My life in France...

I miss these two every single second that I am away from them. We "rescued" them, but they rescued us right back, and continue to do so every day. I mean, come on, just look at that face!!! #puppysmitten #truelove #frenchiemama #rescuemama #squishyfacecrew

Things we miss most about France? Our friends, the sun, and the #wine. Oh, the wine. #côtesdurhône #redwine #foreverfrench

My cute date. #pocketsquare #usetherightglass @drivenoutside (at Beveridge Place Pub)

Found a favorite from France at the grocery store. Very soft goats cheese similar to cream cheese. It was 2.5 times the price it was in France but I had to have it. Miam! #mylifeinfrance #homeagain

My dear husband is spoiling us by making homemade #gumbo for Christmas Eve dinner. He's also been making boiler-makers all evening: "holiday cheer" shiner beer with a splash of Honey Jack Daniels. @drivenoutside

And there was no room for me at the inn... #beardedhusband #frenchies #oversizedchair #stillnoroomforme

This little piggy misses the sunshine and warmth of the south of France. She has wedged herself under the breakfast nook bench right next to the heater vent. #hernametruffle #tongueouteveryday

Made my friend Amy's homemade mac & cheese today, Laurel-friendly (gluten-free and without cow's-milk dairy.) I used two kinds of hard goat's-milk cheese, coconut oil in place of butter, all-purpose gluten-free flour and brown rice pasta. It was more than a little delicious and I ate way too much. Served with baked Italian chicken and a glass of California red wine. Guiltily there were no vegetables served, unless you count the tomatoes in the marinara.

Vero was the first friend I made in France. The moment I met her I knew I wanted to keep her forever. She's chic and funny and always speaks her mind and loves good food. My kind of girl exactly. As we got to know each other I learned that she has a huge heart and is a wonderful friend. I was so happy when she met her soulmate Chris, a South African expat. This morning I am feeling thrilled - they are engaged! Could not be happier for these two, and I wish them all the love and happiness in the world. Congratulations!

Catching up: "Date Night" Art classes with wine glasses. We painted two scenes of Toulouse - the boys picked one and the girls picked the other. Our friend Roland did his A levels in the UK in art so naturally his painting was fantastic. I was also very impressed with how well Matt painted with his broken wrist. (He broke it six weeks ago boxing in the gym with Roland.) we are really going to miss these two fabulous friends.

The puppies got #starwars shirts. They are less than impressed. Brodie is naturally #Yoda, and Truffle is Darth Vader.

Truffle pig gets to sit up at the breakfast nook with her daddy in the morning. #spoiled #hernametruffle

Baby it's cold outside! Freezing rain is not my favorite. All bundled up in the hotel, after a nice dinner of salmon kibble and sardines. (Eating all the fish before going home to live with Nana and her fish allergy.) (at Crowne Plaza Amsterdam-Schiphol)

One flight down, one to go! (at Crown Plaza Hotel, Amsterdam)

In the kitchen with Amy and Lola, the four month old chocolate lab. I am sous chef on the other side of the kitchen island with My Two. We are staying with our friends Amy and Roland during the move. They are five minutes from our place and generously offered we could stay with them for a week. Tonight after a long afternoon of moving and cleaning, Amy and I made dinner. Organic steak, roasted veggies, and two kinds of baked mac and cheese. One was regular pasta with Emmental, Parmesan and Cheddar. The other was gluten-free pasta and sheep cheese (for me) with roasted veggies mixed in. I had three helpings!!!!

Meanwhile Truffle thinks any open suitcase is obviously a dog bed.... #hernametruffle ernametruffle