L'hiver~

 

Well it certainly is a very different winter..I feel the coldest..I walked to the mail yesterday and my face was freezing in place..I have a very sensitive face..walking back was better..but..

We have had snow..

The She~ Shed always looks the same so that's a repeat.

A few of you that know me have asked how I feel about my family across the street having moved last week.

Well I am just happy for them.I had nights where so much melancholy filled my heart.I loved when the boys would just pop by..they were all born in that house and I have memories of every year every stage.

But I'm okay now shockingly enough.

It's a done deal right..and it's what's best for them.I had years that were best for me.

Done.Their beautiful turn.A new adventure..

They are all excited and elated..They poured their heart and $ into the one here,adding sq footage and new rooms etc..For some reason I had a feeling..They had looked at a few homes..but nothing..still I had a feeling..this one..they bought it on the spot lol and she came to tell me.

Inside my heart sank..and my concerns as an ex ~realtor..came to mind.

But this is a different market..one I did not know..where homes sell right away and often above asking.Never did I think covid would have this effect.

Of course in rare cases I even sold homes sight unseen:) Conditional upon the buyer visiting and approving..or if a home was unique and had a lot of interest.

But I also had listings for months.

Anyway..their new home ,I feel is just right for them ...And as a family we helped move them Sat and Sunday..so we got a real feel for their home.I think it's perfect.

Like a ski lodge.

Their Yellowstone..with wood and stone and fantastic light  and land..♥

I am fine indoors in winter but this covid is really getting old.

I miss dinners en famille..  now that the Littles are back in school..it's different even if we are vaccinated.

I don't agree with everything our governments are doing..but what do I know.

Here, to get into Costco..Walmart..any big surface store you need to present your vaccination passport.

They double check your identity.

What stores have had to comply with..the poor still closed restos..Back ups in Hospitals.. waiting lists..overworked medical staff..pharmacists.Teachers..students..

Anyway this isn't a political blog..so ..

I've picked up my brushes and paint..nothing great has happened.I think last yr..all of the yr almost I was so inspired by Paris People..every one was FUN.

After more than 100..time to focus elsewhere..  where?:)

I need to find something else now..

I've been making breads..I love that..All kinds..

Frida was a thoughtful offering from a young woman I admire so much..

On Instagram I also follow French feeds that I love..

When I saw savarins I thought of a little mold I had that could work perfectly.

Some are rectangular..some round..some square..

The super fun part of this recipe..no measuring cups:)

All in a yogurt pot.

If you can picture this a box of many empty La Fermiere yogurt pots arrived here as a Christmas gift.I had dragged home blue ones from France but had never seen the pinks..mint greens and terra cottas..They live here now..thanks to Sarah~

La Recette~ from farida_cooking on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZCS5KcIfWE/

One yogurt pot natural yogurt (I used greek)

one and a half pots of sugar

one pot sunflower oil

1 tsp vanilla I love vanilla I put as much as I need to smell it!

3 eggs

1 envelope of baking powder. I am going to ask the author how many tsps in her envelope.As they can differ.sure enough her envelopes are 8 grams ,two tsps

3 pots of flour.

Strawberry jam

Mix the yogurt with the eggs ..sugar ,oil and vanilla Mix well Add the flour and baking powder.

I made half the recipe

Bake in a preheated 350 F oven for ap 15 mins.

This is a lovely recipe for children to make..it's all in pots:)

I used my jam and it's the last jar.

It's our fave..it's a David Leibovitz's recipe.

I was happy to see that Afterlife is back for season 3 on Netflix.

He did Derek which was so wonderful .

Take care~

Ps if you are easily offended by off color things Afterlife is not for you.. very off color..it’s quite offending..but I like it. for some strange reason However I am on episode 3 and I am not so sure anymore..quite crude.

But I am sure about..

Here's a footnote re measurements as some have asked me :)

The pink yogurt jar looks larger than our Riviera yogurt jars right ?

Not the case as  both carry 1/ 2 cup dry measure ..(i.e. flour)

a French baking powder holds ap 2 1/4 -2 1/2 tsp in every envelope.

And weighs 11 grams.

See notes above as her envelope weighs 8 grams ,2 tsps

I am a vanilla sugar/ etc..lover..

Some baking powders come w/ vanilla..Fun!

Hope all this helps.

PS  I measured everything ..not info taken from the net.

For my recipe I used Magic Baking Powder .In a container.Readily available here.

Sachets in France the amount varies.

Many French recipes are yogurt jar recipes.:) Famous French Yogurt cakes..etc..

Over and over and over again~

 

My Christmas was stored this week..Bins ..but also those zippered clear cases you get sheets or things in..I keep them to store things in....the felts .. in 2..I like the see through look heavy duty  ..they look snug as bugs in rugs..glass ornaments in a beautiful big Italian theme box from Xmas tree shop 100 yrs ago..reinforced at bottom with heavy duty take..and big storage boxes..all done..Our pre-lit tree..has maybe 1 set still working:( Shame on them right?

I'd love to find the new smaller lights I have seen all over IG..a different little look.

Every yr I receive such cute ornaments and I am grateful..these were some from this yr.

I have been stitching in stitching and stitching and part of my Xmas treasure box for next yr is almost ready.

Again I recommend the Alicia Paulsen ornaments..The MMM crafts ones are gorgeous..but much more difficult.I just did 2 for next yr for my girls..only Day 3..and I don't know if I'll continue..they are costlier and more difficult.I find her explanations very well detailed but I got lost here ..near the end and winged it..pardon the pun;)

But BEAUTIFUL and many stitch through the seamlessly:)

Those muffins are wonderful..

you can find the recipe..

Here..

Seems curfew will be lifted Monday and school starts Monday.

You will need a vaxx passport to enter stores larger than 1500 sq meters.

This will entail a lot of prep by these stores.

A fine may be imposed on non vaxxers eventually to help defray hospital costs.

So everything is just over and over and over again..

Our darling grandson Lucas has made his choice of college..He picked one of the schools that recruited him for football.

If you met Lucas..you would know♥

There's a genuine charm and wonderful presence  about him.

A fine young man as they used to say.

Take care everyone.

~Into The New Year~

 

Christmas came and went and I appreciated being with family so much.Last year was very sad.Just the two of us zooming with family that lives on our street..and 15 mins away.

This yr our government allowed 10 people .Christmas eve at our daughters we were 10..sadly my son-in-law could not be with us,as he was sitting by his father's side in palliative care.His eldest son was with us.

All testing negative.

We loved being together..talked..laughed..ate..at 11..Alain's father passed away.

We were, in a sense still together..on the phone and with his son.

Things can go from bad to worse quickly we all know.His dad was undergoing chemo..and pneumonia stepped in and carried him away.

He was suffering..And wanted to be with his wife I am sure.

The next day brunch was at our home..and Alain came..he needed to be with family.

We were 10 still as his eldest son didn't come..it's nonna's turn on Christmas Day.

So we exchanged gifts..the boys are so nice and grateful and sweet..I have a stocking too the last few years courtesy of my daughters.I love being with them.

They are my adrenaline.The Spring in my step.The reason I can smile wide and real.

I can't explain the tenderness I feel towards them.

A dash of magic.

Jacques and I watched Call The Midwife the Christmas Special..with Kleenex by our side.

There was a quote in the show..as Mrs Turner (Shelagh) holds a heroin baby in her arms..and has been told that Mae was such a baby before living with them..the Turners had no idea..Shelagh says she will hold and cuddle and administer the opioids to the baby..

A Chance To Travel Back in Time..(something to that effect) She said..It immediately struck me that in fact this is what having grandchildren did for me ..it gave me a chance to travel back in time.

What a gift♥

This show is particularly one of our favorites..ever.

Our daughter that has lived across the street from us..for at least 16 years..will be moving very shortly..the chocolate house was my contribution to her desserts Christmas eve..

That silicone mold is great,,if you can find it and think you may like doing this go  for it.I used Belgian Choco for the house..white bark for roof..

A fun project to add personal touches.

I also brought a home made no knead bread ..saw this heart cut out idea..somewhere..IG I think..

Made a Half Baked Harvest App..Whipped Goat cheese/cream cheese/dates/bacon..I read the reviews first and didn't overbake..Mine wasn't as pretty..

I always buy a Shutterfly calendar.I can prove it by my stack:) Of the Littles..Family..Trips..this yr being so different..

I had some of my Paris People printed up..It's cute:) I like it..Way to go Shutterfly..no stories  just a sampling of my 100ish people.

I need a new painting challenge:)

So we enter 2022..

On a pretty strict lockdown once again.

All restos closed takeout only

Curfew 10 PM-5AM

NO visitors in your home

Schools closed until Jan 17th.

And the list goes on.

I had my booster..all is well.

What are the naysayers waiting for.

Happy New Year..see you in 2022.♥

PS..

My little monthly calendar templates are courtesy of https://mindingmynest.com/

~Lockdown~Once Again...

 

I don't think Snowflake knew what he was in for..

Schools closed abruptly yesterday..cinemas..bars..etc..You must work from home again..

Back to square one..

C'est la vie as we know it~

Some last baking items..

Snowflake is that sweet bandleader up there:)She came to me because of Susan..:) You all know her..We go back 100 yrs:)

The cake is a Nordic Ware recipe.. Snowflake Cakelets..

The fun cookies..are an idea I gleaned from Bridget..

the gingerbread cookie recipe I used..From Susan..Savoring time in the kitchen.

Never a great piper..I'll practice.

It’s funny what thoughts cross your mind..

Last night I washed my hair and blew it dry..I’m at that age where I am thinking:”Should I part it to the right.No bangs..bangs?A trim?Shorter”?Keep letting it grow in natural? Itt will be two years in Feb..I think I will..

And in a flash looking in the mirror blowing it dry.. I was reminded of seeing my mom in front of her vanity over 50 yrs ago in her 50’s parting her very thick prematurely grey hair to the left then right instead of her middle part ..she saw me of course, and said “What do you think?”I must have been18 and said..no just leave it in the middle.It suits you.

Why didn’t I try different styles on her?Have fun with her?

She asked for nothing and really got very little.

It’s the least I could have done.

I’m shocked at myself and that memory.

What a selfish teen.

I had no idea she would be gone so soon after.

Mea  culpa maman.

See..funny what we think about and the flashbacks as as we get older ..under different times and circumstances.

Funny but not funny  right?

My family is doing well..I'm so grateful..everyone is well and happy and healthy..accomplishing things that give them satisfaction..well deserved.Nice people♥THAT is so important.NICE.KIND.HAPPY.HEALTHY.My gratitude lies therein.

Stockings are hung..Hoping we can be together.

Some have been added this yr from dear friends..which is fun and sometimes a huge surprise♥

Take care,be safe,see you after Christmas,with more spellbinding tales~:)

xoxo

~10 more days ~!

 

I bought that book in 2009 and it has a little voice recording..the day I opened it this week I found it needs a new battery:)

I filled in 2009 and henceforth there are envelopes in the book with photos of family at Christmas up until 2019..

He's twelve now and on his way to being tall like his brothers..high school..time flies my friends..

This one is a teen now:)His little teeth were the cutest:)

Adamo is now 21..Giuliana 19 Lucas 16 and Max 14♥ Noah 13 and Oli 12.

Adamo becomes an actuary this year..Giuliana is in school of design..Lucas graduates and moves onto college.He is being recruited for football ..I am so happy for him..Happier for us that he is such a lovely young man.Max moves onto the latter part of high school..Oli and Noah still in high school..football..basketball..wrestling they all inherited my athletic gene..(LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL)

I cannot believe 12.5 yrs have gone by...I feel I look so young here..lol..That's a happy face.. a baby in my arms:)

So many years yet speed of light.Things change.. Children grow up.. have children of their own who one day will have theirs..or not.

Health can change..people can leave our lives..

People can enter our lives..

Christmas ..a time of reflection..

And recipes right?:)

Tourtières are a staple here.

Every family has theirs..

This year watched Love Actually while making them,Cried,,How Alan Richman could leave Emma Thompson is beyond me.RIP. Alan R.

And poor Liam..again a heartbreaking example of people leaving our lives.

Cried at the movie..

The stars are Savoury Shortbreads from Memories In The Baking..Sol..I miss this girl..

The Gingerbread men are a fun recipe to make with an embossed rolling pin..you can find the recipe at The View From Great Isalnd..amongst thousands of other great recipes.I mean just look at that cheese ball tree!

The meringues ..are my meringue recipe but the idea of dipping in chocolate and crushed candied pecans came from Amuses~Bouche

an outstanding French blog.

The shortbread doves are simply your fave shortbread cut out recipe..a dove cookie cutter..some sliced almonds..and royal icing to secure the almonds..

I'm still baking and I love it.

This time of yr is a nesting time..I enjoy being in my little gingerbread house.I don't miss working at all anymore.Not one bit.It was a shock and a terrible adjustment.But..I had this nest you see with these people all close by (And they still will be... I'm not moaning I'm happy for them :))

10 more days..y'all:)

PS every yr Marie and I share a card and sometimes a small ornament..her cards are pop up cards and delightful  .This is this yrs..:)

She's had quite the year and has landed on her feet in a exemplary fashion if I do say so myself.

Courage plus.

And Marie just had a new book published..her second!

You can read about it here..

I love watching people succeed.

In every aspect of life.