Thanksgiving candids

Serving pie and enjoying friends!

Our Thanksgiving Table

Before and after dinner!

We ate and drank well!

Thanksgiving in Paris, 2006

Our guests were Maya Crooker, Annie and Derrick Kondo, Catriona Melrose, Phil McCarthy and John Francoise.

Howard worked with Maya's father several years ago! Maya is in a student exchange program and is studying in a french high school.

Cartionna sings in the choir at the American Church in Paris...she has a beautiful voice!

celebrations!

Our family celebrates around food! We love to enjoy each other's company and conversation while we enjoy food and drink. It is all about being together!

On the right is our friend Philemona McCarthy. Phil is from Cork, Ireland. The same area where my great grandparents hail from! It turns out there are still lots of Caseys' and O'Briens' in Cork...

Phil and her boyfriend, John, joined us for dinner one evening. Jon spent a few nights over their house. What great friends!

Sacre Coeur

On our way down from Sacre Coeur, we stopped for "le cafe" at one of the local brasseries. The kids enjoyed the day!

Look at the beautiful view from Montmarte area. Then, see if you can read the name on the pink building. It is the Lapin Agile Caberet. Years ago, this area was the village hot spot for all the local artists and writers.

Sacre Coeur

A view from the tramride up to Sacre Coeur. Then, a view of "The city of lights" from it's highest point (420 feet)!

Sacre Coeur's basilica was built only a century ago. It has five domes and it really does look even more beautiful when you see the basilica in person!

Family - Sacre Coeur

When the kids came to visit, we went to see Sacre Coeur. That's my friend, Annie Hsu. Annie was our unofficial "tour guide" for the day.

And the winner is...

Here is one of the winners....
Even the judges wear chocolate brown robes and hats!

Chocolate for Sale!

Imagine buying one of these delicious chocolate products....even better...image eating one of these delicious chocolate products!

Chocolate Train

Imagine making this chocolate train!

The art of decorating chocolate

There certainly is an art to decorating chocolate. Just look at the precision of these chef's as they decorate their chocolate.

coco beans

Take a look at what a coco bean really looks like!

visiting the counters

Take a look at all the many different kinds of things on sale at the Salon du Chocolat!

Fashion Show (con't)

These dresses are just absolutely beautiful to see, I could not believe that these dresses were made from chocolate. Look at the thin chocolate feathers on this dress.....just delicate!

chocolate fashion

Each year there is a fashion show of dresses made out of chocolate or with chocolate added to the material. Enjoy!

Delicious Chocolate!

On one of our first stops we visited the Grand Marnier counter...the staff were busy making chocolate drinks and crepes avec du chocolat!

countries celebrating!

Countries that produce chocolate celebrate their culture by dancing in beautiful costumes.

Salon du Chocolat

Visiting the Salon Du Chocolat with friends....this Salon will be in Hong Kong and New York, also.

This was a great place!

Images around Grande Place, Brussels

The building on the left has two signs, one sign advertises the Maison Des Boulangers (house of the baker), the second sign is the street name (Beurre) Butter! Streets in Brussels are named for the business that were on the street!

Enjoy the decorative statutes in front of the markets..
Take a look at the two statues of VanGough, the one on the left is a mime!!!
Brussels makes the best beer! I even enjoyed a glass.....

Outside Markets - Grande Place, Brussels

Shopkeepers are selling their wares in the outside market place. They are selling paintings, vegetables, flowers..and many other things.