It's easy to see why Italians love Loki and why he fits so well into their lively culture. His fine sense of style: "Does this hat make my ears look big?"

Loki and Juno are forging new friendships and found a great hiking pal in Marley who is also an American ex-pat. We got together with Marley and his Mom for a hike in the parks and hills above Lausanne at Chalet Gobet. Ah gee! Another chalet and another set of gorgeous parks and woods to hike […]

The Challenge: find something rusty. I found this rusty gate (and rusty smeared retaining wall) at the Lavaux vineyards on my Saturday bike ride. Little did I know it would serve as a metaphor for my bike riding abilities.

I had another masthead for May in mind but Mr. Wild Dingo insisted on more tulips. Because it's obvious you all haven't had enough of them. Obviously the headline is referring to my national blunder of accidentally insulting the Morges Tulip Festival.  Not only can dogs see the color yellow, but my answer reflected nothing about […]

One of the favorite places for the Swiss to getaway is Lugano, one of Ticino's most beautiful natural features. The striking thing about it is that the  lake surrounded by the mountains right on the shoreline. The hotels are literally built into the mountain in some cases and right on the lake. I had heard about it enough to put it […]

I have itchy, watery eyes.

He's a natural born beauty. If he were human, he'd be a surfer dude or model, with naturally chiseled features and six-pack abs that he didn't have to work for. Unfortunately, with such beauty comes the heavy price:

The day started innocently enough. We stopped by the Tulip Festival again this week so I can try one more time to get a photo of Juno's yellow eyes next to some yellow tulips.

A few weekends ago, Mr. Wild Dingo and I visited Chateau d'Aigle, a museum of vine and wine that featured a renown collection of wine labels dating back as far as the 1800's. Unfortunately, that exhibit was closed due to relocation, but the chateau and museum did not disappoint.

Pork Chops Porcini.  I don't know how I made it to this age (eleventy-seven) and being Italian, having never cooked with porcini mushrooms. I've eaten them in restaurants but never attempted cooking with them. Until I opened the book:  Essentials of Italian Cooking. The Pork Chop above is complex in flavor and in preparation--well, at least for me--so I […]