From Frescoes To Pipe Organs

Die Kirchen

(The Churches)

The above photo is the sanctuary where Regula was married in Diessenhoffen. It was part of a monastery in its early history. Now the other buildings are used as a nursing home. I took this picture through a locked gate. The church is opened for special occasions and not utilized as a weekly worship facility. Many of these churches don't have central heating so they are also closed during the winter. Their beauty brought tears to my eyes more than once.

Below, Regula cranked up the pipe organ in the special chapel for the nuns at the nursing home.

~St. Maria~

If I translated the plaque on the church correctly, this was the first Catholic church built in Schaffhausen after the Reformation. It is celebrating its 125 anniversary. Special Ascension Day services were held at both Catholic and Protestant churches while I was there. It is a European holiday. All the church bells in town pealed from 9am to 9:30am. What a marvelous experience. Later that day Regula and I attended mass at St. Maria as this is her church.

~St. Johanns~

This is the interior of the church I mentioned in an earlier blog. Its origins were Catholic but now it is Protestant. The pipe organ is magnificent. On a return visit, I had the treat of hearing the church organist practice!

~Paradies~

There is a Swiss village named Paradies (oder auf Englisch~Paradise). This church is over 500 years old and was also part of a monastery. The other buildings are now utilized for wedding receptions because, of course, everyone wants to get married in Paradise! Regula's parents attend this church.

This was the first church Regula took me to. Its name now escapes me; however, upon entering the tears began to flow. A wave of awe hit me~such beautiful places to worship God.


~Kartause Ittigen~

A Carthusian Monastery: 1461-1868

This was home to 12-15 monks whose day was divided into strict periods of work, rest and prayer and were committed by oath to silence. The facilities now serve as a museum, convention center and brewery. They make a great amber beer from the hops that is grown here.

The church is Rococo style. There is no organ as Carthusian mass is sung without accompaniment.

These choir stalls were carved around 1700.

The frescoed ceiling.

What the monks used to heat what I imagine to have been a cold and drafty room in the 1400's.


~Munster Zu Allerheiligen~

(Cathedral Of All Saints)

In 1103 this was a Benedictine monastery. Now the sanctuary is a Protestant church. The original front door is constructed of very thick wood and is so heavy that now it is opened with hydraulics.

The interior and the organ.

A Dream--Part 4

~The Rhybadi~

Schwimmbads are unique to Swiss communities on the Rhein. They offer locals an opportunity to enjoy a swim in the river during the summer. Unfortunately, during my visit it didn't warm up to take a dip. If I translated its history correctly, the Rhybadi in Schaffhausen was built in 1870. The men's section was separate from the women and children. However, now it is co-ed.

Another view from across the river.

A Dream-Part 3

The Rheinfalls

In importance to Europe, the Rhein is equal to the Mississippi in the USA. It begins in Switzerland and flows north through Germany. The Rheinfalls are a major tourist attraction and just minutes from Schaffhausen.

1880 and 1923 were two drought years when the river dried up and this pole was placed in the middle of the river to "commemorate" the phenomenon.

In the center of the falls is a rock with a staircase to the top. A boat navigates the swift currents to unload passengers at the base. Then it becomes a tourist's race to the top. We made it to the top before the Japanese tourists--our legs and lungs wondering why we were pushing our 44 years!

A Dream Come True--Part Two

Schaffhausen: established 1045

The History of the American West is extremely juvenile to that of Switzerland and Europe. Many castles, fortresses, bridges and churches have been preserved from beyond the 1100's. It was like entering the pages of a medieval storybook: tales of warring monarchs and the Reformation. Furthermore, my trip also became an anchor to what I had studied of WWII. On my return trip home I flew over France and was gripped by the knowledge that thousands of young Americans had never made it home from Europe..and that they didn't get to experience these beautiful sites as a tourist.

The opening photo above is of Schaffhausen's Munot Tower. It was built in the 16th century as a watch fortress for the city. It is perched on a hill above the Rhein. Grapes blanket the hillside down to the street below. The Munot guard and his wife (a couple in their early 60's) live in the tower and he rings the Munot bell every night at 9pm.

This is the Munot from on top of the hill. Regula's house is just around the corner.

Haus zum Ritter

This is the facade of the oldest house in Schaffhausen. The original frescoes by Tobias Stimmer were taken off the building in 1935 and are preserved in a museum in Schaffhausen. The artist Carl Roesch then recreated Stimmer's work. (Lukas thinks it looks rather pornographic.)

These are called Oriel windows and there are 171 of them in Schaffhausen.


Throughout Schaffhausen there are five fountains depicting mercenaries.

In the Altstadt (old town) each house is named and displays the date it was built. This one is

"Zur HoffnungsBurg"

1736

A view down one of the several altstadt streets. Since 1972 traffic is limited to delivery trucks for the shops and for pedestrians.

St. Johanns

At first this was a small Catholic church, then it became a watch fortress when the tower was added, and then it became a Protestant church after the Reformation and the spire was added. The Catholic churches are ornate and gilded to the hilt. In comparison the Protestant churches are decorated "plainly". However, both left me in awe. In a later blog I'll take you inside some of these churches.

Diessenhoffen

The right side of the photo is Switzerland and the left side is Germany. The bridge is one lane and who ever gets to the entrance first has the right of way. When Regula was a kid, she and her friends would jump out of the windows to swim in the Rhein. On a warm summer day, I think she would still do it! Diessenhoffen is the town where she went to middle school and just five more miles down the road is Basadingen where her parents live.

A Dream Come True--Part 1

~A Story Of Friendship~

27 years ago I met a girl from Switzerland. She had come to Cheyenne as an Exchange Student. It was my Senior year in High School and I had just returned from a summer exchange program in Japan. I knew the range of emotions she was feeling: excitement to homesickness. After our Senior year she returned home. However, since the Spring of 1984 she has returned to see me five times and during these times my entire family has fallen in love with her. Over the years it has been a dream to go see her. So, after all this time, I bought a ticket, hopped on a plane and spent nine wonderful days with my friend Regula Marti in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

The word " reisen" means "trip". So, I couldn't resist this photo opp!

A countryside picture with the Alps in the background. The weather turned cold and rainy so we didn't make it to see them---this will be saved for another trip! The yellow in the fields is raps and the green is wheat.

One day we took a 6 mile hike alongside the Rhein. The trail was made in the 1980's when a man decided to clean up all the barbed wire that was still left after WWII. There are still bunkers on the edge of the river.

Some cows enjoying the sunshine after the rain.

On our hike we got the blessing of watching these swans exhibit their grace and beauty.

This is raps (rapeseed). This time of year it is in full bloom and smells heavenly. It is fairly tall. When I walked out into the field it came up to my shoulders. The blooms will fall and the plant will ripen to form thousands of black seeds that will be pressed into oil for cooking.

~Sunburn~Windburn~Freezerburn~

Track Season in Wyoming

We are on the road again and Wyoming's temperamental spring weather has us packing the full spectrum of sunscreen to snow gear--all of which are used throughout the day of a single meet!

Lukas has been having success in the 800. He was invited to compete in The Best of the West meet where he placed sixth. He has run the 400, the 4 x4 relay and the 4 x 8 relay at various meets this year besides doing the Long Jump.


Levi also Long Jumps, runs in the open 400, the open 800 and is the third man on the 4 x 4 relay.

BHS Prom 2010

April 17, 2010

Frankie Vossler and his date Sarayla

Jessica Phillippe and Lukas

This year it was nice not to have to race (no pun intended) home from a track meet in order to get gussied up for prom. Mike and I hosted the two couples for supper. Afterwards, they all dressed in their finery. Like last year's dates, the girls were ready before the boys!

Being a Junior, Lukas was part of the crew to decorate for prom. This year was a Vegas/Casino theme.

April Showers Bring... Calf Scours

Actually, so far we've been spared the calf scours. However, the weather has been harsh for baby calves and we are on edge keeping an eye on their health. Every three to four days we've had wet snows blow through leaving behind 4-8 inches and frigid temperatures. These pictures are from last night's 40% chance of precipitation. The moisture is a blessing considering the last nine years have been a drought(yeah! for the wheat and grassland)...yet it provides new challenges for young stock.

Easter Sunday C-Section

A life in production agriculture is one that exceeds the boundaries of 9 to 5 hours and 5 days a week. Not that I'm complaining, it's just a part of the territory of the business we're in...a commitment to livestock and land. Like others in this industry, it isn't uncommon to be baling hay on the 4th of July, fixing fence the morning of your niece's wedding because the cows found/made a hole and are camped out in the neighbors yard ten miles down the road, or have the septic tank back up on Christmas morning.

While feeding Easter Sunday morning we noticed this gal start in the calving process. As time rolled along she hadn't made much progress and it became evident that her situation was beyond the help of the calf pullers.. We loaded her up to share our Sunday with our local Large Animal Vet who got the "joy" of being on call for the weekend.

Ladies- In-Waiting

A few more weeks and these ladies along with their herd-mates will once again experience motherhood. We'll be busy with our bovine midwifery chores of bedding barns and making certain that mothering up/colostrum intake takes place in those early, crucial hours after birth. Levi calls this "The Nectars Of Life".