the best day of my life

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« Mommy…? It would be nice if we went to Guadeloupe right? There are plenty of coconuts there. Coconut is yummy… Well, one must be careful when walking down the beach because if a coconut falls on your head…OUCH! Ha ha…Mommy, mommy!! Look, there are coconuts there, can we buy one, please please?? yes? Thank you mama, you’re the best mommy in the world! Oh, it’s beautiful, I wanna carry it, can you give it to me? Yes, I can carry my bag but I’ve got one spare hand because I must carry the coconut…Mommy? can we open it when we get home? I can’t wait to taste it, it must be sooo good…And I’m gonna drink in it with a straw, ha ha ha…it’s gonna be so fun…! Oh..you can’t open it?…we must wait for papa, he’s stronger. Mommy…? When does he arrive?…late? ohh…Mommy!! Mommy!!! Look, we’ve opened the coconut, look! We can drink the milk with a straw, do you want some? Ahhh…it’s the best day of my life! …Then we can also eat the coconut, with a knife, like in the organic store, it’s good right? Uhmm…you’re right, it doesn’t taste as good…ohh it’s a pity…mayve we have chosen a bad one? Well yes, we’re not coconut experts…Anyhow it’s beautiful right? Never mind, we can clean it and I’ll put my things in it….Mommy!!! Look what Gema has done!! She’s cleaned the coconut, isn’t it great?! Oh, it was easy, she took a knife and hop hop…she knows well coconuts, Gema. We can ask her to choose a good one next time ». 

Chiara, 6 yo, and her first coconut…

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these memories

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***

Walking on country paths I used to know very well.

The kids look so grown up against these secular olive trees.

I tell them all about how beautiful the mimosa tree will be in the spring, covered in yellow fluffy flowers whose scent can be smelled from far away.

This moment #5

*Ce moment-là*

Un rituel hebdomadaire, inspiré de la rubrique de SouleMama: une photo, sans commentaires. Un arrêt sur image sur un petit grand bonheur, du quotidien ou extra-ordinaire, que j’ai envie de chérir et garder hors du temps. N’hésitez pas à partager votre moment dans un commentaire pour que tous puissent le lire.

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*This moment*

A weekly ritual, inspired by SouleMama’s blog: a special picture, without subtitles. A unique, everyday or extra-ordinary  delight that I want to record and cherish. Don’t hesitate to share your link in a comment for all to see if you wish to join in. Cheers!

a winter afternoon at the beach

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Having lunch outside in the middle of winter

strolling down the beach

looking at fishermen and kyte-surfers

collecting seashells

throwing stones into the waves.

I guess my Roman ancestors knew how to pick their locations.

my hometown

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A typical Roman winter day.

Cold but sunny.

Bathing in the brightest light,

under a perfect blue sky.

This moment #3

*Ce moment-là*

Un rituel hebdomadaire, inspiré de la rubrique de SouleMama: une photo, sans commentaires. Un arrêt sur image sur un petit grand bonheur, du quotidien ou extra-ordinaire, que j’ai envie de chérir et garder hors du temps. N’hésitez pas à partager votre moment dans un commentaire pour que tous puissent le lire.

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*This moment*

A weekly ritual, inspired by SouleMama’s blog: a special picture, without subtitles. A unique, everyday or extra-ordinary  delight that I want to record and cherish. Don’t hesitate to share your link in a comment for all to see if you wish to join in. Cheers!

a special present #3

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image

***

You were never much of a talker and you let your gestures show how much you cared: your delicious cakes, the sweaters you would knit for me, the tiny thoughtful presents you would leave on my table. It took me years to understand and appreciate your silent devotion, your daily commitment to make us happy.

For your birthday, in this special moment where your health plays tricks on you, I wanted to offer you something special. In order to speak your language I had to find the right gesture which would quietly go to your heart: I would exchange roles and become the one who would spend hours knitting for you, sticht after stitch, as you used to do.

This special present was a race against time and came to an end at 2 am of December 18, just in time to weave ends inand wet block it before closing my suitcase on the 21st.

As you unpacked your gift you paused an instant, sort of incredulous. As if  – knowing so well how much time it takes to complete such a project – you couldn’t conceive that someone had done this for you.

You murmured it’s beautiful and caressed the yarn with your hands.

Those very hands that have so often held needles and yarn for somebody elses’s delight.

Then you lifted your eyes into mine with the most radious smile and simply murmured thank you…

***

The sweater pictured above is size S of Seneca by Brooklyn Tweed knitted with 5 skeins of Cascade 220 on 4,5 needles.

This moment #2 – 11 January 2015

*Ce moment-là*

Ce rituel hebdomadaire, inspiré de la rubrique de SouleMama comporte d’habitude une photo, sans commentaires. Un arrêt sur image sur un petit grand bonheur, du quotidien ou extra-ordinaire, que j’ai envie de chérir et garder hors du temps. Aujourd’hui, ce sera plusieurs photos et des mots, pour raconter une journée qui restera gravée pour toujours dans nos mémoires.

Après ces journées d’incrédulité et de peur, l’émerveillement. Jamais je n’avais vu autant de monde dans les rues: une véritable marée humaine à perte de vue. Mais aussi, des gens qui souriaient et se parlaient dans les rames du métro bondées au lieu de râler; qui applaudissaient les CRS et chantaient tous ensemble la Marseillaise. Comme si, face à l’épreuve, ce peuple qui est devenu un peu le mien aussi, avait (re)trouvé l’unité au lieu de la division. C’était très fort et très émouvant. C’était le 11 janvier 2015.

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*This moment*

This weekly ritual, inspired by SouleMama’s blog normally entails a special picture, without subtitles. A unique, everyday or extra-ordinary  delight that I want to record and cherish. This time it’s gonna be a few pics and words to describe a day which will remain in our hearts forever.

After this week’s moments of bewilderment and fear came the biggest surprise. Never had I seen so many people in the streets; it seemed like a sea of people everywhere. And they were laughing and talking in the overcrowded underground instead of quarreling, they were applauding policemen in the streets and singing the Marseillaise. As if, in the darkest hour, this people who has become a bit mine too, had found (back) unity instead of division. It was strong and deeply moving. It was Sunday 11 January 2015.

This moment #1

*Ce moment-là*

Un rituel hebdomadaire, inspiré de la rubrique de SouleMama: une photo spéciale, sans (ou parfois avec) commentaires. Un arrêt sur image sur un petit grand bonheur, du quotidien ou extra-ordinaire, que j’ai envie de chérir et garder hors du temps. Si le cœur vous en dit, insérez votre lien dans un commentaire pour que tous puissent le voir.

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*This moment*

A weekly ritual, inspired by SouleMama’s blog. A special picture, without (or sometimes with) subtitles. A unique, everyday or extra-ordinary  delight that I want to record and cherish. If you wish to do the same, do share your link in a comment for all to see.

hello 2015

Nous voilà de retour après nos vacances en Italie. Deux semaines de congé au milieu de l’année pour la première fois depuis des lustres. C’était bien, les amis, oh que oui! Mais, les jours ont passé et le temps de partir, avec son pincement au cœur, est arrivé. Les enfants étaient ravis de retrouver leur maison à Paris, pour moi c’est toujours un peu plus difficile, ça demande quelques jours d’acclimatation…

En regardant l’année qui vient de se clore, je suis reconnaissante:

pour mes deux enfants magnifiques, sains, sensibles et drôles, qui s’épanouissent sous mes yeux jours après jour

de m’être rapprochée encore un peu plus de la personne que j’ai envie d’être et d’avoir appris à m’accorder plus de temps pour moi

d’avoir, dans des moments difficiles, trouvé la sérénité au fond de mon cœur

d’avoir beaucoup plus souvent ressenti de la gratitude pour ce que j’ai plutôt que le regret pour ce que je n’ai pas

d’avoir trouvé le temps et le courage d’accomplir Ce (petit grand) pas sur la lune!

Je n’ai pas de résolutions particulières pour cette nouvelle Année, sinon de continuer à chercher la sérénité, la gratitude, la joie et confiance en ce que j’ai.

Et vous, les amis?

Je vous souhaite une année pleine de joie et de beaux moments à partager,

bon 2015!

*En photo, quelques-uns des petits cadeaux fait main qui ont rempli notre calendrier de l’Avent arc-en-ciel. Ils ne sont pas beaux? Je les aime d’amour…

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And so we’re back from our holidays in Italy. A two week break as I hadn’t done in a long time and it was good, oh so good. The days have flown by and the time to leave, with its bittersweat taste, finally arrived. The kids were happy to find their home back while for me it’s a bit more difficult, it takes me a few days to settle down. 

Looking back upon the year that has just come to an end, I am grateful for: 

my two beautiful, sweet and smart kids whom I have the chance to see evolving each day 

having come a few steps closer to the person I want to be and having learned to grant myself more me-time 

having found peace and strenght in my heart in this year’s difficult times 

having felt gratitude for what I have rather than regret for what I don’t have

having found the time (and courage) to do this Step on the moon!

I don’t have any special resolutions for 2015 apart from walking further on this path of finding peace, joy, strenght and gratitude in what I have. 

And you, dear friends?

I wish you a bright New Year, full of joy and of many tiny happy moments to cherish,

happy 2015!

*Pictured above are some of the handmade gifts that have filled our origami Advent calendar. I love them so!