The Holidays

The crisp winter air is finally here to stay in the Ardèche, and it is a welcome feeling after the weeks of rain we have been experiencing. The decision to spend another full year in France has brought with it many busy days that include making Lou Tinaou feel like home, and dealing with the ups and downs of an international move. As I write this our whole life (including our little Mini Cooper) is on a container ship sailing towards Marseille. As we nervously joke that we hope the ship doesn’t sink, we occupy ourselves with the upcoming holidays. One perk of living on five acres of land is the abundance of plants and trees we have at our disposal, so all holiday decorations have become a DIY project; this includes the wreath we have been making! We collected pine, bay leaves, sage, and rosemary to make up the bulk of the wreath, which also gives off an amazing aroma of mixed herbs evert time you open the door. Cotoneaster grows on our property, which gave the wreath the pop of color we were looking for. The simple homemade project has brought a festive look to our front door, and the Christmas tree that we bought has made the living room the heart of our home for the holidays.