Hi folks, sorry I seem to be quite quiet around here lately. Maybe it’s the 4 halloween parties I had to dress my kids for, or my husband not sleeping well as he waits for his next job to be determined, or maybe it’s that I am trying to maintain my house while trying to be crafty…all while being patient with my kids.  Anyhow, sorry for the random in’s and out’s!  Since it’s now November 1 my prediction is that things will settle down…um, January 8th or so when we are back from the US! Kidding, I hope things settle down before then!

Jackson was originally a Jack in the box but last week we went into a kid’s thrift store (while our snow tires were being put on, booooo!) and Seth bought him a superman costume. Seth couldn’t resist it and had been feeling like no one here would even know what he was as Jack in the box. And if it seems confusing that Owen is two different costumes, we had 4 parties this yr (preschool, playgroup, trick-or-treating with friends, and the Embassy shindig) and I knew the puppy would keep him warmer when we were outside. Next year Halloween will be much less complicated I imagine.  At least Owen has Jackson’s old costumes to fall back on!

there was no denying that the superman costume suited him!

Sunday evening we went trick-or-treating with some Swiss and German friends. Most were expats who have lived in the US or Canada and are trying to start more of a tradition here. The kids knocked on a few doors and got the experience, although many of the neighbors had no idea what was going on!

Owen and his buddy Mica.  They do swimming lessons together.

Next up was the Embassy party. The kids love going to Seth’s work and being there with him!

Superman was fading fast!

Superhero friends.

so ready for bed!!!

My tiredness now feels justified after reviewing our last week! Sneaking off to make a cup of tea because it seems that so much craziness is even enough to make Superman tired enough for a weekday day! Hallelujah!!!

…whatever you call it in your part of the world, it’s yummy! If you have never tried it it’s the perfect season to brew some up!

I had my first vino caliente in Bogota a few years ago. It was so yummy and hit the spot on those cold rainy evenings. When we arrived in Switzerland we met our friends Bo and Leigh in Basel for Herbstmesse and Leigh introduced me to the European version, Gluwein. It’s basically hot, yummy, mulled red wine. I am not usually a red girl but with the doctoring it is super cozy. I think here in Switzerland it seems sweeter to me but maybe I just can’t remember well enough. In Bogota if you ordered it at a restaurant they often sugared the rim of the glass!

There are many different methods for making Gluwein and everyone has their own fav. You can buy it already mixed or you can make it easily at home.

This is how I make it…

grab a bottle of dry red wine

A cup of apple juice  or cider (to sweeten it up a bit)

A few cloves, cinnamon, etc!

A couple of slices of orange and apple!

If you like it nice and sweet dissolve 1/2 cup to 1 cup sugar in the mix

Last year I discovered that they now sell tea bag type things with mulling spices!! So no more floating stuff in the gluwein! Just the bag of goodness!

Pop it on the stove and simmer on low for 30-45 minutes, but don’t boil it!! Just get it good and steamy hot.

If you don’t have a group to help you with your pot-o-wine and just want a glass it’s super easy to just play around with the ingredients and get it how you like it!   This probably goes without saying but if you don’t drink alcohol and still want to try it you can obviously cook it longer and hotter and burn off the alcohol!

And for those of you that are like, “um, that isn’t really a recipe” and would feel more comfortable trying something more official here are a few links for “real recipes”! Enjoy!

Gluwein

Vino Caliente

Try this out for Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings!!