Local Wine Festival

Muttenz is home to a number of wineries and produces some very good (and award-winning) wines. The vineyards are a 15 min walk from us so we often take a walk up through the forest, into the farmland, and then through the vineyards back home.

One weekend recently the local wineries had a small wine festival up in the vineyards. We took the boys up there and spent the afternoon walking from wine tent to wine tent, trying the various wines and eating german sausages, bread and risotto.

When we arrived Blake and I got a moment's peace while the kids ate their snack

 

 

Then the mischief started, as they decided to explore the vines

 

 

 

"Hey Flynn, is mum watching?"

 

 

"Nah mate, just grab a bunch"

 

 

 

The kids were doing a lot of whining and arguing but it's amazing how the irritation abates after a couple of wines! In some of the wineries, there were other kids to play with, which kept them somewhat entertained. And Flynn will put up with a fair amount of boredom if there's the promise of food in the near future.

 

Despite the kids' efforts, it was a lovely afternoon, sitting amongst the vines, drinking the wine they have produced.

Strasbourg with the Girls

In September I went with three friends (sans kids) to Strasbourg for a weekend. It was a great break in a very beautiful city in France. The town is extremely well preserved and picturesque.

 

The ladies settling down for another Prosecco in the hotel's rooftop courtyard

 

 

 

 

 

We were in the centre of the beautiful old town and spent our time walking, taking in the sights, eating, drinking and shopping

 

 

 

The view from our bedroom window

 

 

 

It was super hot and sunny (high 30s), so we frequently took shelter in the local cafes and bistros, with a refreshing beverage or two

 

 

The focal point of the town is their magnificent medieval cathedral. It was amazing inside and out, and at night time they do a light show with dramatic music - very impressive and kind of horror-movie-like

 

The view from one of the cathedral windows as we climbed to the top



 

 

It was a great relaxing break and we had lots of fun being free-agents for a few days.

 

 

Flynn Starts Kindy

Kindergarten starts between the ages four and five in Switzerland, depending on your month of birth. The term starts in August and Flynn has started at the kindy ("kinski" in Swiss German) behind our house - most convenient.

 

His first day, when mums/dads get to stay for a half hour and help make a poster for his peg in the cloakroom.

 

Ta na!



 

 

Being behind our house, we can see Flynn playing, which is lovely. He is always busy and enjoys zooming around on the large trucks, water play and making chalk soup.

 

 

This is Flynn's best friend, Lilly. She speaks Swiss German and English and has been a god-send for Flynn. She's a really sweet girl and they love playing together. And because she speaks English, Flynn has found the transition to German kindy much easier. He is of course also learning Swiss German, and his teachers are very warm and supportive of him.

Random July and August

The boys hanging out at home

 

 

 

 

At the park, discussing how best to make the summit approach

 

 

 

 

The lads kicking back

 

 

 

Benjy plays for the camera

 

 

 

Happy happy little chappies

Flynn's Football Foray

 

In the school summer holidays Flynn and some mates did a football camp, running in the mornings for a week. It was a full-on week for him but he did really well and enjoyed the experience!

 

 

 

Flynn scores a goal!

 

 

At the end of the week they had a prize-giving and each received a certificate and medal. Flynn was very proud of himself and so were we!

 

 

 

 

 

Veggie Tales

This year we got ourselves into gear and planted all sorts of things in the veggie patch. We had a complete wipeout of all our salad leaves, as the slugs here are huge and voracious. But we had great success with most of our crops.

 

 

We did well with the cauliflowers

 

 

 

 

We had loads of tomatoes, and I even put on my Hausfrau apron and produced some delicious tomato chuntney!

 

 

 

We had a good crop of purple cabbage

And even some purple peppers



 

 

 

The carrots were a sorry lot, perhaps due to our somewhat patchy watering efforts

 

 

 

We have a couple of good aubergines still growing and some rather sad-looking silverbeets but we now have a better feel for what works in our garden.

 

And the roses, although not in the veggie patch, also outdid themselves this summer

 

 

Summer was a strange one this year - it took forever to arrive and then right at the end we had a few weeks of scorching heat (mid to high 30s), followed by a swift return to mediocrity. We are currently experiencing cold mornings and nights, but often low to mid 20s by afternoon. That interspersed with the odd very cold day that does not improve. The leaves are starting to fall, the days are noticeably shorter, but the pumpkin festival and the autumn fairs will soon start, and then the Christmas markets - lots to look forward to!