a tight-knit community

In our tiny village people know each other very well and in most cases are pretty supportive of one another.  Last winter our community was tightly-knit for another reason, Street Art!  Specifically, yarn-bombing!

Our town was warmly bundled up against the cold. All throughout the village stitches upon stitches brought a touch of warmth and color.  Even one of the gondolas at the ski area got the wooly treatment.  This year, they are yarn-bombing the forest (near where I like to take my walks) in the cross country ski area, here's the commercial that runs on the reader board in the square, inciting people to get their needles and yarn ready for this year's project.  Do you knit? 

See more good yarn-bombing here!

what the world needs

Today, the world needed me to go and ski with two, wonderful girlfriends.  I would like to thank the world for being so thoughtful and generous, especially for offering a bluebird day with 60 centimeters of freshly fallen snow and bright sunshine.  

I have come alive! 

Have a great weekend!  And if you feel like sharing, I would love to know -- what makes you come alive? 

my run-in with a yeti

Do yeti exist? Is that why all these people are cheering?

I don't claim to be a girl that has all the answers but you'll be informed on the above questions in my most recent article for the Les Contamines webzine. Read it in french or in english, if you like.

Discover a Secret Recipe for a Local Specialty

My first article as a web ambassador just posted on the Les Contamines webzine. I'm dishing on one of my favorite winter staples, farcement, and sharing a secret recipe for this tasty, regional specialty.  Each valley in the region and nearly every family in our village has their own adaptation of this homely but delicious dish.  Hope you find it tasty, too!

You can read either the french version or the english version.  Bon appétit!


Also, special thanks to my good friend, Aurore, for sharing her lovely kitchen and to Jeff for giving me a lesson on how to make his secret recipe. And of course to Félix, too, for his enthusiasm over the resulting repast. It's no wonder he's my favorite person to cook for.

Where you may find yourself

Recently, I was selected to participate in a new communication campaign over the coming year.  It's put together by the Tourism Office for our village.  My new, official title is Web Ambassador.  I am thrilled to be able to share some of what I love about where we live with an even broader audience. It's my hope that wherever you may be in the world that my words transport you here.

The program is being headed by Switch, a digital design company that I've heard lots of good things about.  At an introductory half-day session, I got to meet my other fellow ambassadors. There are eight of us in all and everyone has something wonderful to offer. Some live in the area; some don't.  It's a neat group, a nice mix of perspectives and interests with a common passion for our little village nestled high up in the Alps.

My first article to kick-off the series will appear in a couple weeks.  You can meet my fellow web ambassadors and read more about the program here, if you like.

Do you need more cowbell?

You can find me over at Little Village Life discussing the Combat des Reines, a livestock event like no other.  I talk about the surprise and suspense of a bovine battle royal. When the cows lock horns, you can expect...read more.


p.s. if you aren't familiar with the american pop culture reference in the title, you may want to watch this clip with Will Ferrell.  And if you are familiar with it, then we both know you definitely want to watch it.