The last (full) month of winter, sometimes it seems like it drags on and on and on …
The same grey skies, fresh fallen snow or grey slosh in the streets, low hanging clouds, the sun hiding and there is ever so little light.
Cherry trees on Bruderholz
And just when you think “I cannot take it any longer” (I have noticed that I only say this when I am sure it will end quite soon), the proverbial silver lining will appear. In our region the silver lining is Fasnacht (carnival), a 3 day long festival of colour and music in masks and costumes and biting fun by the Schnitzelbangg.
There are lots of different events preceding this festival of light and colour and of course when you are actively participating you put in lots of practice time, sew your costume and make your mask. All these activities help you to forget winter and put colour in your daily routine.
And there is special food being served during this time, which coincides with Lent and certainly has its roots in religious or cultural customs: Schaenggeli, a sweet cookie which is fried in coconut oil, indulging in a culinary delicacy before the lean times. I recommend to have sufficient provisions of drink ready as they really make you thirsty! And this year I forgot to add the grated lemon zest that not only adds a lovely flavour but also makes them seem lighter.
Eat to your heart’s content
or Fastenwähen, a Bretzel look alike made of yeast dough with lots of butter, the post is in German but google translate is quite good, in case you want to try the recipe.
Fastenwähen
Cooking is sheer meditation for me, focusing on a single task and trying to create an unforgettable meal. Peeling, slicing, dicing, grating, mixing, tasting, savouring = happiness.
And I bought some wonderful orange tulips to chase away the grey heaviness:
Sunny tulips
And two days before Fasnacht the most stupid thing happens and I sprain my left foot (I slipped on a wet surface in a shop, can you imagine how often I had to hear that this would not have happened if I did not go to this penny shop!!!). You will know that you need to be in top condition for Fasnacht with all the marching and being on your feet for 3 days running.
And then Fasnacht, here are some pictures – enjoy:
Morgestraich on Monday, 4 am
Detail of Muschgetnüssli Ladaerne
Basler Bebbi Ladaerne
Cortège on Monday
Muenster on sunny Monday
Have another Fastenwähe, fresh out of the oven:
Restaurant Stadtkeller on Tuesday morning
On my way using public transport to meet my friends
Two Uelis
A quiet moment on the terrace of Les Hotels Trois Rois
Alti Stainlemer on Wednesday
D’Gränzgänger on Wednesday
Raeppli (confetti) ripple in the Tinguely fountain
Fasnacht – a fleeting and precious moment in the course of a year, taking us on a ride to a dreamland.
What and where is your dreamland?
Comments 10
Looks like a wonderful way to mark the new beginnings of Spring. I, like you, are so reasy for new beginnings. Take care x
Lucy, lovely to hear from you! How are you doing? So ready for spring, they promised us sunshine this weekend and all we have is a solid layer of fog, darn it! I want to start seeding and see something grow so much!
@Late_Bloomers We’re yet to start planting yet as well…still the occasion frost about, but am hopeful for the next few weeks. Spring daffs, crocus’ and snowdrops poking through though and they provide a bit of colour to lift the spirit. Summer can’t be too far away *hopeful*
@Lucylastica2 It is the small signs we should heed more, is it not? And making projects: hey, it is time to start seeding chilli and remember to share a recipe at Late Bloomers in summer! I am nowhere yet but today I started cleaning my wintergarden and opened up the glass doors to let in some fresh air – *promising signs” of a better season!
Hi Barbara! I will have another Fastenwähe thank you! It looks so good but then so does the Schaenggeli! The Schaenggeli looks like something we make called a cruller. Don’t make me dust off that recipe! Yum!
You’re so lucky (I know I’ve said this before ) to live in such a culturally-active area! Here we have Mardi Gras to mark the beginning of lent but it’s merely a pancake supper that the church or a community service group puts on.
I love how you bought yourself orange tulips to lift your spirits. I was shopping last Friday and eyeing the yellow flowers in the grocery store but I didn’t buy any. Then friends came to supper bearing, of all things, yellow tulips! I enjoyed them thoroughly all week long until the final petals fell!
Spring is not far away. I know my husband feels as you do, itching to start working in the greenhouse but as it is he contents himself with collecting and boiling down the sap which is already running! It’s a precursor of spring and it will do for now.
Hang in there.
Lori
@Lori Good morning, Lori! I will have to google “cruller” unless you want to dust it off …. LOL! You just gave me an idea!
Each place has its advantages, I would not mind to live in a place such as yours, seems like a battery charger like Tuscany. And your husband boiling down the sap, something we do not have in these parts of Europe.
Currently I have a vase filled with mimosas replacing the orange tulips, wonderfully cascading velvety soft fluffy yellow balls filling my working space with their delicious fragrance. Very uplifting!
Today we finally awoke to sunshine and I will take Chica out for a walk now and look for spring’s early messages.
Have a wonderful week!
Thanks for taking us on a wonderful ride in your dreamland. Right now, my dreamland remains snowbound, but it is so very beautiful. However, around this time of year I yearn for sun, budding blossoms, green grass and long days of light. And of course…Tuscany 😉 ;)Sorry to hear about your ankle injury: heal well. Cheers! Reine du Printemps xo
@KDillabough Ah, ma reine du printemps – your time will soon come, can you remember when I started to call you “ma reine du printemps”? One or two years ago? I will have to look it up, it is somewhere hidden in the comments.
Six months to go and a completely different scenery 😉 reaping our awards!
Thanks for the good wishes, strange how this only happens in cold seasons, I remember years ago walking on crutches to an airplane bound for Mauritius and the minute I arrived I put them in a corner and felt as good as new! The warm weather and walking barefoot will do the trick!
Here’s to spring!
Loved the pictures, it looks like fun. Hope you are feeling good.
@Joshua Wilner/A Writer Writes Thanks, Josh, you would love it, quite a contrast to the parts you are currently living in! I am fine looking out the window to a day filled with sunshine but yet very cold.