Basil Elderflower and Peach FroYo

So I decided to get a little crazy and whip up some frozen yogurt for my special dinner guest.

You will need:
Fresh basil leaves (1-2 nice size)
Finely chopped peach
Elderflower syrup (to taste)
(Vanilla) Yogurt (200g)
Confectioners sugar (100g)
*substitute cream for yogurt for ice cream
Ice cream maker

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Finely chop basil and peaches
Mix sugar, syrup & yogurt (refrigerate)
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An alternative idea would be to marinate peaches and basil in elderflower to infuse the flavors without having basil chunks and just the hit of elderflower in the peach, but whatever, cooking is all about experimentation and trial an error right?!
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Mix away.
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Invite a friend over to be your guinea pig and enjoy.

Welcome Babies, Fall 2012

I had been asked to paint the windows of one of the classrooms at school. I had done them last term for the spring and this is the start to welcoming new fall babies! I hope they feel welcome...some of them are only 3months old, but I will be in another classroom so even if they don't like it, I don't have to hear about it! ;)

But this is for them...welcome babies!

Sushi with Sashi

I love random Monday nights and tonight was primo! Typically Monday's are quiet nights in, but tonight was a quiet night out. Tonight two sushi lovers made some sweet sushi rolls Sashi style and it was deeeeeelicious!

I have to admit, in all of the years that I have been eating sushi, never once have I made it myself. And while tonight I still didn't do any actual rolling of the final dish, I contributed and watched the simple process from the other side of the little glass kitchenette and got really excited to go out and get my own mat and fixings to practice more at home.

We made crab and salmon rolls with cucumber and avocado and it is certainly a scrumptious clean flavor that I could eat every single day. Alas, welcome to Switzerland where at the coop you can buy 6 pieces for 18chf, yeah right, or you can make it at home and be much more satisfied!

So after some dinner and cool cloud watching rolling over Luzern it was time to shuffle home for an early night. Time for bed with thoughts of happy fishes, chop stick suppers a belly full of ginger and another great night with Shashank!

Muah!

German Hat Crafts

This week we are doing an Around The World theme for holiday care. We are incorporating a craft and cuisine from a different country everyday, and on Monday it was Germany.

Considering we couldn't drink beers or introduce the concept of Oktoberfest we were stumped coming up with a fun creative craft for Germany. Then we realized they have cool traditional hats, so here's what we did...

You will need:
Felt (1-2 colors)
Yarn
A stapler
Craft feathers
Craft glue
Magnet strips
Ein grosse Lager oder Kaffe

Step One.
On a piece of scrap paper outline a hat with one big and one smaller little bump...a long oval for the base. Cut out, trace onto felt. Sip.

Step Two.
The craft glue isn't really going to hold the felt together but kids like smearing it on so that's why it's a step. It also gives you some time to take a fee sips and watch the mess that you will need to clean up being made.

Step Three.
Have your Kinder helfe dich by pressing the top of the hat onto the oval of the hat. This won't take long and won't last long if you don't staple it anyway, but pressing is fun and an important motor skill so why not?! Besides, it's makes you feel like you aren't doing the entire thing by yourself.

Step Four.
Measure out a piece of yarn and double or triple it up. If your kids are a little older they can braid it or twist it to add a little extra detail, but mostly try just want to plunk it on there. Let them help you by holding their finger on the yarn to hold it while you cut...not their fingers, the yard.

Step Five.
Staple hat top with yard to bottom pf hat. You're nearly done. Have your little artist pick a feather of their choice, tickle them with it to ignite a hilarious giggle and stick in behind the yarn, also with a staple for better support.

Step Six.
Add a sticker magnet to the back and stick it to the fridge as you go up and help yourself to another lager. They will be thrilled to see their art hanging, and you will be too!

Oh Hello Zoo Animals

It's not very often a person walks into work only to find out that in 20 minutes they are headed off to the zoo for the day. Unless you're me! Yesterday I thought I was one of the ones to be held back at school and going to have just another day...boy was I mistaken! Nope Erin, you're off to the zoo...YAYYYYY!!!! :)

We whipped up some sandwiches, threw some apples and granola bars in a bag, went over some dos and donts with the kids, strapped them in and set out for the zoo. It was so. Much. Fun.

When we first arrived and were waiting to get our passes, it was hilarious watching some of the girls standing around taking in the smell of our four legged friends. That's right girls, we aren't in the city anymore. Animals stink! They were just giggling about the obvious odor and I thought it was hilarious watch them. So great.

So we get inside and go immediately to the parrot and sea lion show (in one arena, two separate shows!) and this place is PACKED with kids, moms and grandparents, which clearly explains why I haven't gone to a zoo during a school holiday, or a museum or science center or anything of the sort for that matter. Lido, forget ittttt.

Anyway, we are watching the show and the parrots were really cool. There were five big blue and one white parrot circling all over the damn place, swooping and gliding causing a crazy uproar and put on a good show. Well done big birdies. Then came the sea lions...

First it was big poppa and he was great! Really funny and flopping and waving and belching and rolling and recycling water bottles being a good example and showing off his teeth and whiskers. Super cool. We were three rows up so we got a great view of him and our kids were ecstatic! And then came the ladies...and this is great.

They were a little slow moving at first, well, one of them was. She balanced her ball, gave her friend a high five and when she was supposed to retrieve the ball from the water she refused. Flat out. First she didn't get into the water and once she did she just kind of floated about freely giving a big nope, nose up to her trainer. Next thing we know, the show is canceled (and my German isn't good enough to catch all of this over a loud speaker) because she was ready to make babies is tired and horny and didn't feel like performing!!! Hahahaha! How great is that?! Horny sea lioness cancels a show so she can get some....what a prima donna. Fantastic.

So after we head count and fight out way through the stroller maze we head over to see some non horny animals. We saw pigs, lamas, goats, chipmunks, the biggest damn porcupine I have ever seen, a swamp beaver-rat, some chickens that looked like they had pants on, lemurs, muskrats, flamingos, turtles, donkeys, horses, mini horses, zebras, obviously old slow moving elephants (my favorite!), giraffes and a camel with a saggy hump...one of his wells was obviously dry...sad.

We wrapped up the day with some ice cream, a loud and fun car ride back to school and all fingers and toes intact. All in all, a successful field trip to the zoo.

Latest Works

I started these pieces in 2006. I have been working on them little by little over the last 6mos. and this is where they are at. With a few finishing touches to go, soon onto the next fine art adventure!

I hope you enjoy. The story of them and how they each came to be makes them individually special and I am really pleased to see where they are from where I was when they began!

Flag Projects for Kids

As a continued project for this weeks theme of Around the World, today we find ourselves in America. Hot Dogs for lunch and flag project for crafts. Awesomely tubular dude.

This is a simple project that will not look as good as the one you should do for yourself because as far as I can tell, a straight line does not exist to children...which is absolutely okay!

You will need:
Large Popsicle sticks (x5 1/2) per flag
Red & White paint (or your flags colors!)
Hot glue gun
(Silver) star stickers
Blue construction paper
Construction glue
Extra large coffee or double espresso

Step One:
Lay side by side four large Popsicle sticks. When your hot glue gun is ready to fire away, cut one stick in half and glue on one side which will be the back. Then take one full one and put on the other side which will make the handle. This holds the flag together and is stronger than regular craft glue which as I found out, sucks.

Step Two:
Once glue has dried 3 amazing seconds later, flip over and paint away. I encouraged my kids to paint the white on first to avoid quickly making it pink and it was a good call. Next add red. It will not be perfect stripes depending on the age/concentration level of your kids but they will enjoy it so who cares?

Step Three:
As paint is drying, because you are amazing and have already pre cut your blue squares, hand or allow kids to peel and place star stickers on for the patriotic identity. I think three is a good minimum but you decide how stingy or generous you would like to be.

Step Four:
Glue blue patch onto corner with craft glue, not much is needed if paint is still wet. Put off to one side to dry and photograph.

Wash hands, down the rest of your coffee and clean up to make room for a new messy activity with your kids. :)

Spanish Saturday Night

After a terrific day on the lake, it was time to get together with my Spanish señorita for some serious smiles, swanky beats and salty meats.

I took the #1 and arrived in Kriens after being stared at like a weirdo for carrying a cactus like its the most uncommon thing people give to other people. I hop off, look around and am greeted by my date...a much brighter and warmer face than the bus drones.

Up the hill and off we go. Park the shaggin' wagon and hear the bells of the beefy beauties in their pastures and an alphorn. We're not in Kansas anymore toto.... And it was spectacular.

We get into (their) (new) flat which had amazing energy and light and a great story on how it came to be theirs, which she told me after a nice beer. And then another as the conversation continues until we come to the cactus, which I notice she has. It should be noted here that I had a nice little chuckle before I even walked through the door because here I am bringing her this prickly plant which some assume is not so nice and there is a great sign on her door that reads....

Priceless! But anyway, apparently cactus, or cacti are plants that consume bad energy. So if you need to exorcize your flat, buy some cacti.

So we're gabbing away and because we are nearing 9 something o'clock it's time to think about dinner. I was in a Spanish household and I would expect nothing less and it was worth the wait...not that I was starving or waiting because it was so enjoyable just to gab, as we do, it was just refreshingly so NOT Swiss! :)

We move to the galley kitchen and it hits me. Well, kicks me is probably a better adjective. There it was. As plain as the nose on it's former face. The thing every Spaniard can't live without and every non Spanish food lover dreams or cringes about. The leg. The foot. Toenails on and all. Cured to perfection and just, bam, out there! Delicious.

I resist an initial sample, my señorita puts the final touches on her delicious dinner for two and we sit down. She had made this traditional tomato pure with garlic and I almost collapsed it was so good. Then she got a little crazy and shaved some of the cured caracas on the counter and did me in. It was heaven. I'm so glad she had me over to enjoy it with her. :)

We continued to gab and then off our little Girly cloud we fell when the loves our lives came to the conversational surface (no offense loves!) and we officially swore off technology on a girls night.

The End.

Much love P.

Joys of the American Embassy

Yeup. That pretty much sums it up.
Bastards.

Off To The Embassy I Go

As we all know, every ten years or so you need to update your passport. It's a relatively simple process despite the pain in the ass paperwork that's involved, but once it's done, you need only to see those happy pappy people in the bureau 10 years later. If you're lucky.

This is a seemingly simple process, yes, but it wouldn't be my life if it was a walk in the park. I some how manage to find every little obstacle getting me seamlessly from A to B. Today is proving to be no exception.

Fortunately for me my passport expires in February, so I am due to update. Also fortunately for me this happens to be the same year that I got married so I can do the name change in one fun swoop! But that's just paper...with a little girlishly giddiness sprinkled on top!

A few days ago I went online to find out exactly what I was going to need to bring with me to my appointment beyond the obvious. I also emailed the embassy to confirm and ask any questions before I got there so I didn't have to waste my time or theirs. Ha.

Being a super fun country to deal with when it comes to paperwork, I found it a bit odd that you could never get anyone on the phone and that everything was done directly online. While I do understand that it more organized and centralized, there are some things I like to have human contact for and this is one of those things. No such luck. So I make an appointment online, get the confirmation, double check the address and inform work of my plans.

I manage to find my way. I'm not really familiar with Zurich yet, but I'm no stranger to public transportation systems and bing bang boom, I'm at the door. Which I ring. 15 minutes early. Three times. With no answer. Shit.

Then this little woman with a strong face fiddles with her keys and opens the door. We both step onto the elevator and I let her select her floor first only to obviously discover we are headed in the same direction. She gets out, I charmingly smile and say "hello, I am your 9:30 appointment."

"Thats impossible" was all she said. Ummm, but I have an appointment. Your website said I needed one, I made one and now I am here. "Well we dont open until 10." Ummm okay, well why did your site allow me to be here at 9:30 then?!?!? The guard wont be here until 10 today, so I have to come back.

But what about my appointment! Do I need an appointment?! Yes. But do I need a new one?! It's still not clear. I need to go back at 10 and hopefully she sees me. Hopefully I have all of the right paperwork and things go smoothly from here. But as always, anything is possible.....

TBC 9:53
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Adult Twins

Still dressing identically? Come on, really?!

I don't get it.

Happy Birthday America

After a non celebratory day, it's time to gather with some Americanos and spark the grill, slurp and swill and wish from a distance the grand old USA a happy birthday. But first:

Holy Snails!!!

For the last few weeks I have been running/working out in the forest after work. It's been fantastic and I feel so much more relaxed and smelly before a nice direct train ride home.

I have not always been a rain or shine runner, but that seems to have changed recently and I am really enjoying it. It's nice to run under a canopy of trees and meet (not so) little friends along the way.

With rain comes some unique wildlife and there seem to be a plethora of healthy snails in these parts... Look at the size of these suckers...they are huge! I have tried to use my hand as a scale but it doesn't seem to give them justice. When you're running and see one of these things you can't help but stop in your tracks and admire them....and maybe think about some garlic and olive oil...eeerrrrr.

Anyway, the Swiss snail...with and without his house....

Happy Fourth. Not Happy Fifth.

Yesterday was fantastic! Great BBQ at Amy's, great weather, great food, kitty was there playing, good music, some card tricks (which I suck at by the way) and some patriotic group singing. All in all, a very nice Swiss American holiday!

However, it was too late of a night for Miss Erin, and of course, at the time, totally worth it. This morning however was dreadfully epic and I was close to death. Since I have started working I have never been hungover. I don't go out during the week and today was the exact reason why.

I realize that being hungover is never fun and that being hungover at work is worse. I'm not saying that it's any easier for people in other professions but allow me to paint a little picture of today....

Wake up and realize what I did to myself last night and that the only option was to face it. I had this brilliant idea last night that if I showered when I got home I could sleep a little longer this morning. So I did. The not having the shower this morning was stupid and was the beginning of the end of the rest of my day. So I throw something on, not even caring if it matches or not, brush my teeth, twice, decide makeup would not help me at this point and I could only end up hurting myself so I throw it in my bag along with my usual yogurt and head out. Now I am a yogurt girl. I eat it every day. Today, I should have taken a pass because when you feel like that, all your body really wants is a croissant with or without bacon and a big ass coffee. Two strikes and certainly not doing myself any favors.

I roll into work. Stagger is actually more like it. Pleased to learn that there are only 5 children today as opposed to the usual 8. Finally, a break. Thennnnn it started. The kids were all wide awake, full of energy and completely unsuspecting of me feeling like complete and utter, exactly what they had in their nappies.

Then we sang our songs, had snack and they started running around and playing and pulling their everyday antics of biting and hair pulling and bouncing all around, and my head is just spinning. Some of you fortunate souls reading this are lucky enough to sit at a desk when you feel like do-do butter and just look busy when someone important walks by. Others of you perhaps get to "work from home" and get a few more minutes or rest and multiple showers. As for me. No bloody chance in hell...which is exactly where I was today by the way.

It reminded me of that scene in the Grinch when he thought about Christmas and Whoville with all of the noise noise noise! That was me. I was the Grinch and they found every noise maker today and played it louder and banged it harder than ever.

This went on all morning. Then, we had the worst possible lunch ever, all vegetarian with polenta when again, my body was just begging for Chef Andreas usual overly salty meat and potatoes or pasta or rice curry or basically ANYTHING other than veggies and polenta which I am usually a fan of.

Then the best part of the day came. They napped. All of them. For an hour and a half. And guess what?! I did too. It was amazing and never happens that all of them are down at once. A kiss on the forehead from our forefathers.

Then they woke up.....

Outside play with bobbycars and balls all over the place and crying for not sleeping long enough and more running around, and me attempting not to loose my head or look at the clock.

Then it happened....the last possible thing I needed to have happen to me today. I had my phone up on the table and one of these little Who's snuck up onto the chair, slid across, snagged my phone and just as I realized they were on the chair, down goes my phone and smashes on the floor.

Fuuuuuucckkkkkkkk.

You're kidding me.

Yes, I realize it could have been a kid, but it wasn't and it was my phone and now it's shattered and I'm still hungover or tired and agitated and still have two hours to go. I didn't even have the energy to cry or me as upset as I would have been if not for this buffer of emotional withdrawal today. Thankfully I have insurance and it was a phone, not a kid.

So now, I am on my way home and it's raining and I won't feel bad about some long awaited noodles and maybe a movie, definitely a shower and early bedtime.

I'm happy the Fourth of July only comes once a year, because the fifth is a b***h!

:)

A Shadow of Its Prettier Self

Saturday night was Luzernfest and it was super fun. Great music, great food, great weather, great friends to enjoy it all with and by the end, what a great mess!

After watching the fireworks on my friends balcony I walked into old town to meet my silly knucklehead friend whom I had been trying to meet up with all day. On my way to meet her I couldn't help but gasp at how trashed our pretty Luzern had gotten in just a few short hours.

I suppose it is to be expected when when 30,000 people are rocking out bit it was still shocking. Look at this...