French la Vie

Shared Stories: Elizabeth Schaeffer

After many years of penning this blog, I have come to know many of you and if you have been following me and reading the comments you probably know each other too.
During Christmas, many of you shared your home’s Christmas decor which gave us another glimpse of you. I enjoyed that so much that I want to continue putting forth ways for us to connect. If you have a personal story that you would want to share please send it to me at

coreyamaro@aol.com

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Shared Stories number 4

 

 

 

Several years ago, I decided to update my dining room.

I used chalk paint to refresh my buffet and table.

Dark gel stain on top and ivory chalk paint on the bottoms of both.

My chandelier was gold in tone and I no longer cared for that.

So I turned off the electricity at the breaker box in the garage before I continued. 

When taking it down I took a photo of the wiring and made notes of how they should be rewired correctly.

I then turned the electricity back on.

I then took it out to the backyard and spray painted it a mat black with 2 coats.

The next day I again turned off the electricity, rehung the chandelier,

went back to the garage, and turned the electricity back on.

Upstairs again, I tentatively toggled the switch, but alas no light.

Back down, electricity off, back up, rewired again, back down, electricity on, back up toggled the switch,

no luck,

With my hands on my hips, I thought, bummer, now I will have to pay an electrician to get this working.

Frustrated I turned my head towards the buffet and voila,

there were the lightbulbs. 

Now I know I sound stupid, but I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants

and I love to tell this story. It still makes me laugh.

(Oops, forgot to move the vacuum cleaner)

 

Regards,

Elizabeth Schaeffer 

 

Brocante Finds

 

The brocante let me count the ways of how much I love it.

1) The culture, history, and the stories that are theirs and shared among the dealers.

2) The quality of the objects, the workmanship how, they were made and kept through generations.

3) Each piece is unique. Mostly, one-of-a-kind type of pieces. Certainly not mass-produced.

4) The hunt, the joy of finding and sharing.

5) Creating a home with brocante finds.

6) The people I meet at the brocantes.

 

Okay, those are some of the reasons why I love the brocante.

 

 

 

All the pieces in this photo were found at the brocante. The newest find is the hand-painted, long and narrow,

canvas-backed painting. It was part of the exterior (under glass) decor for a bakery.

The pieces are from the 1900s.

 

 

The littlest detail is a piece of silver thread altar lace.

 

 

 

 

Passport Photos Taken at the Same Age

We are planning to go to California in March.

Chelsea wants to introduce Olivia to my mother and our family.

Hopefully, Covid might be a little less threatening...

Anyway, Chelsea had Olivia's passport photo taken today.

Olivia is the same age Gabriel was when he had his passport photo taken.

 

When we went to California from France Gabriel was five months old; he slept maybe an hour of the 22-hour trip.

That was before Covid, and we could walk up and down the aisle.

Now, I know that any of you who have cared for a baby knows the strange phenomenon

of trying to sit down with a sleeping baby in your arms:

They often wake up, no matter how carefully one tries to sit down while imitating the same movement.

__

It should be interesting.

At least I know what I am getting into.

I traveled to and from France to California every year sometimes twice for the last 35 years.

Every trip traveling with children has a story. Chelsea was an easy going passenger. Superhero baby traveler. Sacha was a Superhero traveler from the time he was three years old. But before that... well, calm-gentle-patient-couldn't-hurt-a-fly- Yann said regarding a trip with Sacha, "...it is a good thing these windows don't open otherwise I would throw him out."

I was so taken back by Yann saying that I started laughing.

It wasn't funny.

After that I had enourmous sympathy for parents of a crying baby on a plane - I feel for them! It is unbelievable the insulting looks people give parents of crying babies on the plane. As if a parent is purposely trying to make a baby cry.

We will see how Olivia fares on the long flight. Personally, I am more concern about Gabriel-

but then with that said today we walked nearly a mile hand in hand from his pre school back to his home in Paris.

We stopped at a cafe to have a crepe and something to drink. He was an enchanting little 2 1/2 year old.

Flawless. So maybe he will be the same on the plane.

___

Do you have a story traveling with a baby on a plane?

 

 

 

 

Focaccia Recipe: Rosemary Olson

Now that our son is dating an Italian who is an excellent cook I am out to learn more about Italian cuisine. My blogging friend, Rosemary Olson, posted her focaccia recipe on Facebook.I asked her if I could add it to my blog. Have you made focaccia? If so please share your recipe in the comment section.

RECIPE:

2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup warm water.  Mix, no kneading is needed. 😂 mix til a sticky ball cover til it doubles pop the bubbles. Put into 8X8 baking dish with olive oil covering the bottom.  Cover and let rise another hour.  Dimple and pour on some olive oil steeped with garlic, Rosemary, oregano cracked pepper and a good salt.  Do whatever seasonings you like. Then bake at 450 for 25 min.

xxx

 

 

Olivia

Nearly three months old.

 

Olivia sleeps.

Gabriel... well that is another story.

Two babies, two very different personalities.

Same parents.

When you have a baby you can truly see that they are their own person.

Olivia sleeps.

___

 

 

Shared Stories: Jackie Lantry

After many years of penning this blog, I have come to know many of you and if you have been following me and reading the comments you probably know each other too.
During Christmas, many of you shared your home’s Christmas decor which gave us another glimpse of you. I enjoyed that so much that I want to continue putting forth ways for us to connect. If you have a personal story that you would want to share please send it to me at

coreyamaro@aol.com

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Shared Stories number 3

 

 One of my best girlfriends, Roberta had a big family just like us (11 kids in hers and 8 in ours). Her Dad built a windmill on the edge of pond and Roberta and I would have "sleep outs" there on summer nights. It was probably a mile or two on foot from our houses to the pond. We'd trudge up the hill, hauling those big, unwieldy sleeping bags in the hot summer sun. Rather than go all the way around to the road that went into windmill pond, we'd climb a fence and make our way down the other side of the hill through the bushes and prickers. By the time we got to the pond we were a dusty, dirty mess with bloody scratches crisscrossing our scrawny legs and our hair (mine dirty blond, hers chestnut brown) plastered to the sides of our sweaty heads. Heaving the sleeping bags up onto the porch, we'd run down and throw ourselves off the end of the dock into the fresh, cool water. I was always careful not to touch bottom-it was muddy and silty and I'd heard snapping turtles would take your toe off if you weren't really careful. I remember watching the sun set and then the moon rise over the windmill. Listening to the wind in the trees I lay on my back and looked up at the inky black sky littered with thousands of glittery diamond-shaped stars before falling into a deep sleep.

 

On very special mornings we would wake up to popping sounds and find Roberta's mom squatting by the side of a campfire, frying eggs-hot butter popping-in a dented and battered skillet.

Photos and Text via Jackie Lantry

 

A Morning Delight Sort of...

 

The orange peel was grated,

The raisins had soaked overnight plump like baby cheeks full of spices and cognac,

Before diving into making Panettone

I made myself a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast

while stirring the oatmeal I popped a plump raisin in my mouth

wow, that was delish(!) I couldn't taste the cognac-

So I added a few heaping spoonfuls into my oatmeal.

 I rarely drink which probably explains why

I felt a little tipsy at 8 in the morning, okay, maybe more than tipsy-

And the Panettone paid the price.

Spice-cognac plump raisins should not be a part of breakfast.

 

Sun Blossoms

Sunny Sunday!

Why Not?

Light over darkness

petals over thorns 

Courage over fear

grace over bitterness

Accepting joy in sorrow.

Strive towards the insurmountable 

Trust over doubt.

 

Wisdom over haste

believing in goodness

Listening with a willingness to change.

 

 

 

 

 

Susan Worrel: Shared Stories

After many years of penning this blog, I have come to know many of you and if you have been following me and reading the comments you probably know each other too.
During Christmas, many of you shared your home’s Christmas decor which gave us another glimpse of you. I enjoyed that so much that I want to continue putting forth ways for us to connect. If you have a personal story that you would want to share please send it to me at

coreyamaro@aol.com

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Shared Story Number 3

 

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A Cautionary Tale

 

A year or two ago (good grief, has it been that long?)

The world shut down

No cars.  Quiet. We all stopped for a breath.

People walk on every street.  Only the brave worked

A virus had come along and the world went berserk

 

Zoom became our normal.

Couldn’t ever wear my formal,

Attire.

We kept singing and hoping

While all the scientists kept groping,

For a cure

 

I told myself I was ok.  I worked. I sewed. And baked

Bread

I tried to be positive but failed miserably on some days

I seemed to be filled with a sense of

Dread.

 

No daughter or sons came to visit

Friends gingerly stepped onto the deck 

But didn’t hug

We went out but masked up so we could only see eyes

Most of us just shrugged and told ourselves lies. 

We were ok.

 

People began to see a conspiracy

And blamed the government for keeping us down

It was all a big hoax and we were fools to believe

That’s when I began to get a permanent frown

 

And then, it opened up again.

We got together and sang

Our poor rusty voices got well oiled

And the walls rang

As our voices lifted higher

And higher

 

We performed.  We smiled.  Some of us hugged

We were in tears to hear us together

And we managed a concert outdoors

In great weather.

 

The fall came along and it didn’t seem as serious

So we sang once more to the joy of us all

Then, obstacles once more came into our lives

And part of me is just furious

 

But, I dance, and I sing, and talk with my friends 

And best of all my daughter

I even do yoga, Qigong, and the like

And take time in the day to ride on my bike.

 

And one day, my sisters we will manage to sing

Together again we will hear voices ring

In the church and the halls and even outside

This too shall pass, said my mother to me.

I believe her my friend. Let’s pray and see

 

Susan Worrel

 

The Heart Power

 

Via Keeley Shawart

Illustrator, Self Awareness Advocate, Enneagram devotee
creator of art and space for the soul seekers.

Pooh Sticks

    `

 

Have you ever played Pooh Sticks?

Finding Happiness

On the way to finding happiness 

peddling towards our goals, our dreams, our hopes-

Focusing ahead,

Taking note of the route,

Twist, turns, vistas and downhill slides,

admiring what others have carved out on their path.

Then wondering if that is something we too should be doing?

Isn’t it easy to be distracted from our essence, from our own journey - from happiness?

 

 

I remind myself that 

Gratitude is happiness.

To recenter my focus on what is in front of me,

to listen 

to see

to be aware of the richness of the ordinary day.

 

or as Gabriel asks us after he does something or when he sees us doing something,

"Are you happy?"

___

In the pursuit of happiness,

I am re-learning from Gabriel and Olivia-

That nothing is mundane, nor ordinary, that life is an amazing wonderland. Especially, if I keep my sense of curiosity.

 

Christmas Challenge

 

📸Abbaye Notre-Dame de Lure XIIe siècle. Alpes de Haute-Provence. via Rebecca Carvin

34 Years Today

(Look at that handsome babyface on our wedding day.)

 

Thirty-four years ago, that day was very different from today.

This morning, Yann presented me with the largest, most beautiful bouquet for our wedding anniversary.

The flowers were on the kitchen table alongside a breakfast that he prepared for me, thoughtful and loving, although he was not there.

Unfortunately, he caught the bug that went through our family these last three weeks. He is wiped out.

I am the last one (not counting Olivia) not to have had it. I feel like I am circling the bowl.

Unlike thirty-four years ago, Yann is in bed without me.

 

 

Melly: Shared Stories

After many years of penning this blog I have come to know many of you and if you have been following me and reading the comments you probably know each other too.
During Christmas many of you shared your home’s Christmas decor which gave us another glimpse of you. I enjoyed that so much that I want to continue putting forth ways for us to connect. If you have a personal story that you would want to share please send it to me at

coreyamaro@aol.com

 

Shared Story Number 2

 

Photo Hansel Mieth

 

 

Although I have been following you forever, religiously, I limit my participation to occasional comments.  I do search you daily for a dosage of soothing balm which I can count on, whether transmitted through a photo or words that touch my spirit.  Because of this, I will put myself in a somewhat uncomfortable position and share with you a personal experience that after sixty two years since it happened, I feel it is the one that best describes me.

The year was 1959 and once again my father had been transferred to a new town, Barcelos, something that happened frequently since he had stopped a truck carrying contraband while on duty as a GNR, a branch of Portuguese police.  He was offered a bribe that could have set him for life and upon refusal was guaranteed that his transfer would come within weeks.  And it did.

We moved around a lot because my father's character and unwillingness to follow the unwritten orders of his superiors, such as the wealthy citizens who were not to be fined regardless of transgressions while no mercy was to be shown to poor peasants for minor infractions.  My father would not compromise his integrity and paid dearly for it.  But I'm getting off track.

One very late night, while I dreamed awake about life, I overheard my parents arguing across the wall shared by our bedrooms in our tiny rental.  The argument was over the fact that there was no money to rent a first communion dress for me.  Buying one of your own was almost unheard of, but now I realized this problem was caused by me and my upcoming first communion.  I found a solution before my parents stopped arguing.

It had been my job since I was six years old to go to the bakery for the daily bread. I would leave the house at dawn, walk into town with my little cloth bag and hate the rainy winter days when the wind would turn my umbrella inside out ....

Going to church was something we did almost daily.  The doors were always open and the priest available for confession inside those magnificent carved little "houses" which gave absolute privacy once you crossed over the heavy burgundy velvet drapes.  Yes, I took myself to confession and the following morning without any fanfare, I went to the first Mass. It was still dark; I placed myself in line among the adults and received my first communion.  My heart jumped with joy with the innocence of a just turned eight year old girl who had just received Jesus!  I skipped happily all the way home, so proud of myself for having just made my first communion and solving my parents problem.

 

My joy soon came crashing down when my mother demanded to know what took me so long...needless to say, I got an historical whopping.

 

My attempt at alleviating my mother's worries only caused her shame because I could not partake in the formal first communion ceremony.

 

To this day I salute the brave little girl.  I would do it all over again!  "No regerts"

 

Melly

Thanksgiving 2021

 

Thanksgiving 2021

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Gathering in the kitchen

holding hands in a circle to give grace

We knew Thanksgiving would be different

my brother Marty wasn’t with us.

 

Each of us took an infamous turkey cookie

held it up like a communion wafer

Or some would say, a drink ready for a toast.

The cookie was part of our family’s tradition that Marty created.

silly, a childhood sneaky gesture, cherished,

and here we were about to continue without him

Reweaving his story into a new tradition-

biting their heads off in memory of him.

 

 

 

Amy Kortuem: Shared Stories

After many years of penning this blog I have come to know many of you and if you have been following me and reading the comments you probably know each other too.
During Christmas many of you shared your home’s Christmas decor which gave us another glimpse of you. I enjoyed that so much that I want to continue putting forth ways for us to connect. If you have a personal story that you would want to share please send it to me at

coreyamaro@aol.com

 

Shared Story Number 1

 

Photo via Amy’s Facebook

 

Mom and I spent a lot of time lying in her bed over the last year - she was sick and weak and in pain, and I wanted to be near her to keep her company and in case she needed anything.

We were constantly on our phones, sharing funny, interesting things with each other. I came across a compilation of hilarious, horrible tattoos, and when we saw this one - NO REGERTS - we laughed so hard Dad came in to see what we were doing. It's especially funny because Mom was a famously terrible speller and called me all the time to ask me how to spell things. NO REGERTS became our mantra.

After another trip to the doctor, when chemo failed, after another trip to the ER, another fight with the doctors to get her pain relief, a bad pain day, the day she entered hospice, a day she just couldn't muster the energy to eat or shower, the hours of medication organizing, the heart-wrenching conversations we had, the naps we took together when she held my cold hands between her warm ones, the lanes of memories we wandered, the joy and laughter we still shared even so close to the end. Every night, I made sure she had clean sheets and jammies and gave her a facial with a warm cloth, rose-scented face cream, and a hand and foot massage, and then I'd kiss her good night. And we would both whisper our love to each other, grab hands, look in each others' eyes, and say, "NO REGERTS."

I won't get a tattoo, but it's how I hope to live from now on. With not one single regert.

Not a single one.

 Amy Kortuem

The Red Ball

A red ball,

a blue sky,

green grass,

and a very happy little boy.

 

 

 

The Storyteller

 

Children adore Yann's ad-lib stories about Zouglou (a boy) and Zouglette (a girl).

These tales of two children have been told by Yann for over thirty years.

And now Gabriel is hearing them, immobile as he was in that spot for more than half of an hour.

 

 

What has been going on…

First Gabriel was not feeling well,

then when he was back to his playful self 

Chelsea caught it but not as bad as Gabriel and being the super mom she was better in a day,

A few days after Sacha arrived he found himself wading through it.

then Martin joined him,

and today Elena she has it.

Sacha and Elena had to change their flight home because of it.

We have had plenty of covid tests (we are vaccinated and covid tests are free and within five minutes from our home.) We have been and are negative. Whew.

Today I had my booster. I feel fine I didn’t have any reaction the first two times so I am feeling lucky.

Hopefully, luck will be with us, and Yann, Olivia, and I won’t have a turn to this bug.

As for laundry,

cups,

and washing hands…

It has been like playing musical chairs.

 

 

I Wonder…

 

I wonder...

 

 

 

if the sun debates some mornings

 

not wanting to get
 out of bed 


 

if the sky grows tired
 of being everywhere at once


 

 

 

if the clouds desperately

 

try to hold themselves together


 

 

 

if rain is scared
 of falling and has trouble letting go

 

if snowflakes get tired of being perfect and
 one-of-a-kind

 

 

 

if stars wish 
upon themselves before they die


 

if they need to teach their young
 how to shine

 

 

 

I wonder if shadows long 
to just-for-once to feel the sun


 

I wonder if sunrise 
and sunset 
respect each other 


 

even though they’ve never met

 

 

 

I wonder if breath ever thinks of taking a break

 

if the wind just wants to sit 
still sometimes


 

 

 

I wonder if streams meet the wrong sea 
and

 

their whole lives run off-track


 

 

 

I wonder if the snow 
wants to be black

 

if the soil thinks she’s too dark


 

 

 

if rocks are self-conscious of their weight 


 

 

 

if sand feels insignificant


 

if mountains are insecure of their strength

 

 

 

I wonder if waves get discouraged

 

crawling up the sand

 

only to be pulled back again

 

to where they began

 

 

 

if the leaves understand they’re replaceable
 and

 

still dance when the wind blows

 

 

 

I wonder
 where the moon goes


 

when she is in hiding

 

I want to find her there and

 

 

 

watch

 

the ocean
 spin

 

from a distance


 

 

 

Listen

 

to her


 

stir in her sleep

 

 

 

Effort give way to Existence...

 

Listen to the poet recite this amazing poem on the link below:

via Naima Penniman

 

From Our Family to Yours Happy New Year!

may this year be one of gentle breeze, blue skies, soft landings, big hugs, belly laughs, good surprises, most of all good health, fortune and grace.

may we will be together next year.

❤️❤️❤️

Hope

Last Night’s Light Show in Cassis

Looking from the window

Nature put in a spectacular display 

pinks and blues across the sky reflecting on the water below

Changing as quickly as fireworks

more awesome until the last spark 

 

Somebody Wasn't Feeling Well

Somebody was sick and threw up here, there and everywhere.

The Christmas miracle: nobody else caught it. 

(not covid)

Four adults were dealing with the fallout.

As Martin remarked, 

« You have a lot of rugs. »

 

Who was the champion Elf?

That honor would go to French Husband who washed the rug on a freezing cold day.

Squeezed the excess water out and hung it to dry.

(Needless to say Chelsea and Martin had their hands full

with a two month old and a two year old who threw up often during 48 hours.)

 

We are fine now.

Rugs, bowls, floors, clothes all cleaned.

Sacha and Elena arrived (Covid tested).

we will celebrate Christmas together on New Year’s Eve.

 

Photo Capture of Two Little Ones

Trying to take a photo of two little ones is not easy.

Either one is sleeping 

or breastfeeding 

or burped everywhere

or one is happy and the other one making faces

or is too busy playing

or the light is terrible

it goes on and on

but I keep trying

Christmas Continues to Epiphany

A few more Christmas sharing from readers of my blog. Thank you for sending me a peek into your homes at Christmas! 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

I live in Edmonds, a few miles north of Seattle WA. We’re experiencing an unusual cold snap here. I’ve included pics of our outdoor Christmas decor, as well as our tree, mantle, and some clustered old Santas on the hearth.(I’m not much of a photographer, so apologies!) I’ve scaled back decorating in recent years, just unpacking the favorites. My 3 children 
are grown and this year I’ve begun to parse out ornaments to each. 

Since it isn’t quite Epiphany, I thought I might not be to late!

Christmas Blessings to all!

Sandra Schneider 
❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Dear friend—It was lit for you this morning.  

Jilly. xx

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Corey I wish you and all your readers a very happy new year !    Nancy

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I tried to write on your wonderful blog, but could not get my message sent?? Really don’t like Facebook or Instagram, so I’m sending my photos & heartfelt wishes to you here.

 

We live in Long Beach, California & like everyone these days are chilling at home & feeling grateful we are alive; surviving so far this tragic pandemic. Although we have lost four friends to the virus, our families are safe due to getting their vaccines & boosters. Just wish everyone had the common sense to do so. But that’s another conversation….

 

I am attaching some photos of our Christmas decor plus photos of an historic old hotel in Riverside, CA…The Mission Inn. Every year they put on a magical Christmas display that warms your heart. Hope you enjoy these & I thank you for all of your beautiful postings. God bless you & your family. Stay safe please.

 

Warmest wishes….

  Bobbie Kostos
California 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Stephanie’s vintage collection

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

A Christmas vintage collection from Sarah Lammey Webb

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Late Afternoon Affection

Merriest Christmas! More from my Blog Readers

Enjoying our tree as the snow begins to fall outside - we should have an accumulation for our annual family party where all 6 grandchildren plus parents will visit. My middle granddaughter Zoë made a special trip up to decorate for me this year. Lots of memories found on our tree. Happy Holidays to you and your family. Enjoy every moment,

Barbara Blizzard

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Merry Christmas to you and all your family Corey!

 

My daughter has always celebrated Christmas with her Dad (we’re divorced).  My husband and I are in Florida and I’d already dropped Chanukah gifts (we do small things) in Brooklyn before leaving for Florida.  I always leave something in our Connecticut house for Sarah, Coco and Jasper for Christmas.  For many years Frostée the (gay) snowman has been there to greet them.  Unfortunately because Coco was exposed to Covid-19, they are going to stay in NY.  They hope to make it in January.  

 

My decorations don’t compare at all with what you’ve posted, but they are a special tradition for us.

 

xxoo 

Andrea Hames 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

My husband passed away almost 14 years ago and I still put everything up including outside lights. I thank Our Lord for my good health to enjoy family, friends and Christmas 🎄 

Elizabeth S.

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

Woke up this morning to see my Christmas tree was decorated already!

Wishing you and Yann all the best for Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year.

Best wishes

Barbara

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Hi Corey, 

 

Merry Christmas to you and your family from San Francisco. 

 

Karyn Logsdon

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Hello Corey, We live in Seattle in a condo and have an artificial tree due to limited space. It is laden with many hand-made needlepoint ornaments, also quilted ones and the most precious — the ones made by my children when they were very young.

 

Sheila Gustafson 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Corey

 

I am in New England enjoying the snow and family.

This is the tree in the home of my sister in law. 

She lives in a beautifully restored Victorian home

 

Janice AKA as Fat Rabbit 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

The tree this year is an upcycled nude Red Pin Oak branch with handmade ornaments of leather, glass, metal, clay and textiles.  The dogs and cats started it and then I added the birds. We call it ‘the fun wall.’  Happy Holidays 🐾

 

Doreen Prakshot 

Sevierville, TN

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Merry Christmas! ♥️🙏

Tom Kurth

 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas dear Friend! So fun seeing everyone’s trees! My tree is a nod to my heritage  born and adopted. Lots of German glass icicles, French crystals and my Italian nativity. I would choose white lights but my husband loves the multi colored and I love him.

 

Valerie Gerlach Jolly

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Dear and lovely Corey — wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas —- and All Things Good for the coming year.    

My dear Dad made all the stables in these photos —- and many more for our family and friends.  A sweet remembrance of him, many years gone now.

You can take the girl out of Germany, but not the Germany out of this old girl!….much love….anna

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️. 

Corey,

Here are pictures of my front door, Hummel Manger Scene and my skinny Christmas tree.  Had a little fall at Thanksgiving that has set me back some. Nothing serious but just a big time consumer.

Merry Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you and especially Gabriel and Olivia!!!  Hugs to you, Julia 

(Oh no! Sending you a bug hug that you are back crabbing and hopping around as soon as you can. Heal gently and swiftly is my prayer xxxx)

 

❤️🙏❤️🙏

Corey - these photos are actually from last year, but the focus is usually all about snowmen in our house.    Wishing you and all your family God’s amazing Peace this Christmas and each day of the coming year.  

 

Susie Hamilton

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Hi, Corey - thanks for sharing your Charlie Brown Christmas tree memory ❣️

 

When I was a little girl in the 60s, my mom embraced the Silver-foil Artificial Christmas Tree look. Complete with a color wheel light, that shone a variety of colors on the silver pompom branches as the wheel rotated at the base of the "tree". That wasn't my idea of a Christmas tree. I decided I was old enough to go into the woods behind our house and cut down a baby spruce with my Mom's best bread knife! It was a little tree 😉. I put it in a bucket and hung little lights on it and had it in my room. As I recall, my Mom was ok with the tree, but definitely not happy about the knife.

 

** Since we live in a small apartment not far from the lake of Zurich, I don't attempt putting up a Christmas tree. But I love the Christmas tree ornaments friends send to me, so I hang them on my window handles.

 

This year, a dear friend made me this darling heart. A  year ago she sent me this Moose, a cute dude, that was hand made by a talented woman in Zimbabwe.  They bring joy all month long.

 

Not having a tree inside makes me appreciate the Village tree, put up in Horgen, Switzerland all the more. 

 

All the best,

Love,

Susan 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas tree is in Pubnico. My son and fiancé brought me to see. It is made of fishing buoys. It was beautiful. 

My tree is not perfect but my grand children decorated and we made cookies. I had a wonderful time with them. My son visited too so I will include him. He is their Uncle not Dad. 

 

May God Bless you and may he carry us through these trying times. 🙏❤️🙏. May 2022 bring you happiness, peace and love. 

 

Mary😘

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

"We get the tallest tree we can find. Unwrapping ornaments is a day of unwrapping memories that get sweeter every year."

 

Corey, I hope your Christmas is merry and bright (I know it will be with a toddler and a new baby in the house,) and your new year healthy and covid free!

 

xo my dear friend,

 

jackie

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Here's my Charlie Brown tree put up today.  As well I had to quickly make a couple of stockings for our youngest son and his partner.  

 

Stay well 

 

Susan Worrall 
❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Corey

 

I loved your story of your French Christmas tree. It is hard when we can't easily replicate what we grew up with. I lived in France for 3 years and brought many Canadian traditions to my now ex's French family. The children adored my array of gifts, small novelty items, fun activities like puzzles, crafting kits etc. vs. the French tradition of one larger gift.

 

I have several Christmas trees. A large feather tree filled with 200 early Radko ornaments. A smaller imitation feather tree with a collection of very early ornaments, most of which were found under a table, in an old crate at the Alameda Antique Fair, several years ago. The 3rd is an even smaller imitation feather tree with a collection of Radko fruit ornaments.

 

I am signed up for your French tour in September. I do hope Covid doesn't get in the way.

 

Merry Christmas.

 

-Diane

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few years ago I lost my 30 year collection of Christopher Radko, Patricia Breen and French ornaments.  I decided that this year, rather than a tree, I would gather some of my favorite Christmas treasures together and make a holiday corner.   It includes a weathered Victorian wicker chair, one of a pair, I bought at a yard sale and I have had for over 40 years and are over 100 years old. A papier-mâché Santa face from Will Jamieson’s Folk Craft Gallery (may he RIP).  He helped change the face of art in Portland.  A woven star by Billie Ruth Sudduth, who we lost two months ago, was named a Living Treasure by the State of NC.  She said she thought her legacy was “getting baskets off the floor and onto pedestals as art objects.”  She has works in all the major craft museums in the United States. My elf is from Martha Harris Flowers and Gifts.  She was a remarkable woman and florist who, like you Corey, had an artist’s eye for beauty.  If you had met her you would have become friends.  She died after a nine year battle with cancer.  I love these old, weathered parts of my history.  I so appreciate the loving hands that wove the wicker, molded the paper and hand painted the face of Santa, stitched and hand painted the elf.  

 

Vicki

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Hi Corey. Here's my Christmas decor story.

 

My son arrived yesterday for the holidays. We're in Massachusetts. This year we tried to sell him on using our large potted plant as a substitute Christmas tree. He wasn't buying that idea, so off we went to the Christmas tree lot. Not too many to choose from at this late date,

but we found one we liked and they tied it to the top of our car. As we drove along it started to slip so my son had to hold onto it through the sun roof.

 

got it home safely, set it up and now we have a beautiful decorated tree in the living room.

 

 

Merry Christmas !

CAM

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

Thank you for sharing your Christmas joy with me. 
may this Christmas bring us a lasting peace and a deeply felt joy! 

Christmas Eve Sharing Joy and Love from and with my Blog Readers

NOTE: I had a few hiccups with this post. So if you are reading this on an email, or subscription, you might want to click over to my blog to see the real deal instead of a mashed up version that went out. Thank you Cynthia for bringing it to my attention.

 

 This tree is full of my mother's tatted snowflakes, crocheted stockings, and even the white tinsel was made by her. My heart is so full when I look at her beautiful work. She made these tatted snowflakes for two daughters and four grandchildren. Enough to decorate their trees. I still marvel at the amount of work and the beauty of each one. 

   

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

love, Carol xo

ps Even the tinsel was made by Carol’s mother. Years ago Carol sent Annie and I one of her mother’s loved snowflakes x

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 
Merry Christmas from New Orleans! 

via Barbara W.

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

Dear Corey, 

 

Here's wishing you and Yann and family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

 

Attached is my tiny table top Christmas tree 🎄 which has tiny LED lights to add a tiny twinkle. Tiny is the key word... as my apartment here is tiny, no room for a real tree. 

 

I'm also attaching a photo of my French Santon collection, a real keepsake to be handed down to my great niece someday!!

via Cy Todd in Nice, France

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

`

 

Via Lynne Price, Sydney Australia

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

via Judy Taylor my favorite jr. high teacher.

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas Corey from Valerie in Oroville CA.

 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Kathie B’s yearly calendar celebrating the Azores.

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Hi Corey,

This is our kitty Camille’s first Christmas. Since this photo of her she has been constantly running around and under the tree!  The other photo is of our tree.

Sending Peace, Joy & Love from suburban Chicago.

Dawn

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

Mekhi, Bobbi’s grandchild by the Christmas tree.

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas, dear Corey and family.
Sue Johnpeter

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas, Corey, family and blog readers! This is our ten foot artificial tree, pre-lit with white or multi colored lights. On it hang ornaments collected from travels, gifts and made by our grandchildren over the years. These same grandchildren enjoy changing the lights, using a button that rests on the floor.

 

Gretchen Seibert

Williamsville, New York

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very Merry Christmas dear Corey! And I hope your 2022 is a marvelous year. Lots of hugs and love, Wanda. 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few pictures from our home. I have been a fan of yours for years. Jan B.

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Corey,

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a pink tree 🤣. After a particularly tough year, several years ago I saw this in a magazine and it made me laugh. My non-Christian husband is not too thrilled. At night, from the street it glows like a nuclear reactor.  I alternate with a real one from year to year mostly to prolong the life of this silly one.  

Merry Christmas and a most joyful new year to you and your family. 

Christine 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cape Cod ornaments

Claudia M.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

Hi Corey

 

Merry Christmas and Happy 2022.  Love seeing pictures and
reading about all…especially grandchildren.  My peace and

wellness be there for all your family and friends 😘i💕🎄⛄️

Yvonne Lynch❤️

(West Michigan and greater Detroit area)

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 Mine and my neighbor's Christmas tree (across the street).

Two Christmas trees in Chicago

Alan Putz

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

Thank you for sharing your life and its beauty with us for so many years. Merry Christmas from Washington DC, Corey! May the blessings of new life, old friends, vibrant sunsets and good health be yours in the new year!

Chez Patrice

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Christmas in Cassis

Laurie-Aanya and Ian

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

All the places we’ve been I always try to by an ornament :)

Cynthia Rieth

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

 

 

Please send me a photo of your Christmas decor. Tomorrow I will post more! Thank you for your greetings, cheer and sharing a peek into your Christmas.

We will celebrate ours on the 30th as Sacha will join us then. Chelsea and family are celebrating Christmas with Martin’s family. We were going to spend Christmas this evening with friends but they are not feeling well… hope it isn’t covid. Therefore we will celebrate later with Chelsea, Martin, little people, Elena and Sacha later x

Christmas Decor from my Readers

Thank you for the wonderful sharing of your Christmas trees, decor, stories and homes! 
Click on the photos to enlarge for details xxx

I will keep adding as the days go on so many more to share!

please send me your Christmas photos for my blog sharing

coreyamaro@aol.com
 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

“Merry Christmas from Texas! I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday!” Via Michelle White Hahn

❤️❤️❤️❤️

“When the kids were little we would put up trees in every room, including the bathroom and front porch! At one point this meant 24 trees, most of which were between 4’ - 12’. My kids have grown, my husband passed 2.5 years ago, and I made a major move last year to a much smaller home. So this is the only tree this year! It’s one of my favourites, filled with seashells, fish, starfish, sea dollars, bubbles, and ocean themed ornaments collected over the years. “ via Mele Kalikimaka! From SoCal, USA

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

Via Kashannie, Washington State

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Joyeuses fêtes, wishing you and yours all the happiness for 2022 and sending my thanks for your daily words of joy and wisdom.
Your fan, Ella and Simone from Nice. 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

I enjoy Christmas and have been collecting items since we were first married.  Our tree ornaments are mostly gifts, homemade by friends or by me and souvenirs from our travels. Most of the textile items including the Santa’s and tabletop candy centerpiece I made..

Merry Christmas

Judy Wilcox

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

I was unable to sleep so, at 3 A. M., I was reading email and saw your latest blog post. It inspired me to do a little impromptu work with Publisher. I think I might use this for next year's Christmas card. Thanks for the laugh and the inspiration! Joyeaux Noel!!!

 

David Harvell

Watkinsville, GA

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

   

Hi Corey! 

 

I just read your blog post and loved the idea of sharing a picture of my Christmas tree! In this photo you can see some of the marbled ornaments that I make and a small book made by a bookbinder using my marbled paper. I’m lucky to have so many marbled ornaments to decorate my tree! I also have a lot of handmade ones from my boys when they were young. :) Thanks again for letting me share! ❤️

 

Happy Holidays to you and your beautiful family!! 

 

Bisous,

Emily 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

Niki Weippert’s

Christmas tree with old musical instruments.

 

 

 

I found this dead tree branch on my neighbour's lawn and 'repurposed' it. Cheers!

Joyeux Noël !

Franki

❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

A few shots of Christmas around Oldgreymare as requested

I’ve enjoyed your blog for so many years, thank you.

Wishing you comfort and joy

 

Suzan S.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Corey,

In December of 1967 I moved in with my boyfriend with the following.

1 skirt from Guatemala

2 pairs of bell bottom jeans

My postman’s hat and badge

1 Beatle Album & 1 Rolling Stones

But most importantly, a very heavy, large army trunk filled with Christmas ornaments-

plus one small Christmas tree

54 years latter, and still my boyfriend, Roger is the keeper of that original trunk and now MANY more trunks

of ornaments!

(the small red baby booty is from our daughters first Christmas)

X times 3

Arnelle Louise

❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Christmas Tree

When I arrived in France many moons ago, Christmas trees were not part of Christmas scene as they are so now. The Christmas consumer market had not yet taken off. The French florists had beautiful floral arrangements, but few Christmas trees. They usually had a few dried up pine trees for sale, reminding me of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree, for a small fortune.

Given this bit of history I want you to imagine a young woman, nine months pregnant, with a belly bigger than two Santa's bellies put together. Determined to have a Christmas tree for her soon-to-be-Franco-American baby imagine her buying a Charlie Brown tree then dragging it behind her as she walked the streets of Paris back to her apartment. Then hauling it up the three flights of stairs where she placed the tree upright. One side had bare branches. The other side had needles dangling. The scattered scent of pine, was replaced by sweat and a funny feeling.

We had a Christmas tree just in time for the first ornament that came bright and beautiful on the 20th of December.

 

Please if you can send me a photo of your Christmas tree, or Seasonal decor and if you want to add a word or two that would be good too. I will add your photos and tales to my blog. Please send a photo via email

coreyamaro@aol.com

or by Facebook messenger.

Deadline the 24th so that I can post them on the 25th.

Bathing in a Sink

Happy Birthday Chelsea

1990

 

Chelsea's first voyage to California. She was five months old. 

My cousin Julie, Sacha's Buddha Mere took the photo of us as we were visiting her in San Francisco. The twenty-two-hour door to door trip from Marseille to Willows was a breeze. Nothing like Chelsea's birth, nor her brother Sacha's first trip overseas. 

Chelsea was an easy baby. Of course, she breastfed whenever she wanted which meant she breastfed constantly, and often she slept in our bed. French Husband and I believed you could never spoil a baby. Instead, we were spoiled by her endless sweetness. That little "Roo" was ten pounds at birth. After, the fifty pounds I gained I stopped looking at the scale.

Even though we lived in Paris at the time we went to Pithiviers to give birth as there was a natural clinic there that my cousin Pat, a midwife told us about. The clinic was created by none other than Michel Odent, Lamaze, and Leboyer. My parents came to France, and our friend Ellen was there too for Chelsea’s birth. Nevertheless, after a long labor I had a cesarean.

Chelsea was named after my Godfather Craig's friend, a boy named Chelsea Green. As a child, I thought that was a cool name. Unfortunately, in France Green is not a name, hence Chelsea's middle name is after my Grandmother Amaro, Marie.

A few years ago Julie sent me this 1990 photo.

Happy 32nd Birthday.

 

 

 

Comic Relief

I do not remember on what Facebook page I saw this

but found it funny and true. 

—-

Leon a piece of his Story

In 1914 Yann’s great uncle went to war.
He was 17 years old. 
His name was Leon C.

Wee moments old at his baptism with water of grace poured, surrounded by family a great joy wrapped him.

His Godparents gave him a traditional gift: a silver soup spoon and fork inscribed with his monogram L.C.
As a symbol of nourishment for his spiritual and physical body.

Leon died during WWI.

Yann’s mother knowing I appreciate old things gave me Leon’s baptismal gift this Christmas.

Holding them I look around our home the stories hidden in these objects, some known most of them not at all

though they are here knowing and welcoming Leon’s story amongst them. Layers of lives like pages sharing a story where our sentences add to the dialogue.

 

the veil of grief

 

thin was the veil that covered my heart

I knew my grief was standing beside me

I reasoned that I was okay

relived that my airline ticket was canceled three times 

that is when the 

undercurrent knew going home would open the damn

Not until I saw my mother's tears

and my brother's sacred ground,

and my dad's Harley in a trailer going with Sacha to Seattle

and my Aunt beautifully lying in bed

and a photo of Julie and me as kids...

did I know that the veil

would wipe the water from my face 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Gustave Eiffel

I took a photo of the Eiffel Tower and gave it an old-time feel.

When I walk by it, I imagine it like this, back in its heyday (still in its heyday) with a gigantic Ferris wheel beside it.

When it comes to the Eiffel Tower it makes Andy Warhol's 15 Minutes of Fame true to most the fleeting moments of today but not when it comes to the Eiffel Tower. When one thinks of the modern day hoopla given by the internet the Eiffel Tower is and has remained iconic, beautiful, and everlasting.

Ah the things that continue to amaze, inspire and create awe.

 

 

 

 

It’s the birthday of civil engineer Gustave Eiffel, born in Dijon, France (1832). He was an early pioneer in using metal to construct bridges. In 1879, he was tapped to replace the chief engineer for the Statue of Liberty. Eiffel designed the skeleton that supported the Statue of Liberty’s copper skin. He and his crew built the entire thing in France to test its structural integrity, then dismantled it again, sending it on its way to its permanent home in New York Harbor.

 

 

He went on to build the Eiffel Tower for the World’s Fair in Paris in 1889. At 1,000 feet, it was the tallest structure in the world at the time, and Eiffel decided to leave the metal scaffolding exposed because he thought the tower would be more stable if the wind could blow through it. Many people at the time thought it was ugly, but it still holds up to the wind. In 1999, Paris was hit by a windstorm that knocked down more than 100,000 trees. The Eiffel Tower only swayed nine centimeters. Not only is it stable, but it is also remarkably efficient in terms of materials; if melted down, the metal structure of the tower would only fill its base to a depth of two inches. Eiffel gave his name to the famous landmark, but it was his work on the tower itself that gave him his nickname: “the magician of iron.”

Thank you Jackie for sending the article to me. (Blissfarmantiques on Instagram.)

 

 

Have you ever looked up the Eiffel Tower on Google Earth? You can see it at every angle.

 

 

 

Have you seen the movie that came out this year about Mr. G. Eiffel?

Here is the trailer.

How Many Faces in Five Seconds Challenge

Olivia didn’t know she was in my face challenge.
Like most babies, I would say all babies who aren’t sleeping, Olivia makes many faces in a second.

Those muscles develop quickly with the multitude of expressions.

Due to the constant movement of babies' faces maybe that is why baby photos are taken when they are sleeping?

That might explain why my photos are blurry?

Olivia smiles often, then goes into a serious mode, tries to talk and rolls over.

She makes me laugh.

Olivia is two and a half of a month old.

 

Christmas Decor at my Mother’s House

 

 

more to come…

 

Wading Through Water

Bundled up my sister in law Armelle (Yann’s sister) and I walked a few miles along the Normandy coastline.

We hadn’t planned it, we weren’t wearing hiking clothes nor the appropriate shoes as we were visiting a brocante then we went to a mussel farm and thought let’s walk back home from there (to my mother in laws place).

Yann drove home and we walked.

Chilly wind, blue sky, rough channel, wet sand and then a creek.

We hadn't expected that detour. The only way to go was to wade through it

We rolled up our pants kicked off our shoes… then I realized I had tights. I crossed the freezing creek with my tights as they absorbed the water up and up and up oh la la.

We laughed as we kept our balanced. 

The some of best fun is unexpected.

Gabriel’s Letter to Santa Claus

Gabriel sat at Chelsea’s turned off computer busily typing a message to, « Ho-Ho-Ho” aka Santa Claus.

Chelsea asked him what he was doing?

He said that he didn’t want Ho Ho Ho to come to his house.
Chelsea asked him why he did not want Ho Ho Ho to come to his house.

he responded that he didn’t want presents.

Chelsea repeated, « you don’t want Santa Claus to come to your house because you don’t want any presents? »

Gabriel said yes.

Trying not to laugh Chelsea said,

«Okay then make sure you tell him.” 

(He is afraid of Santa Claus saying,

« Vavie would bring him a big yellow car. »

 

 

 

The End of the Season

 

 

 

 

 

Open heart pomegranates delicately hang

on barren branches

under a cold blue sky.

Surrounding harvested fields echo their farewell song.

 

One of My Favorite Videos of Gabriel

Comic Christmas

Via Sharon Morrison’s FB

 

I Take You with Me

 

I take you with me

though you are here

In the wind tangling my hair

as the sea crashes roaring

bringing a drowning silence

tears speak upon my cheek 

and the waves glide back to the sea

 your shadow on the sand

the sunlight peeks between the clouds

I reach within the space 

 holding up a seashell

 

 

Elena’s Reflection

photo via Sacha

Elena posted this to her Instagram. We enjoyed sharing country life in California with you xxx

 

Advent Prayer

Lead me love

to have awareness of
your guidance

to bring forth your invisible truth

…

advent prayer

 

 

 

 

 

 

… In this Dark with me

By Jessica Powers