It is not all grey skies and misery, but we really have a Winter return. Our part of Switzerland was lucky and we had no snow. However Base, Bern and St. Galll got hit with snowfall yesterday amongst other towns and there are warnings about driving on the motorway with its icy, skiddy layer. I am glad I do not have to go places today, especially as I already have my summer tyres on the car. They are new tyres, so probably I would be OK, but better safe than sorry.

It is icy cold outside, 2° C,  and I took precautions yesterday evening and covered my raised beds, although there are no signs of ground frost. I found it such a shame to have the Spring flowers and plants now making their way and did not want them to disappear through the visiting polar air we are getting at the moment. It seems to be a bit of a universal thing with Europe suffering from the cold and even in parts of the States they only seem to be having rain and cold.

My peonies are now thinking about opening the first buds, so I am hoping they will survive the cold weather snap we are getting at the moment. In German the name is “Pfingstrose” which would mean Whit roses, as that is when they are expected to flower. Whitsun is 9th June this year, so I hope they will still be flowering then, if at all.

The tulips are now saying goodbye and the only remainders of the flowers are the seed pods. Some say you should remove them to save the strength of the tulip for producing new flowers next year, although I have never done that and they flower just as well.

And so what to do on this dreary cold Sunday. There is a cold wind blowing, it is raining and I do not think I will be going places today, although if the weather changes I will put on my warm Winter jacket and chance a journey somewhere.  Yesterday afternoon I was homebound but spent my time on the computer doing this and that and in the evening cooking  some chilli con carne for the evening meal. It was the ideal weather for it.

Mr. Swiss has now joined me in the kitchen to make his second cup of coffee of the day, but it is not certain he will stay. We golden oldies enjoy hugging the bed on Sunday morning.  I have already organised the apartment, cleaned the cat tray and given him some fresh water and have also baked up the platt bread for today. My good morning greeting is completed, so what could possibly go wrong. It is a shame there is no background noise when I am writing, otherwise you would hear the wind whistling outside. I have yet another piece to write and then will begin our veal ragout for lunchtime to let it cook nice and slow for the next three hours.

Have a good Sunday and take it easy, that is what Sundays are for I suppose. And those that are working for the benefit of the others, enjoy you next free day.