Laowai

I  made a dress for Claire. I think this will be her birthday dress. It’s a new pattern downloaded as a PDF here. 

Yesterday we did something different. We drove in a car. Acually I drove a car. I signed up for a trial subscription to a car sharing program. The cars are available all over Switzerland – at train stations and scattered around cities. We decided to drive about 45 minutes from home to see the tallest waterfall in Switzerland. I was a little nervous driving because it’s been so long – but it was really nice to see the countryside from a different vantage point. Right before we arrived at the trail head we had to go on this itty-bitty road that can only fit one car at a time. There is a sign that tells you when you can go on the road – just two times an hour. At the other times cars can drive from the other direction. The road runs along the edge of a lake and is carved into the cliff. And then there are two tunnels. I wish I had gotten some photos to show how little the road was. There were just inches to spare when we went through the tunnel. It was quite a test for someone who hadn’t driven in several months.

Here are some pictures from our hike. We had great weather and the waterfall was beautiful!

See the waterfall in the background…

Chocolate – I am becoming too acustom to delicious Swiss chocolate. Is it normal to have a shelf that is dedicated to chocolate and the sugar bowl and not much else? 

Sniff and scratch – We have scratch and sniff book, but Bea gets it a little mixed up and calls it the sniff and scratch book. The smells are the same as a book I had when I was little and when we read (and sniff) the book it really takes me back to my childhood.

My profession – I never know what to put on the tax form when it asks for my profession. I don’t mean I feel inferior because I stay home – I simply don’t know what to write? Mother, SAHM, Homemaker, Haus Frau, Housewife, none? I think we ended up writting Mom.

Claire cursing – If you come by in the morning don’t be mistaken – Claire is not really cursing while I make toast. She is just asking for jam, but her J sounds like a D.

Mad Men – I know Brian loves me because he surprised me with the first episode of this season’s Mad Men. I don’t know how he got it. He might have to go to prison. 

I miss graham crackers and my sister – no explanation needed, it’s just been several months since I’ve enjoyed these sweet comforts.

Squank and her scarf – This is Bea’s penguin, Squank. Her teacher made that little knitted scarf for squank as a bribe to get Bea to participate more at school. And it worked. She’s been doing well and making progress and we are breathing a sigh of relief. That scarf is the sweetest bribe ever.

Bea Sharing her Blankie – Bea doesn’t tote her blanket around as much as she used to but she still sleeps with it. The other afternoon I had a headache. Later Bea told me that when I have a headache I could use her blankie – she told me it’s soft and cool an it makes her feel better. 

Sifting Sand – The girls have been in to playing in the sand box lately. Truthfully, it can be a bit mind numbing to sit around the sand box. But I discovered I love to sift sand – give me a sifter and I’ll be happy for quite some time. Why is it so satisfying!

Spring is here! Time to roll around in the grass and tackle Daddy.

Just a couple photos from this week:

We got out our box of Easter decorations and I let Bea arrange them all on the window sil. It’s our Spring-time, eggs and bunny shrine – she’s so proud. Claire points and tries to say bunny but it comes out like money. 

We went into Zurich to a big playground and to meet Daddy after work. The girls are seriously enjoying their ice cream and bare feet here.

Today we biked over the hill on on our side of the lake and ended up at a sweet little town with an Easter market. Biking with Brian is always a bit demoralizing, but it’s even worse when he’s pulling the girls in the bike trailer and I still can barely keep up with him on the hills. But I made it and it was a lovely day with signs of spring everywhere we looked. The market was cute with lots of little handmade pastel colored trinkets. One booth was overflowing with baby-doll clothes of every size – all made by some lively gray-haired ladies. The only bad bit was when Claire barfed up her lunch on the way home. We think it was because Brian was absolutely flying down the hill – it must have been motion sickness. Luckily we were a few minutes from home and after we got her cleaned up she was all smiles again. Here are a few pictures:

This isn’t a great picture, but it shows something new that I love. Claire and Bea have been hugging and it is such sweetness. My heart almost bursts each time they wrap their arm around each other.

The napkin rings that Bea and I made were getting worn out. So I found some napkin rings at our Goodwill-type place and painted them with everyone’s names. We have a few extras ready for Grandmas and Grandpas that are visiting this Spring.

Saturday we took the girls in the bike trailer and went to the woods above the town next to us. After a bit of Claire paced hiking we made a fire and had a lunch of sausages and chocolate. The weather was beautiful.

The quilt top is done!

I think I might wait ’til Brian goes to the US next month and have him bring some batting home. And I have to choose a backing fabric. I want a small flower print in the same colors. Then let the quilting begin. I wish I could show it to Jennifer – she is an experienced quilter. I want to get her advice on how to do the quilting and just having her look at it would reassure me.

Translation: Bangs, Snaps, Candy, Barettes

Just some more examples of the language differences my Welsch friend and I notice in an afternoon of tea and chatting. I’m practically British.

Here’s Claire ready to muck out the barn in her wellies. They are much too big, but she insists on wearing them all the time.

Sometimes, when Brian is traveling, I wake up with two girls in my bed. 

I buy flowers sometimes…

…but nothing is better than the tiny little blooms that Bea finds for me.

Claire and her wellies again: