Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 440

Small blip here in getting these questions posted, accidentally deleted, accidentally posted with answers, now just posted-ha! Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to link answers with your friends and strangers. See you there! 

1. Three things you're grateful for this first week of November? 

2. Is Daylight Savings Time a thing where you live? Do you think we should continue setting the clocks forward and back? Why or why not? If you could add an extra hour to your day would you want it added morning-noon-night? Do you think it likely you'd be more productive or more likely that you'd just waste more time? 

3. Who is  your favorite author? Your favorite book by your favorite author? 

4. It's National Sandwich Day...will you celebrate? How often do you eat a sandwich? What's your favorite? 

5. Have you started your Christmas shopping? If so when did you start? If not when will you start? Do you give more or fewer gifts than you did five years ago? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A Christmas Medley

Joining in with the Wednesday Medley today, hosted by Terri over at Your Friend From Florida. Everyone's invited to play along. Here we go-

1. Wednesday, December 19, 2018 is National Hard Candy Day! So the first question today is to ask if you enjoy hard candy, especially the kind we usually see during this festive time of year? What is your favorite? Which hard candy brings up the best memories for you if any?

I do like hard candy, but it's not something I buy on a regular basis. My mom used to always have a bowl of the Brach's hard candy Christmas mix this time of year, and usually some ribbon candy too which I think looks better than it tastes. 

As far as a memory goes though I'm going to say Reeds lifesavers. You don't see them very often, but whenever I see them I think of my dad and Sunday mornings. He always had a roll of Reeds lifesavers and would give us one before church if we caught him opening the roll. Butter Rum, Rootbeer, and my favorite-cinnamon. 

2. Holiday shopping! Are you finished? If you could spend an entire day in just one store, which one would it be and why?

I think I'm finished, other than the groceries of course. I don't feel quite as organized in the gift department this year, but I think we're good. 

Spend all day in a store? I guess maybe Barnes and Noble because I love to read or Nordstroms because I could try on shoes all day and I always enjoy lunch in their cafe. That being said I do not enjoy all day shopping. I am good for a couple of hours then I lose steam and focus. 

3. What holiday dessert describes you and why?

I was stumped but it's the 21st century which means there's a quiz for that. (here)  Turns out I'm a cookie-easygoing, happy anywhere, good with all age groups. Not sure how that makes me a cookie, but I think the descriptor fits. 

4. What is your least favorite holiday side dish?

Hmmm...is there a side dish I don't like? Can't think of a thing, but I suppose I could pass on a green bean casserole. I'd rather have my green beans sauteed and a bit crisp. 

5. Now be real! There is one on almost every tree. What is the ugliest tree ornament you have ever seen?

No ugly ornaments on my tree. 

6. Tell us something random about your week.

It's all about Christmas round here...

Merry Christmas to all you Hodgepodgers turned Medley-ers! 

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

Isaiah 9:6

   

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 326

I've been traveling for the past two weeks and have so much blogging to do because of course you want to see and hear about all 647 pictures I took while trekking west. Ha! Right now I need to regroup so let's kick things off with the Hodgepodge. Here are this week's questions...answer on your own blog then pop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there!

1. What's surprised you most about your life or life in general? 

2.  Sweet potato fries, sweet potato casserole, a baked sweet potato, a bowl of butternut squash soup, a caramel apple or a slice of pumpkin pie...you have to order one thing on this list right now. Which one do you go for?

3. What's a famous book set in your home state? Have you read it? On a scale of 1-5 (5 is fantastic) how many stars does it rate?

4. There are 60 days until Christmas...have you started your shopping? How do you stay organized for the holidays?

5. October 26th is National Tennessee Day. Have you ever lived or spent any time in Tennessee? Is this a state you'd like to visit one day? The top rated tourist attractions in Tennessee are-

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park (Gatlinburg area), Elvis's Graceland (Memphis), Birth of the Music Biz (Memphis and Nashville), Dollywood (Pigeon Forge), Tennessee's Military Heritage (many battlefields), The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home), The Parthenon (Nashville), Oak Ridge American Museum of Science and Energy, Chattagnooa and the Tennessee Valley Railroad, Downtown Knoxville, Lookout Mountain, The Titanic Museum (Pigeon Forge), The Museum of Appalachia (Clinton), and The Lost Sea Adventure (Sweetwater)

How many on this list have you seen? Which one on the list would you most like to see?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
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Enjoying Home And The Holly Days

If you're looking for this week's Hodgepodge questions, you'll find them here. 

I spent Monday at the mall.

I think I deserve a medal.

I'm not a mall shopper, but we do what we must for the people we love, especially at Christmas. I do most of my shopping in boutiques away from the mall, on ETSY, and in various other online retailers because dealing with the mall puts a chink in my Christmas spirit. It's actually not the mall so much as the mall parking lot. As my grandma used to say, 'Land sakes alive!' 

By the way, I'm just going to go ahead and add some Christmassy house pics to this post because if not now, when?

view into the great room from entry hall

I'm hoping I won't have to make another trip to the mall between now and the 25th, but never say never. I'm trying to get it together here, but we're still hanging pictures, moving furniture, and soiree-ing with friends so it's possible I've dropped a ball or two along the way.

Friday night our builder and his wife came over for dinner which apparently is something of a construction miracle. Several people I've mentioned this too told me they weren't on speaking terms with their builder by the time their home was completed, or possibly even a few months prior to completion. We still love ours, and had a really nice evening.

great room fireplace

They helped us hang pictures and will bring the last of our window treatments out sometime after Christmas. Mrs. Bob the Builder is having a chair recovered for me and we look forward to more dinners, and boat rides too once boating weather returns.

barn doors with the telly hidden behind 

On Saturday hubs and I dashed down to Atlanta to celebrate the university graduation of a friend's daughter. It was a lot of fun and I'm determined to make time for people and not just my to-dos in this season especially.

fireplace in the keeping room

The house isn't dark, although most of these were taken at night, but it's tricky getting a good photo in here. When I turn on more lighting there's too much reflection, so dark pics it is. I really need to get my good camera repaired...I suspect that would help.

a peek into the kitchen 

In other news, I have not wrapped a thing. True story. Wrapping is on the agenda for Tuesday, then getting the long distance gifts boxed up and posted can happen Wednesday.

Or Thursday.
Depends how I feel about facing the post office. 

                                                                  range hood all decked out for Christmas

Daughter1 and her hubs will be celebrating Christmas on the west coast this year which means mailing packages. I will resist inserting a boo hoo here because I need to set a good example, but boo hoo. On the bright side, we have a west coast trip planned for early in the new year and that helps a lot. 

I will have my Daughter2 here to spoil over the holidays and she's always a comfort. Plus she bakes like a rock star so bonus points. I'm loving my new range so much, but still haven't mastered all the bells and whistles. Daughter2 and I are going to figure it out together, because according to the owner's manual I can bake five trays of cookies at the same time without shuffling a single tray or rack. We shall see. 

 the dock

In the meantime...stay holly and jolly friends! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 248

Hello Hodgepodgers! One item of business before we move on...I'm declaring next week Christmas break in the Wednesday Hodgepodge, which means no link party here December 22/23rd.  The Hodgepodge will be back the following week, December 29/30th so we can wrap up the year and roll into 2016 together.

Now back to this week...answer on your own blog, then pop back here tomorrow to share answers with all of Santa's elves. See you there!

1. What's your biggest 'first world' problem?

2.  Each year Time Magazine names a 'Person of the Year', someone who has 'for better or worse...done the most to influence the events of the year.' It was recently announced they've named Angela Merkel Person of the Year for 2015. You can read more about this year's selection here. Your thoughts? If you were in charge, who would you declare Person of the Year? 

3. Do you have a nativity set in your home? If so share it's history and how you display the pieces.

4.  Do you make an extra effort to give back in some way during the holiday season? How do you encourage those who need encouragement this time of year?

5. Who is your favorite person to shop for? Why?

6. What's the last delicious thing you ate?

7. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is________________.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Turkey Talk Hodgepodge Style

Welcome to this pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Hodgepodge! If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post and then go say hi to the blogger who linked before you.  

Thank you for joining the party here every Wednesday. It's a day brightener for sure, and always fun to see all the many directions people run with their answers. Please don't miss next week's HP, because I have a special little giveaway planned in honor of our 200th Wednesday Hodgepodge.  

Feeling especially grateful today for the way words connect people. Happy Thanksgiving!

1. Besides U.S. Thanksgiving it's also National Game and Puzzle week...what game have you played most recently, and who were you with? Have you worked a puzzle of any kind in the past week?

I enjoy games and puzzles of all kinds. I played Rummikub with my mom last weekend because that's her favorite.  I work a crossword puzzle as often as I can and definitely at least once a week.  

2. What is one place you were thankful for this year?

So many, but I'm going to say Portugal. I love old cities, grand architecture, royal buildings, medieval landmarks, interesting foods, foreign words, the European countryside, winding roads that run along the sea, and most especially the friends who make whatever 'place' we're in more memorable. 

3. Take a nap, watch football, go for an after dinner walk, or hit the stores...which ONE is on your must-do list for Thanksgiving day? If you aren't in the US answer as it relates to any big holiday meal.

Well I'd say a nap while watching football, except this year we'll be at the neighbors house so can I take a nap? I do like a walk after dinner on Thanksgiving Day, but we may be dealing with Wednesday's snow on Thursday, so not sure we'll manage a walk either. I can say for sure I won't be shopping. 

4. Besides Thanksgiving, what's your favorite home cooked meal?

I love a really tender roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes, all day green beans, and my grandma's made from scratch rolls. We actually call that our 'grandma dinner' because it was something my grandma used to make when we'd visit. That particular meal also makes me think of my own mama too, who has always been a wonderful cook, and often made this meal for Sunday lunch when I was growing up. 

5. What product from an infomercial would you most like to own?

The Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Floor cleaner. It gets good reviews and you can use it on wood floors and carpet. I have both, and also a dog that sheds so 'nuff said. 

6. Christmas shopping? Have you begun? Finished? Will you shop on Black Friday? How do you feel about stores opening on Thanksgiving Day? What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?

I've started, but haven't finished. I do most of my shopping online or in small local boutique type stores in order to maintain my holiday spirit. I can't think of anything I'd rather do less than shop on Black Friday, except maybe a trip to the dentist. Black Friday shopping and going to the dentist fall into the same category in my head.  

I wish all non-essential businesses were closed on Thanksgiving. I don't know about you, but I've been getting 'Black Friday' offers since last week. Black Friday now lasts more than a day, and in fact is rapidly morphing into Black November. Ugh. 

7. What are you most grateful for that adds beauty to your everyday life?

Sunrises that set the morning sky afire, sunsets that quiet the day with their soft pinks and lavendar, our backyard woods that change with the seasons, a big black bear lumbering through the neighborhood, the majestic hawk who circles and swoops and finally rests high in the treetops at the edge of our patio. 

Creation is so utterly amazing.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Is there anything that brings out the Grinch in us more so than pulling out the outdoor light bins, untangling, testing, naturally finding half don't work and you haven't got the proper fuses, and then it's something like four trips to the hardware store later before the lights are actually up?

Far later in the day than you imagined, but before the snow comes so whoohoo! 
And our poles are in the ground now too, so we're ready.  

For those of you scratching your head right about now, you who live in climes where there is no need for such nonsense, we have to mark our driveway in the wintertime so the plow driver knows where the pavement is. Not pretty, but effective.

As for the sunset behind our woods last night? See #7! Be blessed this Thanksgiving my Hodgepodge friends!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 199

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with your friends and neighbors.

1. Besides U.S. Thanksgiving, it's also National Game and Puzzle Week...what game have you played most recently, and who were you with? Have you worked a puzzle of any kind in the past week?

2. What is one place you were thankful for this year?

3. Take a nap, watch football, go for an after dinner walk, or hit the stores...which ONE is on your must-do list for Thanksgiving day? For those of you playing along who aren't in the US, answer as it relates to any big holiday meal.

4. Besides Thanksgiving, what's your favorite home cooked meal?

5. What product from an infomercial would you most like to own?

6. Christmas shopping? Have you begun? Finished? Will you shop on Black Friday? How do you feel about stores opening on Thanksgiving Day? What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?

7. What are you most grateful for that adds beauty to your everyday life?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Miscellany on a Monday

Gonna make a stab at catching up a little bit here on the old bloggity blog. Hubs had a meeting in Orlando last week, so I trekked to my mom's for a few days. We were not idle. We attacked the Christmas shopping, hers at least, and attack feels like the right word because the mall had a bit of a  street brawl atmosphere happening. Ka-razy!

Was the whole of America shopping on Friday and Saturday??? The crowds and the parking lots and the noise, and yes, I'm talking to you especially Macy's. On top of all.the.people they had their music absolutely blaring when you walked through the store. I think it was part of some sort of promotion they were doing around the makeup counter, but it made me want to find the nearest exit.

Except you couldn't get to the exit because of all.the.people. I know I sound all granny-like there (no offense grannies!), and trust me when I say I like my music loud, but there's a time and place, and a jam packed department store the Saturday before Thanksgiving is neither the time nor the place. Rant over.

Almost. Let's all be nice this holiday season k, cause wow, rudeness abounds.

Now I'm done.

My sister in law celebrated a birthday on Thursday, so my mom and I fixed dinner for her and spent a nice evening relaxing around the table. I went to church with my mom Sunday morning, and unexpectedly ran into a friend from summer camp which was a nice little bonus to the weekend. Not nearly enough time to catch up, but we made some plans to get together in the new year.

So we have a wedding in about 40 days. Just thought I'd mention that. There's some stuff to do-ha! and we're busy doing all the doing. My dress fitting went well and I've found shoes, a bag, and jewelry so I'm excited about that.  To carry a purse or no? I opted for yes because if I want to see anything written I'll need my glasses. Also maybe Kleenex. Who thinks I'll need Kleenex? Anyway, I found a lovely small clutch while shopping with my mom, and it will hold just enough so I'm happy.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, in case anyone needs a reminder. I'm not cooking this year which feels very strange. I am bringing an apple pie and the sweet potato casserole to our feast, but the pressure of the entire meal is not mine. I have other pressures this year (see last paragraph), so I'm okay with the not cooking.

Feeling thankful today for our weirdly warm 66 degrees temps. We have 100% chance of snow on Wednesday, so today's little reprieve will be short but awfully sweet. Happy Monday all!

Hodgepodge, eh?

Welcome to a middle of the week, middle of the month, Wednesday Hodgepodge! Raise your hand if you 'get' my post title today. If you've answered the questions, add your link to the party, then go say hi to the neighbors. Here we go-

1. What's your favorite time of day? Why?

Early morning. I love the quiet, the color of the sky at sunrise, and most especially that first cup of coffee. I love the way the whole day lies ahead of me, filled with possibility. 

2. Waffle iron, toaster, coffee maker, mixer, blender...which small appliance most needs replacing at your house?

Can you tell I recently attended a bridal shower? I'm going with a blender because we are currently without one. 

3. It's National Grouch Day (October 15th)...what's something that makes you feel grouchy?

I'm kind of like a toddler, in that if I haven't had enough sleep I can get a little grouchy. Also, like a toddler my move is much improved with a nap. 

Do we actually need a day devoted to all things grouchy? Hoping there's a National Be Cheerful Day on the calendar somewhere too! 

4. Ever been to Canada? Is that a country you'd like to visit? According to Trip Advisor, the top ten best destinations in Canada are-Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Victoria, Calgary, Niagara on the Lake, Niagara Falls, Whistler, and Halifax.Which city would you most like to see?

I've been to Prince Edward Island which I absolutely loved (and wrote about here), and then en route home we drove down through New Brunswick into St. Andrew by the Sea, St. John, the Bay of Fundy, and the Reversing Falls, before heading into Maine. It was a wonderful trip. Our friends who live on PEI have a daughter getting married next summer, so we are making plans for a trip back that way in 2015.

I've never been to any other cities in Canada, but would happily see them all. Tops on my list at the moment are Vancouver and Whistler. 

5. What was your favorite food (or one of your favorites) when you were a child? Is that still a favorite?

Bologna, egg salad, and marshmallow fluff (not all together!).  

I could not begin to tell you when I last had bologna, but I'm pretty sure it's been decades. I don't eat marshmallow fluff these days either, unless it's in the form of Christmas fudge, and even that I haven't had in years. Egg salad is still one of my favorite foods. 

6. Do you cry easily?

Yes.  I sometimes wish I didn't, but tears form pretty easily for me, both the happy and the sad. 

7. Have you started your (gasp!) Christmas shopping? If so when, and how much? If not, when will you even begin thinking about it?

I've started, mostly just a few smaller stocking stuffer gifts, but they're our favorite anyway, so important. And it wasn't so much a deliberate decision to get started early, as it was happening upon items that made me think of a friend or family member and instead of doing what I normally do...say I'll come back later...I bought. We have a wedding happening right after Christmas this year, so I feel like it would be in everyone's best interests if I'm a little bit ahead of the game in holiday preparation. See question #3-ha! 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I'm going to recap the bridal shower in tomorrow's post. It was too much to squeeze into a random thought, even for me. ahem. So how about I post a fall foliage shot here instead, because we can never have too many of those, can we? 

It was a gray drizzly day here on Tuesday, but the colors are glorious all the same. Here's what I see outside my kitchen window-

...outside my family room window-

...when I pull up the driveway into the garage-

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." ~Elizabeth Lawrence

The geese are almost fat enough

Do you remember that nursery rhyme...

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat

Please put a penny in the old man's hat.

If you haven't got a penny then a ha'penny will do.

If you haven't got a ha'penny then God Bless you.

Is anyone actually cooking a goose for Christmas this year? Just curious because that's not something you hear about too often anymore. In case you are wondering~I'm not. I do know that potatoes roasted in goose fat are the best potatoes in the universe. That's my helpful, but perhaps not so nutritious kitchen tip for the holidays.

We had a nice weekend and I am finally feeling more ready for Christmas to arrive. I've decided having a child in the house makes all the difference. And if that child happens to be 20 years old, so much the better. Because while toddlers are definitely a lot of fun this time of year, they are not a lot of help in the baking, shopping, wrapping department, all things in which my 'baby' girl excels.

On Friday we got an early start (keep in mind early is a relative term to a tired college student still recovering from a week of exams) and agreed the first thing we needed to do was fortify ourselves for the day ahead with a nice breakfast out. It's important to keep your priorities straight this time of year you know.

We buzzed thru the mall in record time and I think even my daughter was impressed/amazed/aghast at how quickly the money spends. We had several more errands to do before heading home but we managed to maneuver successfully thru the holiday traffic (seriously, get off your phones while you're driving people!) skip lunch (see, we knew breakfast out was important), and still be home for a cup of tea by 4 PM. The wrapping commenced soon after and daughter2, who used to work for a retailer of fine handbags, knows how to tie some beautiful ribbon so she had that job finished in no time flat.

Now, can your toddler do all that?

I thought not.

Put this one in the pro column for kids growing up.

Saturday the hubs ran a few errands which may or may not have included driving the dog around in the MG wearing an antler headband. The dog, not the hubs. This is especially fun because the MG is a right hand drive car and nothing beats the reaction of the person in the car beside you when they look over to see a dog with antlers in the 'driver's seat'.

While he was out and about I did a little wrapping and a lot of dusting and vacuuming and sweet daughter2 made a wonderful middle eastern style salad she'd seen on The Barefoot Contessa the day before.

Does your toddler make you lunch?

I thought not.

We had a family friend stopping for lunch on his way home from college and we were all excited to see him. My girls were very good friends with our across the street neighbors when we lived in Maryland and while we're all still in touch we had not seen the boy in about 6 years. The boy and daughter2 are the same age and they shared many hours of childhood together way back when. I think you know that our mischievous toddler girl grew up and guess what? So did that little boy. In his place is a grown up man making a cross country road trip home for Christmas break. How did that happen? I'm pretty sure it was only a minute ago my girls and his sister were trying to talk him into a game of My Little Pony...

I think you can tell from the look on his face they did not succeed. I like to think they helped prepare him for military life which is where he's headed. I'm pretty sure my backyard is where he learned to take orders. A four star general's got nothin' on a group of little girls when it comes to being bossy.

And it only took me six tries to capture this lovely blurry picture.

Hey Santa!

We need a new camera!

After a late lunch we sent him on his way with coffee and cookies and all I could think was, coffee?? How can he drink coffee?? Shouldn't I be offering him a juice box? Somehow that feels more right to me.

Hey time!

Slow down!

Better yet, back up!

It only marches on. Sigh.

We finished up the weekend attending the Christmas cantata at church. The music was absolutely beautiful and it just fills you right up to the brim. I like to think I am not completely distracted by all there is to do this time of year but if I'm honest, most days my head is full of lists and tasks to be done, stops to be made and food to be bought and prepared. Sitting in a dimly lit sanctuary with a sweet daughter by my side I let myself forget about all those things and I gave myself a gift...a moment to think about the why.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

In the busyness of the season I pray you find a moment too.

Thanks but no thanks

So, what do you want for Christmas this year? Yesterday my mother in law phoned asking for some gift ideas pour moi. Again. Because she's asked before and I've only vaguely replied. I honestly don't have a real list this year. Hubs and I sometimes exchange Christmas gifts but some years we just fill our stockings and leave it at that. We have many projects that must be done we'd like to do around the house right now so if re-doing a Master bathroom shower counts as a gift then I guess that's on my list.

Anyway, I need to come up with a small item or two and I'm struggling. I saw this on Marla's blog today and thought I'd play along. Maybe it will be easier to say what I don't want and I'd love to know what's on your 'do not buy me' list this year too. If you're looking for a way to avoid Christmas shopping/baking/decorating today like I am then feel free to play along. Answer in the comments section here or on your facebook page or hop on over to the original post at Provocations.

What don't you want for Christmas? Fill in the blank (one answer per category)-

'Whatever you do don't buy me_______.'

1. CD (or artist): Justin Beiber...uh, no thanks.

2. Cologne/perfume: anything Gardenia...I think Gardenias are beautiful but their scent reminds me of funerals.

3. Book (or author): Nancy Pelosi

4. restaurant gift card: this is hard because I'm pretty much always up for eating out....McDonalds?

5. retail/mall gift card: Hot Topic...this is sooo not me. Did I need to tell you that?

6. Starbucks drink: caramel brulee frappacino...please do not ruin my favorite dessert by turning it into a frozen coffee drink. ick.

7. tool/gadget: the EZ Cracker...seriously, is it really that hard to crack an egg???

Okay, now answer this...'If someone were going to spend exactly $50 on me, more than anything else I want______.'

Here's the thing-if I knew the answer to that I could check 'call mother in law' off of my to-do list today. How 'bout Cute pjs, itunes gift card, ipad camera connector kit, a cute scarf, a fabulous cook book, Scrabble flash, new wellies.

There. Done. Whew. That strained my brain. I feel like I need a Christmas cookie or ten. Too bad actually baking the cookies is still on my to-do list.

Have a very merry day!

Marche de Noel

La France est merveilleuse. I'm not sure I need to say anything more but of course I will. Spending the weekend in Strasbourg was like being placed ever so gently inside a picture postcard....what an absolutely lovely little storybook town. The entire historic city center is a World Heritage Site.

I've been to the Christmas markets in several German cities over the past few years and I absolutely love them, but the market in France was different. It was very... French. I know it sounds like stereotyping but it's true...the French have a way of making things beautiful that seems completely effortless. As in, of course we'll hang Baccarat crystal chandeliers down the cute little side street...

why wouldn't we?

And the tree in the town center? A huge mass of blue and white lights...not too many and not too few...just right don't you think?

And the little wooden village that sits at the base of the tree? So sweet!

Walking thru the market stalls in Strasbourg you see thousands of delicate ornaments arranged ever so carefully by color and shade...

the scent of chocolate and coconut (oh yes indeed there were macaroons) floats thru the air...

the sound of cathedral bells rings out overhead

and this all comes together so gracefully...

you feel inspired...you dream...you are happy

You wander and look and taste and smell and buy. There is champagne that tickles your nose and wonderful cheese and undeniably the world's best bread...there are sweet little Christmas decorations, beautiful table linens,

miniature houses that hide a candle inside, fabulous scarves and jewelry and chocolates and gingerbread. Oh and did I mention the Alsatian pottery?

I know.

We arrived in Strasbourg on Friday afternoon by train from London with an all too brief stop in Paris. We all agreed that it might actually be a crime to travel thru Paris without enough time to stop for a peek or at least to sit for a while at an outdoor cafe. This is the train station Gare du Nord and yes of course that is an amazing little chocolate shop sitting right there in the station.

It sits very nearby to the amazing little sandwich shop. (See paragraph 1 regarding the French).

I cannot talk about France without at least eight hundred references to food and someone please please tell me how these French women stay so thin because the bread y'all...I actually have no words. (And of course in my case that is just an expression).

We ate in the cutest little bistro on Friday evening and their specialty? Why bread and cheese naturellement...I had brie drizzled with warm honey then melted over thick bread and topped with walnuts. Isn't that what you make for dinner most nights?

Saturday we spent the entire day in the markets and also walking thru the magnificent cathedral. The stork is the symbol of Strasbourg and it is everywhere, including carved into the sandstone atop the massive Gothic Cathedral Notre-Dame.

We stopped for lunch at a creperie that sat just outside the cathedral. We shared a savory and a sweet...the banana nutella crepe was tres bon!

Saturday evening we dined on fondue in a restaurant which is known for having the biggest cheese board in the world.

And after all that cheese a walk was definitely in order but that was wonderful too because every shop window and street in this little town was beautifully decorated...

I haven't even begun to talk about my whirlwind two days in England but this post is getting (has gotten?) l-o-n-g so I'll save that for another day. Sorry and you're welcome.

I will wrap it up for now with this-

France is amazing.

The city of Strasbourg is beautiful.

And having these friends to share it all ...

absolutely priceless.

I see London I see France

Remember that rhyme from the playground? I keep saying it because, as they say in the UK, I'm taking a short break for a girls weekend in London and France. I'm technically only in London for two days but they will be jam packed. I hope I can stay awake for all the fun. I arrive in the morning and will go to a Christmas luncheon filled with old friends and then on to Christmas bunco Thursday night. I'm going to try and say hi to my old neighbors and my old house too. I hope my heart can take it.

Friday morning I'll take the train to France with my friend L. We are going to Strasbourg but we have to change trains in Paris. We will have to walk between stations so at least I'll get a glimpse of Paris this trip. Sigh. I've never been to Strasbourg but I've heard it is beautiful. I'm looking forward to shopping at the Christmas market, dining on French food, and most especially catching up with two more friends who are meeting us there. So much talking to do...it will be like a Jr. High sleepover except without the drama and without anyone telling us to go to bed. That's okay... I can sleep in January.

Have a great weekend...Joyeux Noël

Santa! I know him!

Okay so who doesn't love Elf?

Our little town hosted a German Christmas Market this weekend so yesterday hubs and I spent a couple of hours walking thru the stalls there. Our little town sits on a beautiful lake and the market was set up on the boardwalk. All the key ingredients were present....a few German crafts, lots of German food, frigid temperatures, gluhwein to keep you warm, lots of snowflakes falling, and of course Santa.

There may not have been a World Heritage Site cathedral like you'll see if you visit the market in Cologne...

or the remains of the Wise Men like you'll see if you go inside the cathedral in Cologne....

and the stalls may not have been strategically placed and beautifully lit just outside the magnificent cathedral like the ones you will see if you visit Cologne...

and you won't have a whole gang of good friends who are willing to examine every Nutcracker, smoker, and pyramid like you had when you visited the market in Cologne, but...

there is a fun sign to mark the entrance....

there is Bratwurst which is essential to Christmas Markets everywhere...like the one in our little town...

and the one in Cologne....

and while the markets are really festive in Cologne....

things are pretty festive here too....

There may not be a magnificent cathedral...

but there is a view like this one...

which is also pretty nice.