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Merry Christmas!!! - and Catching Up On My Journey!

Enjoying short sleeves
and sunshine on Christmas Day!
Merry Christmas everyone, and I hope you are all enjoying the Holiday Season!! Some of you may have already seen this information (and pictures) on Facebook, but I wanted to make sure I posted something for my non-Facebook friends and family!!
Yummy mince pies
and latte in the sunshine!
I thought I'd just give you a little insight into my day thus far in France (in case anyone was worried that I'm feeling bored or sad all alone here on the other side of the world)!!  This morning (not too early, of course) I enjoyed a warm, flakey, buttery chocolate croissant and latte in the sunshine (in short sleeves no less!!) as I enjoyed the morning sun on the patio! (My "temp app" says it's 50 degrees, but it feels like 70 to me in the sunshine!) Who knew that if you take a slightly soggy croissant and put it in the oven for 5-10 minutes that it tastes fresh out of the oven - now I do!! 

Outdoor French Christmas Picnic!!
My ever-present companion!!
I'm not usually one to post pictures of my food (not that exciting usually), but I thought you might enjoy my "French Christmas picnic lunch" pictures!!  And in case anyone is worried that I'm LONELY and had to eat my lunch alone, I posted a picture of my ever-present companion (who minutes after I finished lunch and turned my back grabbed the end of the french bread I had torn off to eat with my turkey and potatoes.....naughty Zelda)!!! 

I'm thinking of my family and friends (and missing THEM, but not the "hulabaloo" that comes with holidays - no offense, of course!!) - and ever-thankful for technology (especially Facebook and Skype) so I can feel like I'm as present with them as if I were there in person! I enjoyed Skyping with my family - made me miss them even more (especially the little ones who say "Aunt Ju-Ju" in a way that will always melt my heart)!!

I'll be moving onto my next "new adventures" next week! I'll be spending a week in London (over New Year's), then heading to the Cotswolds in England for 6-8 weeks.  I'm sure there will be more pictures of amazing countryside and architecture since (as described by Wikipedia) the Cotwolds are "a rural area of south central England with thatched houses, medieval villages, churches and stately homes built of distinctive local yellow limestone." The 102-mile Cotswold Way walking trail goes right through the village I'll be staying in (Stanton) - a popular walking trail that brings though lots of tourists on their "walking holidays" (probably more in the summer than winter, but one can hope for entertainment and good conversation at the local pub)!! 

 I'll try to post more as I travel, but for now I just wanted to say "Happy Christmas" (as the British say) to all of you that I love so much - and thank you for always being there for me (if not in person then definitely "in spirit" on Facebook, email, and in my heart)!! 

 Much love to all of you - and hugs all around!! 

I've attached a few pictures that I meant to post awhile ago - seems like since I got into the normal routine of living life here, I haven't been very good about posting pictures or experiences - sorry!!
Such a treat to have my sister Carol visit me for a week at Thanksgiving!!
Enjoyed seeing the countryside, looking at sights and mostly enjoyed good conversation and company!!
You don't see this often in other parts of the world:
a vending machine that sells fresh bread!!
It was in a small village on my way to
Issigeac Market, sitting in the parking
lot of the church (next photo)! Gotta love France!
The over-200-year-old church where I
found the bread vending machine
in the parking lot!!



One of many beautiful Abbeys I visited.
All theses types of buildings have
such beautiful architecture.
Although many are stark and
cold inside, they are historically
(and energetically)
drenched with the palpable
experiences of many before me!
This was just one corner of the
"harvest festival" held at the
Issigeac Sunday Market -
one of my favorites I've visited
often (a great place to buy
fresh fruits and veggies -
and loved how the market wound
through the streets of the town)!!

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