speaking of gifts...

I keep a list on the refridgerator of things I would like to have if someone comes to visit or would be sending us a package. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it and I've been dreaming of a can of cranberry sauce (you know, the kind that you have to open on both ends and push out slowly.) It's a wonderful gift idea as are packs of chocolate chips. Our list of food items for Santa also includes cornbread mixes and GRITS - neither of which are French delicacies.

A nice household gift would be a pack of light bulbs - you see, we did bring a couple of our favorite table lamps over here and we use them with a voltage converter. It's great, but I didn't bring any extra bulbs so I carefully ration the use of these lamps. So light bulbs would be greatly appreciated ... instead of a brand new beautiful sweater, carefully chosen and beautifully wrapped. Honest.

And if your budget is limited this year, not to worry... old magazines would make a splendid gift. You don't even have to buy new ones - just send the ones you plan to discard. Don't worry about our tastes compared to yours - you can even send us "Hang-Gliding Quarterly" and we would be happy to receive it. (Just as long as it is in English!)