Hope

and jumping cows

Have you ever been in a position where you haven’t spoken to someone in so long that you become frozen? You want to talk to them to catch up, but it just feels awkward. How do you start? And then you think, well, it’s been so long, maybe the relationship is just over.

That’s how it’s been with you, dear reader. It became too long that I hadn’t written that I didn’t know what to say.

I stopped writing for many reasons: it was winter, and winter in Switzerland is long and depressing if you don’t enjoy skiing. Every year, I suffer from a bit of SAD. I know I’m supposed to get my hygge on, but honestly, candles and cozy blankets can only get you so far.

Then, I felt weird. How do I write about trivial things like what I’m cooking, reading, and weird Swiss customs when there are so many terrible things going on in the world? And on top of all that, should I be enjoying those things when others are suffering?

I honestly don’t know the answers to any of these questions, but spring has come to Switzerland, and with that, hope. The cows have come out of their winter home in the barn, jumping. If you have never seen a cow jump, you are missing something. The flowers are blooming, and I’ve switched my winter coat for my spring one. And there is so much goodness coming from so many people. Heroes standing up for what is right, and people being good neighbors, watching out for others in their community.

So, reader, I am back. I’m choosing Hope over Despair

Cows, flowers and the giant magnolia tree

What I’m cooking

Nigella Lawson’s Clementine Cake

This is one of the strangest, but easiest and most delicious cakes I’ve ever made. It’s made with entire clementines that you boil, then put in the food processor with ground almonds, eggs, and sugar. NOTE: It’s better the next day, and make sure to use clementines, not mandarins, whose skin is much thicker. I could see serving this with some whipped cream or a layer of dark chocolate ganache.

What I’m reading

Photo by Elaine Howlin on Unsplash

Pride and Prejudice

Clearly, I can add nothing to what has already been written about this classic. I recently reread it for a course, having last read it in high school. Wow! First, it reminded me how truly terrible women’s lives used to be. Either you were poor and worked yourself to the bone to survive, or you had money but no agency. You were relegated to a life of waiting for a husband, then sitting around drawing rooms, waiting for something to happen. Watching the film, it all seems romantic and beautiful, but the book really shows the frustrations women must have felt.

Then, the dialog! The story has an exceptional amount of dialog allowing each character to be revealed through what they say and how they say it. Elizabeth’s voice is so different from her mother’s and sisters’; they are all unique. I admire Austen for her ability to reveal the characters not through what the narrator says about them, but through what they say themselves. And the wit! There are some real zingers in there. It takes some time to read, not because it’s long, but because the language is so different, but it’s definitely worth it!