Winter Returns

 January Cold

As is typical here, winter begins in earnest in January. While we had a blizzard-y November, and a foggy and frosty December, now we have winter, just as the new year starts. Cold. Snow. And sunshine. 

Hello New Year 2026

 Goodbye Old, Hello New

While much will keep on keeping on, especially in the wide world of politics and finance and other troubled areas of life, we can each choose to design our own spheres for productivity, health, prosperity and joy. May we all do so in the year ahead. 

God bless us every one. 

End of the Year

 Silvester

As we close out 2025 we have for which to thanks - despite terrible troubles near and far. God is still in charge, and His plan is good. Now we pray for grace in the New Year starting tomorrow. 

Fourth Day of Christmas

 Fog and Frost

While the sun and some blue sky came out down in the flatlands, when we went to church, up higher was all frosted trees and thick fog. Pretty, but not helping solar panels.

Joy to the World

 The Lord is Come!

Blessed Christmas Day

Blessed Christmas Eve

 Rejoice! 

God is with us. 

St. Gallen in Advent

 Evening Lights

In some store windows were special displays for the city’s Advent calendar

Looking toward the Dom and its huge tree

The “ornaments” were paper bags full of light strings. Unique.

How the market areas get at night: crowded

A bed store, with its Nativity display. There were many such, acknowledging the Reason for the Season. 

(My iPad was getting weird, so some of these are out of order, despite numerous re-tries to get the thing to be obedient; it would not.)

The best chocolate shop….

Another decorated fountain

Good night, St. Gallen.

In Zürich

 Today

Another Advent day in the city. Actually it turned out to be two cities - St. Gallen in the evening in its Christmas glow. But here is Zürich in the day time, in Christmas finery. 

A Glühwein stand along the river

Fountains get decorated, too 

Cozy places to sit and sip and see and be seen

More wool blankets await

Sheepskins 

The Christmas market in Bellevue by the lake - on the Sechselaütenplatz

A collection of large wildlife shapes were tucked about

Lots of seating invited lingering. This was just before midday, so it was not busy, but by evening it would be elbow to elbow. 

This is not offering a disease. It is a tasty potato dish from the deep valleys of southern Switzerland.

A warm fire - appreciated by many today

The bridge between Bellevue and Bürkliplatz, with the church towers: Fraumünster, St. Peter’s, and Grossmünster

Lake Zürich

Next, a look at St. Gallen in the evening.