freitag favorites + sunshine

Perhaps this sunshine map of Europe explains why it seems like Zürich has had five days of rain for every two with sun lately. For awhile the forecast was stuck on cloudy with 100% chance of showers. I’m not complaining about the weather here, and I love a good cozy day when it is pouring rain, but it really isn’t summertime yet here. I’m still waiting for some consistently 80º days. (They better arrive before my mom does or she really will need to break out the fleece she is already planning to packing.) Perhaps this city we now call home has more in common in with Seattle? Well, I am no weather aficionado, but there are only a few cities between Seattle and Zürich on Wikipedia’s list of worldwide cities by latitude.

47°36′N	122°19′W	Seattle,  Washington	United States
47°34′N	7°36′E	Basel	Switzerland
47°33′N	52°40′W	St. John’s,  Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
47°28′N	19°03′E	Budapest	Hungary
47°22′N	8°33′E	Zürich	Switzerland

I remember warmer days last summer, and it still early so I’m sure they are coming. Thankfully, our last houseguests (Kent & Jeanne Henriksen) were from Eugene, Oregon, and didn’t mind trekking around the city in a torrential downpour last Friday to discover the best of our city. The few short days they spent with us were incredibly fun and made me miss home a little more and a little less at the same time.

After a very busy weekend and work week (with more rain) since their departure last Saturday, it is finally sunny and warm, we have more sun in the forecast, and it is the first weekend in awhile that we don’t have plans. I am looking forward to the opportunity to just sit and read, and enjoy the sun.

For those of you that need something to get you through the last working hours of your Friday, here are some of my favorite finds from this week:

• This new toothbrush design cracks me up.
• David Lebovitz on why he doesn’t hate Starbucks. I think he makes some very valid points. Starbucks Coffee is certainly not the best I’ve ever had. I have fond memories of trips to Costa Coffee in London with my friend Maggie back in 2002. And when I’m home it is always a good day when we stop at Noble Coffee in Ashland. However, here I really do appreciate the predictability of Starbucks. They may not spell my name correctly, but my soy caramel macchiato tastes the same as back in Seattle.
• Anyone remember my classic scrambled eggs? I haven’t made them for awhile, but I think I’ll be trying these scrambled eggs this weekend.
• And finally, I am adding the vitra house (see right) to my list of places to visit the next time I’m near Basel. Their rooms of design and furniture inspiration include the living room above. Oh, how I would love that view (and that space).

Schönes Wochenende!