Christmassy Paris

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, 

then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you,

for Paris is a moveable feast.” 

Ernest Hemingway

 I was a teenager when I visited Paris for the first time. 

My father had allowed me to stay with my pen friend 
Beatrice in Maule, in the vicinity of Versailles.

Since then and after several visits, the city continues to 

keep its magic in my eyes and looks well-nigh unchanged 

with one difference ; 

every single monument, museum, square, shop, 

brasserie is crowded with Asian people. 

Very sympathetic people but innumerable. 

For the inexperienced tourist, Paris is the city of patience! 

B u t,

the lights glint and shine through the snowy rain,

the bateaux-mouche pass by, music and revelry are in the air. 

Children glide on ice-rinks, Disneyland remains a fairytale, 

mannequins pose in -4C…, lovers are kissed and 

fill the bridge’s iron bars with their locks,

charm, 

elegance, 

fragrances

French gastronomy 

and every account of life in this city has its special poignancy…

 

No time for long stories now, I wish you a 

sparkling New Year, 

I’m off my computer but I will catch up

soon with all of you. 

T h a n k  y o u

for your kind visits, friendship, generosity. 

You give purpose in this humble cyber corner.

Sending love, much love!

O

Christmas time!

Via Pinterest

Joyeux Noël !

Καλά Χριστούγεννα!

Olympia

Decorating and baking

I have finally put the last decorative touches to both 
houses; I prefer lighter solutions than erstwhile. 

The weather has changed,we have cold and heavy rains. 
Dark afternoons are beautifully spent between 
tea and coffee shared with close friends. 

One of the festive season’s highlights is baking in advance. 

Make-ahead Christmas treats has always been good foresight 

as it makes you feel stress-free or almost. 

I have made thousand of batches of cookies over the years 

but this time I wanted to try something new. Having found 

some old Austrian cookie recipes and having been impressed 

by the gingerbread house presented in the last issue of Servus 

magazine, I decided to get involved in the project. 

I had all the necessary ingredients Austrians use for their 

Weinachten plätzchen but it turned out to be very difficult 

considering the lengthy preparation. 48-hour cookies 

didn’t make me cry tears of joy but the little house did me the 

favor of not falling apart because it would be the demolition

of the year!!! Ha-ha…

Anyway, looking at the photos you have an idea 

of what Ι have done; the taste is good enough 

despite the appearance!

I love keeping family rituals and sharing my Christmas delicacies 

with my beloved ones. A freshly opened tin box with all those 

sweet aromas of home baked cookies is a special gift 

I think because it’s personalized and made with love. 

The heart is beating a little faster as we are longing for 

Christmas holidays. A European wonderland is waiting for 

us and the countdown to our trip has already begun!  

Have you started planning your holidays? If so, have fun!

Hope you are focusing on preparations one step at a time!

I’m grateful you are here!

O

The dining room

I recently redid the dining room and I love it! I wanted 
something that could create a bit of drama and I was looking 
to give an impact in this room. So, I went dark for the focal 
wall against surrounding bright walls and I ignored 
conventional advice telling me that deep colors go wrong 
in small spaces. 

I think that my mum’s solid chestnut wood handmade table 
has henceforth a beautiful backdrop, my favorite painting 
as well (third photo).Before the renovation, the wall was covered 
with paintings but now I prefer the version I’m showing you. 
The “Fly light” by Kartell (first photo) is also a new piece 
in the room. It combines color with light and transparency and 
adds a modern touch for the mix & match style I prefer.
 The silk rug on the floor has warmed every room of the 
house and the dining room is its last mission! 

Our Christmas tree is already on stage, shining in shades 

of gold and red and the garlands you see are my latest 

craft made with origami paper.

We have made beautiful plans for Christmas holidays but 

I confess nothing else for the moment!...

Wishing you an inspiring and thrilling December! 

O