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.

The new ski season

Cackling at the joy of going out to the mountains early in the morning. The night before Ila was falling asleep saying "I'm ready to go skiing". We take 2 buses to get to the ski resorts. First the local 30 to the train station, and from there we change to the ski resorts bus - all for 1 Euro!


Ila is a big fan of skiing - especially between Kai's legs - and going fast.

The little penguin skis - Ila's obsession. She talked about them since last February pretty much non stop.

Day 2 - Rio knows what's coming her way - more hard work! But she was rewarded by a traditional hot chocolate at the end.