Today we had our first snow here in Lausanne...it was pretty much a dusting but has effectively made everything kinda grey (and white). A lot of the colors that I love here in Switzerland are being replaced with shade of winter...
Her is an example:
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| Before... |
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| ... & After |
But while the landscape is losing its color the town is adding it - Christmas color!
You cannot blame the Swiss for not waiting till after Thanksgiving, pretty much because they do not celebrate it. So they are allowed... In the center of town they are hanging lights on everything, setting up the little holiday shops and getting ready for the 'illumination'! Most of the decorations are pretty standard but a few things definitely cross the line into the creative!
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| The Lausanne Palace... |
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| ...all wrapped & lit up! |
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| Lights all over the streets... |
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| & temporary Holidays shops all over! |
All pretty standard and holiday-ish! But this year they decided to go a little further...
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| Lit Stick figures... |
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| ...& Glow in the dark Octopuses! |
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| And my personal favorite (about 50' tall) |
They are adding new things everyday and I can not wait until they are finished and everything is lit up!
Should be amazingly festive!
On the home front we have just been relaxing and trying to adapt to the change in the weather (it gets cold here). Tom had a few day trip to Korea that was productive but he says there is no need to go back. According to his description it was kind-of bland and not terribly special. So, I guess that comes off the bucket list...lol
I have been reading a lot, continuing my pottery and have started making bread (also getting things ready for the holidays). My ceramics have been coming along real well. I have finished my ceramic bread basket, made a few holiday items and have started 'throwing' items on the wheel again...
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| Some holiday ceramic fun! |
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| My finished bread basket! |
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| New wheel items... |
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| ...some bowls and plates... |
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| I have also been playing... |
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| with glazes on my items! |
It really has been a lot of fun to learn the craft of 'throwing' an item on a potter's wheel. And as you can see I have also taken this other directions.
Bread making has also been very therapeutic - I have found that the kneading of dough is similar to the kneading of the clay that is required to make a bowl (or anything on a wheel).
I have been baking a British bread known as a "Bloomer" but I have modified the recipe and came out with a great version of an American Rye bread with caraway seeds. Lots of fun and delicious!
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| Great for sandwiches, toast and just eating! (we could use a little good US Pastrami) |
I want to share some of the colorful photos I have taken while roaming around our adopted city (before this week)...
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| Leaves changing & falling down by the lake |
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| They restarted the fountain at the Olympic Museum |
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| More changing colors... |
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| ...& replanting in town! |
Before giving everybody a little new news of things coming up -
Last night we had a lovely dinner with Tom's Assistant, Thao - an amazing, helpful and beautiful young lady - we are very lucky to have her in our lives (she knows everything and everybody)!
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| Tom & Thao at MinutSoleil |
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| Happy Belated Birthday Thao! |
Now before I end this post...
Upcoming events...
- A Thanksgiving or Christmas Goose this year! It just sounds fun!
- A short trip to Zermatt between Christmas and New Years! Possibly a little skiing!
- In January we will be back in the states! Virginia this time! I will be there from January 8th till the 17th (Tom the 11th till the 17th) - can't wait!
Ok, that's all for now...
To all our friends and family we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving (to Aunt Helen & Uncle John and George & Andy - Happy Anniversary).
We miss and love you all!
Hope to see you soon!
Ciao for now!
Ron & Tom
