Another beautiful day in Switzerland, although a bit windy and rainy I still love it! We have a couple of pine tree's out back and I guess it's the time of year when their needles begin to fall. The wind blows them everywhere...but it smells nice. Settling in is coming along nicely...seems that everyday there is less to do, "finely" with the exception of the laundry. I of course have a European washer {for those of you who haven't seen them; there small} Mine is a bit new in the fact that it functions as both the washer and dryer. Which brings a new problem. See, the drum is small, so the laundry it does hold hasn't much room to move around and there is no "shaking out the clothes between wash/dry, so despite my efforts the clean clothes come out very wrinkled. It seems I must iron everything!!! Such a pain!
I've got to begin working on my shopping list for Saturday. We will be going to the Base in Heidelberg and plan to make all the stops: garden center, furniture store, PX and Commissary. It's going to be a long day indeed!
On a lighter note Chris sent us pictures of he and Marissa's yard, they have put a lot of work into it since moving in...I'll try to find a before picture for you..it was dirt, dirt and dry.
They have done an amazing job!! Chris also informed me that he put closet doors in the nursery! Well, the yard looks wonderful Chris! I'm so proud of you!!!!
Monday: worked in the house and went shopping, Tuesday: Lunch with the girls downtown, "what a fun group of women!"Wednesday:worked at the house, and got to cuddle with the 14 day old baby next door...so cute! Thursday: got brave and had my hair done by someone who could only say "hello & goodbye" in English. So when I sat down in the chair- my thought's were- it couldn't look any worse- and my hair grows fast. However to my surprise, it came out just fine! Today-Friday, Rich will bring our long awaited car home after work and tonight we'll be getting together with friend's at the Brau'House or the Buskers Fest. It all depends on the weather, we're going to have a wet weekend. Saturday afternoon they are sending someone to show me how to work this new oven! It also works as a steamer and has a warming draw. They had finely sent me the instructions in English..but apparently if I use the wrong pan or foil..I will ruin the inside of the oven. Now, if your familiar with my past experiences with ovens, you now know if there is a way for me to mess-it-up..I WILL find it! We're unable to leave the area this weekend because Rich is on-call for 24hour duty until Wednesday; so our commissary/PX trip will be next Saturday. That's a good thing because it will give me the week to work on my list of what we need to get.
Pretty crazy at the moment. I'm working hard inside the house- but with all the windows I get beautiful views outside while I work. It's like pulling the outside in, so to speak. Everyday I'm noticing how bad the outside living space is looking and no matter what I accomplish inside the neglected yard just pulls the satisfaction away. Now, we have a push mower with a grass catcher, {since I'm a Green kind-of-girl, I love it} The problem at the moment...the wheels lock when I try to push it. Now it will go backwards..but that doesn't cut the grass. It looks as though I'm going to have to take a day and just work outside; either that or hire a gardener!
I was able to chat with Katrina last night on FaceBook, she had sent me a letter filling me in on Corey's life and her's as well. {Thank God for girls!!} Otherwise I would never know what my boy's were doing. Her advise to me was: Perhaps I should Fire them, and get three new one's!
The house is beginning to look like a home. Each day thing's are coming together..slowly. Friday we were taken to a Brewery for dinner...interesting because every Friday at 4pm, people in town show up with their "Brewery Stine" and for 10$ they fill up the jug (about 4 liters}- Fear not, if your new and haven't got a Stine yet; they sell them there} glasses are supplied as well. Everyone just stand's around drinking and socializing until 7 ish. When the open tap closes- it's time for dinner {or not...some people went home and others continued to hang out} But the company was fun, the people friendly and the food Delicious!! Another plus to the evening was that Rich and I were able to get there on the StraB so no worries about driving. The Brewery is about ten minutes from our place and it only takes us 3-4 minutes to walk to the StraB, making everything very convenient!
We were able to talk with Craig,Trista and the kid's yesterday..their just growing-up way to fast!! But it was good to hear their voices; I sure miss my family!
Yesterday afternoon while at a business luncheon, Rich saw our car. Yes, it finally made it in country. Upon inspection Rich noticed a rather large dent on the top of the hood; someone had obviously dropped something on it! So it will be next week before we actually get to pick-up the car. They will be fixing it first. Oh well, just one of the "little things that could go wrong" while moving around the world! Very productive day yesterday, once I get everything taken care of .....I'll spend the following month re-arranging everything!! And then re-arranging that to decorate for the Holidays, and of course re-arranging After the Holiday's; then of coarse we have Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter cleaning......See?? It never ends! But as Martha Stewart would say: "It's a good thing."
Everyone keeps asking me if were settled in yet, oh my gosh no...I'm "still" unpacking thing's, during the day "AND" in my sleep! Hum-mm, wonder if that's why I wake up tired?.! Thing's are beginning to come together though.. slowly; one room at a time. Which is hard to do because I keep taking thing's to the proper room- and end up wanting to take care of it. Plus "sometime" today I need to go to the market and get something for dinner. I also have a guy coming to replace a mirror on one of the closets today...so I can't be gone when he shows up. What I'd really like to do is take a long hot shower, go get my hair done and have Rich bring home Chinese tonight! It's always nice to dream!
Yesterday was a great day in the sense that we were able to get a lot accomplished in the house. Rich was able to hook-up the surround sound and hang up a few thing's, he also tackled his office "as much as he could- until we get some bookcases".
We went down town for awhile yesterday morning to check out some of the festivities going on; while it was nice- it was a bit disappointing. The Swiss don't celebrate like the Germans; and I really have to stop comparing to two country's!! It's beautiful here- just different! Last night we were invited to Doug and Lisa's to watch the fireworks from their high rise balcony...what a view we had! We could see the entire city and "ALL" of the fireworks- both professional and personal; along with wine, cheese and great company the evening was a success. I'm sorry there I go again! Doug Reynolds is the new Army Attache' here in Switzerland. He and Rich went through the German course together in DC. Very nice family!
