Sisters – an unbreakable tie

All sewn up.

 

I am the oldest of three sisters, followed by that lone brother.

Growing up I was more the babysitter than a sibling, but oh the blessing of having sisters (and a brother who brought into the family another lovely sister!).

 

We lost my little sister ten years ago – colon cancer, get your checks – and whilst packing up her belongings I took her placemats as the colors and pattern pleased me. They have been used occasionally during the fall, but not as often as I could have. They ended up in a cupboard with the exception of one used as a doily on side tables acquired a few years ago.

 

My other sister, who would have loved to have been an interior decorator, often (o.k. always) has suggestions to make on my interior decorations. We are chalk and cheese, but this time she hit the jackpot. We were discussing, rearranging, rediscussing and re-re-arranging cushions on my lovely sofa when she saw the one placemat. Pinned it into place over one of the pillows and indeed it did look good.

 

She took home four of the others and the day before Thanksgiving I received cushion covers made from these placemats in the mail.

Gorgeous.

 

I now live with a permanent reminder of both my sisters – in my living room where I see them multiple times a day. Truly one of the blessings in my life.

 

The two more colorful ones on the ends

 

Thanksgiving

 

https://www.kciiradio.com/2022/11/23/area-organizations-offer-free-thanksgiving-meals/

 

The only holiday that I truly miss from my childhood is Thanksgiving.

Oh, I have splendid memories of Christmas, of birthdays, both mine and those of my siblings but they still exist.

 

I have lived in the country of my second nationality now for almost 50 years. When the children were little I made the effort of producing Thanksgiving dinner on that Thursday even if it was a work day and school day.

 

Over the years I have been with American family and celebrated it well. I have also had Thanksgiving in various restaurants here as there is a large expat community.

 

But this year, there is nothing – and, I guess as a result of age, I find that I miss it.

 

Still instead of mourning what isn’t I will choose to celebrate what is:

A good life, decent health, a great place to live, friends and family strewn throughout the world; travel, grandchildren, and even the sun is shining today. Truly a life and conditions for which I give thanks!

 

 

Morsels of love

 

Auer salty butter caramel chocolates

Now admittedly I had to ruminate over the title for quite some time as my first

Pop-into-my-head title was Love Bites. That might not have played to well in some cultures. Then I thought of Love Bits. OK not to bad, but still not quite right. Then there was Bits of Love, but hey that could have been most anything.

Then, eureka, Morsels of love presented itself.

 

After all that just about a title you may be expecting a very erudite article: no.

 

Yesterday

1)   The door bell rang and I actually heard it

2)   I made it to the door just as the person was starting to walk off (I am rarely at home, very sporadic in my answering the door, etc.)

3)   A friend handed me a small gift bag and before I could even react was down the drive, back in the car and gone.

 

Ah ha, in the bag (from my favorite chocolate store, but that doesn’t always mean anything as I have been known to pack other presents in anything that comes to hand and my family and good friends know that the sack isn’t always, in fact is rarely, indicative of the present therein) was a delightful small package of my all-time-favorite chocolates!

 

Not sure what I have done to deserve them, but oh will they be (ok two already gone) greatly enjoyed!

 

Morsels of love from good friends.

Giving up, or.....

 

Giving up, or….

 

Getting Smart!

 

I have spent a quiet weekend at home: that makes for one-in-a-row.

And during said weekend have finally started to tidy up, sort, straighten and dare I say,

Even get rid of a few bits. OK very few, but every one gone is yet another gone.

 

One of this weekends achievements, and yes I have decided that it is an achievement,

Has been letting go of that 5’000 piece puzzle. It has been over a year that it has sat on the winter garden table. I made good progress for about the first month, then life intervened, people were more important (and always will be) and I ended up getting a plastic to put over it so that I could leave it in place whilst the table was being used for other events.

 

 

My older friend in the mountains actually did finish hers.

 

For the first time in my life however, I have decided that some things just aren’t meant to be and this is one that isn’t going to happen – or at least not in the immediate future. Perhaps a few years down the road it will come with me somewhere else and I’ll have the time and patience.

 

Meanwhile, I can finally start on the smaller puzzles, several of which have accumulated during my period of “I am me, I am stubborn, I will finish this puzzle”.

 

 

 

I have finally gotten smart!

 

It’s never too late…

 

To learn.

An adage often heard, but all too true, if only we would realize sooner!

 

Today’s appointment with the dental hygienist was painless and blood free.

 

And the difference?

What they always say: floss your teeth at least once a day.

This past six months I have faithfully done what I should have been doing all along:

Flossing faithfully, in spite of the many times I was tempted to “skip it just this once” I have found that regardless of the rule that three times makes a habit, if I skip just once, there’s always a better excuse the next day… and the next…..

 

So, no pain, took less time, teeth in better condition. What’s not to like about that?

I’ll remember the next time I contemplate skipping a night.

 

OK, not me as neither teeth nor smile are this nice, still a great dream

 

Flowers again

After all the heat waves this summer, suddenly we have switched to fall. I hope that we will have many gloriously sunny, but cool days before a snowfall, or rain or whatever. This year is so unpredictable that it could be anything in any order!

But with the thought of fall comes my need to again have flowers in the house: flowers on the entry table to welcome me as I return, or to make me smile as I leave.

I have purchased the first a few days ago.

 

The party’s Over…

 

Back to “real” life, or what passes for such in mine.

Retirement is supposed to be laid-back days, time for all those you love or befriended along the way, sitting around chatting, drinking coffee, watching TV (rarely, but news for 30 minutes per day is o.k.).

 

Somehow mine doesn’t seem to be going that way: the upside? I am NEVER bored. O.K I managed to have one whole day so far this year where I had no engagements, didn’t even take the car out of the garage for almost 36 hours. It is however, not my “normal” life.

 

Mind you this isn’t a complaint – I love my life and hope it continues, with just occasionally a down day to recuperate.

My current spate of activity had my sister and brother-in-law arrive late one Friday. I picked them up at the airport and without passing go – nor home – headed for cow country and our hotel room for the night. Next morning was dedicated to watching the cows come down from the alps – in the pouring rain.

Then we managed to do a whole lot in spite of the weather until I delivered them back to the airport early that following Thursday.

One day to clean house, change sheets and it was off to meet my cousin in Zurich. We traveled by train for 4 days, taking in things that she hadn’t seen (after several trips she has done the highlights, but there’s still plenty of things to discover and to do). We got lucky with the weather and were able to go up a mountain with a view two days in a row as well as come back via one of my favorites, the MOB which runs from Zweisimmen, Switzerland to Montreux, Switzerland.

 

Days trips thereafter, even had the grandkids over one weekend day and in general kept going at a good pace. Somewhat hindered by the horrible cold I picked up, but not enough to have not sampled fondue, raclette, rösti (hash brown potatoes, but oh so much better) as well as innumerable platters of local cold cuts and cheeses.

 

I too her to the train station early this morning and now it’s back to a list longer than I wish to put into words.

Guess I’d better get on with it – the Party’s Over.

 

 

Best presents

 

Over my lifetime I have received many presents, for birthdays, for Christmas, out-of-the-blue (that was my husband’s specialty, not on the day, but any time!)

 

I asked for pearls for my 40^th – and got them.

 

I got lovely made-in-school presents from both children, most of which still reside in my home (yup I have a problem getting rid of paper – an issue which I have addressed many times, but never seem to solve. Once I even took photos of all the childish artwork – then still couldn’t throw out the objects themselves).

 

I have received beautiful presents from my girlfriends – again most of which are still used.

 

But a late birthday present this year really was perfect.

 

For those of you who know me, coffee is sacred, at least twice a day.

My son and daughter-in-law offered me the latest in high-tech: a “nanopresso”, a mechanical coffee machine. I am no longer dependent on an Airbnb having an espresso machine, nor a hotel having the gratuities in the room. I can go ANYWHERE, just my machine and I!

 

Sometimes, some people just get it right.

 

 

September 19

 

For most of the world September 19 will always bring back to memory the Queen of England’s burial in Westminster Abbey, a place impregnated with history – a history, which if proof were needed, shows that that trite phrase “life goes on” is ever so true.

 

However parts of our time spent here on this earth stop suddenly with the death of a loved one.

 

For my siblings and myself, September 19^th will always remind us of the loss of our sister.

Today 10 years ago.

 

RIP Pat.

 

You are remembered, you are loved.

3+1 plus 2 equals 2 times 3, right?

 

OK with a title like that you must be wondering what in the world kind of scientific formula I have come up with. Never mind that I also ended the first sentence with a preposition which is not at all my style, but hey, life changes, quirks are allowed.

 

On to the answer:

One might want first to read the blog from

https://theexpatwriter.blogspot.com/2022/08/31.html

that will give one a first clue. When I read it, I was relieved as today I had had two things and was just waiting for the “other shoe to fall” as one says, i.e. the third negative, but now

all is well. She had 4, I had 2, I no longer need to worry about my third as we equal each other out…. And are both obviously fine for several days, or weeks, right?

 

 

It’s a miracle!

I awoke to gray skies and clouds!

I even had the pleasure of feeling a drop of rain on my head as I

left the grocery store. One of life’s great joys these days is rain.

 

And a miracle as we seemed to have lost the clouds and the rains.

I don’t know the statistics, but we are having one of the driest and

Hottest years since they started measuring 150 years ago.

 

I have left my car outside the garage in hopes that there may be

enough to actually wash off some of the dust of the past weeks.

 

Precipitation in my country so far this year is only 40% of normal and

I live in what used to be known as the water capital of Europe so

I can only imagine what it is like elsewhere.

 

Everyone that I have run into this morning is smiling, open and happy.

What a difference a bit of water makes to those parched with thirst.

Aug.1 – A new Year

 

 OK not a new calendar year, nor a new fiscal year, but a New Year all the same!

Today Switzerland celebrates 731 years since it was founded.

 

Falling as it does this year on a Monday, means that a lot of people – or rather the few who weren’t already gone on summer holidays – took a long weekend. I, for once, am in town.

But am planning on a very low-key celebration, on my own as simply too hot these days to enjoy crowds and/or bonfires. Not that the latter will take place due to the extreme dryness of the whole country. Many cities and communities are getting creative and I have even heard that there are drone displays mimicking fireworks. Such inventiveness.

 

It’s also a personal milestone as I have been a Swiss citizen for 15 years now, but always felt patriotic on the day having lived in the country for almost 50 years. I enjoy the four national languages although my Romantsch is rather lacking and it depends upon the dialect of Swiss German being spoken: for some reason I do best understanding those from Lucerne – go figure. I love the mountains, the culture, the diversity. Switzerland is not only a land that emigrated, but also a land of immigrants. There are occasionally clashes, but on the whole a country that can function in spite of, or perhaps thanks to, its diversity is a great one to live in.

The Federal Charter from early August 1291 is Switzerland's oldest constitutional document. In this ancient pact, the valley communities of Central Switzerland, Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden pledged to help each other resist any threat of violence or injustice. Foreign judges were not to be tolerated, while the existing power balance remained intact.  

Summary of the Latin text

“For the common good and proper establishment of peace, the following rules are agreed :

1. In view of the troubled circumstances of this time, the people and communities of Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden promise to assist each other by every means possible against one and all who may inflict on them violence or injustice within their valleys and without.
2. Each community shall help the other with every counsel and favour and at its own expense in the event of any assault on persons or goods within and without the valleys and to this end have sworn a solemn oath to uphold this agreement in confirmation and renewal of a more ancient accord.
3. Every man shall continue to serve his overlord to the best of his abilities.
4. The office of judge may not be obtained for any price and may only be exercised by those who are natives or resident with us.
5. Any dispute amongst the Confederates shall be settled by the most prudent amongst us, whose decision shall be defended by all.
6. Those who commit murder shall themselves be put to death. A murderer who flees may never return. Those who protect him shall themselves be banished from the valley until they are recalled by the Confederates.
7. Those who maliciously injure others by fire shall lose their rights as fellow countrymen, and anyone who protects and defends such an evil-doer shall be held liable for the damage done.
8. Any man who robs a Confederate or injures him in any way shall be held liable to the extent of his property in the valleys.
9. The property of debtors or sureties may only be seized with the permission of a judge
10. Every man shall obey his judge and must if need be indicate the judge in the valley before whom he must appear.
11. Any man who rebels against a verdict and thereby injures a Confederate shall be compelled by all other Confederates to make good the damage done.
12. War or discord amongst the Confederates shall be settled by an arbiter and if any party fails to accept the decision or fails to make good the damage, the Confederates are bound to defend the other party.
13. These rules for the common good shall endure forever.

Done with the seals of the three aforementioned communities and valleys at the beginning of August 1291.”

Anyone wishing to can look up the history behind the Federal Pact although it was adopted as the beginning of Switzerland only in the 19^th century can follow this link:

https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/history-of-the-federal-council/federal-charter-of-1291.html

 

Whom would I gorgonize?

Or to gorgonize, or not?

 

Another one of those lovely words that one doesn’t hear often, but that could be so useful in today’s world of dwindling thoughts and vocabulary.

 

For those (o.k. I had a vague idea, but didn’t know the origins) who haven’t a clue: it could have been any one of the three monstrous sisters in Greek mythology: Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa who could turn people into stone with a look – oh wouldn’t that be useful???

Meaning: To paralyze, petrify, or hypnotize.

 

I can think of a few people, whom, after very careful thought as to the results of my actions, I would love to gorgonize. No fears, I won’t mention them here!

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/Les-Gorgones-%C3%A9quipe-de-bateau-dragon-113034570268511/

Through the glass…

 

Not clearly.

 

One of the rare advantages of these cold winter days – and the ice on the windshield in the morning if one forgets to put on the protection – is the beauty of patterns formed by said ice. Works of art, if ephemeral, still works of art.

 

 

From inside

On the outside

Grouse and no, it’s not only a bird

A-Word-a-day, one of my all-time favorite sites, posted this one today. I knew the verb “to grouse” meaning to complain; I knew the noun “a complaint”; I knew that it was also a bird, but I learned something new as well.

 

Since 1941 “grouse” is an Australian slang, used as an adjective and meaning “wonderful”.

 

Now that’s what I love about words – so versatile – so able to be twisted and turned and become something totally unlike what they were.

https://www.armchairanglophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/DSC_0014copy.jpg

Getting things done, or not…

 

Reflections on procrastination.

Ah, there are days!

I have a whole day all to myself, something that is rather rare, at least until English conversation at 16:00, so I had great plans for sorting, filing, tossing and the like.

People intervene – and that is my life and I like it!

 

First of all I needed cat food having discovered last night that I had no more wet food. Both cats were looking on and very anxious for their nightly dinner. Fortunately I did have a tin of cat tuna or not quite sure if they would have forgiven me. So needing cat food I debated which store and decided to not cross the border, then remembered that the best store for their brand was one of the three that I hadn’t been to for awhile.  On the way there, I caved (had planned on no lunch dates) and called a friend on the off chance that she would be available as she is sometimes here, but usually busy, but often in Southern France where I really can’t just call and make a lunch date. She was so that’s Date number 1.

 

Finally at the store I promptly ran into another friend, and as luck would have it, she was available for coffee, so we did. Lovely interlude.

 

Home finally just an hour before I need to go back out for my luncheon date and suddenly “work” not quite as attractive, so a few computer games and this blog later…

 

Perhaps after lunch I’ll be more productive? Or not. There are days.

And people will ALWAYS come first in my life – that is what makes it so good.

 

Reflections in the countryside

 

02.02.2022

 

There are dates that are attractive to people due to the repetition of a number. There are

No wedding venues for example either for today, nor for the 22.02.2022.

 

In our family, unfortunately, the 2^nd of February doesn’t hold such positive connotations as we lost my husband and my son’s father on the 02.02.2000.

 

It was, as we quickly realized, his last joke, especially as in reading the death certificate they had labeled it 00:20!  I do believe that he had the strength and mental capacity to achieve that combination and it still makes us smile.

 

That being said 22 years later, there are way too many 2s in this day. When he passed away on the 02.02.2000 there were 5 zeros and 3 twos, now there are 5 twos and 3 zeros, never mind the 22 years.

 

It’s enough to make one think, but then again I have always had some kind of connection to numbers and if 2 is not my favorite, my life is full of numerical coincidences.

We will get through the day.

 

 

Friends

 

I receive magazines from one friend that I read and pass on to another; I buy magazines that I read then pass on to the first friend, then when I get them back I pass on to another…. Old friends, good friends!

 

So, when in a recent one of said magazines I read my horoscope “You may be changing your social circle. Old friends may be dropping away, making room for new connections that will help you to grow more” I thought, horrors, no, no, no.  At my age I am unfortunately losing some friends to the heavens (sounds a lot better than the alternative doesn’t it – and one doesn’t need to have any particular beliefs to prefer the thought of a heaven to anything else), but so far I have seen no change in the “dropping away”. Have I added new friends – amen, and each addition is enriching.

 

Without my friends, old and new, life simply wouldn’t be as rich as it is. I’ll take them all!

So forget that horoscope and let’s see who my next appointment is, ah yes, that dear young woman who spent a few years here with me at number 15! Yeah. And yesterday it was two friends – the remains of an association that didn’t make it, but the friendship endures. Then it will be…

 

I am blessed!

 

My friends are like these petals: a bright light in my life, and abundant.

 

Mediocre isn’t always bad

 

I usually refrain from anything political, but the following paragraphs could so apply to many other incidents, many other persons, many other situations.

We try sometimes to be perfect, and fail ourselves miserably most of the time. Most of us are not totally good, efficient, nice, kind, but then again most of us aren't evil, total wasters, unkind nor lazy.

I came across a Quora publication today that, for me, says it best – and with not too many words:

 

Pastor Lance Ness in this article – and I quote:

 

https://www.quora.com/profile/Lance-Ness-4

What are the highlights of the first year of Joe Biden's presidency?

 

“I am Republican and:

Overall, Joe Biden is a lackluster leader. I knew he would be.

But for a 78 year old man who jumped into the White House at a terrible time I don't think he's doing a bad job.

I do not blame him for Afghanistan. Trump CLEARLY set things in motion for a withdrawal months before he left office.

He is doing at least a reasonable job with a pandemic.

People want to criticize his spending bill. TRUMP TALKED ABOUT AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS IN 2016. He saw the problem, and what did he do about it? Every president for the last 20 or 30 years (maybe more) should have been spending a few billion a year on this problem long before now. If we had we wouldn't be looking at a trillion dollar monstrosity.

After 4 years we have a President who is at least sane, semi competent as to the job, doesn't embarrass this nation 24/7, who isn't caught lying on a daily basis, waste 3 days out of 7 playing golf, or hours tweeting every day.

Biden is getting criticized but he doesn't handle it by scteaming “fake news” or trying to shut down Saturday Night Live because they pick on him.”

 

 

 

My daily wish list….

 

I had to laugh – and promptly have adopted the terminology – when my sister-in-law the other day said that she needed to get back to her “wish list”: just a fancy, and much better name for the “to do” lists that we all make from time to time.

 

Does one feel less guilty at the end of the day if one calls it a wish list, as in I “wish” that I could get the filing done, the laundry folded and put away, the floors swept, the cupboards sorted out, the letters answered, the book keeping done? I certainly hope so, so from now own I no longer have a “to do” list, but rather a “wish list”.

 

Guess that I had best add a few things and get on with it!

Thanks K