Eclipse?

 Our Version

We were too far east to see much.

Oh, well, maybe in the next one in fifty years.

Addendum

Others of our family went higher - along with half the country - and did see the eclipse.

Happy August

 Happy Swiss Independence Day 

Since its origin in 1291, Switzerland has grown and developed, and is now celebrating a long history. Flags flew today, people gathered, music was played and sung, but we have heard no fireworks and probably there were no traditional bonfires. It is much too dry this year. Some places in Europe have wild fires. We were blessed with rain today though, around some blazing sunshine. 

Oma Time

 What One Does

I had some summer days with granddaughter. Around learning to read - successfully, in three days - we did lots of crafts, coloring, story time, walks and playground, and games and more. Take-home projects were crucial. Besides cards - separate ones for Mama and Daddy - we made a summer wreath for Mieka’s room. She has fall and winter, and now this. 

What one can do with wadded tissue paper. 

Summer Excursion 2

 Mountain Mine

We hiked a mountain, had a nice Swiss lunch of meats and cheeses, and hiked down. 

Then we wove our way back down the mountain, and went to Sargans, to an old iron mine inside a mountain. I declined the three hour tour in the dark bowels of the mountain, but I hear it was interesting. We had a fine dinner in a cave afterward. 

Summer Excursion

 In the Mountains

Better Half‘s company has an annual excursion each summer. This time was to mountains and in mountains. 

Coffee stop with a view.

Then switchbacks up and up and up a mountain.

Flumserberg - skiing in winter, hiking in summer. We did the latter. 

The view is to the Churfirsten mountains. 

To be continued…

Lilies!

 And Blooms

The roses are mostly done blooming, but amazingly the wisteria is re-blooming. It hasn’t ever for us, though I hear it blooms continuously in Texas. The gladioli* keep maturing blooms one by one, so I have house flowers. And, I had three lilies bloom. Mostly that was while I was gone last week, but I brought one in to scent the house. 

* We are dutifully informed that the acceptable plural forms of gladiola (Latin, “little sword”) are gladiolas (common), gladioli (formal and proper), and gladiolus (which is weird).

More Wangen

 Town Center

Rathaus/City Hall

The Reader

Note the little salamanders all over.

Piebald pigeon.

Wangen, Inside the Walls

 Through the Gates

The archway leads through the thick wall into the city proper.

This is the old mill. An old sister lived there with her cats for many long years. It is now a museum.