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If only I could yodel …

May 31, 2014 by Patricia Sands 31 Comments

Hi there! I’ve been off the blog for a while. Travel and edits have made the days fly by but I really want to share a bit of our adventure with you. My Friday In France posts will be back next week – directly from France, I’m happy to say!

For the past two weeks, my husband and I have been settled in a delightful village high inOfficial symbol of Canton of Uri the Uri canton of the Swiss Alps. The sounds of cowbells  and joyful birdsong supply the background music, hiking trails abound, the people are kind and friendly. The scenery is captivating with endless spectacular gondola rides to glaciers at the top of the world and inviting roads (Really … ? A car can get down/up there? Yes!) leading us to unimagined surprises.

Our view from the house is spectacular … no … make that breathtaking. We like to explore and it has been a distinct pleasure to be a guest in this beautiful country. You can imagine how busy my camera has been! I would love to share some of the countryside with you and will put together a slideshow … at some point … I’m looking forward to sifting through all the photos to pick out just a few.

Here’s a shot of my “office” ~ did I  mention I have also been working on edits? In a setting like this, I haven’t been able to moan about it! Besides, edits only make our work better so that part of the writing process is something I actually enjoy. While we were here, I received word that The Promise of Provence is a Finalist for Literary Fiction in the 2014 National Indie Excellence Book Awards. Great motivation to keep writing!

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Now I’m having a problem stopping myself from showing you more.  Just two! And then I’ve got to get back to work.

Of all the doe-eyed cows I’ve photographed here, this is my favourite! How’s that for a bell? Sheep and goats have bells too but this is the prizewinner!

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And now this video from the Niederbauen Paragliding area. Take a gondola up and glide your way down. I have to confess we kept our feet on the ground but spent a few hours up there, taking photos and admiring the sport. It was amazing to watch entire families participating with a child on their lap (in full safety gear, of course). Have you ever tried this? Isn’t the setting beyond beautiful?

And now, I want to leave you with this video that I hope will make you smile as much as it does me. We have heard a few spectacular yodels here … and in the most unexpected places. How much fun would it be to yodel like this?

We’re taking the train to Zurich today and flying to Nice tomorrow. Honestly, we would be happy to stay here longer but … on the other hand … we’re counting the minutes to our arrival back in Nice!

What travel plans do you have and are you considering home exchange? Got questions about it? Just ask me. You know I love to talk about this fabulous way to travel! Now back to editing … 

Bon weekend!

P.S. You can always click on the photos to enlarge.

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Filed Under: Blog, General Travel Tagged With: National Indie Excellence Book Awards for 2014, Niederbauen, Patricia Sands, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, The Promise of Provence, Uri Canton

About Patricia Sands

Family, writing and travel are my passions ... okay, and chocolate ... and I'm seldom without a camera. I write women's fiction and keep in touch with readers by a monthly newsletter that also has giveaways and contests. Come and join us by signing up on the right. See you there!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. wordsfromanneli says

    May 31, 2014 at 3:38 am

    I’m envious! How nice for you and tomorrow it will be Nice for you!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      May 31, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      LOL! It will be very Nice indeed!

      Reply
  2. margaret21 says

    May 31, 2014 at 3:45 am

    Love the office girl. Does she keep you supplied with glasses of milk?

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      May 31, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      LOL! She’s a beauty, all right! I am crediting her with some assistance with the delicious local chocolate I consumed!

      Reply
  3. Gloria Richard Author says

    May 31, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Oh, Patricia, I SO envy you! What an serenity inducing place to relax, to write, and to edit. Soon, you’ll be in the spot where your heart yodels. No need to echo that through the mountains.

    Loved the yodeler. I admire his talent, but I COVET his hat! I need that hat for my collection.

    WOOOOOOT and congratulations on the well deserved recognition for your novel. I am thrilled for you.

    Me? Travel plans? In nine sleeps I get to leave for a free-to-be-me road trip to Pennsylvania. We’re having a Burns Girls Family reunion (five of us plus umpty ump grands and greats and steps). After that, I plan to go wherever whim takes me. How long will I be gone? Beats me!

    I would tell you to enjoy France, but that’s a given, isn’t it?

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      May 31, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      Hey Gloria! Great to see you here! You are, IMHO, truly a road trip QUEEN! I love how you just get behind the wheel and go! You could definitely plan a lot of great routes over here. Have a wonderful fan reunion and I’ll watch your posts to see where the trail takes you after that. Safe journey!

      Reply
  4. fransiweinstein says

    May 31, 2014 at 8:39 am

    The view from your office is, indeed, breathtaking. Wow!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      May 31, 2014 at 1:37 pm

      Exactly … if there’s a word we have overused in the last two weeks, that’s it … WOW!

      Reply
  5. Patricia Yager Delagrange says

    May 31, 2014 at 10:49 am

    First, congratulations on your book. That’s so cool. I love, love, love the pictures, especially the cow with that magnificent bell! Holy cow!
    And I really like the poof-ball hat that the yodeler is wearing. That’s really something. I never knew they yodeled any more! I don’t need to tell you how gorgeous the Alps are and I’ll always remember one of my favorite countries that I visited in Europe was Switzerland. Lucerne was so pretty. You’re having a wonderful time and that is just awesome!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      May 31, 2014 at 1:39 pm

      Thanks for your thanks, Patricia! You know exactly what I’m talking about since you have visited here yourself. You are right about Lucerne and today we spent the day wandering around Zurich which is also extremely beautiful. There’s a lot to be said for this country!

      Reply
  6. ontheplumtree says

    May 31, 2014 at 11:10 am

    What lovely music! But I’m happy you can’t yodel!!! 🙂

    Reply
  7. patriciasands says

    May 31, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    LOL – I am very intrigued by it, I must admit!

    Reply
  8. Madhu says

    May 31, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    Wow! Can we swap?? 😉 Congratulations! And good luck with the awards.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 1, 2014 at 4:51 pm

      Thanks, Madhu! What travel plans do you have coming up?

      Reply
      • Madhu says

        June 1, 2014 at 9:51 pm

        An African Safari in September! 🙂

        Reply
  9. lameadventures says

    May 31, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    Gee, Patricia, if only I could have a dollar for every time I said, “If only I could yodel,” by now I’d have exactly … one dollar. Maybe I’ll try to yodel or wear a fan shaped pom pom topped yodel-ing hat when I next beg my boss for a raise so I can visit someplace/anyplace while I still have breath in my being. Seriously, I love that picture of the cow with the honking bell. If I were that cow, I’d be looking over my shoulder too. You know what she was communicating to you, “Okay sister, here’s your chance — get the shot!”

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 1, 2014 at 4:57 pm

      I’m telling you, I did have ‘a moment’ with that cow. I don’t know what it is about yodelling but I’ve been intrigued since I first visited Switzerland and Germany back in the day. Go figure.At that time I believe my interest was highly influenced by beer consumption …
      By the way, did your boss have a good trip to France and was she successful in photographing the gardens? Did Julie ever contact her?

      Reply
      • lameadventures says

        June 2, 2014 at 10:58 pm

        My boss had a GREAT time in France. I’m not sure if Julie contacted her, but she seemed very pleased with the helpful feedback you shared. Thanks. She brought back “gourmet” soaps for my colleague and I. One of mine is in my favorite color: black.

        Reply
        • patriciasands says

          June 4, 2014 at 1:20 pm

          I’m glad to hear she had a great holiday. It’s always a pleasure to share info that might enhance someone’s travels over here.

          Reply
  10. Susan Sommers says

    May 31, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    what a fabulous photo of your office.I felt like I was there with you!
    Congratulations on your award, and I am counting the days (10) until I get to go to Provence to co-lead the trip with you.

    I am so looking forward to experiencing YOUR Provence.
    See you soon.

    Susan

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 4, 2014 at 1:32 pm

      Thanks! I can’t wait until you get here too! It will be magnifique!

      Reply
  11. evelyneholingue says

    May 31, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    Of course my French heart is a little sad. This year I will travel the US, the country I love as much as my native France. I want to say BRAVO for the award The Promise of Provence just received. Well done!
    Lovely, lovely views that your eye captured so well. I like cows and this one looks so gentle.
    Profitez bien de vos vacances en France!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 1, 2014 at 4:59 pm

      Et vous aussi! I’m looking forward to hearing about your road trips in the USA.
      Thanks also for the BRAVO! Most appreciated!

      Reply
  12. Darlene says

    June 1, 2014 at 12:08 am

    It looks like a heavenly place. Just came back from Taos New Mexico and now we are getting ready to sell our place and move to Spain in the fall. Busy but exciting times. Also doing the final edit for book #4 Amanda in Alberta – The Writing on the Stone. No rest for the awesome!! (people like you and I)

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 1, 2014 at 5:01 pm

      Darlene! That’s so exciting. You must tell me more about your decision to move to Spain. Do you know precisely where you will settle? My sister is just south of Granada and that’s a fabulous area … 1/2 hour to skiing and 1/2 hour to the coast. Granada is an exceptional town.

      Reply
      • Darlene says

        June 8, 2014 at 1:35 am

        We haven’t entirely decided where we will settle. May try a few areas first. My hubby’s parents live near Alicante so it may be on the Costa Blanca. I am connected with your sister and the area she lives in looks great as well. It will be near the water for sure. I have been to Granada and loved it!

        Reply
      • Darlene says

        June 8, 2014 at 1:40 am

        Sorry, I am connected with Marianne who I thought was your sister. I am not connected with your sister but perhaps we can all meet in 2015. That would be so awesome.

        Reply
  13. thephotoseye says

    June 1, 2014 at 5:35 am

    Fabulous! I would one day love to try to hang glide. Very popular in the Italian mountains as well and from where we have a summer place in Italy at the base of the Abruzzi parc we can see the gliders passing by! Enjoy Nice….look forward to reading and seeing more!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 1, 2014 at 5:05 pm

      The base of the Abruzzi Park! Lucky you. That’s another lovely area. Hang gliding does seem like a very peaceful sport. Just think of some of the incredible photo ops while doing it!

      Reply
  14. jansenschmidt says

    June 2, 2014 at 5:56 pm

    Well talk about jealous – that’s indeed what I am. Those views are indeed breathtaking. And to call it work? Really?

    Congratulations on the award nomination and good luck. I love it when I hear stuff like that from names I recognize.

    Interesting about the yodeling – my mom could yodel. She was never able to explain to anyone how she could do it, or how she even discovered that she could do it, but she was a yodeler. As kids we used to laugh at her, now I’d give my eye tooth to hear her yodel one more time.

    Thanks for the mini cyber vacation. Now back to work.

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 4, 2014 at 1:18 pm

      Thanks for the congrats! Seriously, I was deep into edits (and still am … waiting for the next round back from my editor) and that scenery inspired me to keep at it! How cool (and bizarre) about your mom being an accidental yodeller. I wish you could hear her again too.

      Reply

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