The View from Here....

A Photo a Day:  Week 52

The four weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas are a blur of empty tissue boxes, medicines and sleepless nights as illness made its way from one family member to the next in our household..... leaving in its wake...... an unfinished "to-do" list and a string of good intentions.  This Christmas came without homemade cookies, perfectly wrapped gifts, or new holiday outfits (not to mention our usual outings and traditions in the States)...... yet it was as special as any that I can remember.  We spent time with new friends and partook in European traditions like holiday poppers and a festive yule log (delivered by our French speaking neighbors).  My mom made a traditionally American Thanksgiving meal; we made cupcakes to celebrate Jesus' birthday and left out cookies and milk for Santa like always. The girls read the Christmas story in the Bible at dinner and we sang Silent Night by candlelight in church.  We Skyped loved ones back home, exchanged laughs and good wishes and went to bed with grateful hearts..... and a cough drop. :)

And there you have it...... another year and my photo a day project in the books.  Thanks to all of you who have come along for the ride.  I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

Happy New Year!

The View from Here....

A Photo a Day:  Week 51

No photo collage today

.... just the warmest of wishes to each of you

 for a Christmas filled with love and laughter!

The View from Here.....

A Photo a Day:  Week 50

As I was creating this post for today, my mind couldn't help but keep wandering back to the horrific tragedy in Connecticut last week.... the utter heartbreak I feel as a mother..... it takes my breath away to think about the parents of the victims.  My mind will never comprehend how and why something like this can happen.  It reminds me that the most precious gift I am given is the gift of an ordinary day with my family... and the promise of God's love that gives hope when the worst happens.

Our baby Marlowe turned 3 this weekend.  I am honored and forever grateful that God chose me to be her mother..... today.

The View from Here....

A Photo a Day :  Week 49

While we certainly suffered a great loss last week, we were blessed nonetheless.....
..... my mom arrived unscathed to Geneva from Alabama.... despite being re-routed thru
      the Charles de Gualle airport (something we had tried to avoid at all costs);
..... we celebrated St. Nick European style;
..... we got our first snowfall of the season; making the Alps even more majestic than before, if possible;
......we ventured out to a couple of the much talked about European Christmas markets;
..... and, the sun shone brightly for the first time in weeks; I'd like to think personally ordered for us by

      my Aunt Linda

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Happy Monday!

The View from Here....

A Photo a Day..... Week 48

"Bird on wood" clay sculpture..... a masterpiece in my eyes... by Marlowe;

Celebrating my 41st year.... I can honestly say life is getting better every year... even if it is a little more wrinkly :);

a universal goodness..... children performing at church during the holidays;

Marlowe's unprompted contribution to our tree.... her Fisher Price nativity;

A new tradition... the Advent wreath... we'll light a new candle each Sunday and eat by candlelight each night until Christmas;

Let the holiday fun begin...  festive face painting;

I attended my first "open house" this week (think Pampered Chef party in the States).... featuring wonderful items made from vintage Swiss army blankets by this company... this pillow (for me) and keychain (for my guy) came home

Well.... it's official.... 22 days and counting until Christmas!  Unfortunately, the predominant smell in my house this past week wasn't that of evergreen, but rather Vicks Vaporub as coughs and congestion seem to be making their way thru the girls.  All is well with the world though because Memaw (my mom) arrives tomorrow!

Have a great day everyone!

The View from Here....

A Photo a Day:  Week 47

The latest addition to our bookshelf.... captured from a photograph by the talented Karl Johnson;

"Wish-full" thinking;

I couldn't resist these..... now if I could just get my hands on some of this and this;

"Marlowe in the box";

A belated anniversary gift for my guy inscribed "I married adventure 2012"... in honor of our latest one;

Tis the season for sparks...;

and sparkles....

Here's hoping everyone had a wonderful weekend surrounded by friends, family, food.... and Black Friday finds (if you were so inclined) :)

  While we certainly missed our usual traditions back in the States; we were overly-blessed by new friends and neighbors who gave us a generous helping of hospitality and holiday cheer.
We are so thankful.

Now.... bring on the Christmas music! :)

The View from Here.....

A Photo a Day:  Week 46

...... a little photo journal of our week last week.
While grand gestures are wonderful; the exercise of looking for simple goodness in the ordinary routine for this photo a day project has given me much needed (and I hope lasting)  perspective on the importance of cherishing each and every day......

..... here's hoping you find something wonderful in yours.

source

The View from Here.....

A Photo a Day:  Week 45

Filed under "things I learned from my 2nd grader"....... Remembrance Day observed on November 11 by the Commonwealth countries (also as Veterans Day in the U.S.); the poppies one of the first things that bloomed on the battlefields following WWI and memorializing the blood shed in the war;

My beautiful budding equestrian;

Memento/inspiration..... a growing collage capturing all of the restaurants and hotels from our travels (with printstagrams capturing the cities and dates);

What a difference two weeks makes;

..... something I will hold dear 'til my dying day..... these sisters;

My two youngest finally get their first haircut after 4 months...... and it might be their last..... 80 franc (or $84 US)...... at the mall...... no shampoo..... in only 7 minutes.....and not a great cut...... ouch.

I sure would love some comfort food (my oldest and I actually spent minutes dreaming this week about what we would order off the Cracker Barrel menu if we were there..... yes, sad, but true)...... but I have to settle for comfort clothes....

Better than honor or glory, 

and History’s iron pen,

Was the thought of duty done 

and

the love of his fellow-men.

- Richard Watson Gilder

The View from Here....

A Photo a Day:  Week 44

....ended up with this planner and I absolutely love it.... perfect for keeping track of the family schedule... and can even be monogrammed :);

this is what happens when you aren't prepared.....having to buy all three girls snow boots in a resort town;

my guy and a well deserved beer after patiently enduring the aforementioned shopping detour and accompanying bill;

Halloween crafts abounded at our house; including a homemade costume for a beloved stuff animal;

sadly, however, my idea of "dressing up" for Halloween was more like this: a spooky scarf, some dark polish, and a big bauble;

I hope whoever said "cold hands, warm heart" was right;

our Halloween Mad Hatter and princess (a smaller princess wasn't cooperating for photos);

a continuation of my habit of taking photos of the back of my girls' heads looking out at something wonderful;
 my "something wonderful"..... seeing them walking together.....

Happy Monday everyone!.... it's sure to be an eventful week in the U.S. with the election and the continued recovery from Sandy..... history in the making.  

The View from Here....

A Photo a Day:  Week 43

This past week was full of ups and downs....... as all weeks are..... traveling was great; getting sick.... the pits.....

But joy was found.......

Taking long walks with my girls in the vineyards;

Sharing dinner with a ladybug queen/princess;

witnessing the sweetness of the bond between a daughter and her daddy;

and feeling the wind on my face.

Leisure

W.H. Davies

What is this life, if full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich the smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

The View from Here....

A Photo a Day:  Week 42 (To market, to market.......)

We visited the Sunday market in Divonne, France and had so much fun experiencing the sights, sounds, smells...... and tastes of all it had to offer..... truly a chef's delight!  There were also booths filled with amazing hand-knit sweaters and housewares.  My favorite was a gentleman selling vintage brass door knockers (yes, it seems to have become a thing even though I have no place for a doorknocker on my home...... I might break down and hang one inside on my powder room door for a little quirk); hooks, dishes and figurines.  Unfortunately,  I spent all of my euros on treats and the aforementioned sweater so I have a good excuse to go back.  :)

 It has also inspired me to spend much more time at my local farmer's market when I return to the States!

Do you shop your local Farmer's market?

The View from Here.....

A Photo a Day:  Week 41

If they are too big to pick up; you might as well sit on them.... according to Marlowe;

Printstagram bliss;

a little blue box bliss too.... compliments of my husband;

the majestic Mont Blanc peaking out above the clouds;

it's official.....Fall has arrived in Geneva;

"Let's go fly a kite.....";

sassy shutter spotting

Here's hoping everyone had a great weekend.  The weather has turned brisk here which has me thinking about apple pie, new slippers and those great pumpkin patches back in the States......

The View from Here.....

A Photo a Day:  Week 40

Whew!  It seems I lost 36 hours somewhere along the way.... however, big happenings with my mother-in-law coming in town for three weeks and our anniversary getaway (more on that tomorrow).  Made some strides last week too.....
Took 2 hours in the car but I finally got my eyebrows shaped up for the first time in 10 weeks!;
Got one of my girls to a new pediatrician here in Geneva;
and, made it thru a dental appointment with a French speaking hygienist....
...... small, but important, victories!

Hope your week is off to a good start!

Quiz:  I fell in love with the lion door knockers (like the one pictured above) that were one of the trademarks of the city we visited over the weekend.... any guesses?

The View from Here....

A Photo a Day:  Week 39 (aka Waterlogged)

It seems the rainy days have settled in here in Geneva..... and I'm a sunny day person.
Yet, just when I think I can't take anymore, the sky clears.... God offers me a rainbow; my girls offer me a smile... and the vineyards behind our home beckon.... promising to set everything right again.  

The View from here.....

A Photo a Day:  Week 38

Saturday morning jam(mie) session;
ode to the French pastries..... this time around a scrumptious cream filled birthday cake for my guy compliments of his office;
in the middle of the busiest square in downtown Geneva.... my girl, yes, reads;
Swiss wardrobe workhorses.... wellies and a slicker.... as the Brits say;
making the most of another favorite Swiss past-time... tennis;
Date night cuisine.... a tri-colore pizza (arugula, ricotta, and fresh tomatoes).... YUM!;
loving all the bow accessories this season;
oh.... and I'd like you to meet our neighbors..... it's true.... they all wear bells here.... and I love the jingling sound coming down from the hills

I hope everyone enjoyed the first weekend of Fall!

via

The view from here.......

A Photo a Day:  Week 37

No words....... just smiles;

The inaugural entry in our guest book.... so grateful for our first visitor this past week;

More often than "knot".....;

quite a departure from this..... but that's the great thing about art, right?... I couldn't resist this painting either when I spotted it in a French antique shop;

it's almost harvest time in our neighborhood...... what a nice surprise to discover we moved to one of the most important wine producing regions of Switzerland;
the definition of "storybook"......;
my name is Crissy and I have a problem with navy, and stripes.... and yes...gelato.... which I am apparently passing on to my children;
.... and you might as well add my newly discovered pot de creme while you are at it;

forget car envy....... bike and basket are the name of the game here;

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Best wishes for "good things" for you today!

The View from Here....

A photo a day:  Week 36

The latest in what has become a theme for our family.... perhaps I will combine them in our own miniature coffee table book;

I would hide too if I had just broken the third ramekin in a month!  (yes, I know I should serve her in plastic....);

The perfect way to make an empty urn happy.... inspired by this post from one of my favorite bloggers;

Have pockets.... will rock them;

Holy Cow!...speaking of "hides".... we bought the cowhide rug.... but it messed with my head so I'm taking it back;

My wish.... to share a hot mug and a chat with these girls for many years to come;

How thoughtful!  Marlowe ensures that her farm animals can watch cartoons while she takes a nap;

this is what gas station food in Italy looks like....

...... although all I want right now is a good old fashioned southern casserole, some peach pie and an iced tea!

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Amen!

Happy Monday everyone!

The View from Here......

A Photo a Day:  Week 35 (aka the greatest show on earth)

Just like a puppy wanting a belly scratch.... Marlowe lies at my feet while I'm cooking dinner;

we bid "adieu" to summertime afternoons at the park;

prepping for fall in Switzerland..... lightweight sweaters from Zara;

making the most of what Switzerland has to offer.... which means horseback riding lessons much to the girls' delight;

the first day of international school for my big girls;

and preschool for my baby;

I fall exhausted into the patisserie next door.......breathe a huge sigh of relief and offer a silent prayer of thanksgiving over a cappuccino and a few moments of bittersweet solitude;

yep, that's a Nutella crepe for dinner at an unexpected music festival on our street;

Sunday afternoon at the circus (literally)..... this one was amazing!

via

Thank you so much for your comments and e:mailed well-wishes for my week.  I really appreciate it!

The view from here....

A Photo a Day:  Week 34 

Welcome to our backyard art gallery;

Watching and waiting for daddy to come home;

There's no other..... like this peach butter;

Sisterly snuggles;

times 2;

the true sign of summer fun;

Nuts for Nutella #1..... done!

Happy Monday everyone! 

I can't believe I just typed week 34 into this post.  Where are the weeks going?  

This is a big one for us.  Marlowe will start pre-school on Tuesday (completely French speaking)

..... did I mention we don't speak French?

  And, the older girls will begin classes at their new International School.

Here is my theme for the week....

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Here's trusting what's waiting is wonderful!

The View from Here......

A Photo a Day:  Week 33 

It's a fairy.... it's a princess..... it's Bette Midler......nope, it's just Marlowe ;

glamming it up in front of the sign to their new school;

precious cargo;

homemade pizza dinner compliments of Ashtyn and a French cooking workshop;

I die for Dior;

an after dinner stroll thru the woods;

dining al fresco with new friends;

a highlight of my week.... my first fountain drink (and ice) in 3+ weeks.... found in France.... we feared we were seeing a mirage when we spotted the sign but alas we were granted Subway happiness ;

boxwood bliss..... the kumquat tree now has some company as two of these perfectly shaped beauties came home with me.

Hope everyone had a great weekend..... here's offering you a smile this Monday morning.....

Etsy