Les Gibiers

Yesterday Jazzy and I went for a walk with Joseph and Leo (our neighbor and his ancient German Shepherd) in the vineyards that were completely blanketed in snow. Suddenly, Joseph stopped and excitedly pointed out a flock of birds hidden in the vines. He said he wished he could go hunting which is allowed on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in season. I asked why he couldn't if we were in full season and he said that it is strictly forbidden as it makes the hunt unfair to the wildlife as they are unable to escape or hide as well and gives too much advantage to the hunters.

Gotta love the French way!

Yesterday I was reading the little daily newspaper that Nathan and Celia pick up on their way to school. In it was the ads for businesses for sale. One that caught my eye was for a sandwich shop. The selling point in the briefly worded ad was that it is normally closed on Saturday and Sunday and there is normally four weeks of annual closure for the vacation. Quality of life above all else!!

Musée d'Arles

The first Sunday of every month, France opens up its museums for free. Today we decided to try out the Musée départemental Arles antique. Arles is located about 45 minutes to the east of us on the Rhone river. It was an important Roman military center and the museum contains artifacts from the neolithic period through the time of early Christianity. Basically, they found that the Romans had dumped a lot of their castoffs into the Rhone and it all either settled to the bottom or floated to the Mediterranean Sea where it stayed. There is an amazing amount of olive oil and wine casks in the museum as well as an incredible bust of Julius Cesar. This bust is thought to be one of the only existing carvings of Cesar made while he was still kicking. It has him wrinkled and balding and looking quite human! Amazing what you can find when you sort through other people's garbage!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3932198.ece

Christmas 2009

Only served at Christmas, we look forward to these homemade cinnamon rolls for weeks! After opening a couple of presents, we pause to feast on these hot gooey and totally low calorie treats.

Celia has not stopped playing her new guitar since she opened it. She now claims six notes and her new role as family balladeer. Nathan loves his Mario Kart. He and Mike have been playing it all morning. It is just easy enough for us in the older and less technologically advanced generation to pick up.

After taking Jazzy on his Christmas run in the vineyards and meeting a French couple with a beautiful Border Collie who liked to roll in the natural fertilizers readily available in the fields behind our house, we are ready to fill the house with the fragrances of Christmas supper. Roasted lamb, smashed potatoes, creamed spinach and good ole American apple pie. We will save the typical French buche de Noel for New Year's Eve dinner!

Well Jazzy is now sleeping on my foot and Celia is strumming her guitar and Mom is feeling so blessed with the Christmas season and her incredibly beautiful family! Joyeux Noel, mes amis!!

Merry Christmas!!

Mike, Celia Nathan and Mary wish you all a very merry Christmas and a bright and joyous 2010!!

December in Paris!!

There is not much that can beat visiting Paris in December! The city is all lit up with beautiful Christmas decorations and the grand magasins have their windows full of incredible displays. My favorite windows this year were at Le Bon Marche, but Galeries Lafayette never fails to astonish me. I stopped for lunch in one of the many restaurants in GL and watched as the midafternoon sun dimmed to allow the brilliant Christmas lights come alive. Glass of wine, potage and a salad while watching the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers illuminated by the ever changing display of lights.

Nathan's 16th Surprise Birthday Party

We had a Laser tag and pizza party for Nathan and his friends for his 16th birthday. We had a bit of a hard time convincing Nathan to come up to the Laser tag place because he saw all of his friends nearby and wanted to go talk to them. I asked him why they would be there all together and he said he had no idea!! We were so good at keeping it a surprise! Celia and I had almost two weeks of back and forth texting with all of his friends to arrange the party and to keep it a surprise. His friends did not say a word to him. He was so happy and surprised. For one who can't stand to be the center of things, he had a fabulous night. They are a really great group of guys. We seriously had an intense battle in the laser tag room!