freitag favorites + celebrations

Apparently we like to pack our Augusts with momentous occasions. Last year at this time we were just married and headed off on our honeymoon in Basque Country. And, with my soul left behind somewhere in California for awhile, Martin’s birthday was under-celebrated. This year, I hope I made up for that.  Yesterday our friends Kibwé and Crystal (and baby Brooklyn) arrived for a post-Olympics recovery holiday and, as it was also Martin’s birthday, we celebrated in his honor with a delicious dinner at one of our neighborhood favorites, Restaurant Bürgli. Dinner was followed by a cookie tower (with precariously placed candles) for the birthday boy as that was his most-desired dessert wish this year.

Today I am looking forward to a hot, hot summer weekend. It was a quiet day at work and I’m lucky enough to have a boss that told me to take the afternoon, with full hours, and enjoy the summer while I can. We’ll be exploring Zürich, swim in the lake (I hope), and head up for an afternoon near St. Moritz on Sunday to watch a friend sail in a regatta. If it is as hot as predicted this weekend, then we will all appreciate the higher elevation.

Looking back at my posts from last year it seems that I completely neglected to share the beauty of Spain and France in this space. So here are a few photos that remind me of that trip—the beaches, the food, surfing lessons, and being blissfully relaxed.

And on my list of Friday favorites from this week…

• Eco Biking // This cardboard bike is amazingly clever.
• In the Kitchen // This butterscotch sauce falls on the list of things I want to make, but probably shouldn’t.
• Travel // This post on visiting the real Downton Abbey, London, and Tuscany makes me long for such a trip (and the view from that pool).

Schönes Wochenende und Schön Sabbat!