It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

There was a light dusting of snowfall down by the lake here last Friday morning.  But the snowfall was so minimal that the flakes had already melted from the sidewalk.  The only way that I could tell it had snowed from looking out my front windows on Friday morning was to see snow remaining on the large trampoline that my downstairs neighbor has in her yard.  Otherwise, Friday was not too eventful.  By Saturday morning, however, the snow was falling in earnest.

Snow continued falling throughout the day so I took a few photos late in the morning: first, looking towards town,

then the hedges below,

then the playground.

My cut-back lavender looked naked in the snow,

but the bamboo welcomed the moisture.

I took these last two photos just as we were losing the sun altogether.

I can't believe how short the days have become.

Yesterday's Tribune de Genève reported that Saturday's snowfall had caused la pagaille (total mess) in Geneva.  According to police reports, the 15 cm (almost 6 in) snowfall was responsible for 73 traffic accidents in the city and four persons were injured.  Several roads were closed entirely and cars were left abandoned everywhere.  One good friend called to warn us not even to attempt to go out.  Her husband had and had been forced to abandon the car.  While trying to walk home, he slipped on the ice and injured his shoulder, which had already been giving him problems for some time.   Believe me, it never takes much encouragement to get me to "cocoon" - it's one of my favorite activities.

Most here, including me, haven't changed to snow tires yet.  I've been hoping to beat the odds altogether because I'll be leaving early in December for the US to spend a couple months there.  I've been holding out for not having to change tires at all.  With the exception of a few days each year, winters here, so long as one stays close to the lake, are not generally intemperate.  Of course, the winter of 2005 was an exceptional one and the spectacular ice displays near the lake made headlines around the world!  I lived much closer to the lake then.  My garden at the time fronted directly on the lake and remained iced over for a good six weeks!

Those who routinely head to the ski slopes change tires right away, but we haven't spent too much of the ski season here in recent years, in part thanks to the attractions of the littlest grandchildren in the US.  To be sure, the holiday season and winter are nearly here.  Thoughts of seeing family again soon help to keep us warm!

Prince Tyger deals with new responsibilities

Sometimes the world can seem overwhelming, when you're just two years old, and all of a sudden you are landed with all the responsibilities of being The "Big" Brother.

It was one thing when Momma and Poppa just talked about having a new baby come to live with you all.  That was kinda fun.  But you never imagined THIS at all!

Or this!

Or that this funny little creature that Momma found and brought home with her would take up so much of the time that she used to spend with YOU.  Alone with you.

So what is a "Big" Brother - who is still, in fact, very small - to do about these changed circumstances?

Well, for one thing, you can seek out a friend at the beach ...

and then kick back and let your friend express all these new feelings for you!

That's what friends are for, after all.

Welcome to the World, Princess Jelly Bean!

A week ago Friday, 19 November, my great-niece - and she is a GREAT one! - took her first peek at this world.  She was slightly overdue for her arrival date, originally projected for 12 November, which caused her young parents some small consternation.  But just as the gynecologist, who also happens to be a second cousin to the proud young dad, was ready to induce labor, the newest princess decided that it was time to make her entrance on her own terms.  Like all females in this family, she already has a mind of her own!

Here she is with Proud Dad Big J, Sweet Momma T and Doctor Cousin L, who delivered her [please note correction from original post].   Healer Sis is the Proud Grandmom from our side of the family.  She is also mother to Proud Dad and she is indeed PROUD.

She arrived at 8:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.  According to reports from Proud Grandmom Healer Sis, Sweet Momma T actually laughed during the delivery, helped immensely by an epidural to feel little pain.  

Upon first hearing the name of the newest princess, my own Princess Butterfly promptly dubbed the newest family member "Jelly Bean" - with a delighted giggle.  So, for this blog, she will reign as "Princess Jelly Bean" - at least for the time being.  She has been pronounced "perfect in every way" by her doting Grandmom.   Here she gazes up at her delighted papa.

Princess Jelly Bean weighed in at 9 lb 10 oz (4.08 kg) and was 22 inches (55.9 cm) long.  She has black hair (with just a slight tinge of red showing in the photos), a hearty cry, and loves to curl up in a ball.  She is exactly two weeks younger than her second cousin Prince Attani and, like him, scored 9 out of 10 on her APGAR.  I had never even heard of APGAR before, except in the context of a campground in Glacier National Park.  But apparently a 9 out of 10 on the APGAR score is a very good thing.  So I am very happy for both babies and their doting entourages. 

This world is somehow a sweeter place because of these recent additions to the family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our trip to Lausanne: castles and history

After learning about cobblestone replacement, we sauntered over to the Château Saint-Maire and wandered around the square.

The cantonal offices for the canton of Vaud are based in this structure, which was formerly the seat of Lausanne's Catholic bishops.  Nearby is the site of construction for the new parliament building.  The former historically significant building was destroyed by fire in May 2002.  There were signs showing the chronology for the new building

along with smaller signs depicting various historical eras that the former building had personified.  Here, for example, was the beginning of the Protestant era in 1536 until the invasion by the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798.

From this site, one can look across the rooftops of Lausanne for a panoramic view of Lake Geneva.

After a light but very tasty lunch at a tiny Italian restaurant (nine tables!) located near the square, we retraced our steps to the Lausanne Historical Museum, formerly the Old Bishop's Palace, for a visit.

We paused at the overlook for some excellent views of Lausanne's Vieille Ville.

While making our way back to the gare (train station) where our car was parked, we couldn't help but notice that the ubiquitous Golden Arches - that bastion of American culture - can also be found in Old Lausanne.

It wasn't far from "McDo's" - as McDonald's is known throughout the French-speaking areas - that we were genteelly accosted by a group of young girls who wanted to ask us some questions.  They were clearly reading from a script.  They told us that they were taking French courses in Lausanne and their assignment was to engage some passers-by in conversation.  We explained that, while we would love to converse with them, they might be better served by speaking with native French speakers.  They giggled, agreed, and bustled off in search of some native Lausannois!   

HWMBO wished - perhaps for the first time in his life - that he was a native French speaker.  The girls were very cute!

Our trip to Lausanne: replacing cobblestones

We left Lausanne Cathedral, complete with its flying buttresses - typical features of Gothic architecture - behind

and continued walking up a cobblestoned street towards the Château Saint-Maire, the seat of regional power since it was established in the 15th century.  Formerly a palace built fot the reigning Catholic bishops prior to the arrival of the Reformation in 1536, today, it is the seat of government for the canton of Vaud. 

Across the square from the château is the building that houses the government of the Préfecture of Lausanne, comprising six communes:  Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Epalinges, Jouxtens-Mézery, Lausanne, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Romanel-sur-Lausanne.

There was construction around the Prefecture building, as well as on the street leading to the square.

From time to time, cobblestones - like everything else - must be replaced, usually because there has been work done on the necessary infrastructure - the world within a world - that exists below street level.  Replacement cobblestones almost always look exactly like the originals, except that they haven't yet been weathered by time.

The technique does not seem to have varied much over the centuries.  It still involves difficult but precise manual labor - with lots of heavy lifting, bending and stretching.

Once the cobblestones have been laid, they are smoothed and covered over with a layer of sand which gradually works its way down between the stones and keeps them separated.

They are picturesque, to be sure.  But walking on them with spike heels is no fun.  Not to worry, I was wearing sneakers!    

Our trip to Lausanne: Lausanne Cathedral

Having seen that we were close to Lausanne Cathedral,

we strolled across the bridge to view it more closely.

After the spire and bell tower, the most notable feature of this lovely building was its impressive rose window

which we were also able to view from the interior.

This particular rose window is considered to be among the masterpieces of Gothic architecture. Its stained-glass mullions depict the medieval view of the world with the figure of God the creator at the center.

As with so many medieval cathedrals, the entrance doorway is decorated with stone carvings of saints.

Even after the passage of nearly 800 years, the details in the carvings are intricate.

The following slideshow will provide an idea of the interior of the cathedral.  Many of the more ornate features were painted over during the Reformation.  Since then, some have been restored - recognized for the historically priceless artistry and workmanship that they represent.

To be continued ...

Our trip to Lausanne, Take 2

This time we made it!  Whew!  For a description of our first trip - which could also be described as the "trip that wasn't," please see here.  But please don't stay there too long - I guarantee that this is a more pleasant read.

It's true that the weather report wasn't too encouraging.  Wednesday, the day of our trip to Lausanne's Vieille Ville, was not nearly as glorious as last Saturday afternoon.  But life is too short to let weather - or anything else for that matter - dictate our every move.  As it turned out, we were just fine and enjoyed ourselves - once we figured out where la Vieille Ville actually was!  Of course, when we arrived in Lausanne, we ended up following signs to la gare (train station), which is always a good place to start sightseeing in any European city.  Tourist information offices are always located in or near la gare and they are the best places to get ideas about what to see and directions to get there.  While pre-visit research on the internet is always a good idea, there is nothing like a map and colorful brochures to get one in a sightseeing mood.

The tourist office staff explained that Lausanne's Vieille Ville consisted principally of two areas: the cathedral and the château.  Neither was far from la gare, but it was a fairly steep climb, so the staff advised us that we could take the Lausanne Metro as an alternative and then retrace our steps back to the station.  We would have opted for the Metro just to see what it was like, but I also needed to find a UBS ATM to replenish our cash.  As it happened, the nearest UBS ATM was already halfway to la Vieille Ville, but not near a Metro stop.  So we decided just to walk all the way.

After some huffing and puffing - the tourist office had it right - the way was steep!

HWMBO remarked that most people were walking down, not up.  But we found the UBS ATM, which was our immediate goal.  Nearby was the bustling commercial center of Lausanne and Place Saint-François, where the Saint-François Church is located.  Construction for the church was begun in the 1270s by the Franciscans.  It was completed around 1272 although there were later renovations and additions.  Its harmonious simplicity reflects the Franciscan philosophy.  It became the center for a thriving Franciscan presence, including a monastery in the Middle Ages, until the Reformation arrived in Lausanne in 1536 with the invasion of Bernese troops.

With the arrival of the Reformation, the monastery was closed and the church was stripped of its religious imagery to become a Protestant parish center.  In addition to church services, concerts are often held there today.  Currently a Bach Festival is being advertised.

In the open area beside the Saint-François Church, we saw that stalls for the upcoming annual Lausanne Christmas Market were being prepared

and various merchants were also beginning to decorate for the Christmas season.  The holidays are clearly just around the corner.

Continuing our trek towards the cathedral, we noticed that a few stalls from the morning market were still servicing customers although it was nearly 12:30 by then.

Soon we spied the Lausanne Cathedral.  Its construction dates from 1170 to 1215, although it was not actually consecrated as a Catholic cathedral until 1275.  It underwent significant structural changes after the arrival of the Protestant Reformation in 1536.  Even with those changes, it is considered to be the finest example of Gothic architecture in Switzerland.  It looked exactly like the cover picture on our brochure and was impressively beautiful.  Looking at the background will also give you an idea of how the sky literally changed from blue sky to threatening - and back - all day long.

Under the bridge that led to the cathedral, we could see where the Metro would pass on its movement through the city.  It was an interesting yet comfortable juxtaposition of ancient and modern, similar to the feeling that one experiences at Chillon, where the modern autoroute soars above the ancient castle.

To be continued ...