Swissness

It's a beautiful day for a hike!  Nico has got it planned - we will roast sausages over a campfire that we will start with a Bic lighter we have bought.  Being from drought-ridden California, we are thrilled with the thought we won't get arrested.

The village church is so lovely, we have to take a peek inside.  Not locked of course - this is Switzerland!

The door is gorgeous in that special Swiss way with pine and simple, yet charming details in the overall  design.

The detail on the ceiling is gorgeous.

A big blue organ almost fills the loft and we can imagine the choir up there too.

The Heinzers lead the way.

We come to a herd of cows that look pretty imposing, so we scoot over to the other side of the electric fence that is keeping them in.  The meadows are strung with these portable, solar-powered movable fence lines that provide temporary pastures for cows and sheep.

Nico says these chocolate brown cows with the soft golden ears are the traditional Swiss cows.  I want to bury my face in those ears!

Wildflowers are abundant.  

We have been scouting for a fire ring to roast our sausages, but the one Nico was counting on has just been claimed by a lady shortly before we came to it. We hike on hoping to find another spot.

Nothing is quite right and so we head back to see if we might be able to join the lady and share the fire.  A whole extended family is there roasting sausages and having a grand time.  They recognize Nico and are very happy to invite us in. 

They all do the same thing with the sausages - first, find a good slim stick, then slice a deep cross into each end of the sausage, then pierce it right through the middle with the stick.  As the sausage cooks, the ends curl out and when your sausage is ready, it looks like a flower!  Pretty cool - and delicious with mustard slathered on bread,

We return home and I try to lure the sheep with some lettuce.  They are not impressed.

I have arrived with the plan of making Nico his favorite Anerican cookie, Snickerdoodles.  I have make do without cream of tartar (no one knows what it is in Germany) and I have to estimate measurements because they don't use standard measuring cups as we do in the U.S.  They weigh ingredients.

The first pan of cookies are too thin, but I make some adjustments and the rest turn out fine. Nico has been practicing his guitar in the sun but he is glad to take a cookie break. 

I'm just glad to have made a little reminder of those SLO High School days when a hungry German boy came in from school looking for a snack.  He may be a PhD student now, but Snickerdoodles still have their place. 

Another day of radiant Swissness (and a bit of Americana too).