Laowai

I took our car in yesterday morning – we had a scheduled oil change etc. that was planned weeks ago and the car place was open so I took it in. It’s the first time I’ve been out for a few days. It felt strange. I returned home on an eerily empty train. We’ve had a string of sunny warm days so it felt nice out but with social distancing in effect people don’t seem as friendly as usual. Nobody says grüetzi like they usually do. I only saw a few people but everyone sort of gives each other the side eye.

When I walked into our apartment (as I washed my hands for a really long time) I could hear voices. It was the first day of remote learning for the girls. It made me a little emotional to hear our sweet teachers, they have been working so hard to try to reassure and help their students. We are lucky to have all the resources that we do. They are trying to work together with the kids to learn software where the kids can hear and see their teachers and vice versa. I could hear the voices of kids responding that yes they can see the screen or some pop up and say I don’t know how to do this or that. And the teachers are being patient and encouraging and making sure to check in with each kid and outline what to expect. I’m just impressed and heartened. And Brian’s voice is there too – he’s talking on the phone. I had to clean off my perennially messy sewing table so he could make it his office. 

Claire made a post about her last day at school and she showed her home classroom setup. You can read her post here.

So it seems this is our new routine. Who knows how long it will go on…

I’m up to 18 blocks now. It was so hot with the sun beating in this morning I had to take a break.

I’m having so much fun making all these house variations. I’m wondering if I need some patchwork trees (like the one’s Aunt Sandy likes). I’m reminded of this vintage house play set that I found when my girls were little. 

As of today the Swiss government has declared an extraordinary situation. All shops and restaurants will be closed and all gatherings of more than five people will be prohibited.

But we can still go for a walk – thank goodness!

And we can still have a picnic. And Brian can still enjoy a beer with his very manly hamster beer cozy.

The white fabric is an old thrifted sheet. I’ve been using some of its pretty handmade embroidery – do you see it?

Well it’s gotten serious around here as far as the coronavirus goes. The canton of Zurich has made further restrictions about gatherings and all schools have been closed. I know many many people are in the same situation.

Here’s our empty freezer section at the grocery store this morning.

It has me thinking about home. I am a homebody so maybe it’s not so hard for me. Brian on the other hand might go out of his mind being stuck here with us and trying to work. 

Did you ever notice that we say homey and British people say homely when they mean cozy, simple, comfortable.

So I started playing around on my sewing machine – making little patchwork houses. Something to entertain me while we are mostly staying home. We’ll see where it goes.

At least it is feeling springy and we can go walk in the woods. 

And there are pretty Easter things to look at.

Looking on the bright side.

•  Coronavirus, coronavirus, coronavirus – it’s all we talk about lately. Bea got so tired of us talking about it at dinner the other night she had to excuse herself in frustration. I get it – it’s a lot to think about and it’s constant. It occurred to me the other day that it is a good time for kids (or any of us) to practice critical thinking. There is so much information! Brian is always bringing up good stuff like percentages and comparisons that help bring things into focus. I think it’s the uncertainty that is hardest to deal with at the moment. 

Currently there are about 650 cases in Switzerland and four deaths. The girls’s school has cancelled almost all student travel – for sports and field trips and things like that – including Claire’s ski trip. Bea says her English teacher comes around about four times per class to squirt hand sanitizer into every kid’s hands. Brian has been greeting people at work with the recommended elbow touch instead of a handshake (so awkward). And I have been stocking up on some food because there is a chance we could be quarantined.

•  In other news – I’ve been doing some sewing. I made a Charlie Caftan. I kept seeing pictures online of this pattern made up so nicely so I finally got around to trying it. I made the short version and I guess I sort of like it. I don’t think it’s the most flattering thing I’ve made. I think I will wear it over my swimsuit at the beach. I did like the neckline and I might use that pattern piece to alter another pattern. 

I also made another pattern from my favorite patten maker Liesl and Co. It’s called the Camp Shirt. I made a muslin first and I was really pleased with the fit. Then I bought some lightweight woven cotton and made this:

I think I must have been longing for spring when I was in the fabric shop. It’s very flowery! I’m pleased with the style and the fit and I’d love to make a simple chambray or a small scale gingham version. Also, I was proud that my buttonholes were neater than ones I’ve done in the past. Yay!

•  What else? Not much. Keep smiling.

Over the weekend we went to a new museum that is right next to the Rhine Falls. A model train and miniatures replica of Switzerland. Right now they have highlights from Eastern Switzerland, Appenzell and the Bernese Oberland area but they are going to continue to add more regions. 

It was a fun outing. There were so many funny or surprising little scenes – things that you have to look closely to find. Every once in a while it would become night time – it would get dark and tiny lights would come on in all the mini buildings. Everyone would stop and wait for the sun to come on again and then continue to examine all the details.

It reminded me of the excellent model train display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. I think both places are marvelous because they must have taken so much work to create. 

Here are a bunch of photos. It seems I, stupidly, didn’t get a photo of any of the little trains. Oops.

I finished my scrappy log cabin quilt yesterday! I started it around the middle of January. That was fast! Making a quilt doesn’t seem like such a long term daunting project like it used to. I think it’s partly because I have more time on my hands since my girls are big now. And it’s also because the more quilts I make the less each one seems like a big endeavor. Brian says I need to start selling them because we will have too many hanging around the house. Maybe I need to start giving them away. I won’t stop make them because each step of the making gives me so much pleasure.

Anyway here it is – I used wool batting – it might be my favorite because it’s a natural material and it’s the most fluffy. I used a striped duvet cover that I bought at IKEA for the backing. 

Here it is with the sun shining through it (and tall husband holding it).

Now I should think about organizing for our move – hmmmm – not nearly as fun.