CHRISTMAS DAY PICTURES

My memory of the day will be the community - the Bravin family...laughter, bickering, talking and sharing the joy of gathering. At one point I could hear the angst of losing a game of "Don't Hate Me" (we call it Parcheesi); others telling a joke and others having a discussion. People came and went like the ebb and flow of the tides. At some point, a few disappeared to go to the cemetery - tho Franco is never far from our thoughts. He is so greatly missed.

One of 2 large tables

Upstairs heater

Downstairs heater

Morgan

Game time; the weather was spring-like

Brruno

Turkey cooking

Ready to eat and we're starving

Kil, carving his 1st turkey - with a little oversight

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EACH OF YOU

As you are awakening; we are preparing our afternoon dinner - turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, spinach & vegetables, cheeses and breads. Then cookies, more bread, pies - I don't know how Mikki does it - she must have started weeks ago. Yesterday evening, cookies started appearing from all sorts of cupboards. It's fun - she saves them until Christmas Eve - which makes all the treats much anticipated.

After dinner, there was the reading of the Night Before Christmas, and then the search for Santa (just in case Philip & Kilian were monitoring his progress courtesy of the Space Station.) Once Santa was found; we marched upstairs to admire the trees and open the gifts. Then it was downstairs for tea and all the wonderful cookies. (Christmas socks are January 7th; 3 Kings Day.)

Christmas Eve Dinner

No that's not a crown on Philip's head; it something on the wall behind him

Christmas Sweats

Bruno wish all of you a Merry Christmas

It was the night before Christmas

Santa, Really?

Santa? Yes, indeedy!

You believe, right!

Ok, we all believe

Yes, Santa found Italy

The best of Santas helpers

Family

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Mikki holding one of Aunt Jean's cookboosks

CHRISTMAS EVE IN ITALY

Yes, it's possible we might have a White Christmas. It's cold and cloudy and it's too cool for rain. We're all hopping around in long underwear, sweaters, boots, & cozy piles (the european term for fleece shirts) The teenagers are now out of their beds, Christmas carols are playing, fires are blazing and the house is warming up. Mikki's trying to convince Kil to show us his cooking skills - he's resisting but she'll wear him down.

The past 2 days were busy. Thursday was Mikki's birthday. The Bravin family gathered to celebrate.

Later in the evening we went to church to hear Morgan sign in the choir. The music was lovely and very familiar - some in english, some in italian and all instantly recognizable. It was a beautiful time - the church is about 800 years old and is a vital part of the community. There was a poignant moment when the choir sang Amazing Grace. At Mikki's request the soloist learned it for Franco's funeral. This is only the 2nd time they performed it.

Yesterday was a sleep in day for Kilian and a school day for Giorgia & Morgan - all day. Mikki had her last English class until after the holiday - lucky Mikki, the last class was teenagers. You can imagine how excited they were to be in class before the holiday. In the morning we stopped by the cemetery for Philip to pay his respects and to have his moment - later we went to Concordia to have a spritz and remember Franco.

In the afternoon Mikki & Giorgia baked cookies. Mikki and I started the pumpkin pie filling.

Getting the pumpkin pie filling ready

Jaque

Romeo

Giorgia baking cookies

Philip says it makes no difference what country the Morgan's are in - we'll need to go to the store at least 2 or 3x's - no matter how well prepared we think we are. True to form, after yesterday's big shopping - we made 2 more trips and Mikki's made one today.

This morning Mikki made Mince meat pie, I made a trifle and we'll finish the pumpkin this pm. Aaah, lunch calls - prepared by Kilian!! Ciao!

ITALY AT LAST!

5:00AM, we are up and ready to again try to fly SwissAir to Venice. The snowfall turned to rain so the streets were mushy but not icy. Chris warmed the car and off we went down the hill to the train station. From there we took the train to Zurich (about 25 min); changed to a train going to the airport and about 10 mins later we were in at the airport.

 This time the plane was ready to go and left on time. 40 mins later we were landing in Venice. The views over the alps were fantastic. It took at least 40 mins to collect our luggage but finally we cleared the exit doors and there was Mikki, waving and greeting us. After a coffee and brioche we were on our way to Summaga.

There's no snow on the ground but it's icy cold. Mikki's house is decidedly cool; with 2 wood stove's going; the house temperature is between 61-65. I don't mind - I wear several layers and we're so busy, who has time to be cold?

Giorgia and Morgan are home from school about 1:30 - Kil is still at the university; taking his last exam. His declared major is Ecological Biology and Zoology. Big excitement - he's won a scholarship to study next summer in one of the Guyanas (you know one of those countries in Northern South America (are you following that?)

Mikki is teaching English to Adults tonight - tomorrow 2 year old and Friday night, teenagers. Can't you imagine being the teacher of teenagers on a Friday night just before the Christmas holiday!!!

Thursday - Kil arrived home from school today, he has a month's holiday...sort of. Like Gwen in Zurich; there are more tests when he returns. We met his train and headed for the Thursday Market to buy last minute Christmas gifts; people-watch and to have a cappuccino. Arrived home to find Morgan - her teacher joined with the public transportation workers to strike for 4 hours. Not so for Giorgia; she got home at the usual time.

Mikki and I had an interesting miscommunication - she wanted me to make a pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin. Ok and I suggested that I make a dinner using Winter Squash and tortellini. Mikki said she's never heard of Winter Squash - never seen it in the stores. I couldn't imagine it! then on the way to market, I spot a butternut squash and drew Mikki's attention to it. She said "oh no Becky, that's a pumpkin!" Say what? "Then what do you use for pumpkin pie?"

Apparently pumpkin pie is made from squash - Mikki said pumpkin (as you and I know it) is just for jack-o'lanterns. Hmmmm

Tomorrow we begin making Christmas cookies and pies. Contrary to what Kevin told me - I'm not expected to eat Tongue. (I'd all ready decided not to eat anything Kilian refused to eat.) Instead Linda and Bruno will have tongue - we will have turkey.

Ok time to get in the laundry, it will have to finish drying indoors. Ciao!

Off To Italy - Maybe

Snowing steadily since early morning - we're supposed to leave at noon for our flight to Venice, where Mikki will meet us. Am hoping all goes well as I particularly want to be there tomorrow for Mikki's birthday.


We're spending Christmas with Mikki, Chris & Kevin are coming to Summaga on the 27th, Nancy will arrive in Summaga the 28th - then we return to Zurich the 29th. Mikki & Morgan will return to Zurich with Chris & Kevin. Busy, busy, busy.


Ciao


A walk down a slippery slope to the train station, with a little help from Gwen & Chris - we made our way to Zurich Bahnhaf; changed train again to Zurich flughafen where we found out our SwissAir flight was cancelled. SA offered to put us on a train - 9 hours later we might be in Venice. I saw "might" because Public Transportation workers were expected to go on strike. We decided to wait another day and give SwissAir another try tomorrow morning. Fortunately, SA agreed to go ahead and take our luggage - we couldn't imagine how we'd get that 80+ lbs of luggage back up the "hill" to Antje & Chris's.


We then hop on another train, return to Zurich Bahnhaf, walk a block to our favorite wine bar, hop onto the 7 tram,

meet Chris at the end station for a house key, hop on another bus, get off at the Adliswil train station and begin our climb up the "hill" - which I'm sure increased in height dramatically since this morning.

So...who's to complain - we're back among our favorite people, talking and laughing - listening to the kids talk about their day, playing with the dog ... seriously, who's complaining. We couldn't be among better company.

Ciao!

Random Shots from Around the house

View from our bedroom window

Philip crosswording

Chris lounging

view from living room window. The building in the background is a school

Geranimo

View from the kitchen window

OVER THE RIVER AND TO TOWN WE GO

Philip and Chris were so enthused by the Bahnhaf Christmas Faire; there was nothing for it but to return today and judge for myself. Wonderful and necessary to take a gazillion credit cards or ATM cash cards!!! 

Wonderful snow showery day. The city was crowded but still fun to walk around and people watch. Afterwards, Antje, Ginny and I made a Starbucks stop (no skinny peppermint mochas here) while the guys headed to their new favorite wine bar...D-Vino.

Returning home, the train made an unexpected stop - the station BEFORE Ansilwil and we had an unexpected walk . . . but all was well. 

Chris & Philip on the way to the train station. The Catholic church in the background is our local landmark

Philip and Ginny on the train

Bahnhaf train station - site of a wonderful Christmas market. In the back ground, is The tree, loaded with crystals

Closer to THE tree

THE tree, up close & personal

Chris, Antje & The tree

Shopping

Antje & Ginny at Starbucks

D-Vino Wine Bar

Chris & Philip's empty glasses

The Boys

Returning from town, walking home from the train station; view of the church