Life at #1 Rue Centrale is very different from life at the Chatette, as I'm sure you can imagine. I am in the center of Cajarc just directly up the hill from the President! It's those two windows on the first floor in the center.
My studio apartment is a cross between my efficiency at the Eden Park in Brunssum, Holland AND my hotel room at the Pullman Fontana in Stuttgart when I was working those two month contracts. It's also interesting to note that I was always working somewhere during the end of year holiday season or Easter.
As with my contract work, I'm making the most of a holiday season "away" so to speak.
Of course, this was not quite the picture I had of "our" first Christmas in France in five years, but I'm feeling flashes of festive.
It's often the silly little things that help.
I am loving my cute little almost 3 euro GIFI tree that fits perfectly in the window. We began with white lights from Jane and then she arrived the other day with colored and a few perfect tiny wooden ornaments.
Just the lights on the tree make smile!
The only Christmas Ornaments that were left are some beautiful faux hummel china ornaments that Mom had sent our first Christmas at the Chatette. They are small and perfect and make me think of Mom and how happy she'd be that at least they made it.
I have Momie's pearls, some of Grandma's jewelry and a few other oddities that just seemed to need to be on the tree for now.
And of course, Babar, Eeyore, and the rescued bears are having some treeside fun.
I'm just a big kid.
I'll be spending Christmas Day with Evelyn and Lucie as already planned. We had decided easy and fun long ago...nibbles, champagne and wine early. We both have phone calls to the states to make and I've got a bus to catch to Cahors on Boxing Day so I can catch the train to Paris and then on to the states on the 28th.
I'm very excited about making little smokies, finger sandwiches, and recreating a foie gras presentation that I loved from the restaurant that used to be at the Gare d'Austerlitz.
I surrendered the deviled eggs...hooray for Evelyn who is making them this year!
Wishing you a holiday season of finding joy in the small and special!
Happy Saturday!
Laury, yes, we will have coffee /(tea:) all together in 2018 ! and I can tell you, that it is was hard for me to ask Bodil for coming and taking my backpack, but I realise it was better than for her to find me on the way home not being able to walk with the backpack, so we all learn it the hard way ! love Niels
Posted by: Niels | December 16, 2017 at 05:57 PM
Every time you write and share so much about what is gong on for you and what adjustments you're having to make, I just want to find you and Bodil and have a coffee together somewhere. I am terrible about letting people help me AND asking for help...some of this is forced for me in France and that is a good thing. Hang in and hug Bodil-I love you both bunches-Laury
Posted by: Laury Bourgeois | December 16, 2017 at 04:44 PM
yes love in the small and special, yesterday, I had to ask Bodil to take my backpack home from the train station, so I could afford to walk home, 2 km ! small things make a difference, that's love! If we love the small things, we can manage the big things ! I remember your posts from the Netherlands and Germany, where you could not wear overalls for instance, but had other things to enjoy, wish you a wonderful weekend and Christmas, love Niels, who just sat outdoor and drank my coffee in coveralls in the sunshine and minus 1 celcius, small joys :)
Posted by: Niels | December 16, 2017 at 11:42 AM