Sunday, December 21, 2014

Noël~





Have a lovely Christmas~

Je vous souhaite tous..un Joyeux Noël  et une Bonne Et Heureuse Année~

May you all be blessed with health and happiness


A few things that brought joy this past week..snow..looking over to both my neighbours yards..seeing the lone swing Jacques built covered in snow..to say we used to have 4..time does indeed fly and stands still for no one.

Watching a cross-country skier go by..I will soon be donning my skis..
A little bit of painting..
Marie's adorable card..her own artwork..she even looks a bit like Marie..:)
Wrapping special gifts..making small natural wreaths to attach to them..
Filling Donella's tin.
Making Cookies w/ that mold:) I tried a new twist this year..same recipe as last year.the one that comes on the cradboard wrap of this mold..BTW it is an excellent mold...but gleaning from here..I added a melted layer of mint chocolate and white chocolate..Some of my chocolate broke off but some are intact enough to offer~I think her candy canes may prevent that.Cute cute Blog.
Pinning things here and there for this Christmas and next Christmas..
Pinterest is my very favorite storage place..
Seeing what all of you have been up to leading to Christmas..and gleaning from each and every one in different ways.
Cards in the mail.
Correspondences by e-mails..
Baking..as you know..
A fire going in the fireplace.
An invitation to go to coffee in a new coffee shop.
Visiting my favorite blogs..bloggers and discovering new ones.
Seeing the sun shine for 2 days:)
My darlings..each and every one..The big ones like the little ones..:)
Cutest thing for me.. Oli wanted to play hockey with his brothers outside..and told me his mitts were all wet and too big.. 3 brothers who all come home w/ wet mitts in their backpack wearing none of course:)
I told him that nana was going to buy him mittens this week:)
To this he said :"Dry mittens Nana?:)
Be still my heart.




63 comments:

  1. My daughter came to decorate the tree today. I still have not baked and planned my menu for Dec. 24th. Your gift box of different cookies is beautiful. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Can't wait to see her..she is under the weather😞such a trooper in her 80's..
      I am sure everything will be delicious at your home.you have been busy and away!

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  2. Monique, your tin has some of my same cookies. I did a little color on those pressed ones to make the kids happy. The scenes outside your windows are beautiful. Thanks for all your inspiration and help. The family will surely enjoy the cookie fest. I snuck in a batch of Linzer cookies but still have not done the wreaths yet. All the ingredients are here... Wishing you and your family a beautiful holiday and a happy healthy new year.

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    1. Kids love color!love lingers..we are expecting rain for Christmas!
      Snow towards the end of the week.
      It' s been fun discussing cookies with you!

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  3. Wish you a Merry Merry Christmas ...love Ria...x!

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  4. Joy ~ just visiting La Table de Nana! You make everything beautiful, Monique ~ your images, your words, and most of all, your friendship. Merry, Merry to you and yours this holiday and through the year. ~ Sarah

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  5. I am just in love with your photography and food styling! Have a Merry Christmas!

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    1. How nice are you?😊I feel I need to brush up so much when I see fresh blogs like yours..

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  6. How sweet is Oli!!?? Beautiful post. I love the mini wreath decor trick, it would work with Holly sprigs too, I think. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Oli is our baby..and keeps up with the big boys..but there is still an innocence that is heart melting.I would love to keep him just like this.
      I wish I had holly!
      You make one and show me😉

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  7. Be still my heart too! I'm sure you're the best Nana :) Merry Christmas!

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    1. Their other nana (mamie)is wonderful..Enjoy your first Michigan Christmas in your new home..

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  8. I hope Nana can find Oli some dry mittens at the store :) That's the most adorable thing I've heard in ages.

    You're the best Monique. Wishing you and your precious family a very Joyeux Noël.
    Sam

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    1. You would want to kiss him Sam:) Bonne et Heureuse Année aussi!

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  9. Monique, you've really spoiled us with your Christmas photos.
    I know that Nana put Oli's request for dry mittens right at the top of her list ;o)
    Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy healthy new year. xo

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  10. Yes, they know how to melt your heart don't they?!!
    What beautiful images. My oldest had her birthday yesterday and I was telling her that the weather was just like it has been this year - rain and warm weather and no snow and then it started to snow the day of her birth. It is still just raining but the snow is accumulating in the mountains. Everyone is excited for that.
    I love your beautiful pillow. I made some Christmas pillows this year too.
    We have so much to be thankful for. Have a beautiful Christmas filled with love and peace and joy!

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    1. I can just picture your hoodie!
      I had ordered a pillow cover..never knowing delivery could take 5 weeks..
      Till next year..it will be something novel.

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  11. A white Christmas is magical. I experienced one when I was with my Chicago family last Christmas. Happiest Christmas wishes to you and your family, Monique. How wonderful to have your boys close by.

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    1. I hope we are all still playing in our kitchens next year inspiring each other.
      I think the proximity must have been in the Master plan.
      Always grateful.
      I hope they know that when they are teens..I will be checking on them😉

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  12. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family Monique. There is nothing better than children to make Christmas magical. Somehow I think Nana will find dry mittens. I am Mimi to my Grandkids.

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    1. Mimi is our eldest daughter's nickname😊I agree about kid lets...enjoy every moment of December's magic Penny.

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  13. Oli - so cute!! Dane is feeling better, thankfully. Kind of scary for a while, poor baby. Would you believe we still have no snow and none in the forecast through the end of the year? Last year we already had 10 inches on the ground. Love your beautiful snowy scenes - yours and your neighbor's yard. Your friend will adore your sweet box of cookies. I'm sure you have sold many of those wee cutters :) The wreath instructions have been pinned, and the shortbread idea saved. Love them both! Merry Sweet Christmas to you and all of your family, Monique ♥

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    1. Thank goodness Dane is better..they are so little to not feel well..
      I think our snow will be taken away by rain..
      I hope to see her tomorrow..will call her.your critters add such a cute touch to the assortment I find..
      I may see a 90 yr old gentleman too..the oldest living person I have ever known..he said no food though!
      He is so with it!
      You too...
      Here's to 2015!

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  14. Bonnes fêtes de fin d'année à vous aussi ~
    Plein de bonheur et une excellente santé !

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  15. Merry Christmas to you Monique! Hope your time with family is blessed and full of joy!

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    1. My daughter loved your jelly!the other one will get hers on Christmas morn..Chris..making your Pom cheese app too!
      Thanks!

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  16. Oh, dear, my comment this morning never showed up, so here it is again.....You have snow! It is a winter wonderland, while we have ice-topped little bit of snow. Your pictures are, as always, just beautiful! And those cookies look so much better than the ones I'm bundling into whatever leftover boxes I can find, not half as pretty. And that dear Oli story:) If I knew how to put a heart here, I would. Merry almost Christmas, dear Nana!

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    1. You too sweet Katrina..rain here tomorrow too..so geesh we may have a grey..green and brown Christmas!
      I know..that Oli makes me want to put hearts at every sentence:)

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  17. Dry mittens . . . be still my heart! How utterly sweet. I love all of your photographs,always,always. You are so talented in that way. Love all your baked goodies too. You have the gift of presentation down to a real art. You do it so very well. I always love seeing what you have done with things. You always make me go "oooohhh!!" I love all that you do. I wish I could peek in on your Christmas celebrations. I am sure they will be just beautiful. I wish for you and the whole family all the best that Christmas 2014 has to offer and many wonderful things in 2015! A man in a santa hat just walked his dog past our house. It made me smile. No snow here,but plenty of spirit! Love you much! xoxoxoxo

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    1. Our Christmas eve and day are humble!Nothing looks like a magazine believe me..except Caroline's table when we arrive:)

      We go to one of our daughters around 4.30..all of us..the children have a ball..run all over the place..except the older ones..and we each bring something.. with the mains being done by Frédérick and Caroline..she sets a pretty, welcoming table..the tree is up.. we eat..apps and dinner and sometimes play games..we dress up.I actually wear a dress and if it still fits I'll be wearing the same one..The next morning the all come over in their pjs ..because Santa has come here for the family.Usually a fire..coffee..mimosas and breakfast.mayhem..I wear the same pj every year:) I save it for Christmas.I may switch it up this yr as it may not be as cold.
      It's 2 nice days of being together.
      But really simple Marie..
      I remember when I worked..I had to go into the office the day of the Santa Parade..as I drove along Main Road I peeked into a large window and I saw Santa sitting at his computer..(It was the man that played Santa in the parade.Like you it felt special:)
      I wish yu all the best too..EVERYTHNG.

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  18. Another special Christmas is brewing. Merry Christmas Monique!!!!

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    1. At your home too!..so nice to see and hear what is happening in our little cyberworld..

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  19. Monique, Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas!! Always love your creativity in the kitchen!! So special just like you!!
    Hugs,
    Jody

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  20. Oh my goodness! "Dry mittens, Nana?" I would have cried. So dear! ♥

    Merry Christmas to you and yours in your winter wonderland. We have our windows open here in Pennsylvania today, it is so warm! It is supposed to be sixty degrees here tomorrow! The first Christmas I remember with these temperatures.

    Love and Dry Mittens, :)

    Val ♥

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  21. Monique, wishing you a very, very Merry Christmas!

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  22. Je vous souhaite de passer un très Joyeux Noël et de bonnes fêtes de fin d'année! Maybe next year, in 2015 I will send you une carte en papier? Thank you again and again for the beauty that you share here!

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    1. I would welcome an angel with open arms:)
      It's raining here right now..unusual..But the feeling is here.
      The boys ..2 of them came to the door in their Christmas PJ's..to borrow yeast.I love that but I had put the gifts under the tree last night never thinking they would be here this AM..Lucas kept looking at the tree.
      I told him I was so surprised when I heard Santa come here last night because he would be too busy tonight!
      Grandad helped by saying thank goodness he had had the chimney cleaned:)
      Peace..Calm..Health..Love..Inpiration..Creativity..

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  23. Monique, little Oli is so darn sweet..Dry mittens, Nana. I love that. my grands call me Nana too. Love seeing the different cookies...what a treat!
    Have a wonderfully blessed Christmas.

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  24. Your lovely blog has given us so many wonderful ideas for this special holiday season. I hope you and your lovely family have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year.

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  25. Merry Christmas, Monique! Thanks so much for stopping by, I appreciate your kind words. Everything looka so lovely! I am still baking! It will be a late night!

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  26. I hope you had a great Christmas filled with family and fun! Your Christmas cookies look amazing just like in previous years. It's all about your fancy cookie cutters!

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  27. See you in the New Year.
    2015.
    Love,Peace,Health,Happiness .x

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  28. Dry mittens! That's so cute. And such adorable cookies. You do have a charmed life. I hope your Christmas was fabulous.

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    1. We have to remember I don't show the out takes..It's a simple blog that I love doing..But I share what's going well:)x

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  29. Dear Monique, I have just discovered your blog, it is lovely, I laughed at the "dry mittens"! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Hugs Rose x

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  30. Happy New year Monique --- I look forward to a wonderful 2105 with you!

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  31. Lovely, seasonal, putting-me-in-the-spirit photos. I love the fabric on that pillow (I think it's a pillow), and the beautiful cookies, plus that darling little felt reindeer, reminding me of the felt ornaments that I used to make when I first learned to sew. Merry Christmas, Monique, so glad you got the Wilton candy mold!

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    1. It is coming:) My friend had ordered it and then received an email saying out of stock..She is wise though and went directly to the source..so now we know..next year we will join you in making them:)The parcel that looks like a pillow is actually the gift wrap TO /For a pillow:)

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  32. Hope you had a lovely Christmas Monique!
    Happy New year dear:))

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  33. May 2015 shower you with blessings as YOU shower us, all your happy readers, with them. I LOVE the header, the cafe au lait made my mouth water, I am going to look for the French cookbook, but do I need another, can't help myself.

    All joys,
    Sharon

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  34. No snow here yet-((( And your pictures are beautiful!!

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