January 2012

January was a crafty month for us: I worked on several sewing projects, and Zak carved a set of salad spoons for his mom and a butter knife for us. We also visited the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, and celebrated Zak's birthday.

Noel at Printemps

In the Christmas ornament section of the department store Printemps.

Strasbourg cathedral

The bustling Christmas market in front of Strasbourg's cathedral, which Zak thinks looks like a one-eared dog.

Saint-Hippolyte concert

The second Advent concert we attended was performed in the village of Saint-Hippolyte. This is the ceiling of the church where the concert was held. On the recording: le quatuor des soeurs Umbdenstock (the Umbdenstock sisters' quartet).

Bergheim Advent concert

We attended two Christmas concerts while in Alsace. The first was in Bergheim, the village where we stayed.
The town's children performed in the former synagogue.

Colmar Christmas

We stayed in Colmar only long enough to visit the tourist office and pick up our rental car. Most of the buildings in the old town were already decorated for Christmas like this: with large dioramas attached to the facade.

Christmas party

Zak will be one of the four MCs at his lab's Christmas party this year. The theme is Neuchâtel through the ages.

Swiss National Day

Yesterday there was a large fireworks show over the lake in celebration of Swiss National Day.

Vacances

"Closed July 11 to 29, 2011. Happy holidays."
The vacation season has started for businesses around town.

Smores

We celebrated the Fourth of July with local American friends, Paul and Laurel, yesterday. 

For dessert: smores prepared under the broiler.

Happy Easter

Spring has arrived in Neuchâtel. A small corner of the garden in our yard.

Neuchâtel's Independence Day

 

Neuchâtel became the 21st canton of Switzerland in 1814, but remained a Prussian principality, 

as it had been since 1707. On March 1st, 1848, Neuchâtel freed itself from Prussia and became a republic.

This statue stands at the western end of Neuchâtel's Jardin Anglais (English garden).