Before a sunny Sunday ends... - Ballenberg part II

I would like to show another house in the open air museum Ballenberg. This time it is a big farmhouse from Therwil Basle (Northwestern part of Switzerland). According to the date over the main entrance on the threshing room portal, it was build in 1675. It belonged to a farm with extensive landholdings. Read more here.

I remember my grandparents
having such a bed in the living room

The kitchen - it is not easy to cook on stoves like this -
there is always the danger of burning and overcooking your  meal

Tomorrow I will take you to a house which represents the Italian part of Switzerland. 

It's in this direction...

See you then! 

♥ Emilie's daughter ♥

pics by me

Swiss open air museum Ballenberg part I

During our holidays in September/October we spent one day in the open air museum in Ballenberg. It shows the Switzerland of centuries past, giving a unique "live" insight into Swiss history. Almost one hundred traditional rural buildings have been painstakingly rebuilt. In addition visitors are shown how the rural population lived, worked and cultivate customs in bygone days. Demonstrations of thirty traditional country crafts and trades and 250 resident farm animals make Ballenberg an enthralling experience.  I visited the museum several times but this time I looked at it the shabby chic way... and my eyes were not deceived. The first building I am showing to you is a house from Burgdorf (near Berne) built in 1872. It is a patrician villa whose facade imitates a rural style. It was built in the midst of a park-like garden for a textile manufacturer. To me it is the most sophisticated house and as you can see in the inside very, very beautiful!

This artisan's house was built in 1778 and comes from Herzogenbuchsee (Berne) as well. It contains a historical pharmacy on it's grounds which is an attraction to all visitors:

Hubby intends to build such drawers with sunburnt wood he bought. I hope he really will.... 

Did you like this excursion? I hope so!  There is more to come!

♥ Emilie's daughter ♥

pics by me

source by 

Waldegg Castle

I organized our staff outing held three times during summer time and yesterday the first group went on tour. It was a hot and sticky day - but nice all the same.

Among other places,  we visited Waldegg Castle in the Canton of Solothurn. The castle was built as a summer residence between 1682 and 1690 by village major Johann Viktor von Besenval. 1865 the country estate was bought by the patrician family Sury-Büssi. Due to lack of descendants it was formed into a foundation in 1963 and now belongs to the Canton of Solothurn. Today it is a museum and serves as a wonderful place where concerts, exhibitions etc. take place.

You know how chaotic I am - my memory card did not have enough space so I could not take pics of the orangerie and the garden... I am sorry. Today I shall go to the shop to buy a new one and report on more when the next group I am guiding, goes on tour.

Keep smiling!

 ♥ Emilie's daughter  ♥

PS.  I would like to mention Sabine Soler who gave me the idea to visit this beauty! 

Thanks a lot!