Tag: holidays

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Holiday Remnants

IMG_3023{The Reston Town Center in early morning fog, photos by great family friend C. Kelley}

There is nothing like being home for the holidays, where the food is unbeatable, the decorations are inviting, and friends and family make the season festive. This Christmas had to be the warmest that I could remember, and to have the ovens and all four burners on for majority of the day made the house unbearably hot. It rained the entire day, we are talking deluge instead of the traditional snow. But, no matter the consequences, this was still one of the best celebrations, as the majority of the family was together along with friends!!!

IMG_3032 IMG_3043Nothing says utter relaxation like a home cooked meal by my fabulous friend Quy, who takes the time to spoil loved ones when in dire need of comfort. Her bowl of Vietnamese egg noodle soup and fruit platter of Asian pears, grapes and tangerines… are truly delicious!

Here’s to continued good friends & family in the 2016!
K

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Joyeuses Fêtes de Paris

IMG_0397IMG_0392 {Christmas at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte located in Maincy, outside of Paris in the Seine-et-Marne département of France}

Our reporters are off to Europe for the holidays and the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Maincy, located in southeastern Paris was first on their list of sites. And, what better way to start celebrating than at this French baroque château decorated in a most distinctively Gallic style.

IMG_0399This residence marked the beginning of the Louis XIV influence by combining the architecture of Louis Le Vau, interior design of painter-decorator Charles Le Brun and landscape designs by Andre Le Notre to create an extremely royal estate. Can anyone say Hugo Drax from the James Bond’s thriller Moonraker…”Cute isn’t it”!!!!

image4 image5{Notre-Dame de Paris in the fourth arrondissement}

Next on their list of sites was the Boulevard Saint-Germain with a view of Notre Dame Cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité. A fine example of French Gothic design with the western facade illuminated by joyous decorations and lights.

Happy holidays!!!
K