The cables can hold up to 3 tons, so Rob convinced Melodie to hang off the edge. Rob does some other kinds of climbing, so he was totally in his element.

This was the only really hard part of the climb. And it wasn't that bad, just took a little more muscle than I've used these past 6 months of studying.

I am writer, hear me roar!

I think, at this point, that I consider myself a writer. It’s funny because it was my envisioned career all the way back in the 5th grade when I started writing stories just for fun about a family of mice. In my early teen years I went to a 3 week writing camp for 3 summers in a row, developing my skills and producing some fairly good work. Then at about 16, as school and age were drying up my creative juices, I did a “career project” on freelance writing. I realized writing was work. I realized I didn’t really want to sit at a desk all day and force myself to produce something other people would want to read, something editors would want to publish. Besides, I had discovered missionary work and was impassioned with a call to go and help others find spiritual nourishment. But I also acknowledged that by going out to fulfill my call I would find something worth writing about. It’s strange how no matter how much I grow and change, in the end I’ll still be the same girl who wrote mouse stories in the 5th grade.

Another aspect of my writer-esque-ness is that I find I HAVE to write. It’s not really optional. I mean, I could choose not to, but then all the ideas and words running around my head would go to waste. I enjoy getting them out on paper. Plus, I’m not gifted in painting or acting or sculpting or dancing, so I’m happy to have this way to creatively express myself.

So I would consider myself a writer. Not in the professional sense of the word but in the vocational sense. It’s a part of who I am and what I do. I think that’s one reason why I so love my Blog. Even if I’m only writing a few paragraphs, “publishing” them myself, and boasting a readership of 10, I’m still writing and being read!

I’m finding fall to be a particularly inspiring season. My life is so rich right now anyway that there’s no lack of things to say. Below you will find a couple of poems that I wrote this afternoon. Something inside simply stirred me to bundle up in my coat and scarf, take my coffee carafe and a pad of paper, head to my favorite bench overlooking a vineyard and the lake, and let my pen say what it would. Hope you like it.

Fall Days

The days are rushing past me
even as God dances around in the tree tops
painting the leaves in golden tones.
Soon those leaves will be crunching under my footsteps.
A blustery wind will blow them about,
and they’ll rush past me with the days.

My Wish

I see a wishing weed
and I want to pluck it from the ground,
take a deep breath,
pucker up,
and let the force of my desire send its seeds sailing through the sky.
If my wish came true,
a seed would fly to you,
go into the ground,
take root,
and a wishing weed would grow up at your feet.
You’d pluck it from the ground,
take a deep breath,
and wish for me too.

I'm so domestique. I just made my first lasagna tonight. It was absolutely delicious, if I do say so myself. Jean-Pierre says I'm ready to get married now :o)

Living Up the Swiss Life

My life has been so rich lately that I don't know where to begin. I'll just let the photos and captions tell most of the stories. I'm realizing that I only have a short time left here in Switzerland so I'm determined to live it to the fullest.

I'm starting to get a little sentimental about this place. The other day I teared up over an infomercial! There was this farmer describing how he raises his cows. He was speaking in Swiss German and it was translated into French. He said at the end, "When I see how happy the animals are I'm not sad to have to butcher them because they've had a good life. I'm happy to be able to provide that kind of meat for people." It was just so Swiss. I'll never get to see a Swiss German farmer talking about happy cows on TV in the States.

Speaking of Swiss German farmers, I have a Swiss German housemate right now and she and I watched a TV program last night called "Farmer Seeks Wife." She translated some of the German for me, but it was funny even without the translation! I mean, it was just like a reality dating show we'd have in the States except that we're talking Swiss German farmers who speak such weird dialects that they had to put subtitles. I'm eagerly awaiting next Sunday night's episode to find out if any of the couples work out. It's like "The Bachelor Meets The Waltons." Wholesome, yet modern and entertaining. Quality television.

Yesterday the Alps came out and made me sing. It was really hazy all summer, so I was thrilled to see them again. As I walked along the lake and looked at the mountains and listened to the waves lap along the shore as the last light of day was perfectly sifting through the trees, God romanced me so delightfully that it took my breath away. Really.

Lately I've been getting to go on lots of excursions with my new found German friend, Andrea. I always knew I would love Germans. It's great getting to be myself, i.e.: talk loudly, laugh till it hurts, say things as frankly as possible :o) So here's just one of many pretty pictures I've snapped this past week. The downside is I'm always shrieking "Hallo!" and I say "Yah, yah" all the time.

I think photography is one of my hobbies now. It took me a few tries to capture the sun coming through the trees. This was my Friday excursion with Andrea. It's great having an adventurous friend with a car!

We spent quite awhile looking for this "waterfall." It was pretty but as you can see, it's no Niagara Falls.

On Saturday Andrea and I went to Montreux and Gruyeres. This is the famous Chateau de Chillon, supposedly one of the most beautiful castles.

This is just about the coolest thing I've ever seen. Outside the castle were 3 little dog houses where people could leave their animals while they took the tour. What a great idea!

It was so beautiful I couldn't stop taking pictures. Our expression of the day was "It's so pretty!!"

We were blessed with simply exquisite weather, affording us the best views of the mountains and lakes.

Me and Andrea in Gruyeres. It was my second visit to the charming town. I feel I've really gotten a good view of the French part of Switzerland.

Everybody asks me if I've had the "Double Creme" of Gruyeres. Now I can say I have! It's in that little pot which we poured over the meringue and sorbet. Double creme is an appropriate name because it's seriously like twice as dense as any cream I've ever had!

Yes. Yes, this cow is wearing a bouquet on its head. Don't ask me why. It's a Swiss thing. Great, isn't it?!

It's finally fondue season! When the cool winds of fall begin to blow the Swiss don't waste anytime getting out their fondue pots and warming themselves with the rich cheese and a side of Kirsch.

This photo is the whole reason I'm posting photos right now. I just had to get his on my blog. This deserves some kind of "photo of the week" award or something. Good thing I take my camera practically everywhere, 'cause you just never know what you're gonna see!

This is for anyone wanting to do a still life painting. As for me, I only have the skills to do still life photos. At least I arranged the fruit myself!