Mmm...macarons

Today a new friend taught me and some other new friends how to make French Macarons...






...it was good!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, like the Fourth of July, is not 'our' holiday. However, since moving to France, where today passed unmarked just like any other late November day, we realized that Thanksgiving has become an essential part of our Family tradition - a celebration that can't be missed.

We celebrated early this year with American friends who have been our very own Squantos, helping us to survive in France and learn the local way of life ever since we arrived in August. The turkey was fresh from the market, perfect pumpkin puree from Picard freed up precious roasting space in our tiny oven and the table decorations were gathered from our garden. The last of the moving boxes were moved out of the dining room just as our guests arrived and it finally felt like home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Corsica

Having spent our life savings on winter coats hats, gloves and scarves for the girls yesterday, as temperatures here drop towards freezing, I thought it was time to bring back the sunshine with a look at the photos of our Toussaint trip to Corsica.


We stayed in a gorgeous villa above the town of Calvi on Corsica's north west coast. The water in the swimming pool was freezing, but the sea was still warm and apart from one rainy day, we had perfect weather.


Legend has it that Christopher Columbus was born in Calvi's citadelle.


We spent a cloudy day walking the ramparts, a maze of steep cobbled streets surprisingly devoid of any commercialization.


The citadelle is dominated by the Cathedrale St-Jean-Baptiste.




This wouldn't be a Life in France blog without a photo of an interesting door!


Looking down on the town from the ramparts. Calvi was quiet while we were there but it must be packed in the summer and new tourist accommodation is being built everywhere.


Calvi's motto inscribed above the gateway to the Citadelle.


We were there for Calvi's 20th Annual Festival Du Vent a slightly underwhelming event in our opinion but it was fun to spend a morning wandering round the festival stalls.


Must try this idea for re-using French milk bottle tops. Spotted at the children's music stand.


All flavours of soap from Provence.


After such a busy summer getting ready to move, we really wanted a relaxing half term break and this trip was just right.

Saturday Sightseeing

Living in France has it's frustrations, such as waiting eight weeks for furniture to be delivered only to have the delivery guy leave behind somebody else's bookshelf and then take another week to come back for it! But quite often there is an "I can't believe we're really here!" moment. Being stuck in traffic but still seeing the lights on the Eiffel Tower sparkle or living close enough to Versailles that you can spend the morning running errands and then spend all afternoon wandering around Marie Antoinette's Estate.


The trouble with sightseeing on your way home from the shops is that you are apt to forget your good camera and you're back to being frustrated. It was the most beautiful Fall day though and the sights were ridiculously picturesque so I snapped away all afternoon on my phone camera applied some Instagram filters and here you are...


The Mill in The Queen's Hamlet


The Farm


We arrived with a picnic at lunch time through the Porte Saint-Antoine. Parking was easy, crowds were small and we were home in time for dinner!

This Moment. Unpacking Unfinished

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Joining in with Amanda and friends at SouleMama

This Moment. L'Halloween

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Joining in with Amanda and friends at SouleMama