Greetings dear ones !
A great new tale, worth some photos
with beginnings that go Way back,
a middle somewhere around 2000,
and a never-ending end...
AAAhhh, Mother Earth is in dire need of some Tender Loving Care...
What to do?
Continue happily along our Merry Consumer way ?
Assume "They" will figure out what to do ?
Snuggle our heads comfortably into the sand ?
Kinda tempting, but, hmm, how about ...
Run off to Hawaii to open an alternative-energy B&B
or to Australia~Oz to set up a permaculture farm
or down to Italy to tend some ancient vinyards...
We have been ruminating & juggling...
'Just Do It' arrived...
Got our tickets to Oz for the summer 2001.
And then, out of the blue,
the nature spirits right here
whispered urgently
we heard and followed the Call...
beautiful Montreux
on the Swiss Riviera,
at the foot of the Alps.
(20 minutes along the lake from Lausanne.)
Take the little mountain train up the valley to...(Follow the pink arrow, high on the left)
... to "Les Avants" at 1'000 meters (3300 feet)
a truly Magical Mountain village, rich in Earth & Sky spirits,
immersed in the sound of a powerful river running thru.
As of summer 2001 ~
our chalet "Douce Brise"
no cars, only feet will get you here ~
the train's a short walk away
(and that's how Luka gets to school...)
foxes, hedgehogs, mountain goats, chamois, eagles, owls
and many other animals call this protected place home.
We hear only the river, along with cowbells, birdsong, crickets, Spirit-play...
(& Gio's "O sole mio..." in the shower..)
backside view (squiggly pink mark)
Douce Brise,
facing southour solar panels are happy
In May and June, the meadows are covered in "narcisse des poets".
Their heady fragrance fills the air.
a stupendous view of the Alps ~
Dent de Jaman ('Jaman Tooth') across the valley.
Winter-time view, front window, sunset on Jaman.There's a famous sled run & skiing next to the house,
Monster Slopes are a short train-ride away.
the front yard & herb garden
(extending down to the house on left)
the perfect Sacred Space for Gatherings
Frère Jacques, our turtle, is ambling happily about ...
and AhTsa runs his mad-dog circles in the garden.As for us ...
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Here are some BEFORE (2001) photos.
The AFTER photos will come in time ~>
middle floor: living & dining room; chimney
(there's also the kitchen, an office, bathroom, entry-hall)
top floor:
sleep, sacred space & yoga, consultation(there's also a big dressing-storage room & bathroom-jacuzzi...)
top floor jacuzzi
off main bedroom
(Luka thought he was getting this one!)
kitchen
opens onto
living & dining space& we hope to set up a greenhouse on the balcony-terrace
No photos yet of the ground-floor ~
there's a laundry-storage, another bathroom (a sauna-to-be), plus 2 big rooms: Luka's bedroom and a 'bricolage'-workshop.We'll be adding on more photos as time goes by.
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So! What more to say ?
GREAT SPIRITS !
