I should have posted this entry lastnight but i fall asleep way too early than my usual hours (I am a nightowl). There's nothing unusual to write just some few rants about this and that...will not go through all the details really. I just feel like my blog right now is all about posting pictures since I am not that gifted with writing. I will officially say that pictures can speak more words than I can. As i said in my previous entries (old blogs), I have trouble keeping up my site. I need a push, a kick or a good spanking (the last one is the last resort). So, what is the point of todays post? Nothing really; just making sure I can still type it out.
jeudi 28 février 2008
mardi 26 février 2008
Wordless Wednesday
Tuesday Edition
This is my daughter Ina. She is 13 and a very thoughtful and adoring girl. I took this picture last sunday while we went up hiking in Verbier. I manipulated the image to just show the prominent color which best represents how beautiful that day was. Check out more Wordless Wednesday.lundi 25 février 2008
dimanche 24 février 2008
Photo Hunt: Wooden
I took this picture last year in between summer and autumn. The flowers were all set in this interesting wooden structure. In fact, this used to be a living tree! Unfortunately cut, but carved and decorated with flower pots to enjoy the other side of its beauty.Also check my other take on this week's theme at this site.
Thanks
Visiting Bern
Bern the capital of Switzerland is also a Canton, BE (State). It is about an hour from our town and the language spoken is a Swiss German dialect (totally different from High German). I will not go through the details about it's political info etc., just search it online if you are interested to know more about the place. We decided to take Saturday as our leisure day to stroll the town. First stop is to find our favorite restaurant. Just look at the pictures for the food we chose to eat that day.
Rösti (is made with potatoes, like hashbrown in the US) with bacon and eggs
Spaghetti with Mussels (Mine was with Risotto) 
When everyone was happy and energized, we went for a little window shopping while crossing the old town. In between stop was my fascination with the fountains. They are all over the places. Like any of my excursion, i must take photos regardless of what...Just for a bit of information, Bern is also the city known for its fountains. There are probably 100 or more of them in the city and what few i found in the old center town have a very powerful images. Here are some of the fountains.
The Ryfflibrunnen
Brunnen is the German word for fountain. As much as I would like to share the perspective by taking the entire image of the fountain but, obviously failed, I can however give you a measurement of its actual size for the fountain, including statue, column, and basins. Each fountain probably reaches about 15 feet (roughly 4.5 meters) in height, with the statue being nearly life-size.
The Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Justice)
Too bad we didn't get a closer shot of him
Here is myself taking a pose with my children with the armor standing guard over the city fountain, and another smaller bear between his legs eating some grapes.The Simsonbrunnen
This fountain shows the biblical story of Samson and the Lion. Apparently this fountain was paid for by the butcher's guild. It is easy to see why they would chose this image to represent their trade.
The Chindlifresserbrunnen
My favorite although it is a bit graphic and all, the Chindlifresserbrunnen (Child-Eating-Ogre-Fountain). The Chindlifresser is kind of like the Swiss boogey-man. I was a bit afraid and worried that Calvin might have a nightmare from looking at this fountain. I didn't dig on the history about this fountain (yet) but it is really strange that the people of Bern do not seem to be too fazed by this image of cannibalistic infanticide.
After what seems to be a walk of eternity, we ended crossing the bridge to our final destination. To see the famous bears. Which is literally the mascott of the town.
Just a bonus picture on our way to see the bear. I am still not sure if this is a real person posing a yoga. We had a debate with the children about it. Still continues to talk about it on our way home. It was a great day. I hope your Saturday was a fun one as well.
For more photos on this trip, you may visit here.
jeudi 21 février 2008
Thursday Challenge
"WINTER"
Here is my submission for the challenge. This picture was taken in January 20, 2008. I was just goofing around happy to reach the top of this 1 hour walk. My dear husband took the picture and it looks awesome. If you like to participate in this Photo Theme for Thursday, just visit the link. You will have fun with the challenge.
mardi 19 février 2008
You know if you are Swiss when...
1. you complain if your bus/train/tram is more than 5 minutes late. Make that 1 minute
2. you've ever been confused with a Swede
3. you laugh when Americans believe that Swiss Miss is a Swiss product, but then have no clue that Nestlé and Rolex ARE
4. you get frustrated if you go grocery shopping abroad and there aren't at least 10 different kinds of chocolate and 15 kinds of cheese available
5. you have learned three to four languages and think this is completely normal
6. you have ever been asked - upon stating your nationality - whether you live in the mountains and whether you can yodel
7. you can pronounce "Chuchichäschtli" and you know what it means
8. you have ever been asked who the president of Switzerland is and then failed miserably trying to explain why you've lost track
9. you know what "Röschti" are and you have crossed the "Röschtigrabe" at some point
10. you went to a state-funded ski camp every year with your classmates in high school
11. to you, skis are like the extensions of your feet, because you've skied since you could walk
12. you are amused when people ask you what language is spoken in your home country and/or you have to explain that "Swiss" is not a language, that there are four national languages and none of them is called "Swiss"!
13. you owned a Swatch growing up... or still do
14. you've ever seen "Sandmännchen" dubbed into Romansch
15. as a female, you give all your friends three kisses on the cheeks as a greeting
16. you love Migros and you swear that some of their products are better than anything you've ever seen elsewhere
17. you've ever been asked by your non-Swiss friends to intervene in a fight and used "hey, I'm Swiss" as an excuse not to
18. your country has six different public television channels in three different languages - and you don't think this is unusual
19. you get amused when you see Swiss German people being subtitled on German television
20. you firmly believe it is more important to do things accurately than to do them quickly
21. you were legally allowed to drink beer and wine at the age of sixteen
22. you walked to kindergarten without supervision, wearing a large orange triangle around your neck
23. you think it's normal that everyone has a bunker underneath their house, or is registered for one of the public bunkers under the school building, for emergency situations... by the way, here's a fun thing to do: invite over some of your foreign friends (Americans make very good candidates) and take a picture of the look on their face when they SEE the bunker. Priceless!
24. when being asked to explain how certain things work in your country, you have to use the phrase "it differs for each canton, so..."
25. you are asked to vote on a "Referendum" or "Initiative" at least 3 or 4 times a year
26. you are used to drinking from any public fountain in the street unless there is a warning sign that says "no drinking water"
27. you grew up believing all cows must wear bells
28. you think that driving somewhere for four hours is a hell of a long time
29. you get slightly irritated or at least confused if your foreign visitors ask to see a chocolate factory
30. you know what Betty Bossi books and products are and have bought one
31. you know someone that collects the tin foil lids from coffee cream tubs
32. you don't see where the problem is when every male citizen who has been to the army has an assault rifle under his bed
33. you have to pay twice the price for museum entries because you're not a citizen of the EU, although you live in Europe!
34. you are in a non-European country and can hear people talking Swiss German and just go up and strike up a conversation with a complete stranger
35. no matter how much of a "bad-ass" you think you are, you will still pick up your candy wrapper off the floor if an old lady asks you too
36. you think everything is cheap abroad compared to Swiss prices!
I had fun reading this while posting, but it is true. This is to all of my Swiss family and friends. And, for my friends who need to know who the Swiss are.
2. you've ever been confused with a Swede
3. you laugh when Americans believe that Swiss Miss is a Swiss product, but then have no clue that Nestlé and Rolex ARE
4. you get frustrated if you go grocery shopping abroad and there aren't at least 10 different kinds of chocolate and 15 kinds of cheese available
5. you have learned three to four languages and think this is completely normal
6. you have ever been asked - upon stating your nationality - whether you live in the mountains and whether you can yodel
7. you can pronounce "Chuchichäschtli" and you know what it means
8. you have ever been asked who the president of Switzerland is and then failed miserably trying to explain why you've lost track
9. you know what "Röschti" are and you have crossed the "Röschtigrabe" at some point
10. you went to a state-funded ski camp every year with your classmates in high school
11. to you, skis are like the extensions of your feet, because you've skied since you could walk
12. you are amused when people ask you what language is spoken in your home country and/or you have to explain that "Swiss" is not a language, that there are four national languages and none of them is called "Swiss"!
13. you owned a Swatch growing up... or still do
14. you've ever seen "Sandmännchen" dubbed into Romansch
15. as a female, you give all your friends three kisses on the cheeks as a greeting
16. you love Migros and you swear that some of their products are better than anything you've ever seen elsewhere
17. you've ever been asked by your non-Swiss friends to intervene in a fight and used "hey, I'm Swiss" as an excuse not to
18. your country has six different public television channels in three different languages - and you don't think this is unusual
19. you get amused when you see Swiss German people being subtitled on German television
20. you firmly believe it is more important to do things accurately than to do them quickly
21. you were legally allowed to drink beer and wine at the age of sixteen
22. you walked to kindergarten without supervision, wearing a large orange triangle around your neck
23. you think it's normal that everyone has a bunker underneath their house, or is registered for one of the public bunkers under the school building, for emergency situations... by the way, here's a fun thing to do: invite over some of your foreign friends (Americans make very good candidates) and take a picture of the look on their face when they SEE the bunker. Priceless!
24. when being asked to explain how certain things work in your country, you have to use the phrase "it differs for each canton, so..."
25. you are asked to vote on a "Referendum" or "Initiative" at least 3 or 4 times a year
26. you are used to drinking from any public fountain in the street unless there is a warning sign that says "no drinking water"
27. you grew up believing all cows must wear bells
28. you think that driving somewhere for four hours is a hell of a long time
29. you get slightly irritated or at least confused if your foreign visitors ask to see a chocolate factory
30. you know what Betty Bossi books and products are and have bought one
31. you know someone that collects the tin foil lids from coffee cream tubs
32. you don't see where the problem is when every male citizen who has been to the army has an assault rifle under his bed
33. you have to pay twice the price for museum entries because you're not a citizen of the EU, although you live in Europe!
34. you are in a non-European country and can hear people talking Swiss German and just go up and strike up a conversation with a complete stranger
35. no matter how much of a "bad-ass" you think you are, you will still pick up your candy wrapper off the floor if an old lady asks you too
36. you think everything is cheap abroad compared to Swiss prices!
I had fun reading this while posting, but it is true. This is to all of my Swiss family and friends. And, for my friends who need to know who the Swiss are.
lundi 18 février 2008
samedi 16 février 2008
Photo Hunt: FREE
What comes to my mind with the word is my son. Just look at how happy he is when he is left alone. Free from the hands of his older siblings/family and free to do what he likes to do.
vendredi 15 février 2008
Happy Valentines Day
How was your day?
I spent my afternoon with my daughter shopping in Lausanne. I was so happy that at the last minute she decided to come with me. It was our day spending not only "money" but bonding time, the girl way. We took the train and had some drinks at Starbucks before heading to our tour. After almost 3 hours we went back to the train station and met Daddy. We all went home together. Later, i had to dress up and get ready. My dear husband reserved us a romantic Valentine dinner in "Mai Thai". It was a five course meal with accompanying wine (various on each service). Arrived at 7:30 pm, got seated, taken care of and had the rum with fruit cocktail for apperitiff. The St. Valentine menu was superb! (forgot the menu list) It was a fusion of Thai with the French touch. I just adore it. Patrick and I had a superb talk in between the course and what seems like a short time actually ends up by midnight. We went back home after having the tea. We both agreed that the night was a very special one, too bad, we also both knew that we could no longer stay in town to party much longer. (Aging? haha) Until next year....some photos from the evening...
dimanche 10 février 2008
Back on My Feet
After almost 3 years of inactive participation in our annual family skiing trip, I finally find myself kicking to slide the snowy hills of Les Paccots. The resort is about 20 minutes from where we live and it is just a small family winter recreation. I was so stressed and nervous thinking I will make such a huge mess with my big come back! Luckily for me, having a husband like Patrick is a wonderful blessing. He was the most patient and gentle teacher supporting me in everyway. The first hour thought to be crucial was a walk in the park afterall. Skiing once learnt is like learning how to bike. Even if you idle for awhile, the skill is within us. It is only a matter of time and practice to get back the confidence. I could never imagine myself having such a good time with my children in the slopes today. Almost 5 hours of fun and a good hour of rest was just the therapy I needed to officially get my feet back on the slopes. I am loving it so much! Can't wait for the next big snowfall...With my two older kids before the first run...
Beautiful couple on a beautiful God given day
Best Regards,
Haydee
vendredi 8 février 2008
Amongst Other Things...
Hey, glad you made it here to my site.
It may look easy once we read or visited our friend's blog and all, but I find it really takes dedication and effort to do this. Maintaining is an issue for me, keeping up your site so visitors will have something to look forward once they come by. I tried several occasion to posts an entry and after seems like ages for the next one. So, here I am again. I just hope that this will be my last attempt for beginnings...As busy as i thought i could be, perhaps writing once in a while about anything will be therapeutic. Thank you for coming by and with everything and all, i will make my best to join the blogging community. If you would like me to add your site, just let me know. I needed more friends to keep me going here.
Best Regards,
Haydee
It may look easy once we read or visited our friend's blog and all, but I find it really takes dedication and effort to do this. Maintaining is an issue for me, keeping up your site so visitors will have something to look forward once they come by. I tried several occasion to posts an entry and after seems like ages for the next one. So, here I am again. I just hope that this will be my last attempt for beginnings...As busy as i thought i could be, perhaps writing once in a while about anything will be therapeutic. Thank you for coming by and with everything and all, i will make my best to join the blogging community. If you would like me to add your site, just let me know. I needed more friends to keep me going here.
Best Regards,
Haydee
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