The greatest little packet of the year

Yes, yes, I'll boast & rant about this forever...

Merry Christmas!

We are leaving tomorrow to the grandfather's empty cottage, so we are wishing you all happy holidays with warmest regards to our friends around the world. See you next year!

Netherlands...

Aww, last week was wonderful! We shared a hotel room in Amsterdam for five days -probably our last trip together for awhile. Lots of sunshine (which you do not see in the images!) with Indian, Japanese and Creek dinners. Not to mention a bit exclusive evening in a fondue restaurant: five different types and splendid wine! The week gave us fond memories. It was also nice to meet again some friends and colleagues, in Rotterdam and Haarlem, with happy baby news.

I loved the fleamarkets! We spent about three days shopping.

By the way, if you ever visit the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem (had a show in Haarlem last year), go and see the huge group portraits he did a year or two before his death (1666). The brushwork is free, vivid and clearly visible. Particularly, I like the hands. If I am ever going to write an essay about ageing artists or portraiture, I am going to entitle it 'Frans Hals Hands'...