November: The art of getting cozy....

Parisians have the ability to create coziness in the most unusual places.

In Paris -- the grand, large city -- I find coziness in many places. A few examples are  Luxembourg Gardens, the Musée de l'Orangerie, a cafe along a busy street, or even an apartment that is no more than 500 square feet! Do I experience a sense of comfort because I am in a familiar place? Perhaps. Paris is comfortable, no doubt, because I know the city, but I think it is more than that. Parisians have a way of creating cozy niches no matter how large the space.


In Luxembourg Gardens, I am comforted by the well-groomed trees, the gardens, the water and the chairs. I can move the chairs to a quiet place in the garden and have it feel like it is my very own space for as long as I wish to be there. In the l'Orangerie, home of the awe inspiring massive canvases of Monet's Water Lilies, coziness holds you. Although stunning in artistic nature, Monet's canvases are equally stunning in their size. But when you sit in the Water Lily rooms, you feel held -- even hugged -- by these grand works of art. In a busy cafe, I can lose myself as well as all track of time. There are cozy spots to sit, the waiter visits very little, and I tend to slow down to enjoy every single bite, every single sip and every word of my companion.

As for Parisian apartments, I am amazed at the sheer creativity of the residents of Paris to create a cozy space with everything one needs in less than 500 square feet. It sometimes makes me wonder why I have all the stuff that I do at home.

I also know that coziness is individual. Some of you long for the coziness of a wood burning stove, a snowshoe hike after fresh snowfall, reading a good book next to a roaring fireplace, baking your grandmother's banana nut bread, the coming of autumn and -- not long after that -- Old Man Winter. It is especially this time of year that we may long for comfort and coziness the most!

We hope to create a sense of warmth and bundle you up in joy at our next market, "The Cozy Holiday Home."  We want you to feel as though you can come and stay as long as you please, as if  you are being hugged by beauty and find happiness around every corner. And maybe you will find a little something for your precious, cozy space . . . no matter how large or how small.   Over the river and through the woods to a cozy holiday "maison"!

November "Cozy Holiday Home" Market Hours:

Thursday, Nov. 7:          5pm-8pm (Nuit Blanche!)

Friday, Nov. 8:                 11am-2pm

Saturday, Nov. 9:            10am-4pm

Sunday, Nov. 10:             Noon-4pm

Au revoir,

Anastasia