A French Inspired Christmas

i've mentioned that we have no 

christmas decorations.

that includes stockings.

i came across these

simple, yet beautiful

french inspired stockings

on Heather Bullard's blog.

i don't have a sewing machine

here..and even if i did bring it

i wouldn't know how to use it.

i wonder if i can sew them by hand.

i bought some french linens

at the flea market recently.

or use fabric glue?

i wonder if they even

sell fabric glue here.

i can't get these

stockings out of my head!

A Thankful Weekend

we had a great weekend.

friday night we had our thanksgiving dinner

we have so much to be thankful for.

the rest of the weekend was spent

eating more of our 19lb turkey..

i made a big batch of stock

and a turkey and rice soup.

and of course turkey, cranberry

and stuffing sandwiches 

on our favorite baguettes.

saturday evening we went to

a dinner party.

another thanksgiving dinner

but with french influences.

the kids were invited

and they had fun

with the other kids there.

we met people from poland,

scotland, ireland and morocco.

what a wonderful time we had!

sunday i was able to get out by myself.

i walked around the city and started

some shopping.

i met up with steve and the kids

for our annual christmas card photo

shoot. 

thanks to a colleague of 

steve's. 

it was nothing like

last years!

i'm pretty happy with how

it came out.

now that the card is done..

i need to find a tree.

and ornaments.

and some stockings.

and decorations.

but right now..

griffy and i are cuddling

up to watch 

the polar express.

here comes christmas!!

American Food Found

the eiffel tower yesterday.

isn't she pretty?

yesterday griff and i walked

to a store i had heard about.

the Real McCoy.

it sells american food.

it's comforting to know

that i can buy a box of cake mix

and a jar of frosting.

even though the two would

cost me about 20 bucks.

i was so happy to find crisco sticks!

for years i've made homemade apple pie

and used the sticks for the crust.

and the kids were excited about the oatmeal

for breakfast this morning!

i'll be cooking our thanksgiving

dinner today.

bon weekend mes amis!

A Nostalgic Thanksgiving Day

although it's thanksgiving,

the kids went to school..

steve went to work.

just another day here in paris.

i was looking at pictures from last years

thanksgiving.

and it made me yearn for 

my grandmothers china

and my pretty decorations

and our families.

but i am thankful for so many things today.

like the fact that my 19lb american sized turkey

fits in my european sized fridge!

and in my tiny oven!

although, that is sans pan.

happy thanksgiving 

to all of our friends and family!

Paris Marches de Noel

paris is getting ready 

for the holidays.

the christmas markets,

window displays

and lights

are beautiful!

yesterday griffy and i walked

down the champs elysees.

i'm looking forward to walking

it at night to see the lights.

we stopped in Laduree.

i snuck a few photos..

and bought a few macaroons.

i'll take everything here.

the colorful luggage.

the shoes, the hat

and most definitely the coat.

while the window displays 

are still being put up,

the christmas market is in

full swing.

i'm betting this is gorgeous an night.

i think being in paris

at christmas will be wonderful!

August Rap Up

i never posted about our crazy

few weeks back in boston

and on the cape and the vineyard.

we spent the first week in boston.

 faneuil hall is a favorite of ours.

the shopping

the food

the history

and the balloon guy.

we also visited the museum of fine arts.

after a week in boston

we spent a night on the cape

with steve's dad

and then headed to 

the vineyard.

we stayed at the winnetu on south beach.

it's a great place for families.

the kids love the giant chess set

ag fair with the cousins 

is a tradition

we packed and unpacked our car

too many times to count.

will is squished in the way back.

no doubt, very unhappy.

dinner at baxters boat house

on the cape.

it was a very stressful, crazy couple of 

weeks but it was great to spend time 

in boston 

and on the cape and the vineyard

with our families.

we are blessed to call it home.

Meet Olive

today is market day.

and i brought home an olive tree.

and i named her olive.

:)

it was a good day at the market.

saturdays are really crowded

but it makes it fun.

fresh dinde.

turkey.

joel thibeault's stand

is probably the most popular.

i stood in line for a half hour 

waiting for fresh bay leaves,

sage and beets.

joel is a well known farmer here

and a descendant of one of the oldest families

of farmers around paris.

they call him the king of vegetables.

his aren't the prettiest vegetables 

at the market

but you can bet they are the most

fresh.

he is always there with a smile on his face

chatting with the customers.

i love market day.

and thank you.

to all of you that left comments and

sent me emails after yesterdays post.

i do appreciate them so much!

today is a better day.

:)