First day of work

Yesterday was my first day of work at the US Embassy. I went in early in order to get my new badge and number codes, my office is located between the FBI and the DEA; I was given "the talk" and then it was time for my first job. I was to take a Swiss worker up the elevator shafts and watch while he did maintenance. All the while I was climbing- in my head I kept hearing the theme from Mission Impossible ....LOL thinking to myself; "I'm a Mother of three wonderful grown boy's, I have two grandchildren with one more on the way...how in the hell did I end up here; doing this! "so much for take your Grandchild to work day". But on the other hand- it was quite exciting, I like being able to know things that no-one else can know although being in the elevator shaft totally blew my perception to the way they can come crashing down in the movies. {My disappointment of the day}
After returning home to spend a few minutes with Mikey, I took off to get my hair done "all of you ladies know what I'm talking about when I say" new job/new style! Now I fit the job. I'm already looking forward to Monday to see what plays out next.
Rich and I went out to the local restaurant last night with friends. We had such a wonderful time! Must do that again soon!! Now for all of you Stateside please make a note that we are doing our time change tonight: setting the clocks back one hour.

Aliens

This had to be my favorite place of the day. I'm a big Sci-Fi, horror movie buff!! And this museum didn't disappoint. 
We began walking through a beautiful old town complete with cobble stone streets and buildings with history....

The oldest house in town built in 1789 such detail

We were greeted upon our entrance

the artwork was.....different

and meetings were uneasy but interesting...

A Bust, I think every home should have one!

My favorite of the day, dining table with six chairs. Wonder where I can purchase this set?

And if you go, don't forget to stop off at the local Bar for a drink. 

so fun!

It was like being at a convention for space people....FUN!
Alright..beam me up Scotty, time to go back to Earth.

Cheese

The "one of many" cheese factory's we went to was quite a bore, however they were having a craft show with a few people selling some of their talents. Now I didn't purchase anything- but it was interesting to walk though.

here is the one photo that Rich took of cheese being made

cute but small, I saw them as dust collectors

must not forget the bells Swiss is famous for

wood sticks had threads attached.She would move them around

 to make photo

Choclate Factory

Well, who doesn't love chocolate?! Our trip to the factory was "bitter/sweet"; although small in size and production, the smells and taste were amazing. A place worth taking the kids to!

when you walk in, your facing a wall of chocolate bars

looking around- it's chocolate,chocolate everywhere!

we begin with the candy man...

the chocolate then comes out in long strips

cut in pieces

covered in chocolate.....

after going through the cooling machine,

the pieces are wrapped,

packaged, and ready to send out.

then we entered the tasting room

soooo much chocolate!!!!

could "YOU" taste it all?

 By the time we made it back to the gift shop; I couldn't even "LOOK" at any chocolate to purchase.! If you go...buy your chocolate "before" touring the factory!!
GYM.....must go to the gym!

Word is in

I received an e-mail from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security yesterday; I've been granted clearance to classified information at the SECRET level. Top secret will have to wait until they finish their investigation. I also just received a call from the Embassy, informing me that I could begin work as early as Monday. I have already been introduced to my new Boss and he showed me my new office. Now getting into my office will be a little iffy at first; at least until I can memorize the code to get in. "I was never good at remembering numbers!!!! IE: locker combination's, phone numbers, addresses...and without my GPS I would be lost 90% of the time"!!! And let us not forget that people call me Lucy...{from I Love Lucy} so I should be bringing a lot of color and excitement to the job! You should wish my new co-workers well!!!! As soon as I'm up and running I'll send out my State e-mail address. Rich and I will be working in the same building, on different floors---which reminds me, I'm going to be decorating Rich's Office for the Holidays beginning Mid-November...I've decided on the theme: The Grinch Cave. So if you can help by forwarding me any web-sites selling good Grinch Items Please do!

Temperature dropping

Yesterday we awoke to frost on the ground and this morning the car was iced-over. That being said, I love this weather! I had my German class yesterday- took the strab into the Baunhoff and decided to walk to the Embassy from there. The air was so fresh, crisp and snappy; I just loved the cold air on my face. Wonder if they have a job for me in the Arctic's? Or Iceland? "now that would be my dream job" LOL It's already beginning to warm up out there, the temp is up to 30 right now. I'll have to finish up so I can get out for my morning walk before it gets too-warm.
You can all look forward to my Blog this weekend...we will be going to a cheese factory, Chocolate Factory and the HR Giger Museum. Containing the biggest existing collection of sculptures, furnishings and film sets. Giger is best known for his visual effects in the film Alien. We'll also be having lunch in the Alien Restaurant! Since I intend to get a lot of pictures...I'll write a separate blog for each site. Humm...wonder how fun it would be to have an Alien Dining Room?!

Chestnuts

Yesterday Rich and I ventured out to Fete de la Chataingne, Fully to the annual Chestnut Festival. Although the weather turned into cold, windy rain; armed with winter coats and our trusty umbrellas we made our way through the Festival. Consisting of about 270 stands of goodies to purchase including food. "almost everything was made with chestnuts" 
Some of the sights included:

Although the view was beautiful, the day was very hazy

 

 

 

of course they had the candy/gummy booth

anyone for red garlic and onions?

let us not forget the chocolate....

...and Hot Cocoa

 Will and Terri "who told us about this festival" also introduced us to their favorite

 

food vender

also a favorite in the area

one of them even tried to get Terri to take his place for the day

And the day wouldn't be complete without chestnuts roasting over open fires

    One of the best parts of the day "aside from being with good friends"...on the drive home the rain was mixed with SNOW!!!!!

Decorations and Cookies

The house is decorated for Halloween..every room. It was nice to see all my Pumpkins again, even the decorations the boys made when they were little! Takes me back to the times they were little and how excited they would get about "Trick or Treat" Good Times!! It's been a few days since I baked the cookies so, the supply is going down. Rich has been taking them to work. Still have a few brownies left but I think  it's safe to make the doughnuts soon, and perhaps some Whoopee Pies! My first time making them in Switzerland.

Here's the first batch of Fall Leaves 

A few of All Hallows Eve in the Kitchen

Christmas Bazaar

A very long day; although not as productive as I had anticipated. The Bazaar was pretty big- spread out into two buildings. I was disappointed with the choice of venders and their extremely high prices!
We are after all for all intense purposes living here in Europe, where day trips to the various "factory outlets" enable us to purchase the same things at great discounts! Although depending on the Rank of the Service member; some even find the factories expensive.  I found the situation to be in very poor taste for the young Military Families stationed in Europe, who were out "looking" for something to send their families for the Holiday season. Anyone who has walked in the steps of being a Military Family can understand where I'm coming from. "Money is very tight" While "browsing" the isles yesterday, I came across a young Private who was looking for a gift to send his Mom. He wanted to purchase a glass ornament but could not afford the price, he was trying to get the dealer to "come down" a bit on the price; dealer wouldn't budge! Enough was enough..I promptly found Rich and "left the building". I'll wait for the Christmas Markets- and just let time take care of greedy sellers; perhaps it's time they realize that it's "because" of the young troops they were invited onto the Army Base to participate in the first place!

Still October

I've had a "somewhat" productive week, unfortunately most of it was spent on a very bad migraine. It was the first in a long time! Rich returns today, I wonder if he'll be surprised by some of the "re-decorating" I've done?! Yesterday I made a double batch of my sour cream sugar cookies, the dough is in the refrigerator while awaiting to be baked! My friend Terri wants to come over and help decorate them- but if she doesn't come today she'll miss out on this batch. I'll take pictures when I'm done. I also made a pan of brownies...now all I need are people to eat this stuff. I LOVE to cook and bake..but no-way could I eat very much of it or I'd be over 200 lbs!!
Tomorrow we're going to get an early start and drive to Heidelberg Germany to attend the Holiday Bazaar, and pick up a few thing's at the Base Commissary. I think the drive will be beautiful with all the fall colors now. Well back to work for me! Marissa and Trista...it was great talking/texting with you last night!

Afterthought...

So, yesterday morning my friend Terri picked me up and we went to the US Embassy for our German class. After parking, while paying..we were approached by a Middle Eastern man. He spoke very good English and needed change for parking. Terri was able to exchange some money for him although he still needed a bit more for the three hours he requested. So I just gave him the amount he needed; "he was very appreciative" Anyway, we continued into the Embassy, found our class and after went for a nice lunch. It wasn't until last night that I remembered we have been placed on high alert for terrorist activity...after thinking back on my day- I realized that OMG...Terri and I could have been responsible for that guy being able to park outside the Embassy...and he had specifically told us he needed three hours! {for what? The car-bomb to go off?}
So my question is: How far do you go? At what point do you stop being helpful to people in need of help because they MIGHT be planning to do harm? Rich is always telling me I have to be more careful...he's going to have a grand old time with this one!! 

Memories of Grammy

 Fall is also the time of year that takes me back to Maine. I remember when my brother and I were little, my Grandmother would call us to the kitchen table in the afternoon for one of her homemade treats. In October almost everything was made with apples, the back yard was full of baskets of all different types of apples, pumpkins and squash; and nothing was better than coming into a warm kitchen to a glass of fresh apple cider and warm homemade Spiced Doughnuts! 
I also remember learning to cook from Grammy,Auntie and my Mom...every Sunday was baking day- where enough "sweets" were made for the week ahead. I was taught to cook with a vocabulary of "pinch, dash and dollop" it wouldn't be until Jr.High when I would learn to convert those words into measurements. I love making these doughnuts while remembering the warm conversations and laughter in that little Country Kitchen.
                                                                Spiced Doughnuts
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
5 tablespoons shortening, melted
4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
                    Add sugar, milk and shortening to beaten eggs. Sift flour before measuring, then re-sift with baking powder, spices and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture..stir until blended. Refrigerate dough for 1/2 hour. Roll dough 1/4-inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Fry in Crisco @375 about 3 minutes, first on one side- then the other. Place on paper towels to cool. Sprinkle with sugar if you wish. Makes about 30. 
I usually double this recipe because Rich likes to take them into work and share. They also freeze well in airtight bags.

October

Wow, This time in Switzerland is going to go by quickly! It's already time to begin work on our Fisher Family Vacation..Rich has already booked all but one room at the B&B, "we're taking over". I'm already looking forward to having our Family all together under one roof.
Rich and I will be going to Edinburgh next month to spend a weekend at the B&B: to check out the area, buy the tickets for one of the activities that will be sold-out and make preparations for the Amazing Race! Now I just need to find out if the kid's are coming to Switzerland a week or two before or after Scotland.
I just received a call from Rich, seems he made it to his gate just in-time to board! "And he say's I'M slow!! But of course he'll have an excuse.