Yesterday I sat down to what was going to be a super healthy diet lunch of a big salad and two bites in a scary spider walked out from under a lettuce awning and walked across my plate. I managed to stay calm. Jackson sat quietly watching and said “mom, I have heard some people in Asia might eat spiders but I don’t think it’s a good idea for you”. Um, yea. I didn’t have the energy to make a new lunch and for sure didn’t have the appetite to attempt any more so we moved on. I thought my spider incident was pretty major in my day, until I checked email.

This blog is all about the seasons in our lives and we are about to enjoy a very unexpected season. Many of you know that the flood waters in and around Bangkok are rising. Some of you also know that my mom’s mom, aka Nana has been living there with my Aunt and Uncle for a couple of years now. Yesterday after my spider drama I sat down to check email and saw a message from my Aunt Carol. She was requesting that she maybe send Nana to us since the trip to the US would be so difficult for her. I quickly called Seth, wrote my aunt back and within the hour her ticket was purchased. She arrives tomorrow!! Whew. Here’s hoping her blood pressure stays regulated and her box of winter clothes makes it quickly in the mail!

Now luckily we are having a casual fondue party tonight because that meant I had already been keeping the house in somewhat order.   The boys and I have been bustling today getting the guestroom and bath room ready and I have been strategizing on how to manage all of the needs of the new family group! Our ages will soon range from 23 months to 90 yrs old!!  For a month!!

I am so excited to have the opportunity to spend time with Nana. Seth and I were thinking back and we think the last time we were with her was when Jackson was 9 months old and we were home for MD Anderson. It’s been a long time! And it will be so fun to get her out to see some of the sights of Switzerland. Although I know her well enough to know that she probably comes with the most excitement about the chocolates and pastries. I am running to the store this afternoon to be sure we are equipped for daily tea time.

I am excited for Nana to experience the tail end of Fall and to hopefully be here for the first fresh snow! Coming from Thailand I am worried she will be chilled to the bone the entire month but hopefully we can keep her warm enough. She will love the busy holiday season of baking, decorating, etc!

Buckle up Nana, it’s going to be an adventure. Oh yea, and we have spiders at our house!!!

Hi folks, sorry I seem to be quite quiet around here lately. Maybe it’s the 4 halloween parties I had to dress my kids for, or my husband not sleeping well as he waits for his next job to be determined, or maybe it’s that I am trying to maintain my house while trying to be crafty…all while being patient with my kids.  Anyhow, sorry for the random in’s and out’s!  Since it’s now November 1 my prediction is that things will settle down…um, January 8th or so when we are back from the US! Kidding, I hope things settle down before then!

Jackson was originally a Jack in the box but last week we went into a kid’s thrift store (while our snow tires were being put on, booooo!) and Seth bought him a superman costume. Seth couldn’t resist it and had been feeling like no one here would even know what he was as Jack in the box. And if it seems confusing that Owen is two different costumes, we had 4 parties this yr (preschool, playgroup, trick-or-treating with friends, and the Embassy shindig) and I knew the puppy would keep him warmer when we were outside. Next year Halloween will be much less complicated I imagine.  At least Owen has Jackson’s old costumes to fall back on!

there was no denying that the superman costume suited him!

Sunday evening we went trick-or-treating with some Swiss and German friends. Most were expats who have lived in the US or Canada and are trying to start more of a tradition here. The kids knocked on a few doors and got the experience, although many of the neighbors had no idea what was going on!

Owen and his buddy Mica.  They do swimming lessons together.

Next up was the Embassy party. The kids love going to Seth’s work and being there with him!

Superman was fading fast!

Superhero friends.

so ready for bed!!!

My tiredness now feels justified after reviewing our last week! Sneaking off to make a cup of tea because it seems that so much craziness is even enough to make Superman tired enough for a weekday day! Hallelujah!!!

…whatever you call it in your part of the world, it’s yummy! If you have never tried it it’s the perfect season to brew some up!

I had my first vino caliente in Bogota a few years ago. It was so yummy and hit the spot on those cold rainy evenings. When we arrived in Switzerland we met our friends Bo and Leigh in Basel for Herbstmesse and Leigh introduced me to the European version, Gluwein. It’s basically hot, yummy, mulled red wine. I am not usually a red girl but with the doctoring it is super cozy. I think here in Switzerland it seems sweeter to me but maybe I just can’t remember well enough. In Bogota if you ordered it at a restaurant they often sugared the rim of the glass!

There are many different methods for making Gluwein and everyone has their own fav. You can buy it already mixed or you can make it easily at home.

This is how I make it…

grab a bottle of dry red wine

A cup of apple juice  or cider (to sweeten it up a bit)

A few cloves, cinnamon, etc!

A couple of slices of orange and apple!

If you like it nice and sweet dissolve 1/2 cup to 1 cup sugar in the mix

Last year I discovered that they now sell tea bag type things with mulling spices!! So no more floating stuff in the gluwein! Just the bag of goodness!

Pop it on the stove and simmer on low for 30-45 minutes, but don’t boil it!! Just get it good and steamy hot.

If you don’t have a group to help you with your pot-o-wine and just want a glass it’s super easy to just play around with the ingredients and get it how you like it!   This probably goes without saying but if you don’t drink alcohol and still want to try it you can obviously cook it longer and hotter and burn off the alcohol!

And for those of you that are like, “um, that isn’t really a recipe” and would feel more comfortable trying something more official here are a few links for “real recipes”! Enjoy!

Gluwein

Vino Caliente

Try this out for Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings!!

Saturday night we had a group over for pumpkin carving! It was such a fun evening. Most of our friends had never carved one before but they all dove in and seemed to have fun.  We covered the dining room table with a plastic table cloth and newspapers and told everyone to bring a pumpkin and a knife!

I set out a few appetizers to munch on while we carved and then kept dinner super simple!! We had hot ham and cheese sandwiches (thanks for the recipe, Amy!) and a fall salad. We followed it up with homemade pumpkin pie and a friend brought some cake! I must say that might be the first and last time I make pumpkin pie from an actual pumpkin! It was wonderfully delicious and better than from a can but I must say took waaaay more time than I had! Another friend brought Gluwein that simmered on the stove!!! Maybe this week I will try to post some recipes for that so you can try it in whatever corner of the world you are!

Here are some pics from the festivities…

caramel apples…darn things stuck to the buttered wax paper but they looked pretty!

a little hesitant to pull out the “guts”!

it was serious work folks!

most of the kids showing off their creations!

thanks for a fun night, friends!