One of the things I appreciate most about France is that you don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to begin decorating for Christmas. As soon as Halloween is over, it is fair game. Now in saying this, I have to admit I am one of those traditionalists who thinks having Christmas trees up before Turkey Day is sacrilegious wherever you live. I think part of what makes the holiday season magical is that it is so temporary. The lights and smells of Christmas are fleeting and that in my mind is what makes it special.

Yesterday Sophie and I brought a bag and clippers on our walk. We have been scoping out the most berried holly bushes, the prettiest foliage and the few balsam trees that we might “prune” to help us make our wreath. I filled my bag and made my way home. The base I use for my wreaths here was given to me by my friend Stella shortly after I moved in. She made a gorgeous grapevine base and suggested I decorate it and change it with the seasons. It has had several iterations but I think this one might be my favorite.

I decided to decorate for Winter more than Christmas as I will be back in Maine for the bulk of the holiday season. I made a new centerpiece, filled my pitcher with holly and planted some bright red cyclamen in my window boxes. It all looks really festive. I think I’m going to keep the rest of the stuff boxed save a few strings of star twinkle lights.

In addition to prettying my space I also made some cookies for my French neighbors who helped me whack back the wisteria vine that threatened to overtake our properties. I had given them so peanut butter balls the day they helped but then they went and brought me a bag of freshly gathered walnuts. I made sone cinnamon walnut shortbread with their nuts and wrote a thank you card which I will bring over tomorrow. Their house sits behind a gate and I think it is too windy to leave it there at this time of day. I know she gets out to walk her terrier and pick up bread in the morning so I’ll leave it when I wake up.