Roto Country Manor, July 4th

On Monday, July 4th Pekka and Anna Roto invited the American Temple missionaries to come to their country manor and celebrate with them and enjoy sauna on the lake.  They were the previous Helsinki Temple president and matron.  I took over 80 pictures, but relax, I've narrowed it down to 15.  Each has a great story, which I won't bore you with, but I'll try to just touch the highlights.
First, about the country manor.  The main house was completed in 1897.  As I remember, it sits on about 20 acres, and a more beautiful piece of earth you would be hard pressed to find.  The oldest house, where the original family lived while the "manor" was being completed, was actually started in the 1700s and served not only as their home, but also as the county courthouse.

The Manor House.  Completely modernized on the inside; all original out the outside.

The original dwelling, used for living quarters while manor house was being built.  Served as county courthouse.  All original except the roof and lean-to on the right.  Older than almost everything in the U.S.  Weird to walk through it and sit on its benches, etc.

The barn. This was amazing.  Built of stone with walls over 3 feet thick.  When I asked why it was built that way Brother Roto said the livestock was the most important thing and they had to be protected against the harsh winters if the family was to survive.  Some of the stones weigh well over one ton.  Part of it has been made into an awesome smokehouse now.  It also houses the machinery and all the wood used for burning in the home and in the sauna.

The smokehouse.  Brother Roto is preparing our smoked salmon that was fresh that day.

Some of the fields surrounding the manor.  Gardens of all kinds for fruits and berries and vegetables and flowers also surround the house.

More than 3 large raspberry patches around the house.  Berries were just getting ripe, not quite ready to pick.  Of course they grow wild in the forest as well.

The strawberries were also just coming on.  He had several patches of well cultivated, mouth-watering berries.

Outside main doors to the manor.  Great porch for unloading dirty shoes/boots and wet clothes before entering the house.  Sign over door is the date manor was completed.

The salmon after being smoked.  

Upstairs in the manor house,  Lots of bedrooms and studies, and bathrooms.  This one was built for the grandkids with a 1/2 size toilet.  What a great idea!

Looking at the lake and sauna (you can just make out the sauna roof down by the lake) from the loft of the manor house, and some of the gardens.  The land on the other side of the lake is now in perpetual trust and can never be developed.  Pretty sweet view.

Looking from lake at the sauna and manor house in background

In the sauna.

We jumped in the lake from the sauna.  Then we sat on the porch.  Then we went back in the sauna.  Then we jumped in the lake.  Then we sat on the porch.  Then we.........you get the idea

Pekka and Anna Roto.  Both retired doctors.  Celestial people.