Happy Christmas from Ireland!

Almost halfway through my Emerald Isle holidays, and the past week has been merry, joyful, adventurous and laid-back! A traditional Polish Christmas Eve, was the perfect atmosphere to celebrate the season in a new country with celebrated cultural traditions. Despite distance or location the season continues to ring with the connected spirit of sharing and enjoyed company. The evening was spent at Marta’s (Agnieszka’s sister’s), and like the greatly missed Christmas Eve’s at Aunt Lucy’s featured a meat free, fish focused traditional meal, with beet soup, pierogis, fried fish, bigos (sauerkraut dish), and salatka warzywna (mixed vegetable salad).

It was an evening of shared preparation, cooking, conversation and laughter, followed by nibbling on decadent desserts and catching up with family and friends around the world via video and Skype. An amazing blend of new traditions fused with old to create an experience as unique and meaningful as all involved!

Christmas Day was relaxed and lazy, spent in PJ’s and fuzzy socks, preparing for the ‘globally’ traditional meal of turkey, ham, stuffing and potatoes, with the addition of the famous and pricey Irish spiced beef to honour and celebrate the home of our perpetually green Christmas! The weather was mild and drizzly and the surrounding grounds were lush and green, much different from the past December that was blanketed in sparkling snow.

Me & Aggie

Me, Mick, Marta & Shane

St Stephen’s Day (aka Boxing Day), was lazier than the day before, and spent in relaxed and contented discussion, feasting on leftovers, cake and chocolate while sluggishly digesting the last two days of overstuffed bellies. A wonderful start to a new and celebrated Christmas holidays! Days shared with friends in newly adopted homes like my current vie en France, with genuine Irish hospitality, coupled with childhood and cultural traditions to create a season of joy and appreciation!

The following few days were spent in sheer slothfulness, gorging on ridiculous amounts of chocolate, crisps and chips; watching way too much TV while cuddled in blankets and changing out of warm and comfy PJ’s for an hour or so to run into town for milk or bread, or to replace the dwindling supply of crisps ;) Ah the guilty pleasures of vacations and holidays and the way we rationalize and justify days of sluggish rest! A night out at the local village pub, and a Pre “New Year’s Eve“ evening at the Pub in the small town next door created the perfect prelude to today’s final day of 2011.





Let the resolutions, wishes and hopes for the upcoming year begin, if they already haven’t, and let us cherish the year we are leaving behind with fond memories and accomplishments; encouraging each other for continued greatness and soul satisfying opportunities.

I know I have already delved into some of my 2012 goals,

and hope that the same is true and inspired for each of us in this

upcoming New Year!

Europe in Bloom



With Christmas only days away and temperatures remaining in the 40's F - with drizzly rain instead of snow, and the occasional flurries that barely leave a mark on the pavement, it is no wonder I am left thinking about the blossoms of spring and foliage of fall. As such I took a walk down memory lane and reminisced over Europe in bloom...



Chavanay France

Brussels Belgium

Greystones Ireland

Monaco

St Tropez France

Cannes France

Lyon France

Edinburgh Scotland

London England

Annecy France

Perouges France

Edinburgh Scotland

Aix-les-Bains France

Edinburgh Scotland

Geneva Switzerland

North Co Dublin Ireland

Bourg-en-Bresse France

Condrieu France

Cavalaire-sur-Mer France

Marvellous Mountain Getaway

Oh the call of the mountains… profoundly peaceful, enchantingly tranquil and effortlessly meditative…  A place where the atmosphere changes not only in altitude, but in clarity and focus. Where thoughts are simplified, wants are reduced, and dreams are encouraged. Where faith is intimately sensed, and the universe is at its most exposed. A truly magnificent landscape uncaptured in images or words, but designed to be witnessed in sight, sound and touch.



Over the weekend of December 9-11, I was fortunate to spend a couple of days in the Alps, in a town called Avoriaz, near the Swiss border. Snow crested peaks encircled the ski resort town and enticed with miles of leading winding roads and blanketed ski routes. The air was crisp and cold but was deceived by the heat of the sun lending to contented moments in nature surveying the vistas, trudging knee deep in snow, and enjoying the company of friends on outside summer style terraces. Horse led sleighs chimed in tune with the clop of their hooves, snow glistened in the moonlight, and the grand tree in the village shimmered and shone reflecting the formation, innocence and magnitude of the mountain range.



A call loud enough to silence circling thoughts, yet soft enough to impart soul directed gratitude and contentment. A place possibly compared to by the sea or ocean, but nonetheless one of pure nature unspoiled by expectation, worry or imperfection.

Joyfully sinking in snow in celebration of Emily's birthday
& the amazing views of the Alps!