Arrangement

Just a random little autumn arrangement I made about a week ago, from roadside weeds that struck me as pretty while on a walk.

 

 

I realize I forgot to post last week, haha. I was doing laundry, and going to an (unsuccessful?) job interview, and getting a migraine headache thing, so I was a little distracted.

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! :)

And Snow!

Measurable

If this keeps up, we might even have a white Christmas, for the first time in long memory. 

I should have finished winterizing the garden. 

Progress

But Not Done

Things are different for Christmas this year, with most of the family gone. Empty nesting. 

This is something I made some thirty years ago, and it has gone with every move. 

Stocking garland with no stockings this year. And we don’t plan to put up a tree. But I still like the holidays to look like the season. 

First Sunday in Advent

With No Picture

But more tomorrow, I hope. These past days have been very full, but shortly - on December 1st - I will, Deo volente, start an illustrated Advent/Christmas/Epiphany Story here. 

Today was supposed to be decorating day, but while we made a good start, that didn’t get done either. I hope your Advent is off to a peaceful and productive start..

Added Picture. The decorating process is in progress. 

Another Thanksgiving

With More of the Family 

And celebrating the beginning of Advent. 

What you get when getting up at 5:00 to get the Turkey in the oven, then transporting it and pies and stuffing and stuff across the canton for eating. 

Yes, there were purple potatoes. 

Then after church service, visiting a village Christmas market.

We talked to the organ grinder.

The village fountain is dry for winter, so it got filled. 

The hunter’s meat stand 

The church lantern

First Snow

We Might Get Winter This Year

It isn’t much, but it didn’t entirely melt either. 

My birthday planter opening blooms.

End of the last flowers.

Winter hats

Winter dog? 

Blessed Thanksgiving Day

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

After the Hay is In

Winter Supplies

We stacked a mountain of hay in the barn tonight - which was preceded by the fellow on the tractor doing the delivery dumping the monster bales on the electric wire gate, breaking it and leaving it open, with the horse right there, which fortunately decided he didn’t want to get loose in the hours until we went out and noticed the delivery. With the hay satisfactorily filling one side of the barn, and after some temporary rigging of the gate for the night, one might need a smidget of supper, Swiss style. Tomorrow being a big day of festivities, a couple of bites will do. And if one had a few more minutes, one might do a still life sketch….

Best Klaus Sack Ever

‘Tis the Season

It is almost Advent so from now until St. Nikolaus Day, December 6, various iterations of treat bags will be given to various family and acquaintances. Today Better Half got one from colleagues, who know his likes. 

Take a look at this. 

Friday Fun

By Ship

Last Friday was the occasion of Better Half‘s company Christmas dinner. Yes, it has to be early, to get a spot. 

In order to avoid the nonsense of face coverings and permissions, we gathered on a small ship and meandered around a lake. 

Outside was crisp and cold, inside was cozy and comfortable. We enjoyed a fine dinner of Fondue Chinois with quantities of vegetables and some remarkable wines as the lights on the shore slipped past. 

Just so you know that we were still proper and not too Christmasy too early, there were no untoward decorations or lights - BECAUSE, one doesn’t DO that. Or ought not. Some hapless woman in Maria’s town put up her Christmas lights last week  - not, mind you, loud colorful American gaudiness flashing to music, but subtle white trim lights. This small town however has a RULE: no Christmas decorations or lights before Advent or after Epiphany. One doesn’t DO that. Let’s be proper. Police came to admonish the offender. 

So we were civilized and proper, and all was decorous. 

Amuse bouche, and they did. 

And we were. 

Last Sunday

Of the Church Year

Amongst birthday flowers, piles of food, and “Turkey” for dinner a bit a head of Thanksgiving, we closed the church year. I am, according to Swiss system, officially retired now. I don’t know that that means anything in real life, but it is a milestone of some sort.

The roasted Turkey comes later. Roses from my Better Half.

Planter from Daughter and husband. 

When one doesn’t want to bake a cake, will this do? Pfeffernüsse in the middle. 

Art in the Kitchen

Sunday Preparations 

Sometimes one’s creative energies all go to edibles. Thus ….. today.

Muchness in baking today, including these caramel rolls. My mother’s old recipe, a perennial favorite. 

Autumn Inside

In Oranges

Or not

Not my Cacti, but I am keeping them alive. 

More Autumn

Flowers

The day was busy (photos next time), so I didn’t get the rest of the pictures posted here. The potted plants are in the house now. Some are still blooming, so I won’t cut them back until they are done, because I like them. 

And the rest outside add spot of color in the fog, bedraggled as they are.

My Salad flowers. Boratsch in dew drops. So pretty. 

Rose leaves.

And a few goji berries among the burning nettles.