Another year, another Christmas. Another chance to show each other that what truly matters is how you make people feel…
Love was there. It was overwhelming. I showed love and I received proof of love. I am blessed with a strongly knit family and beautiful, kind friends. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not good looking beautiful :0) They are quite gorgeous inside though. High fashion models really.
So yes, family dinner on the 24th with my brother’s gravlax (my recipe here) and my home made terrine of foie gras. It was 18 of us + an army of kids. Noisy as hell… And the traditional log for dessert of course ! That made it all better for one grumpy uncle high on Zoloft :0)
I spent Christmas day with my British friends. Catherine made the best minced pies I ever had (well, the first minced pies I ever had). It appears that the secret to a great minced pie is the same as the one for a great French apple pie, onion pie, potato pie… LOADS OF SALTED BUTTER. Who knew ?! She also roasted a huge capon and loads of seasonal vegetables. And yes, just like that I fell in love with parsnips again…
I am now at the beach house in Cap Ferret (on the Atlantic coast) for a lovely weekend with my childhood friend Quitterie and her lovely family. On the program: long walks on the beach, trips to the farmers’ market and cooking and over eating for the next 3 days… My French Heaven really… My friend Antonin brought his Leica M6 film camera down with him from Paris. He knew I had always dreamed of borrowing it. I am looking forward to sharing all the pictures with you in a future post ! What could be better than black and white film photography at the beach in the heart of Winter? I can smell the hot coco from here…
I wish you all a very happy holiday season full of laughter and true love. Let’s remember that love needs proof sometimes. Words of love are important too. Thinking it is one thing. Saying it is essential… See I couldn’t end one single post without my usual cheap philosophical remarks :0)
MY FRENCH HEAVEN 
I love your blog posts so I wanted to check and make sure I wasn’t missing them. Hope things are okay for you.
Oh you are too sweet!!! I am fine. Will blog again soon 😉
I like your photgraphie and writing, Stéphane, but most of all I agree with your laid back philosophie of life. We are probably of similar age, and I too had a cardiac situation a while back — mine less serious than yours. Cheers.
Thank you so much! I hope you are doing well! I think these bad times teach us a lot…
👏👏👏👏👏 I love it!! This made my ❤ smile! Thank you! 👏👏👏👏👏🥂
Another beautiful post! Happy 2017 !
Happy 2017! It’s good to know we the Japanese are not the only ones to be eating eating eating over the next three days 🙂
Oh stop it Ayako. You know how much I LOVE Japanese food 😉 I am salivating just thinking about it ☺Happy 2017!!!
And our food is so much more special during the new year’s ^^ You should come back during this period one of these days. 🙂
Sounds a wonderful time, & Cap Ferrat will lok magical, Happy New Year from New Zealand
Happy new year dear Yvonne ☺🍾
What a lovely day for you. 🙂
Noting cheap in your philosophy, my friend.
Happy New Year,
Conor
To you two too dear friends! 🍾
We had foie gras, Stephane, but I brought it from France this summer, didn’t make it. Happy New Year and may 2017 be a year filled with blessings and joy for you.
janet
Thank you dear friend ! It must be so cold in your neck of the woods 😬 Is the lake frozen yet?
No, Lake Superior is far from frozen. We’ve had very, very cold weather and then it warmed up a bit. It’s supposed to get colder at the end of the coming week, but it’s winter, so I don’t mind at all.
Winter’s my favorite seasonn
I love it, too, but I’d like some snow. All ours has melted. 🙂
Your photos are so artistic and wonderful!! Love the beautiful glow of
Christmas love on your family’s faces. The buche de Noel is so charming!
Wishing you a Happy New Year blessed with health and happiness …..
full of love,adventure,and joy!
Robert
Thanks Robert! Same to you!!
Stéphane, you know I adore your photographs, but that picture of the little cherub with pink cheeks made my heart melt! The love in your family is very apparent through your photography. I will be waiting anxiously for those B&W Leica photographs! Happy New Year!
I didn’t see your comment my dear friend. So sorry for the late answer! Happy new year!!!
Happy February! 😀
You truly ARE one of my very favorite people on earth, Stephane 🙂 Much love to you..
You too dear Ashley. I was thinking of you again yesterday as I had scrambled eggs, cheese, baguette and BBQ sauce :0) Much love!!
Magnifique post … Et je fais pas si vieille que ça 😂😂😂 Merci pour cette chouette photo aussi 😉
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Seasons Greetings Stephane. I enjoyed sharing your Christmas vicariously, my own was small casual and hot, but our Christmases had a few things in common, family love, good wine and cheese, and gravlax😘
I think we got it down you and I 😉
Yes…sounds very depressing! Cap Ferret, mincemeat tarts, Leica, gorgeous people…how can you stand it? All the best for the new year! 😄
All the very best to you too my friend ! 🍾🍾
Stunning photos. Enjoy the beach, we’ve had some wonderful walks on the coast this holidays, fabulous weather (most of the time!) Wishing you a very happy and healthy 2017 x
You too my dear! Many happy moments and above all, good health 😉
Beautiful. I think your photography gets better every time you blog! From a Louisiana French girl, Bonne Annee!
Laisses les bons temps rouler ☺😉🍾
Bonne Année!
You are truely blessed to have such a great, large and fun family to spend holidays with. When it is just two of you, such as my husband and myself, we are so envious.
It can be quite romantic though 😉☺
Beautiful photos as always and some of my very favourite food. Enjoy Cap Ferret – we went there with our kids when they were little from Arcachon where we holidayed for a few years. A very happy new year to you Stephane!
Thank you! Happy new year!!