No Smoking

This is the needlepoint it took me years to finish. I started when I quit smoking, hence the title -No Smoking. It is freehand. I had no plan in mind when I started and I had no plan in mind as I work on each section. I love it, takes me to a separate places for each space and comforts me, it makes me smile when as I gaze at it whole. Thanks to my Chris for convincing me that I could take it to be framed, that they would not laugh and throw me out. Fact is, it received oohhs and aahhs and someone at the shop actually asked (not knowing I was standing there) does the artist have any other works?

Here and There

Just some moments - and ice covered chair at a Ice Palace display; Liam with his mom and dad (Harry and Sonja); frost on the ivy covering a tree; a buried house on the alp; and of course the very scarey vampire, aka Liam.

If I bought...it might well be here

The Engstilgenalp is a cable car ride then an area for walking and skiing high above the town of Adelboden, which can be seen in the middle photo. Chris had his Harris Tweed jacket on under the down and just had to climb atop something to show it off. A nice coke and some hot food were great, while sitting in the sun. The town is one of the friendliest I have been too, we have spent a few weeks here over the years. Yesterday was no exception, the hardware store owner came and opened up for us when Chris called needing a special version of Swiss Army knives that only they carry. And the cable car,you can just see the cables in the top photo (heading almost straight down), well I didn't even hold on (with my usual death grip) while riding, amazing what you can get used to.

Wonderland

It has not been above freezing once since we got here. It has made for some wonderful scenery and of course I can't help but add this wonderful image of mother and son!

World Wind

Like energizer bunnies, we have been all over the place. So many places so little time to post on the blog....don't I just love it!
To Franzi's hutli high above Grindelwald, where we also spend the day sledding - To a spa in Vals (not allowed to take photos in there)-

New and Old, Real and Not so Much

There is lots of snow in the mountains but not really as much as it appears here, this is an out-building with snow piled high. The trams running through Bern are wild with the colors of new advertisement in the setting of the old city, second from bottom. The scene of a tree enroute to Gstaad was one of the prettiest sites, Gstaad itself does not, to the eye, live up to it's reputation. Finally, yes I am in Switzerland, here I pose in front the famous Clock Tower. We have had a great couple days, traveling, eating, shopping and being with Chris' mom.

Comings, Goings etc

That's Chris with his sister Ursula and her husband, Jurg as we waited for the #10 bus on Saturday. 'Jursis' as they are called for short are so generous, they have loaned us their car to have and to hold for the whole trip.
That is the Niesen, second up, I think it was the first Alp I came to recognize on my own from the road.
That's our room - the John Lewis at the Innere Enge.
There's two of the 3 Muskateers (Chris and Elisabeth) walking toward the Schuh, my favorite pastry shop which is in Interlaken.
The tram lines are such a part of the scenery in Bern and I never have taken their picture before...so here they are.

Animals...

Mischa (belongs to Chris' sister Ursula) looked like I was trying to steal the fish from the tank she likes to sleep on. I just love the sign they use to say 'don't let your dog poop here' and last but not least, next door to the very grand Hotel Victoria in Interlaken is a Hooters of all things, go figure!

Framed!

Chris' mother Elisabeth, an artist, was showing us some of her work at home today. She has this paper frame to give an idea of pieces even in progress so I started using us as the artwork and here are some results. The one of Elisabeth gazing down is at her watercolor 'Devil'(beautiful devil he is).

Jet Lag Can Be Fun

Jet lag is what we have, no doubt but it's cold and snowy and lovely. Here's our hotel Innere Enge and the field across the street.