Nothing much to report from our house. We’re still staying sort of close to home and watching the disturbing Covid news from the US. We have about a month before we move. Sadly Claire is having to say goodbye to friends as they go for vacations and won’t be back before we move.
We’re not used to wearing masks here but I know that will change once we move. So I finally made a few masks.
Someday we’ll forget all these strange directions on the floors in public places.
I made a blueberry pie. Now that I’m happy with my crust I have to work out how to make a blueberry pie that is not blueberry soup inside. Tasted good though.
The weather has been fickle – storms part of the day and then clear and beautiful a couple hours later. We had a lovely picnic dinner and a little swimming after the storms one evening.
Mmmm dessert.
Claire’s favorite graffiti.
Brian finished his Swiss map puzzle.
Seems I have a cutting garden on our patio.
The grapes are growing at the vineyard by our house.
And Brian gets a bike ride in as often as he can.
Hope you are well and the sun is shinning for you.
We went back to the Brunni Alpthal area for a Father’s Day hike and it was beautiful! The weather finally cleared up and yay the gondolas are open!!! See the little red speck in the first photo? The paragliders also thought it was a great day – we stood for a while and enjoyed watching them take off. Also, the meadows were pretty, pretty, pretty and everyone was all smiles. And then back at home our dishwasher broke. Back to reality.
The weather hasn’t been very summery but the cantaloupes and cucumbers do feel like summertime.
I’m still plugging away at my hexagon quilt – here are 100 more hexagons ready to be sewn together.
On Friday Brian had the day off so we visited a museum in Zurich. Yes! Museums are open! This new museum is called the Wow Museum. It’s a fun place full of optical illusions and cool lighting effects that you walk right into. I find it interesting that it is a place that is designed to be photographed and shared online. In fact using your phone was integral to the whole experience.
Today I outdid myself in the brocki shopping department. I visited five brocki’s! I saw lots of treasures but I showed restraint and only came home with a few things. I got a set of alphabet cookie cutters, a pretty pitcher that matches a bigger one I already own, a small baking dish, some nice scissors and a sturdy scoop. That’s a lot of happiness and entertainment for only about 25 francs.
And to finish this post – some shots from our balcony. The weather has really been showing off lately.
This weekend we did some exploring. First, Brian and I went to a castle called Schloss Hallwyl. Brian rode his bike and I drove to meet him. What a picturesque place. We had a pleasant picnic lunch and then a little walk around the castle grounds and along a nearby lake.
This duck was very friendly when we got our sandwiches out.
On Sunday Claire was with a friend so we took Bea into Zurich to check out an interesting park. The park was created from an old factory – only the bare bones of the structure were left and climbing plants grow all over it. They hold concerts and events but since it was such a grey day we had the place to ourselves. Nice!
We have our packing dates arranged for July 23 and 24 so our move is bearing down on us. And at the same time it’s nice to see new sights and enjoy as much of Switzerland as we can before time’s up.
What have we been up to? Well, we had some great weather until school ended and since then it’s been cold and rainy. Boo! The only clouds I want to see are butter zopf clouds like the one above.
We’re allowed to get out and see friends now and Claire has been doing just that. She went shopping with her friend and they picked out an outfit for twins day at school. And she has had a couple sleepovers. That’s the nest of two ten year old girls below. Love it!
The zinnias we planted on our patio have just started to bloom.
The last time the weather was decent Brian and Claire went for a hike. Bea and I might have wimped out.
Brian is still getting lots of bike rides in.
Since we aren’t going on any big vacations we decided to buy paddleboards for the girls. The day we got them we wanted to try them out right away. The weather was about to get bad and stay bad for a week and a half. So the girls and I rushed down to the lake and pumped up the paddleboards. Great. Until Claire got out on her board and got a bloody nose. It was terrible – she was covered in blood. And then she started feeling sick to her stomach. Brian was home working so I called him and he picked Claire up with the car. Then I was going to do a little paddleboarding with Bea but the storm was coming so all we did was deflate the boards and get home as the rain started. And the rain hasn’t stopped since then. Good grief!
I made some coconut cupcakes to celebrate the last day of school. I also took some bad photos as I dropped Claire off for the last time. No more seeing the sweet cows next to the school. It’s just the beginning of our good-byes. Sniff.
You can see the ribbons marking areas at the front of school. They try to keep classes from mixing with each other because of the coronavirus. And parents are not allowed in the school at all. That’s the assistant principal greeting Claire below. We’ll miss her!
A break in the rain.
We started a puzzle – a map of Switzerland puzzle.
I’ve been working on my hexagon quilt any quiet moment I have (which is a lot of moments). I now have 300 hexagons sewn together!
This morning for the first time since the middle of March Brian went out to work. He’s taken the train to near Lucerne to meet with a client. He felt a little apprehensive and his hair is very long. I think it will feel good for him. He is so sick of spending his days working in our little office room.
Now we are just waiting for the sun so we can go down to the lake and enjoy some Swiss summer before we move.
We’re still staying close to home even though the lockdown measures are loosening.
I had some leftover bird fabric after making my latest Washi dress so I made a little wall hanging. I filled the birdies with lavender that Claire and I bought as a souvenir in Croatia. I love love love Monika Forsberg’s fabrics.
I am dreaming of being back in our house in Wilmette. And in my garden. I was (mindlessly) watching Downton Abbey and spotted my kitchen cabinets. Look – they’re just like mine!
At the same time I am feeling sad about leaving Switzerland. There are so many things I will miss. Things like the breathtaking views that I get at ordinary moments like the drive home from school. It hits me in a rush of emotion and I get a lump in my throat.
I did venture out to one of my favorite brocki’s. I found a sturdy little copper bottom tea kettle.
And I can’t stop buying old sheets. I don’t know what you call this type of fabric but it’s a sturdy cotton that is soft from age. They are great for quilting and this one has a sweet little monogram.
I also tried a new recipe – an Aprikosenwähe. A wähe is a Swiss sort of tarte – usually filled with fruit and a simple custard. I forgot to sprinkle the ground nuts under the fruit so I put them on top. It turned out OK but I always find apricots too sour. Maybe I’ll try a rhubarb version since I have another pie crust in the fridge. I got the recipe from a Swiss cooking blog that I really like – Helvetic Kitchen.
The girls have one more week of school. This new version of school that is not nearly as good as the old school. Things will not wrap up as a happy crescendo but as a sad sort of trailing off. Sigh.
Laowai 