…Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! And a belated Happy Hanukkah too…
Our big evening was last night, as is traditional in France. Amazingly, for the first time in the thirteen years that we have lived together, we found a turkey, une dinde, for our Christmas dinner. Remi cooked it, in his own unique way. The stuffing had meat, chestnuts and grand marnier in it along with so many delicate spices…the same that he used to make a crunchy brown crust for the turkey skin. I didn’t have to do anything besides bougie patrol…and there were nearly thirty candles lit on the main floor alone. Instead of carols, we listened to Miles Davis and sipped white wine that we had bought earlier in the day from our favorite winery near Uzès. The Baccarat crystal goblets were clinked repeatedly and it was just the most lovely and love-filled evening.
That same spirit drifted into this morning, where bisous and wishes of Joyeux Noêl were exchanged just after having opened our eyes from slumber. We managed to surprise each other with our presents, a delight, as were those that came from family and friends. And then, pour se mettre en appétit, or to work up an appetite, we took a long walk with the dogs in the sun. Ben padded along at our side and Kipling ran amuk, as per usual. And it worked. We have popped a bottle of crémant and Remi is now cooking again, a seafood cassoulet – one of his specialties – stuffed with crab, shrimp, petoncles (think tiny scallops) and cod all cooked in a creamy white wine sauce within their own individual pots. If we can, we will taste a bit more of the triple cream Brillat-Savarin with summer truffles then the buche de Noêl for dessert! While other families will go exploring this afternoon, we are planning to stay home, quiet and cozy and content. After what has been, at times, a challenging albeit fascinating year, it feels so incredibly wonderful just to be at peace.
I hope that wherever you are that you are finally able to relax and take in the joy of the season. You all have been a wonderful gift to me this year and I am so grateful for your kindness, support and shared laughter…
Sending much Love and Good Will from Provence,
Heather
Dear Heather, your Christmas sounds magical and so memorable with Remy!
The peace and love you felt is what I wish for all of my friends and family. All the best and many adventures in 2015!
xoxo
Karena
The Art by Karena
I forgot to say…..and I mean it from the bottom of my heart……your wreath….is my favorite….and I have seen hundreds……that will be my wreaths next year……we have many olive trees….and I adore them! gorgeous wreath….I love the simplicity and elegance of that wreath. If I had a thousand dollars……that would be my choice!
Brilliant….again!!!!
XXOO
Merry Christmas! (It is still Christmas here!!!
We had all 7 grandchildren for Thanksgiving! (they are all but one, taller than I!!)
None for Christmas……we had the loveliest Christmas……just the two of us! Eve..and then Christmas night with a friend for 50 plus years! and her husband….delightful!! And we had "beef bourgingnon"! sorry for the misspelling!
I did not pass French!
Merry Christmas you darling people……and happy new year!
Our pond is "lined"; our ducks have returned….(I recognize the markings and you will too….of her beak!!!)
It is the best Christmas present of my life! Our pond is the heart of my garden for me…..and the animals appreciate it even more than I do!
A blog post is coming! (when I stop crying tears of happiness)!!!!
Merry Christmas….you two!!!!
Ah, oui .. kicked back with Miles Davis .. perfect. Merci for the effort you and Remi have given to sharing your gifts this year .. you are among those who are continually making our wonderful orb a better place for the next inhabitants .. looking for the beauty, discovering it, then sharing with the rest of us. I'm glad you were rewarded with a wonderful Christmas! Mele Kalikimaka Heather and Remi
Aloha,
Bill Facker
http://www.Kauai-to-Paris.com
Heather, Merry Christmas to you! There was a real sense of quiet and contentedness in your post. You sound as if you are at home. So glad!
Loved the Christmas doggie photo, with the two boys on the threshold of their new den!
As others have commented, I have very much enjoyed receiving and reading your posts. I look forward to them. I wish you and Remi a wonderful year to come. A year of growth and blessings!
Cheers,
Deborah – Melbourne
"We have popped a bottle of crémant and Remi is now cooking again, a seafood cassoulet – one of his specialties – stuffed with crab, shrimp, petoncles (think tiny scallops) and cod all cooked in a creamy white wine sauce within their own individual pots."
I would love to have a taste of that dinner.
I read in Lisett's List that there 13 deserts served at Christmas in Provence. One of them is marzipan.
I would settle with your desert.
I'm glad to read that the peace and joy of Christmas has visited you too. Your word-craft and keen observations are wonderful gifts you share with others throughout the year. Thank you. It is always a delight to read your blog.XXX
Oh Heather, so happy for you and hear about your peaceful Xmas-feeling. We spent our evening totally unlike all the years before (actually it was the first unusual Xmas we had and how wonderful and funny too.) Went to a tiny restaurant in the old town, had a delicious dinner accompanied by rocking life music and good vibe . Today we also decided to stay at home, lit all candles we have and open a bottle wine. Dreamy or does reality will start next week?
b.t.w. the dogs are sooo cute.
Merry Christmas, Heather! Sounds like you are spending yours in the most absolutely perfect way! Peace, happiness, contentment, surrounded by the love of your favorite men! 🙂 Those fur babies are absolutely adorable (even when they look like they are "so over" posing 🙂 "Really, mom . . . another one? ? ?" Too cute)! How wonderful Remi is doing all that cooking! He sounds like quite the chef! ! !
Thank you for all the beautiful posts you give us throughout the year. The words, the feelings you evoke and the gorgeous photos help transport us to another place.
JOYEUX NOËL, dear Heather.
Warmest greetings from the Périgord to Provence,
Karin