Christmas in Chalabre was understated but festive nevertheless.

You can always tell that there’s a holiday in the air, because, suddenly, a host of cars bearing “outside” license plates (tags from different departments!) appear; they’re a sure sign that family and friends have descended to visit.

Even our Saturday market was livelier than usual. We now seem to have a much larger fruit and vegetable dealer who comes every week. He has things that we don’t normally find in the village, such as luscious Victoria pineapple from Reunion, as well as mangoes and other exotic items. Also, the tablecloth/home products seller seems to be a regular fixture now as well. I like having them here, even if it does mean Beanie gets blocked in until afternoon. I think it’s good for the village to have a larger, more varied market. The more people selling goods, the more shoppers will come to buy. That’s the theory, anyway!

I picked up of Bûche de Noel on Saturday morning, then our dinner roast and a nice chicken in the afternoon. Visions of a scrumptious dinner danced in our heads all afternoon. JM has been pining for a good Bûche for many years, as the ones we were able to find in L.A. were never quite what he was looking for. Philippe’s was just perfect. Tender, delicate cake rolled around a rich, Grand Marnier flavored butter cream, with pale pink butter cream frosting to boot. JM was in heaven.

As always, the filet roast from Didier and Mireille’s butcher shop was so tender you could cut it with a butter knife. Okay, not the kind of meal you want to eat every day, but a real Christmas treat nevertheless.

After a post dinner walk around the village, we came in to open presents. To be honest, Maggie was really the only one getting presents this year. Her secret Santa, Nisi from Kentucky, sent her a load of fabulous presents. JM and I enjoyed opening them as much as if they had been for us! Sitting in front of the fire with soft music playing in the background and the Christmas tree twinkling in the corner; it was just about the best Christmas ever for us.

Yesterday, on Christmas day, we had fun going around and visiting friends to wish them a merry Christmas as well. Then, after a dinner of my carrot-leek-potato soup to compensate for what we’d eaten the night before, we snuggled do to watch the special Christmas episode of DOCTOR WHO on BBC1.

Pretty much the ideal weekend, I’d have to say.

Ciao for now!

R
(see pictures on my personal site.)