Nov = Calendrier de l'Advent

The French are early birds when it comes to planning for Christmas.

Or maybe all of Europe starts polishing their wooden shoes for St. Nick as soon as they get back from the summer holidays?

I know, I know. Advent calendars begin on December 1 not in November.
 

But October and November is the time to plan and stock up to fill all those 24 windows in France.
 

While we're still thinking about what kind of cranberry sauce to make.
 

The French are plotting out their bonbons for the advent calendars.
 

When I waltzed into Le Bonbon au Palais in October, thinking only of caramels au beurre sale, two school teachers were stocking up on little packets of candy to hide in the calendar windows. I asked Georges if he carries the calendars and he said, Oh no, no. I just have the candies.
 

At La Mere de Famille you can buy an adorable cardboard house.
 

Very charming indeed - it's a copy of the old shop.
 

And it comes already filled with their candies.
 

But most Advent calendars are DIY. You pick the bonbons to go in the windows.
 

There are tons of them, if you're in need, at W.H.Smith Bookstore at 248, rue de Rivoli along with English poppers and paper hats.
 

I didn't know Richard Sellmar Verlag in Germany makes over a million different designs every year. Wow
 

I would imagine for those of us with self-control issues, an advent calendar would come in handy. Eating just one candy a day for 24 days would be a trial by fire of sorts, but the habit would be set and you could survive the holidays without gaining an ounce. Ha Ha
 

Baccarat would like you to put their mini crystal tree decorations in your calendar windows perhaps.
 

Last night window gazing at the Madeleine, I spotted Kaspia caviar still dithering over what to put in their Christmas windows.
 

I bravely went into fancy-pants Fauchon and asked (in English to be safe) if they carry any advent calendars. The saleswoman raised her eyebrows. I could see she was thinking poor thing. Doesn't she know any better? So no, don't go looking for advent calendars filled or unfilled in Fauchon.
 

In Germany many town halls deck themselves out as life size advent calendars.
 

Just by chance department store BHV looks like a life-size Advent calendar with Christmas trees in their cupola doesn't it?

Do you keep an advent calendar? Is it for yourself or the little ones? Or are you too busy with cranberry thoughts to think about such things?
 

La Mere de Famille

This morning Mad About Macarons Jill sent me an email expressing expasperation with a very French,
"Ouuuuf !"
This page is from the brilliant, L'ABC des onomatopees par Bruno Gibert.

 

 I remembered I've not shown you any Parisian oeufs for Paques/Easter.

 La Mere de Famille on rue Cler, is one of my favorite chocolate shops but it's closed on Sundays (at 8am).

 Still the windows were full of delightful ouuuf/oeuf/eggy creations.

 Liqueur-filled little eggs as well as chocolate-filled eggs.

 Candy eggs sitting realistically atop a stack of hay gave a barnyardy feel to the window.

Unrealistically French lapin/rabbits think nothing of laying bird's eggs if they're chocolat.

 Quite simple eggs strung together for a decorative effect like xmas lights.

 Your classic foil-wrapped assorted chocolate eggs.

 A touch of whimsey - is it a chicken or an egg? It's both and sitting in an eggcup no less.

 When I returned from my early Sunday morning stroll French Girl was up and making breakfast.Her cashmere sweater is by Hector et Lola.com

 Was she making une omelette?

Pas de tout.

She was making a classic bacon and eggs once-a-week Dimanche petit dejeuner.

A possible Jean-Babtiste Chardin painting in the making no?

L'Esquirol

It's Fall in Paris and squirrels/L'Esquirol are EVERYWHERE.

Even in the Metro!

La Mere de Famile always keeps their windows in tune with the seasons. Les Folies, cocoa powder-covered almonds are their Fall specialty. They have complimentary samples at the cash to tempt you when you pay for other items.

Marie-Noelle translated this for me but I've forgotten of course. Something to the effect that the squirrel symbolizes economy and preparedness. My father used to remind me to follow their example. Learn to think ahead for the oncoming winter. Get my nuts lined up in a row etc. Instead I played like the grasshopper... Hmmm...still playing too much...

La Maison du Chocolat has some very nice nuts lined up in a row in their Fall windows. I would happily squirrel these away.
A pretty Fall still life in an antique shop window in the Marais.

Another Fall painting in Portobello's window.

Place du Vosges in the Marais is full of fallen leaves.

Fall is the season of mushrooms/champignons.

La Mere de Famile's vitrine is full of marzipan mushrooms, chestnuts

And cocoa beans filled with candy leaves and pebbles.

Baby squirrels sit in kids shop windows.

to remind us that our own bebe squirrels
 

need some Fall colors in their wardrobes.

Orange, orange, orange!
 I've yet to see an actual Parisian squirrel. I think they are on vacance in New York. Back to playing :)