A Necessary Recipe

How hard can it be to do laundry here, right?! WRONG!  I learned the hard way that if you don't do it right you and your clothes will not smell so good. The Swiss “recipe” for doing laundry in their low-water computerized machines involves multiple laundry products...water softener, detergent, laundry boaster, pre-wash, and fabric softener.... none of which are cheap!! We are happy to report that the "malodorous" problem has been resolved!   

An Outing to Munchenbuchsee

Swiss law requires that anyone staying longer than 30 days register with the government. So with the help of experienced fellow missionaries, we ventured out of Zollikofen to the neighboring village of Munchenbuchsee (pronounced Munchen-booook-sea).

 We saw lots of lovely things... learned how and where to buy train tickets...and successfully registered.

At every turn there is something lovely and quaint to take a picture of. I don't think we will ever get tired of the charm of Switzerland.

Secrets to a Perfect Lawn

As we have mentioned, the Temple Grounds are lush and lovely. We have been watching to learn the secrets to such perfection and now know that in involves methodical weekly mowing, edging, etc. This short video shows something that surprised us....one machine is de-thatching and the other machine is VACUUMING!!!

Answer to "Name That Swiss Thing!"

Did you guess that those grey gizmos are plugs for the kitchen sink? The round end goes into the drain and the oval end serves as an overflow vent. Pretty weird, eh?! Stay tuned for another episode of "Name That Swiss Thing!"

Weather in Switzerland

 It was cloudy and rainy the first five days...

.... but the last three days have been PERFECTLY GLORIOUS!!! The temps have been in the low 70s. They tell us that this is the exception and that sunny days in Switzerland don't happen very often.   We will enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.

Welcome to Our Apartment

We really like our cute apartment and are making efforts to help it feel like home. The wreath on the door will be the extent of my Fall decor this year.

The two clocks hang on the living room wall. As you can see, one is Swiss time and the other is USA time. Mom made the flags with scrap paper. She likes her little craft projects. These will save our 'thinkers' from having to count backwards 8 hours every time we try to figure out what time it is for you!

More Lovely Glimpses of Zollikofen

 Blue, blue shutters.

 Charming home.

The cat seems to be posing.

Name that Swiss thing! A guessing game.

New sight, new sounds and new gizmos. We found these in the kitchen cupboard when we arrived. They are identical. I have set them out so you could see them from all angles. I thought that they were attachments for the vacuum cleaner. What do you think they are? I will send the answer in a few days.

A Swiss McDonalds

So many things are new to us but when we saw the McDonald’s Golden Arches we had to give it a try. We chuckled at the McDrive signs pointing to the drive thru window. The exterior and interior look just like the McD’s in the US. However, there were a few unfamiliar items on the menu like the Big Tasty, CBO (chicken/bacon/onion) and Quinoa Curry Burger. We gulped at the high prices and shared a McCrispy Combo Meal for 8.90 francs which is about 9 USD. Well, the Coke Zero (they don’t have Diet Coke in Europe) didn’t taste much like our Coke Zero but it did have ICE!!! The meat on the McCrispy was NOT beef and tasted very weird. We have since learned that it was a pork patty. The French Fries were perfect, just what we are used to, and we enjoyed them immensely. It is nice to know McD’s is nearby but we won’t be regulars there.   

Swiss Music

One of the couples we are serving with play the Alphorns (think of the old Ricola cough drop commercial) and they practice most evenings outside our apartment next to the Temple Gardner's shed. Take a look and listen. (It was raining when I took the video so they were tucked up under the roof line.)

Lovely Glimpses of the Town of Zollikofen

What a charming town! There are photo ops everywhere. The houses are perfectly Swiss with shuttered windows, red clay tile roofs, curved roof lines and beautiful lawns and flowers. Check out this charming fence!!

The Temple - Our Next Door Neighbor - Sept 19, 2017

We began our service in this beautiful Temple. We have lots to learn but are being coached and helped by kind and helpful co-workers. There are three American couples serving here full-time. Most other workers are from France, Italy or Germany and many are Church-service Missionaries here serving for 3 months to a year. Our circle of friends has gone "global"!!!!

Switzerland at Last! - Sept 16, 2017

After a long, long flight with only one delay and missed connection we arrived in beautiful Switzerland, tired but excited to be here at last. Our apartment is cozy, clean and perfect for the two of us.

Salt Lake Temple, Our MTC - Sept 12 - 14, 2017

We spent three splendid days in the Salt Lake Temple with 14 other couples and one 86-yr-old sister being tutored and trained by President and Sister Alldredge who are past President and Matron the SL Temple. The training was priceless and inspiring and awesome and rich and magnificent!! (can you tell we loved it?)

Provo MTC - A Delightful Visit - Sept 9, 2017

How lucky we were to get permission to see our grandson, Elder Dallin Sano, who is studying Mandarin and preparing to serve in Taiwan Taichung. What a great way to start our mission by getting another farewell hug from him! Now there are three Sano's serving missions!