My French Christmas

It’s been a real mad dash, always something still to do or to change, despite lists and lists and lots of planning and coordination.  The last thing I was going to do before the rest of the photos was pick up the eight dinner rolls at the boulangerie.  Given that Christmas is just a few days away, there are lines at the bakeries, as everyone places their specific orders.  You can’t even go get dinner rolls at the bakeries, they are uniquement sur commande.  I wish I hadn’t bought eight rolls in retrospect. Whatever; the artisan boulanger was closed for another hour and when I got back, R said that Jean-Luc and Cedric had been by to disassemble everything and take it back to the shop. No! I am not done with photos!  Thankfully R knew that much and asked them to come by later in the day.

I spent the afternoon running through a lot of photos and making all kinds of little adjustments.  Like I said before, I needed four sets of hands.  I shot two fireplaces, the dining table, Christmas tree table and a part of the stairwell.  Tomorrow I shoot the gifts, after I go to the Saturday market.  The light in the house was really difficult, but I’m sure we can make the photos work. 

These are a few test shots; not the finals at all.  But there will be lots of fresh greens; lots of birds and lots of white and crystal.  Lots of crystal.  We made the prettiest French Christmas tree I have ever seen.  I used this sauciere from Jean-Lucs’ shop for the shoot and it’s staying with me.  Love all the porcelaine blanche; you can not ever have too much!

Tomorrow there is more to do, and cleaning up after the shoot will take me a few hours.  If I can, I’d like to fill my market basket tomorrow… with seasonal goodness and take it home for photos...I wish I were staying for Christmas dinner, but I go home to California on Monday, where my little Honey & Biscuit have been waiting at the door for the last two weeks.  I wish I could be in both places for Christmas, but this weekend I will make some kind of a grand holiday meal for R and me.  Wishing you a wonderful weekend.  I will post this weekend too on some of the French holiday décor and traditions here in Beaune.  You will love them!