I spent a little over two months at my first home in the German part of Switzerland, visiting family and friends. I was looking forward to a change of climate from sunny southern California (which turned out not quite as sunny and warm over the holidays, as I saw on the internet) to real Winter. Having grown up in Switzerland, Christmas in my subconscious mind is still associated with snow and cold, a Christmas tree with candles, roaring fires in the wood stove or fireplace, hearty meals and a few glasses of excellent wine. So when I first arrived here in the beginning of November, snow was nowhere to be seen. In fact, not even the mountains had much of the precious white and the tourist industry in the ski areas were all gloom and doom.

After a short holiday in a castle in the Piedmont (see my last blog entry), it was back to Switzerland and my dreams of white Christmas seemed to kind of evaporate–

Pretty, but more like Autumn than Winter

  until the second day of Christmas and then the dream became reality.

and with it the work of shoveling shoveling shoveling …

And, of course, a real Christmas tree with real candles!

and one of those yummy gloggs or mulled wines (hot red wine with spices and fruit)

A visit to my niece’s tea and coffee lounge with the addition of a vegetarian buffet at restaurant Limalimon in Bremgarten, Aargau. Although I’m not a vegetarian, I really enjoy these delicious dishes!

And above all, I’m very grateful for the company of family and so many friends.

Wishing you peace, health, and happiness in the New Year, dear friends. May your dreams come true in 2015!

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