alati ei tule välja.
- Your life is in front of You. Always it does not work out.
Hoolimata Su teenetest Sinustki teeb keegi nalja.
- Regardless of Your favors, someone makes fun of You, too.

Sinu hetked on Sinu sees. Keegi ei võta neid välja.
- Your moments are inside You. Nobody takes them out.
Parimates Su hetkedes ikka on killuke nalja.
- In the best of Your moments there alaways is a chip of fun.

Sinu naljad on Sinu sees. Kuidas küll saada nad välja?
- Your funny jokes are inside You. How to get them out?
Sügavamalgi südames juurdunud kurbuse viljad...
- In the deepest part of the heart the fruits of sadness have taken root...

Sinu kurbus on Sinu ees. Kes küll siit lasi ta välja?
- Your sadness is in front of You. Who on earth did let it out from here?
Tühjusetunne südames igatseb killukest nalja.
- Feeling of emptyness in the heart yearns for a chip of fun.

Sinu viljad on Sinu sees. Lase nad ometi välja!
- Your fruits are inside You. Let them yet out!
Oma laule Sa imetle kurbuses, tänus ja naljas!
- Your own songs do admire in sadness, in thanksgiving and in fun!
___
by Katrin in June 2011
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee 'a sea, a sunset and a sunrise'

Raha ... mõttes

Raha. Aeg. Suhted.
- Money. Time. Relationships.
Raskused. Edu. Uhkus.
- Difficulties. Success. Pride.
Tänu. Alandlikkus. Austus.
- Gratitude. Humility. Respect.
Truudus. Püüdlused. Sihid.
- Loyalty. Aspirations. Goals.
Õnn. Elu. Surm.
- Happyness. Life. Death.
Ise. Vaba. Üksi.
- Self. Free. Alone.
Alati. Iialgi. Mis mõttes?
- Always. Never. In what sense?
___
by Katrin in May 2011
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee 'a house'

Morning Story

Hommikujutt
- Morning Story

neljapäev 6. märts 2008
- Thursday, March 6, 2008

mees astus karusselli pealt maha ja vaatas enda ümber.
- the man stepped down from the carousel and looked around himself.
maailm kõikus veidike, kuid jäi vähehaaval pidama.
- the world wavered a bit, but little by little it stopped.
mees toetas jalad tugevalt maha ja vaatas ettevaatlikult karusselli poole.
- the man put his feet intensely on the ground and looked carefully towards the carousel.
see tundus imelikult kirju ja lärmakas.
- it seemed weirdly colourful and loud.
inimesed vihisesid kiiresti-kiiresti mööda, naersid ja hõikusid omavahel.
- the people swished by fast-fast, laughed and shouted to each other.
nad paistsid ennast hästi tundvat.
- they seemed to feel themselves good.
vahepeal mõni oksendas üle karusselliääre, pühkis suu puhtaks ja naeris ja hõikus edasi.
- now and then some of them vomited over the edge of the carousel, sweeped his mouth clean and laughed and shouted on.

inimestele karussellil paistis mees ... veider.
- to the people on the carousel the man looked ... weird.
selline ... ebastabiilne.
- such ... unstable.
kord on, kord pole.
- once he is there, then he is not.
kuidagi ... väljaspool.
- somehow ... outside.
teisel pool.
- on the other side.
lihtsam oli teda mitte vaadata ja tema olemasolu unustada.
- it was easier to not look at him and forget about his presence.
seal.
- there.

karussellil vihises mööda Suur Mees.
- on the carousel  swished by the Big Man.
Habemega.
- with Beard.
Mees ei olnud teda varem märganud.
- the Man had not noticed him before.
karussellil olles.
- being on the carousel.
nüüd aga jõudsid temani Suure Mehe Sõnad.
- but now the Words of the Big Man reached him.
Suur Mees vihises mööda kiiresti, aga jõudis selle lühikese hetkega öelda Palju.
- the Big Man swished by fast, but could by that short moment say a Lot.

naudi seda aega. selliseid võimalusi antakse harva. see on suurepärane aeg Loomiseks.
- enjoy this time. such possibilities are given rarely. it is a wonderful time for Creation.

mees vaatas enda ümber. Maailm oli Loodud. mida on enam Luua ühel väikesel Mehel.
- the man looked around himself. the World had been Created. what else can be Created by a little Man.

mees vaatas karusselli ja tundis, kuidas maailm hakkab vaikselt jälle ringi käima.
- the man looked the carousel and felt, how the world slowly starts to go around again.
mees sirutas käe karusselli poole ja sai mööduva pulgaga valusalt mööda sõrmi.
- the man reached his hand toward the carousel and got a painful hit from the passing stick.
mees pistis sõrme suhu ja jäi mõttesse.
- the man put his finger in his mouth and stayed thinking.

mees heitis pikali ja vaatas kõikuvaid oksi ja mööduvaid pilvi.
- the man laid down and looked at the swaying branches and passing clouds.
Rahu oli Maa peal.
- the Peace was on the Earth.
mees jäi vaikselt magama.
- the man fell quietly asleep.
mees nägi unes, et ta on väike tüdruk, kes istub öösärgis arvuti ees ja kirjutab "Mees astus karussellilt maha..."
- the man dreamed that he was a little girl sitting in a nightgown in front of a computer and writing "the Man stepped down from the carousel..."

mehe silmist voolasid pisarad ja nendest tärkasid tema ümber maailma kõige ilusamad lilled.
- from the eyes of the man flowed tears and sprouted around him the most beautiful flowers of the world.




___
Short Story by Katrin in 2008
art by 6-year-old Mari Lee 'Egg and Mother' or 'Mother of the Egg'

Armastus #3

Ma armastan inimesi ja olukordi
- I love people and situations
(ja iseennast)
- (and myself)
koos nende vigadega.
- with all their errors.
See ei takista mind soovimast
- That does not prevent me either from wishing
(ja palvetamast),
- (and praying),
et nad paremaks muutuksid
- for them to beocome better
(ega neid selles aitamast),
- (nor helping them with it),
kuid mu armastus ei sõltu
- but my love does not depend on
nende (ega minu)
- whether they (or myself)
paremaks saamisest.
- become better.
Ma armastan neid (ja ennast)
- I love them (and myself)
ka siis, kui nad ei saa paremaks.
- also when they will not become better.
Ja kui nad paremaks saavad,
- And if they become better,
ei armasta ma neid sellepärast rohkem.
- I will not love them more for that.
Meil on lihtsalt kõigil parem.
- I'll just all be better off.
Aga me armastame üksteist ikka samapalju.
- But we love each other still the same.
Tingimusteta
- With no conditions
ja igavesti.
- and forever.
___
by Katrin in november 2010, translation in February 2011
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee - A Cave
__
ps. Happy Valentine Day to everyone! ... Especially the Special Ones :)

things ... what

things happen
life goes
people wonder
sometimes souls
are happy
sometimes not
no matter
what
__
by Katrin in October 2010
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee - nine tunnels

Armastus #2

Another version of the previous regilaul, no translation this time:

Armastus tuleb aegamööda
astub aia ääri mööda
Eile eelmine eemaldus
et ei ehmuks hellakene
Ise ihkab ihaleda
ilma ilut imesteda
Ootamatuid ootamisi
uhkes ulmas uneleda
Õeke õisi õnnisteleb
ämma hälli äiuteleb
Öösel ööbikul ööjutud
üle kõige armastus
___
by Katrin in November 2009
photo by Ian in Wales (?)

Armastus #1

After searching and listening a lot of ancient Estonian folk songs (regilaul) made one myself.
Left it be for a year or so and then decided to try and translate:

Armastus tuleb arutades
- Love comes considering
arutades arvestades
- considering figuring
arglikult ja aegamööda
- timidly and slowly
astub aia ääri mööda
- steps by the edges of the fence
 
Eile eelmine eemaldus
- yesterday the previous withdrew
et ei ehmuks hellakene
- for the brownie would not be startled
ise ihkab ihaleda
- oneself craves to desire

ilma ilut imesteda
- to admire the beauty of the world (or weather)

Ootus lootus ohkab ihkab
- Expectation hope sighs craves
oivalisi ootamisi
- marvelous waitings
unes näeb ulmas unistab
- sees in dreams daydreams in a vision

uusi uhkeid ulakusi
- new proud naughties

Õde õhkab venda vihkab
- Sister sighs hates the brother
ämma äiutab väetit
- the mother-in-law lulls the puny

öösel ööbikul ööjutud
- in the night the nightingale's night chats
üle kõige armastus
- above all the love

the point in the Estonian version is the alphabethical alliteration - the words in rows start with A, E, I, O, U, Õ, Ä, Ö, Ü...

___
in Estonian and translation by Katrin
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee

What is 'Best Wishes' in Estonian?

parimate soovidega,

now a bit of Estonian grammar:
parim - the best
soov - wish
parim soov - the best wish
parima soovi - 2nd form of the best wish (makes base for most of the other 14 forms)
parima sooviga - wish the best wish (ending -ga meaning with)
parimad soovid - the best wishes (ending -d meaning plural)
parimate soovide - 2nd form of the best wishes in plural (still making base for most of the other 14 forms in plural)
parimate soovidega - with the best wishes (combining the plural ending -d (that in parimate changes to t) and with-ending -ga that adds only to the last word)

___
language explaining by Katrin
photo by Ian of Michelle and Jenn in Wales 2010

#24 - aptale :)

train to Rakke
much snow again
and a big chimney
near a small bus-station
friendly people
foreign language
personal questions
bus to Väike-Tammiku
the place of the small Oak Forest
talk with a neighbour
a phone call
walk over a small hill
to Kaasiku Talu
the Farm of the forest of birch
much snow
warm house
ancient way of living
candle light
and big big quietness
specially after the
radio has been shut down
potato soup
instead of a porridge
Baltic herring
and home-made bread
not much room left
for pancakes
and snowing more and more
more pancakes in the
morning
and a porridge cooked
through the night
a wet walk
on another hill
until the path ends
with more snow
a friendly car
to Simuna
the start of the Pedja river
a story of the spring
with the name of a disease
maybe curing water
taking water
small house on spring
and a swing
on the other side
walk by the church
parking by school
another house
not so ancient
drums and guitar
making music
in a cold room
through Käru village
to Emumägi
the hill of the
Australian bird
running fast and far
"Enter here with clean thoughts"
a funny hut
of the roots of trees
watchtower
and pancake picnic
in the sun
no way to the
other hut
to be seen the
next time
Rakke again
a silent cat
another hill
Rakke Linnamãgi
or Town Hill
with a song festival ground
and a ski-jump tower
another view
back through the snow
the place of a church
burned down
years ago
walk through Rakke
that has everything
Limestone factory
Post Office
Youth Center
Elders' Center
on top of the Youth's one
shops closed and open
railway and bus stations
library
pharmacy
apteek in Estonian
school, Kindergarten
pupils' house
museum
doctor and dentist
even a hairdresser
internet in library
nothing on Tartu
waiting for the train
no arguing about the tickets
and here comes the train
good bye my 24 hours
in Rakke
Tartu ahead
and so is
the rest of my life

by Katrin in train from Rakke to Tartu
___
photo by Ian of the Chimney of the Old Limestone Factory in Rakke 2010

how do you make potato porridge?

in Estonian http://www.nami-nami.ee/recipe.php?q=detail&pID=870

---

in Estonian - English with the help of GoogleTranslate:

Ingredients:
1 kg kartulit - 1 kg potatoes
2 dl sooja piima - 200 ml ( I think?) warm milk
50 g võid - 50 g butter
1 tl soola - 1 teaspoon salt
0.25 tl musta pipart - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Valmistamine: - Preparation:
Koori ja tükelda kartulid, keeda soolaga maitsestatud vees pehmeks. - Peel and chop the potatoes, boil in water seasoned with salt until soft.
Vala vesi ära ja lase kartulitel potis veidi auruda. - Pour the water and let the potatoes in a pot just evaporate.
Tambi kartulid pudrunuia abil katki, lisades samal ajal vähehaaval kuuma piima ja tükeldatud või. - Break the potatoes with pudrunui, while slowly adding the hot milk and butter.
Klopi puder puulusikaga kohevaks. - Whisk the porridge fluff with wooden spoon.
Maitsesta soola ja pipraga ja serveeri. - Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

---

Some additions by Katrin: I melt the butter in milk while warming the milk up before adding it to smashed potatoes. And you can add anything besides the salt and pepper - like all kinds of herbs (including carrot tops :) or onion fried with or without bacon.

And last but not least - eat it with Baltic Herring!
__
photo by Ian of Baltic Herrings being eaten in Helsinki 2010

Ma tulen lõpmatusest / I come from infinity

Ma tulen lõpmatusest
i come from infinity
ja lähen lõpmatusse
and go to infinity
ma mõtlen olemisest
a thing of being (alternative translation is "i think of being")
kaon olematusesse
disappear into nothingness


Ma udumerre lähen
i go into sea of fog
piimvalge niiske soe
milkwhite damp warm
ma taevast võtan tähe
i take a star from the sky
ta sakid kokku loen
and count its points (Original translation was "and count its tabs")

Kuu hõbevalgust valab
moon pours silverlight
ja kõlab yxik ulg
and sounds a lonely howl
on olematus aland
nothingness has started
ja peatub aja kulg
and stops the course of time


Nii olexin veel kaua
so would i be yet long time
eikeegi kusagil
nobody nowhere
kus tõelus leiab haua
where reality finds its grave
ja lahtub tusagi
and the bad mood goes away


sest nyyd ju pole miskit
'cause now there is nothing
mis ootaks ära viix
that would wait would take away
on haihtund viimne piiskki
has vanished the last dewdrop too
ja langeb viimne tilk.
and falls the last drop


Katrin 13.04.1993

p.s. Poem and translation by Katrin... slightly edited by Ian...

photo by Robert B

algus -x-x-x- beginning

Te andke mulle algus
You give me a beginning
sest lõputu on kõik
because everything is without ending
kas elu soojust valgust
whether life's warmth light
mul' keegi anda võix
can anyone give me

Kuis tahaxin ma naerda
how would i want to laugh
ja samas nutaxin
and in the same time i would cry
kuid nutux-naerux aega
but time for cry-laugh
mul pole kunagi
i never have


On elu ainult olek
is life only a state
kas tahke vedel gaas
either solid liquid gas
mul vastust sellel pole
i don't have answer for that
ja alguses ma taas
and in the beginning i am again


Kas olen Kuu või Päike
am i Moon or Sun
kas Mars või Põhjanael
Mars or Northern Star
kas olen suur või väike
am i big or small
kas tuleraud või tael
steel or tinder


Ma ringi torman karjun
i run around yell
ja istun vaixelt maas
and sit silently on ground
ma valedega harjun
i get used to lies
ja tõde otsin taas
and look for truth again


Te andke mulle algus
you give me a beginning
ehk seda polegi
maybe there is no
ei ole soojust valgust
there is no warmth light
ka lõppu pole siin
and neither is here any ending


Ma olen Kuu ja Päike
i am Moon and Sun
nii Mars kui Põhjanael
both Mars and Northern Star
ma olen suur ja väike
i am big and small
nii tuleraud kui tael...
both steel and tinder

by Katrin
15.04.1993 in Estonian
August and September 2009 translation to English

photo by Michelle

tuli -x-x-x- the fire

tuli
the fire
on soe
is warm
tuli
the fire
on valgus
is light
tuli on tulemine
the fire is coming
keegi tuli
someone came
ja tõi tule
and brought the fire
mis tuli
that came
nägi
saw
võitis
won
teda nähti
he was seen
ja jäädigi vaatama
and stayed to look at
sest ta oli soe
because he was warm
ja valge
and white
ja soojendas südant
and warmed the heart


aga siis tuli elekter
but then came the electricity



by Katrin
24.04.1994 in Estonian
August 2009 translation to English

photo by Ellen 2009

WordPlay

love & hate
search & wait
dream & sleep
low & deep
lower & deeper
dreamer & sleeper
searcher & waitress
lover & hatred
deep sleep
low dreams
searching love
hating waiting
love a waitress
hate a sleepless
below the deepest
search a dream

by Katrin
August 20, 2009
(the Estonian re-Independence day, not that it has anything to do with the poem...)

photo by Michelle

you get everything

you get everything
you give away
you let go
you don't hope anymore

you get everything
you ever dream of
you ever wish
you ever hope for

but not before
you let go
the dream
the wish
the hope

by Katrin
August 18, 2009

photo by Jenn

colourful butterflies

colourful butterflies
on my window
children playing with
kitty looking them

catch a butterfly
let it go again
on the window
not getting out

by Katrin
August 19, 2009
(Photo of butterfly helping Ian demolish a house :))

I wish you told me

I wish you told me
I should not hope
anything
anymore
anywhere
anyhow
instead
you call
and say
you'd come along
& I don't
understand
anything
anymore
anywhere

by Katrin
August 18, 2009

photo by Jenn

One Night

One night
    one day
so long
    away
wait here
don't go
don't say
    anything
just stay
let the moment 
     be
where it is
     right now

by Katrin

Two Lonely Stars

two lonely
     stars
in a sky of
    nowhere
no place to
         go
no place to
       stay
no one to hear
no burden to
       bear
one moon
one star
one mood
  so far
    away
from home
  to stay
a bit more

by Katrin

photo by Robert B

and if you want to listen to some spacey classical music to go with this click here :) (by an Estonian composer Sisask)

A poem from Katrin in Kehrwieder

this was a week 
 full of surprises
half week
 double surprises
wonderful 
       nature

wonderful
       weather
wonderful rain
   just in right time
wonderful people
    doing hard work
    having good time
    really creative 
           cooking
best vacation ever
or at least for 
    many years

I believe everyone  
   of us
has their own
   story
that might be 
   quite sad
or hard
or funny
but we all come
   here
to forget our
    stories
& have a good 
     time
& to enjoy 
     ourselves
& each other
& we did
better then
   we ever 
       imagined
it was a 
   lovely
     fair(e)ytale  :)
and it has to 
   end
where all good 
   things do
but we have
  our memories
of smiles & jokes
of mixed sauna
 & great times
 we carry it along
 and we are happy
    with it

and maybe someone's 
   stories change
& get another
    ending

Michelle said
  it was like
 a laugh therapy
it was for me too
besides a therapy 
of believing in
  people
& believing there 
are nice people
   in the world
or in the other
   side of the world
or in the other 
   side of Europe
anywhere 
   or just another
side of Facebook
   actually :)

by Katrin






and all I asked for was a signature :) - ian