Galet(te)s de Nice

January in Nice. The beaches are bulldozed and stripped of beach clubs and cafes. Yet nothing stops the kids from enjoying the Nice galets (pebbles), especially Ila, wearing her galettes des rois crown that she made at school.

1.1.11 at Valberg

Kai and Rio took a break from ski lesson.

While Rio was busy skiing, Ila fulfilled her dream of making a snowman with a carrot nose.

Merry Christmas

Before,

and after a feast of aquavit, herring, smoked eel, oysters at our next door neighbors, which Santa conviniently used to pay us a visit.....



Thank you Santa! The children squealed with joy.

Ila's Class Picure

Nice Opera: Family Concert

Well behaved girls, running to find their seats.

And the music starts - fingers in ears (the music tunning in the beginning was painful)

Interest peaked and Ila did lots of princess dancing in our loge.

After concert relaxation in the mini music room.

From tree to table

Looks like this year's crop is rather plentiful, at least for our oranges. The lemon tree flowered and then produced nothing. I guess it's a lemon. The local market is also starting to feature locally grown grapefruit, lemons and oranges. Although, the smell and taste of a freshly picked orange is unforgetable. I am planning to make lots of candied orange peel. The zest of these oranges is absolutely heavenly.

Our first winter weekend

Snowy, bitter cold up the mountain...but in 2 hours you're back to blue, warmish, and with just a hint of snow Nice.