More [Swiss] Cowbell

From the Luzern Flea Market

Threads of Love

Okay, don't worry. I know that Threads of Love is a particularly cheesey title. It is, however, also the title of one of my favorite songs, written by Minnesota musician Lorie Line (ask Marcel, she's great). She wrote the song and dedicated it to her Grandma, who made her a quilt before she died. My Grandma did the same for me. This quilt was made either by my Grandma or her mom, and it now lives in our house. It is so detailed and beautiful, and since this week has been especially rainy and dreary, it's nice to have a little springtime (in the form of a warm quilt) on your lap.

So, here's to you, Threads of Love.

Lipstick Jungle

Lipstick Jungle is the title of a show I've never seen, but I sort of like the title. I think it says

a lot about, well, women.

I usually don't think of myself as a girly-girl. In fact, I like to think that I'm a little on the tough side. But occasionally, I buy myself some lipstick or gloss and it makes my day everytime. This Baby Pink Mint (which is probably the worst name ever, by the way) was only $1.99, so I went for it.

I do not regret my decision.

100% fresh and Swiss

Plus an avocado from the Asian Market. It was epic.

My Confession...

One of my most recent reasons to be ashamed is this: since working the night shift, I have started watching all of the episodes of "Friends," in order. Does the fact that I am now on season nine tell you anything?

I live at the end of the rainbow

I don't get out into the world much these days, but I do spend loads of quality time on my balcony.

Are they accepting new members, I wonder?

Thesis Reading II: The Yiddish Policemen's Union

Minnesota Harvest

These are some of the apples from the orchard. I did not take a single picture of apples there, so photo credit goes to Mickel'.

Invasion

I was not in the mood to find a giant bee in my bathroom. I am rarely in that mood, truth be told. He was swiftly evicted.

Nevers Dam

This is the former site of Nevers Dam. Keep your eyes open for it in a letter that's coming your way soon.

Like the Weather

In a yellow wood...

I really love that Frost poem, but if I hear it at one more high school graduation from a smart nerd that will never take it to heart.....

Anyway, in this particular instance, I actually look that path that was wider and more clearly marked. But in life, I think we could both say we took the road less traveled by.

Another Asian Market Treasure

Transitions

It's starting to get...chilly.

Emergen-C

I just discovered this stuff and I have a theory that it cures headaches. My mom is sending a shipment soon...

Things a camera can't do:

I took this picture to remind me about some of the things that cameras cannot do. Cameras can't capture the deliciousness of a fall breeze, or the subtle layers of the woodlands, or yada yada yada. The sunlight was coming through the trees so beautifully and everything looked crystal clear and lovely. But sometimes, you just wouldn't know how beautiful something really is from looking at a picture of it.

A Photoshoot

Alyssa and Lura needed to take photos for their Stanford assignment with artificial light. Not one to be left out of such shenanigans when there is real work I should be doing, I came too. This is hands down the best photo that came of my photoshoot crashing, and perhaps one of the most hilarious photos of Alyssa ever...

Raspberry Bend

The War

Marcel and I both have the same problem... And often get each other in the crossfire. It is war... but I like it. I have loads of them, but this is one of my favorites.

True Beauty

I said I was going to try to take more beautiful pictures. So I did.

Everyone Deserves Music

This video is lame, but this is a great song.

Ye Old Barn

The Way A Farmer's Market Should Be...

The rest of the world just looks sad next to Bellinzona's Offerings.

Roadside Rest

Making Friends: Bellinzona Baby Edition

Good times with Anna.

Say Hello and Wave Goodbye

Cascading Foliage

Smila's Sense of Snow

I liked this book when I first read it, but can I just tell you how perfect it is for my thesis? PERFECT. I try to make up for the fact that I am a hermit by reading outdoors when I can...

Forever

Peace, Love, and Pizza Giardino

Taylor's Falls

Deception and Fragolino

Baby Thomas

Less than a week. :)

Family time... on Skype

Then they ditched me to go get Mexican food. Jerks.

Cardinals

We have a family of them around.

I found this somewhat creepy

On the Swiss side of Ponte Tresa, outside of a store. Incase you want a defunct barbie or something equally useful.

The Doll House

So, we went to The Doll House, which is a bar in Wisconsin. We could tell we were in Wisconsin because nobody asked for our IDs, and the bar smelled like smoke. In Minnesota, you get carded if you look under 40 (really, it's true) and smoking in public buildings is illegal -- which I think is quite nice.

But, we did enjoy ourselves...Good friends and good times indeed.

Under the Cover of Night

Coming in Hot

Now, I did not take this photo, but I did jump out of a plane. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Late Night Gelato Adventure

I have seen the light. This Gelato trip to Morcote was nothing short of spiritual. Seriously.

Memories

This is my mom and her sister Judy...a few years ago. I really think it's beautiful.

SIGG

Franklin gave us (for the low price of 35,000 a year) new water bottles in an effort to become a more sustainable campus*. Also, they would make nice weapons. Creepers beware.

Every class has a different color... I love it for it's function but more because it is a symbol of our long-suffering, Lugano-loving, long-term community with a common history.

(*though, by my estimations we would all have to become vegans, wear fig leaves, and stop printing to compensate for the environmental impact of our transatlantic flights)

Where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average...

And it was amazing. But I sort of felt like somehow, I was cheating on you. For that I am sorry.

But I am NOT sorry I went. It was such a magical experience. I had gotten off of my shift a little early (slow day), so I walked on down to the Minnesota Public Radio booth at the fair. There, I discovered that the PHC show for later that evening still had tickets available!

Before the show, I decided to buy my annual State Fair milk shake (made from dairy provided by MN's own dairy farmers, of course). I happened to have plenty of time to kill, and I had not yet purchased a shake. I was both surprised and excited to learn that the dairy barn had expanded their menu: they now offer strawberry-rhubarb milk shakes! It just so happens that strawberry and rhubarb combine to form one of my favorite taste treats. What luck!

I strolled along the fair, enjoying the smaller crowds and a little time to myself. It was such a nice change of pace from dishing footlongs and counting dirty change.

Eventually, I made it to the Grandstand, which is a hot-house of consumerism by day, and a stage by night. Although I have been to the State Fair almost every year of my life, I had never been to a show. There's a first time for everything. I bought my ticket, finished my milk shake, and perused the merchandise tables. (Also, I bought a beer which was a good choice.)

I found my seat a little early and enjoyed watching the sun set over the beautiful skyline of Minneapolis.

Finally, the show started and out came Keillor (who is so much taller in real life...than on the radio? Duh, Alauna). Anyway! The show was awesome. I was very surprised to find that during a large portion of the show, he stood with his back to the audience. Instead of talking to us, he talked to his guests and his band. I actually thought it was wonderfully refreshing. Imagine, a host who values his guests and back-up!

I also sat next to some characters. I was the youngest one in my section by at least 30, and probably closer to 35, years. The man to my right was hard of hearing and frequently leaned over to ask, "What did he say?" Since I love old men, it was very cute. The man on my left was a little younger, but he had been to the show five times before. He brought a pair of binochs (wise move) and kept handing them to me throughout the show. It was really lovely.

Mindy Smith was on the show, singing "Come to Jesus" and an assortment of others. The Catsup Advisory Board was featured, and Guy Noir. During intermission, Garrison walked up and down the aisles, while the audience had a sing-along. We sang "America the Beautiful," "Unchained Melody," and a folksy bluegrass song that I didn't know, but a man behind me did and sang it with MUCH gusto. It was fabulous.

Then, of course, it was time for The News from Lake Wobegon, and for just a few minutes the world was as golden as the beer I held in my hand.

Calling the Moon

Apparently I can't think of titles that are not ripped off from songs... I suppose the soundtrack of my life is just playing loudly at the moment.