Mirror on the kiosk wall

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Luckily the little Swiss cafe at the beach has a mirror on the outside wall.
It's easier than taking a selfie.
It is closed for the season so I normally have the seashore all to myself on these cold and grey days.

It also mirrors a beautiful old house behind a tall, mossy old wall.
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Finally, something for James' meme, Weekend Reflections.
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Sweet pair of goats

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Still have some pretty things to show you from Sonnenhof, like this sweet goat which lives at a farm not so far from the nuns.

The goats share a yard with chickens which live in this nice chicken coop.

Goats are notorious for eating (and often killing) trees so this shrewd farmer has enclosed his tree with a electric fence!

Here is the farmhouse, goat pen, and cattle stable.
The farm is also named Sonnenhof.
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(Linking to Camera-Critters.)
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The Swiss love their nature

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In Switzerland all roads lead to forests, or to mountains or to lakes.
What a country!

The forests (at least those around Sonnenhof where I stayed last weekend) are full of bird houses.

Many different styles, I guess for different kinds of birds.

The trails and forests are also thankfully full of benches.

Snow poles, almost as tall as me, had just been put in for the coming winter.
There are reflectors on top.
The poles tell drivers where the road is if everything is covered by snow.

Frost next to the forest, on the non-sunny side of the mountain.

Swiss call them "yellow trees."
The signs tell how long it will take you to walk to the next village or nature place.
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Switzerland has only one national park.  But with nature like this all around, who needs more?
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A surprise at the door

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I received a present (maybe for St. Nicholas Day today?) from an anonymous giver.
This is the way it is done in monastic fashion (at least here at the Community of Grandchamp). 
The item is quietly left on the threshold of your cell door. 
And in chilly Switzerland a fresh shiny tangerine is a real gift.
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UPDATE: I was amazed to learn the big ways St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in public in Switzerland! Pictures and descriptions in this article (and for customs in other countries as well).
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Der Sonnenhof, built in 1799

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Here are some views of Sonnenhof, "the House of Silence [or: of Stillness]," where I was welcomed for several days by the six Grandchamp Sisters who live there.
It is a branch of the Community of Grandchamp, in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

 
The back of the house.

The house was built in 1799.
See all about it at the sisters' website!

Seen from afar, alone on the hill.
It is indeed a quiet and secluded place, very special.

A sister rings the bell four times per day as a call to prayer.

The covered cloister leads to the chapel.

The view from the front door.  Below is the village of Gelterkinden.

Guests who come for retreats leave their shoes at the door.

The entrance, with mountains reflected.

Another bell.
Bells are important in monastic life as a call to prayer and meals.
They mark the rhythm of the daily life.

A vine in winter on the wall.
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See my previous posts about Sonnenhof and about Grandchamp, where I am volunteering for two months.
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(Linking to Our World Tuesday.)
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A water buffalo farm, in Switzerland!

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A farm full of water buffalo -- in northern Switzerland! 

I found it while staying the last few days at Sonnenhof, the French-speaking Community of Grandchamp's "branch" over in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
One of the nun-friends walked me up the mountain to see the impressive  water buffalo.

The youngsters still have stubby horns.

We saw no one around to ask, but we are assuming these animals are raised for milk and maybe also meat.
The best mozzarella cheese is made from water buffalo milk. 

I had fun posing with the big tightly-wrapped hay bales.
You can see one of the farm houses in the background.
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(Linking to Camera-Critters meme.)
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A weekend away, away

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This is where I am this weekend!
At lovely Sonnenhof, the Community of Grandchamp's "House of Stillness" in the German-speaking region of Switzerland. 
It is in a secluded place on a hillside. Six nuns and right now fifteens retreat guests are staying here. 
Down below is the village of Gelterkinden where the old church rings bells several times an hour.
You can hear the distant church bells in my little video:

To see more about the Canton of Basel-Landschaft, at the very top of Switzerland, see here.
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Welcome to my home away from home

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Where I am living this month and next.
A centuries-old Swiss house named l'Amandier, the almond tree (there are some out back, in the garden).
It is one of four or five big buildings here at the Community of Grandchamp. 
Down a bit is the cellar and the Salle d'Accueil (where Sr. S. is heading). 
This Reception is for guests and has for sale books, cards, and nice things made by Grandchamp artisan-sisters. 
Some elderly nuns live on the middle floor with an accompanying sister-nurse.
We volunteers, and sometimes a few guests, live on top. 
Enlarge the photo to see the house's pretty details. 

My room, called la Priere (prayer), on a rare sunny morning. 
For a monastic cell, it is quite big.
It has all I need and more.
The bathrooms are down the hall. 
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After the biting "bise" wind, a ray of sunshine

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This morning at 8:50 the first rays of some rare sunshine illuminated the roof of l'Arche, the main chapel of the Community of Grandchamp. 
"L'Arche," French for "the ark," because it looks a bit like Noah's ark.
It was built several centuries ago, but not as a church, of course.
I'll get some close-ups soon and try to explain what it was used for.
Meanwhile, I just wanted to show you how welcome a little sun was today, because yesterday we had the infamous "bise" wind blowing for a whole night and day.
It was like frozen knives piercing us.
Never been so cold in my life!
It even made it into the newspaper:
http://www.thelocal.ch/20161129/temperatures-drop-as-bise-wind-hits-switzerland
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Symbolism of the evergreen branches

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In yesterday's post we saw the new centerpieces being prepared in the cellar.
Today they are in place on the refectory tables.
And the first of the four big Advent candles is lit, on a bed of pine boughs.
One of the Sisters of Grandchamp explained to me that the branches are reminiscent of the palm and olive branches of the first Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, but because palm and olive trees do not grow here in Switzerland, the fragrant local evergreen boughs are used instead, now during the season of Advent. 
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First Sunday of Advent

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A sure sign that Advent is beginning! 
One of my assignments here as a volunteer at the monastic community in Switzerland is to gather pretty leaves, seed pods, flowers, etc. and to arrange them in little vases for the guest rooms. 
When I went down to the cave (French for "cellar") to look for secateurs yesterday, I got a sneak preview of the red and green centerpieces that the real flower-sister had created for the refectory (dining room) tables. 
And so last night Advent was indeed ushered in.
For my Christian friends, it is a beautiful and important time of  active waiting for Christmas.
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Cookie baking begins!

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The baking of Christmas cookies for the ca. 50 nuns, novices, and postulants of the Community of Grandchamp, plus many expected guests, has begun! 
And as a volunteer I got to help.  :)

Linking to Weekend Reflections.
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Listen to the cow bells, on real Swiss cows!

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In Switzerland the cattle herds follow the good weather.
In summer they are taken to progressively higher alpages to live for a while.
Now, with snow on the Jura Mountains, they come down here to graze on the warmer plain. 

Today was the first time I heard the familiar din of cow bells out in the big field (grand champ, in French)!
I walked out from the Community of Grandchamp and into the field, walking carefully along the narrow muddy path in the middle of two fields, being careful not to touch the electric fence. 
I was so happy to see the pretty cows up close!
But how can each one stand wearing (and hearing) a big bell around their neck all their life??

Enjoy seeing and HEARING the videos!

(Linking to Camera Critters.
And for ABC Wednesday, T is for tongues licking a salt-block.)
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A pretty truck comes to Grandchamp

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Monday is a "desert day" of solitude and silence for the sisters of this contemplative community where I am volunteering.
On this quiet gray morning I was surprised to hear loud noises down in the courtyard.
I leaned out my window and saw this colorful truck!

The men opened all the manhole covers and made sure all was in order.

Even next to the centuries-old fountain that flows continually.

I like how the workmen in Switzerland are always happy to smile for a photo.  :)

A little bit of excitement on a quiet day at the monastery.
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(Linking to Our World Tuesday.)
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Outdoor cafes with blankets

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Today I took the tram (4 Swiss francs, about $4, for a 12-minute ride!) into Neuchatel and walked around the city's medieval old town.

It was plenty cold but still people sat outside the tea house and ate the beautiful pastries. 
Blankets provided on every chair.

Neuchatel is our closest "big" city, with a population of over 34,000.

But to me the best part of the city is its shoreline on Lake Neuchatel. 
Today, far across the lake, the high Alps were shimmering in the sun in their white snow cover! 

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Welcoming Shabbat in Switzerland

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Shabbat candles, a kiddush cup, and (not showing) wine and bread -- all the elements for welcoming the Jewish Sabbath -- right here today at the Protestant monastery in Switzerland! 
On Fridays the volunteers (all two of us, meanwhile) eat lunch with our volunteer coordinator sisters. 
Today we made it into an early Kabbalat Shabbat with the main blessings which I recited in Hebrew. 

After our nice meal together the room had to be vacated so Sr. R. took the lit candles to another of the beautiful Grandchamp buildings.

One of the two flames kept on burning despite a drizzle and a cold breeze! -- The spirit of the Community of Grandchamp, I'd say. 
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