Yearly Archives: 2010

Farewell Viking

Posted on by

The trip overseas was too much for my virtually indestructible, all-metal Viking sewing machine.  The hand wheel on the side, essentially the only plastic part on this 40-year-old bad boy, managed to break in our shipping container.  This machine was originally my Grandma Wilson’s; she handed it down to my Mom, who then gave it to me.  I was not the happiest of expats on realizing my machine’s demise.  After all, sewing is how I spend what little free time I have when it is snowing outside and there are three children three and under in my care.  It’s something I can do at home, in theory, while the twins are napping and Annika is playing happily by herself (the latter being the “theory” part).

The upside is the machine was insured, and we live in the land of Bernina sewing machines.  Before we moved overseas, I contemplated getting a Bernina when we moved to Switzerland as my old Viking has given me grief on a number of occasions (five trips to the repair shop last year).  However, Berninas tend to be a smidge on the pricey side, which reigned me in when I found out what “pricey” really means.  For example, I went to a Bernina shop in Oregon, and the basic model, with all metal interior parts, was $2,000 – ouch!   I digress.  Truth be told, I wasn’t completely distraught when old Viking kicked the bucket as owning a Bernina started looking like an option again.  They were made in Switzerland – they had to be cheaper if you lived where they were made, right?  And so, I started my quest for a replacement machine.  After checking out the local Bernina store here (where cotton fabrics are the typical $20-30/yard), I found that a new Bernina costs about as much as back home.  Hm.

Using my very limited German, I found the equivalent of Swiss ebay online (ricardo.ch).  Happily, used Berninas were plentiful and actually reasonably priced!  Suffice it to say, I placed a bid and “won” a refurbished Bernina Record 830 machine.  Yes, the prospect of buying a used machine online was iffy to say the least, especially because even though it was nowhere near $2k, it was still more than my last one (free) and more than your basic Sears model.  Fortunately, the man we bought it from is a sewing machine repair guy by day, and this is his side business.  The machine runs like a dream so far, and it has all-metal parts.  This baby could last for years!  I’m sure by now Jonathan has tired of me commenting how smoothly it hums.

I also managed to snag a Pfaff Hobbylock 4762 Serger online for a steal, though I still need to try it out to see how it works.  I know, I know.   But trying it out has meant that I had to clean the Situation Room, our spare bedroom (SR for short).  It has been the most difficult room to organize after moving in since it seems to accumulate everything we haven’t found a home for yet or don’t want the kids to play with including the computer, our recycling, the Bernina (and copious amounts of fabric), and our books.  However, I did accomplish this task just recently.  The serger now has its own special home.  However, then there was the trip to Nuremberg, and finally two and a half weeks (to date) of a sick family.  If it ends up not working, we’ll know why it was a steal.  But if it does work, then Sweet!

Like most everything else we own, we bought a used ironing board from an expat returning to their home country; however, the cover on the board had a huge burn spot.  The padding was also so thin that, when I iron Jonathan’s shirts, it often leaves criss-cross patterns from the top of the board.  So, my first project with the Bernina was a new cover from a tutorial at Sew4Home.com (thanks, Lori!).  I didn’t do a middle section like I did with my last cover, and I used elastic instead of a tie.  I also added a layer of heat resistant padding from Joann’s that I had leftover from my last cover.  It has made a big difference – no more criss-cross ironing marks!  It probably took an hour and a half to finish everything:

And I also (finally!) finished two Christmas banners started last December (and mostly sewn by my good friend, Melissa).  I was a little embarrassed by how little there was left to do on them.  But at least they are done, and they look great hung up – our only Christmas decorations other than our tree.  One says Joy (Peace on reverse).  The other says Christmas (Believe on reverse).  The picture quality is not the greatest, but here they are . . .

A Little Swiss Christmassing

Posted on by

In the German part of Switzerland, Samichlaus and his helper, Schmutzli (similar to Knecht Ruprecht in southern Germany), arrive on December 6, St. Nicholas Day.  Schmutzli carries a bag of treats to be given to the good children; however, if the children have been naughty, they might be put in the sack and carried away to be eaten or drowned in the river.  So goes the efforts of parents in generations past to frighten good behavior into their children.  Nowadays, Samichlaus and Schmutzli aren’t quite so terrifying; although one Swiss acquaintance said when her husband was little, he and his sister were so scared of Samichlaus and Schmutzli they would hide, and the sister often wet herself in fright.  The images below seem to be the most common representations of Samichlaus and Schmutzli, with the bishop-like images more indicative of their historic appearance.  (photos:  ricksteves.com, steveholyer.blogspot.com, gdp.ch)

In our town, you can call the community center and Samichlaus and Schmutzli will come visit your abode, bearing gifts (provided ahead by the parent – usually oranges, chocolates, and nuts) and the uncanny ability to know what good and naughty deeds your children have done (also provided ahead by the parent).  We were in Nuremberg this year on St. Nicholas Day, but Samichlaus and Schmutzli may just pay our home a visit next year…

On Christmas Eve, the Christkind (literally Christ child) brings gifts.  The Christkind is actually not the cherubic baby Jesus as the name seems to imply, but a beautiful angel dressed in gold.  It’s my understanding that, since Jesus is just a baby, this angel is sent in His behalf to bring gifts.  When we visited Nuremberg a few weeks ago, the Christkind was also at the Christmas market while we were there:

December 26 is also a holiday here – St. Stephen’s Day, to commemorate the first Christian martyr.

I have been surprised at how prevalent the star of David is as a Christmas symbol, both here in Switzerland and in at least southern Germany.  It is much more common than the typical five-pointed star seen back home.  In the States, I would have associated the six-pointed star with those of the Jewish faith.  I was especially surprised, given the history in Germany – and particularly in Nuremberg – that it is still so prevalent.  I assumed that WWII would have changed that, but I’m learning that traditions run deep, especially in very old cultures.

A few of my favorite Christmas foods here are Marzipan Stollen, Zimtsterne (Cinnamon Stars), Elisen Lebkuchen (from Nuremberg), and Linzertorte.  Mmmm…delicious!  Here are my attempts at Zimtsterne and a Linzertorte.  There were no complaints around our house:

It is my understanding that traditionally, the tree is decorated Christmas Eve night.  We didn’t want to wait that long, so about a week ago we got a smallish tree for our apartment.  It proved to be perfect for our little family.  Ironically, the tree is from Denmark.  Ironic because the Denmark trees were significantly cheaper than the Swiss trees.  We had previously bought a used tree stand from some expats returning to Boston.  They included some glass balls in the deal – our only ornaments.  So, to spruce up the spruce, we strung some popcorn (which the twins have eaten from daily), cut out snowflakes, made paper strip ornaments, and finally a paper star to top the tree.  It turned out pretty well we thought, all things considered.  Can you guess who wanted pink ornaments?

Monastic Art Anyone?

Posted on by

When my very cute, talented, single, working-herself-through-college sister helped us move to Switzerland, we tried hard through all the chaos to give her a little taste of some of the sites here in hopes we could entice her back over to visit during a less life-changing time for our family.  She was invaluable during our trip over here – we could not have done it without her.  Well, maybe we could have but I know I’d be an extended stay resident at the local asylum.  Aside from the inside of hotel rooms, Lisa was able to see significant amounts of rain, a monastary, the Mormon Temple in Bern (pronounced Bear n – not surprisingly, it means “bear”), and a Swiss open-air museum.

After driving through small towns and farmlands, Lisa and I came upon this rather disturbing sight:

I’m not sure if I said it out loud, but I know I thought “That’s a little creepy.  I wonder if it’s by the monastery?”  In fact, it was St. Urban Kloster, our destination.  A few of the noteworthies that our walk through the grounds revealed:

As I found out later, St. Urban Kloster is actually a former monastery.  It’s grounds and buildings now house various sculptures as well as a number of psychologists’ offices.  I am sure the two are not related; however, while walking around (and thinking these were sculptures from the non-existent monks), it did make a person seriously wonder.  Sculptures aside, when we came to the main buildings of the monastery, things began to look more traditional.  After researching a little more, I found that the organ inside the chapel is “the largest well-preserved baroque organ of Switzerland. It has 3 keyboards, 40 stops and over 2500 pipes”.  The imposing structure was completed in the early 1700s, although the monastery’s earliest beginnings date back to 1194.

Outside again, here is one of the doors in the courtyard.  The chalk letters on the door mean a priest has blessed the house.  Note the year 2010 (beginning and end), the star of David and the initials of the three Magi:

Incidentally, since it’s Christmas, did you know the 12 days of Christmas are the 12 days after Christmas?  I didn’t until yesterday.  The Christmas season, in some cultures, ends on Epiphany, January 6, when it is believed the Magi visited Jesus (Epiphany celebrates other things besides just this visit, but that is the reason this date was chosen).  And did you know that you can visit the Shrine of the Three Kings believed to contain their bones at the cathedral in Cologne, Germany?  Finally, did you know that the word magic is derived from magi?  And thus ends the Magi trivia.

After our visit to the monastery, we drove to this beautiful place:

This is the Mormon Temple in Bern, Switzerland.  The contrast between the two places was quite profound.  As we were late for the endowment session, the sisters kindly let us do some initiatories.  Those who helped us spoke German, English, French, and Italian (all but English being official languages of Switzerland).

Goddess of the Hunt

Posted on by

Jenelle is the rare person who got to choose her own middle name: Diane.   As our classical-scholar readers know, Diana is the Roman goddess of the hunt.  And like Diana of old, Jenelle Diane has shown herself to be a skilled hunter, hunting down the best deals in Switzerland.  For example, most of the Vance family’s furniture are used items that Jenelle bought from other expats.  She also found a lovely used sewing machine.  But her prize catch is an antique, hand-painted wood wardrobe.

Hunting season is over for now, but there’s no telling what next year will bring.

A Tale of Two Photos

Posted on by

Most people’s passport photos are, at best, one step above their driver’s license photos.  But the Vance family tries to have attractive passport shots whenever possible.  For example, pictures like these:

Wouldn’t you like to have these happy travelers in your passport greeting the immigration officials (assuming, of course, that you have the good fortune to look like Jenelle or Jonathan)?

But, as you shall soon see, dear reader, this is not the philosophy of the Swiss government.  Upon applying for their foreigner ID cards in Switzerland, Jonathan and Jenelle were politely informed that the above photos have a fatal flaw: they violate Switzerland’s longstanding passport-photo smile ban (known as the passbildliches Lächelnverbot).  The Swiss know that, if you are in a situation where the government is asking for your ID, you are probably not smiling.  So, they just want a picture that will accurately represent your appearance at the time.

Unfortunately, Jenelle and Jonathan had no smile-free photos handy at the time.  They left the government office dejected, unsure of how to best get the photos they needed.  Fortunately, through a series of events that will not be chronicled here, Jenelle and Jonathan were picked up by the local police, who gave them the nice set of passport-rule-compliant pictures below, at no cost.  Problem solved.

[Note to any Swiss government officials reading this blog: Jenelle and Jonathan did not really receive any pictures from the police or even do anything to deserve pictures from the police.  Actually, they don't even live in Switzerland.  Instead, they live in some unnamed country.  One that does not have an extradition treaty with the Swiss.  In the event that this blog entry violates any Swiss Verbot, the blog entry does not exist.]

Eating Like a (Swiss) Egyptian

Posted on by

The Vance family recently enjoyed some yummy green beans.  You know where the fresh green beans in Switzerland come from this time of year?  Egypt, which of course is famous for its massive green bean plantations in the shadows of the pyramids.

Egyptian green beans aren’t the only culinary surprises that Jenelle and Jonathan have found in the local grocery store.  You can also find a wide selection of meats, including ostrich steaks, donkey and horse (imported from Canada).

Along the same lines, Jenelle and Jonathan recently decided to finally set their house in order, so yesterday they bought a waffle iron.  Everyone is very glad that thick Belgian waffles have returned to the Vance home.

The Bit of Butter Made the Batter Better

Posted on by

If there is any inkling there might be some mixing or baking action happening in the Vance kitchen, you can be certain three little helpers will be there to assist in any possible way.  Need a beater licked?  They’ve got it covered.  Need something stirred?  They will be there for you.  Need something poured in?  There just might be tears shed if they can’t be of assistance fast enough.  Fortunately, our apartment has an island in the kitchen.  Who invented these?  I thank them.  It makes having three helpful little girls very doable.

Size 25 Diapers

Posted on by

Annika is very good at expounding on the facts of life.  As we have three children in diapers (hopefully soon to be two), sometimes it is a hunt to find which child is the stinky one.  One time when Jenelle had not found a culprit and was puzzled, Annika decided to help her mother out.

Annika:  The cows are stinky, Mommy.

Mommy:  Oh really?  (Noticing the open window).  You know what?  I think you’re right.  How did you know that?

Annika:  Cows don’t wear diapers.

Mommy:  So that makes them stinky?

Annika:  Ya, that’s why they are stinky, Mommy.  They don’t have diapers.

She’s right, you know.  Why didn’t we think of that?