Paris, Home, Christmas

 I still have so much to share with you about my trip to Paris and Rome, but I bet you’re too busy to spend much time here, and I’m conserving any energy that emerges between jet-lag and fighting a sneaky cold. . . yesterday I made boeuf en daube (I’ll tell you why later; maybe even share/compare recipes) with that smidgen of energy, and today I finished putting together the three tourtières I’ll bring to my sister’s huge Christmas Eve gathering tomorrow night.

 Ready for Christmas? Well, I’ve made those three tourtières, about the limit of my Christmas baking; Christmas dinner is at my daughter’s and our contribution is entertaining her Seven and Four here tomorrow while she and my son-in-law prep; we give all the grandkids books, and I did that one-stop shopping before I went to Europe; and we do babysitting-and-event-or-dinner-gift-certificates for each of our couples. Pater put the tree up while I was away, we’ve got a bowl full of coloured lights in the window, and I added dried hydrangeas and dried red roses to a grapevine wreath before my trip. A vase full of tulips, some hurricane lamps filled with big candles, the Alessi presepe/crèche set up on a shelf in the entrance way, and that’s about it.

 So yes, I’m ready enough, despite having used up much of my December in travelling. Now just to savour the next few days with family, and when all is quiet again after Boxing Day, to think back over my time away and decide what to tell you about it.

For now, perhaps you’d like to peer in a few windows with me. . . . these first four are from a children’s shoe store, PèPè on Rue des Saints Pères in Saint Germain. . . .

 and the next four from the Etro store on Boulevard Saint Germain.

 I don’t imagine those bears or balls or toy trucks are for sale, but if they were, in that glorious fabric,  it wouldn’t be my grandkids I’d be buying them for. . . 😉

 Other windows were not particularly festive, but ever so fascinating, and if money were no object, I’d accept one of those antique keys (11th or 12th century, the tags said) in my Christmas stocking. . .

 And just everywhere, these sumptuous mixtures of pattern and texture and colour, so inspiring and nurturing . . . .

 Colour combinations I’d not have thought of as Christmass-y, but how very festive. . . and a palette to think of for other uses. . . .

 To get back to the more traditional seasonal or Christmas decor. . .

I love this window at the produce shop on Rue de Grenelle, and if you pop over to my Instagram feed, you can see this polar bear family in action. . .

 Another day, over on Avenue de l’Opéra, this perfume shop window, festive in unexpected colours, (as with the purple tree above).  . .

 and these windows in the Monoprix on Avenue de l’Opéra reflecting the Karen Malbon collaboration featured in store

 Playful and delightful . . .

 In the same block, the window of Brentano’s bookstore made me wish I had ever so much more time to linger (and more baggage allowance to fill with books — oh, and while I’m wishing, a porter to lug it all). . . .

 a witty and irreverent window, sassy! I love this hipster, chocolate-loving Santa, and that frog’s pretty cute as well. . . .

 So, that was a whirlwind tour of Paris Christmas windows, but I’ll close on a more peaceful note. I loved the deep calm of this florist’s window (Odorantes, in Saint Germain)

and I hope that we may all settle, in the next few days, into the Peaceful and Joyous Christmas the scene evokes. I will be doing my best to stay offline, unplugged, at least until the end of the week, so I take this opportunity to wish you all a very

Merry Christmas!