Happy New Year, Bonne Annee! In France it still counts when you say it before the end of January by the way. So happy and healthy, and peaceful New Year to all of you.

In my family, the week between Christmas and New Year's is when we forgo obligations, deadlines, routines.

This month I am sharing my favorite things that cannot be bought. They are more observations, impressions, more than things.

The scandal happened over one hundred years ago, because nowadays a socialite with one dress strap falling over her shoulder would not make the news.

When I was a kid school started on September 1st, and we got to buy all the new books, notebooks, pens and pencils. Now I still get excited and buy myself a few stationery things but the real happiness comes from the garden tasks that can be accomplished only in the fall.

I could write about the farmers markets a lot! I think it was my first stop right after we moved to France...