At this time of year, it’s very easy to become lost in the great big commercial machine that the holidays have become.

So it’s precisely at this time of year that I like to look around and think that even though we live in a big city in a big province in a big country in a big world, in some ways, we also live in our own little villages of space. And the best way to feel full and warm and loved, is to inhabit that space fully and brightly.

I hope that wherever you are today, you have loved ones close by and much light in your life.

From Cream Puff and family, a very Merry Christmas to all!

Ciao!

The gingerbread scene you see above is my take on the 2009 December Daring Bakers’ challenge hosted by Anna of Very Small Anna and Y of Lemonpi. I cheated slightly (I’m allowed … right … ) by not quite making a house but rather making a little village (house facades only) based on an idea from Joanna Farrow’s book Gingerbread: 24 Inspirational Houses and Decorative Gifts to Make.

Christmas tastes like snowflakes.

And gingerbread. And amaryllis. And tinsel. And cloves. And candlelight. And angels. And chocolate. And warmth.

And éclairs dipped in chocolate.

And towers of cream puffs.

And vanilla. Christmas tastes like vanilla.

It’s almost here …

Ciao!

Christmas smells like spices. And oranges. And pine trees. And cold air. And butter. And warm bread. And candy canes. And pomegranate. And stockings. And glühwein.

And stars.

Christmas smells like stars.

It’s almost here …

Ciao!

Check out my article on glühwein at The Daring Kitchen!