If it’s Friday, it must be France …
In September/October, Place Massena in Nice was our ‘front yard’ . Now it is filled with the beauty and excitement of Le Marché de Noël. I have a new addition to my wish list: one of these years I want to experience this!

If you have some time, listen to this delightful French choir ~ they seem to be enjoying themselves too. I know this might not be the time but I couldn’t resist adding it here … just in case!
The festive season is upon us in a serious way now. Our family party is tomorrow = 7 adult children plus partners, 6 adorable grandchildren ages 4 to 19, and my DH and moi! It’s always so much fun to have the entire gang together: the greatest gift all!
On Christmas Eve/Day we will all be together in various combinations with in-laws and other family/friend mixtures adding more joy and laughter to the holidays. Through the next week there are several gatherings with friends for a glass or two of good cheer. ‘Tis the season!
I’m taking a blogging breather for a week. No matter what I know I will still be writing for a few hours every day on the WIP … that’s the way it goes … but there will some good down time to just relax and enjoy everything around us. I hope you will have time to do the same.
Joyeux Noël! My warmest wishes go out to each and every one of you for a peaceful and joyful holiday season, whatever you celebrate at this time of year. Thank you for all the support and enthusiasm you have brought into my life this year. I’ve been amazed, humbled, encouraged and inspired, and can’t wait to see what 2014 will bring. At the very least, I hope we can all look forward to the best of health and happiness as we find ways to reach out to those less fortunate. Onward! Bonne fête, tout le monde!
Hope you and yours also enjoys a terrific Christmas and holiday season!
Thanks, Phil, and the same to you! May 2014 be a banner year for you!
Merry Noel, Pat. Enjoy the holidays with your family and loved ones! I’ll have a glass of cheer with you.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
~clink~ A toast to you as well! Happy holidays!
Have a fabulous holiday Pat! I’ll look forward to your posts when you get back. Joyeux Noel to you and your family!
Thanks, Susie, and the same to you! I hope you are blessed with fine ski conditions too! We are having freezing rain here tonight. 🙁
Merry Christmas to you too, Patricia.
The best of the season to you, Anneli!
All the very best of the holiday season to you and yours! Looking forward to the blogging adventures waiting for us in 2014!
Thank you and the same to you! Who knows what excitement lies ahead!
🙂 🙂 🙂
I feel good that for once I can actually sing along to a French carol! Happy Christmas to you and all your family, and I look forward to your next post in 2014
Nice visual of you singing along! Are you in France for Christmas? Wherever you are, I wish you and yours a bonne fête!
Happiest of holidays Patricia! Thanks for the good cheer!
And the same to you, Kate! Here’s to a year of successful writing for us all in 2014!
Hey, I’m in California for the holiday with my family. I wish you a Merry Christmas too!
Fabulous! I have no doubt you are having a wonderful time filled with laughter, as only you can!
Have a Merry Christmas Patricia!
The same good wishes to you, Meg! Are you traveling for the holidays?
Thanks for the video! Really lovely! Merry Christmas to you all.
I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I loved it too … wonderful voices! Warmest wishes to you and yours.
Wishing you a most joyous Merry Christmas!
Pat have a wonderful holiday and a very happy New Years. All the best to you and your family. Hope our paths cross at some point. Remember to look me up if you make it to the Gulf Coast this winter.
Hi Lorraine – What fun to see you here! It was lovely to have time to chat the other night at Liz’s soirée! I will most definitely let you know if I am coming over your way!
And to you! We have had a terrible ice storm in the Toronto area that has created destruction and great inconvenience for many (nothing like a tsunami though so we must keep it in perspective!). At the same time, the photo ops from our ice-encased world have been endless and many quite beautiful. Nature works in mysterious ways.