I'm sorry that tonight's Advent Calendar is a little late tonight! It's a three vlog day for us at Lalande! This one is launching as a premiere, Cadeaux will be out later tonight (not as a premiere) and I'm currently editing tonight's video for my Patreons. So it's an extra busy (and Christmassy!) day here :)
TIP. to avoid the chocolate pot flying of fthe table when using that whisk, ring out a tea towel in water - so damp - fold it and place it underneath. I learnt this technique in cookery lessons at school to steady a mixing bowl.
I have been trying to create the hot chocolate of my dreams because mostly what passes for cocoa in the US is a dismal little packet that water gets added to for a very anemic impersonation of chocolate. So shaved dark chocolate, mixed with a bit of hot milk and cream then whisked looks like the magical secret. I will be trying that out very soon. Thank you from Los Angeles where yes we do get a few days of cold and need our cocoa too!
No apologies necessary for the lateness ! I'm happy to see that all is well! LOVED the Mistletoe adventure! The mist was so romantic!!! I was looking for Mr. Darcey to come riding up on his steed! 🤭😆😉
We absolutely have Christmas crackers in North American, my family has had them at the Christmas table since I was a child. I have even made some myself!
I was just going to say this! It's such a strong family tradition that my mother updated me the other day "I've got the Christmas crackers! They're very pretty this year!" We have many, many Christmas family pictures of us all wearing our paper crowns - even my wonderful 95-year old, grandfather and 93- year old grandmother. I wonder where the paper crown tradition came from? It would be interesting to know the history behind the crackers.
This was great fun. Amaury and Nati are becoming a little more obvious, which is sweet. I have a "chocolate set" from my great-grandmother from about 100 years ago (it's Art Nouveau) - the pot and creamer are fairly small but the sugar bowl is enormous, which gives a clue as to how people drank their chocolate at that time. Mexican-style chocolate comes in cakes and usually includes cinnamon (and vanilla and chili spice). About mistletoe - those trees you mention for "next year" might fall soon, as that much mistletoe really shortens their lives.
@LisaKilmer - Yes! If you look back through the videos, you’ll see they are always sitting together at meals, and Amaury giving Nati the sweetest looks. Especially at Dana’s birthday party. This is wonderful ❤️❤️❤️
When I was a child I lived in Normandy ( My Father was in the US Army stationed in Evreux) and the farmers would shoot the mistletoe out of the trees to sell in the markets. It was quite exciting to watch!
I know that someone else (a local farmer?) owns and manages the bees, and in exchange, he provide Lalande with some of the honey made every year! But it would be nice if he would agree to be in a video when it’s honey harvesting time! Perhaps Amaury would meet him and film/interview him.
LOL! Christmas crackers were very much a part of my childhood as my grandmother's family is from Wales. I have seen them in local stores including Target. They tend to be smaller here in the states but I did make them with my grandma as a child. Thank you for the tutorial on rum. This explains so much about why they taste different.
I live in Northern Ontario Canada and we always had crackers on our plates at Christmas dinner but now I suspect that is because my grandmother's mother came to Canada from England and my grandfather came here as a little boy from Ireland. Having said that...I see a lot of them for sale here in the stores every year but we are part of the commonwealth! Lovely video today as always!
Love the distillery tour and mistletoe hunt. You never disappoint your viewers! (BTW, we do have Christmas crackers here in the US, but they’re not widely used.) Happy holidays! 🌺
Every single thing about this video is delightful. I did learn that mistletoe grows on trees and not bushes. Never knew that. So thank you for doing a segment on that. I use spiced brandy for my Christmas cake although the rum looks delish also. Mistletoe hunting, hot chocolate, the caribbean and crackers, what's not to love about this video. Steph, you looked adorable in your cape.
Hi All, I’m loving the advent vlogs. It’s must be so nice to be able to go out on your property and forage for mistletoe and any greenery you want , it’s just beautiful there. I’m also happy to see the relationship growing between your cousin and Natti they make a beautiful couple. Take care and stay safe, loads of love and hugs from Canada. 🤫💗🥂👍
We shoot it out of the trees here in the country “Alabama” for sure 😉 Mistletoe can cause damage to a tree in certain situations and removal may be to the trees advantage. For years I thought it was a type of lichen but tis not. May we all get some kissin under the mistletoe this year 💋
Did you expect him to lean in and kiss his cousin? He was talking to her so of course he was looking at her. Just leave them alone. Steph wasn’t ever intending to talk about her romantic life until she got outed by a tv series. I’m sure the rest of them want their private lives to be private too.
Seems likely they're together now, what with them both going on vacation at exactly the same time, running errands together, always showing up together, etc.
Nothing says Christmas like wearing paper crowns on your head, reading silly jokes and getting cheap little trinkets. I'm Canadian and we do not do Christmas without them. :) I'm going to attempt making my own this year with a little bottle of clementine gin in them.
I am a Canadian in Ontario and always had Christmas Crackers - I too made my own when my children were small and even sold them to others. It's huge fun at Christmas. I am now wanting a chocolatier! The hot chocolate looked yummy. 😊
The fact that all the Canadians commenting here about our family traditions if having Christmas crackers with paper crowns as opposed to it being less common in the US must have something to do with our British colonial past?
Thank you for explaining the Christmas crackers. I knew how they looked in a game I use to play, but never knew about the treats and popping. I never trusted the fruit cakes as I grew up....Now as an adult and watching your Christmas vlogs....I want to try them.
Advent trip around the world with Stephanie. Day 14, in Italy: Day 15 in sunny Barbados for rum and a nod for Demarara sugar which was first made in 🇬🇾 Guyana, South America (former British colony on Caribbean coast). The young lady who received the beautiful gift of the Chocalatier from the fascinating lady is now living her own glamorous life. Stephanie, God be praised! I drink my chocolate like Phillip.
Love the mistletoe, but please remember that it is poisonous for dogs! That lovely golden lab was enjoying the walk. Blessings and Happy Christmas from Devon, England.xxx
I am an American who did not know what Christmas crackers were until I lived in Europe and worked with a bunch of Brits in 1998. I mailed some to my family that year, and they loved them, especially the kids. I spent Christmas on Jersey (the Channel Island) with a workmate's family. It was so fun wearing our paper crowns at the dinner table. Though, I think British Christmas cake is an acquired taste. I really am not much into dried fruit and rum in my cake. I will stick to a dessert pie for my Christmas 'pudding'. You can find Christmas crackers in the U.S. noe, but not in the 70's when I was growing up. I would say plenty of folks from the States have never heard of them.
Your advent vlogs have filled me with such joy. The positive spirit of those who live within the beautiful walls of the Chateau have been felt from sunny Sydney. Love to all
I have noticed in my travels through the States that traditions vary a great deal from State to State, the older States retain many traditions on the East Coast whereas the Southern States don't seem to have any of these traditions
@@Motherhubbard170 They like to start their own traditions. Also when marrying each bring their own & soon u have too many so some things have to go or become forgotten🐒💕
I live in Central Ohio and never heard of crackers until Stephanie. In my area we place chicken and noodles on our mashed potatoes. The Christmas cake reminds me of our fruitcake mixture wise.
Stephanie, you look absolutely festive (and cozy) in the red cape. The cake looks delicious; the hot chocolate ---- oh, my! The mistletoe brigade was very successful in their quest; a treasure of riches. There seems to be lots of romance in the air along with the scent of Christmas cake.
I crush up candy canes and place it in a glass jar and then put some in my hot chocolate each morning. So good. Enjoying the Christmas season with all of you. Much love🌲❤️
Not funny at all, especially from the much younger one in a relationship. I've dated a few younger men in my years and had one said something like that, I would have found it quite offensive.
That's very sweet of you, but I don't mind at all. We tease each other about the age difference rather than letting it become the elephant in the room! Also, I come from a family in which teasing is seen as a major sign of affection!
@@TheChateauDiaries I came here to say that I loved how he teased you about the age difference and how you teased back. Shows you are comfortable with each other as you should be in a loving healthy relationship. My husband is older than me and I tease him all the time. Why should it be any different when the woman is older? I’m new here and one of the things I love most about your videos is the relationship between you two and your relationship with everyone else. It’s very loving and respectful. ❤.
Stephanie's face glowing like a child in a candy store, when explaining how she'll be in the next few days putting a little more rum into her fruit cake is priceless.
This might disappoint you to know but the condistency of hot chocolate in Italy is using a little of corn flour. (Lived in Milan as home base 32 years).
That’s how my grandmother in the Philippines prepared our hot chocolate and served in small cups like shots back in the days. We called the whisk ‘batidor’.
Stephanie you are as pretty as a Victorian Christmas card. And squeal with glee when you find mistletoe. Age is only a number ,to keep the child within alive ,is to be forever young.
Amaury is a man of mystery and many talents! I liked learning a bit about bees. The chocolate pot is stunning.I love your Christmas Cracker demo!!!!! Sadly most American have know idea about Christmas Pudding,Christmas Crackers or Boxing Day. Love from Vermont
Another fascinating Christmas Diaries episode. Thank you!. Re the Christmas cracker tradition. I think it must be a little spotty in North America. I grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was a well-known and widespread tradition there, probably because of the many families with British roots who settled there. We also pulled the crackers all at once with our arms crossed pulling the crackers with whomever was sitting next to us at the Christmas table. I now live in Winnipeg and the tradition is live and well here as well. In California the tradition is not so well known, but it is growing, maybe because the upscale kitchen store chain, William-Sonoma sells them. They sell them at Easter too. The paper on the Easter crackers is decorated with bunnies, chickens, eggs and flowers in pastel colours. 🇨🇦
Oh, I've never seen Easter crackers. Sounds like a great idea though. French-Canadian background so we didn't have these, even though my maternal grandparents were British immigrants. But my kids have experienced crackers to reflect the dual heritage. That's what makes Canada special.
They weren’t as easy to find in small town Northern California when I was a kid, if I remember, but my parents always liked them and would find them. Once I was a teenager in early 2000s, we didn’t have a problem finding at least one pack somewhere, and as an adult now with lots of shopping in SoCal, they seem to be everywhere. But I think that many families aren’t aware of them or don’t have them as a tradition?
@@jomeyer13 St. Catherine's Taffy is a candy made by girls in French-Canadian families to honour St. Catherine, the patron saint of unmarried women on her feast day, November 25. St. Catherine's day is sometimes known in Franco Canadian families as "taffy day," a day when marriage-age girls would make taffy for eligible boys. Marguerite Bourgeoys, a founder of the Notre-Dame de Montréal and an early teacher at Ville-Marie, the colonial settlement that would later become Montreal, is credited with starting the tradition as a way of keeping the attention of her young students.
Merry Christmas to you all ..not sure if you read all the comments so just in case…I want to send a hearty thank you for all the work and joy that has gone into these Advent vlogs. They have bought happy escapism for a few minutes from these dim days of daily news and doom and reminded us of love and being together ❤️ Happy days
my mom made christmas cake one year, and started them in august and would bring them out once a month and feed the cakes, by the time christmas came around the cakes were black from all the fermentation that went on over the three months and surprisingly, no one turned it down. the best christmas cake ever
I’m in New York, and my family has always had Christmas crackers. You can find them in stores like Lord & Taylor and TJMaxx/Home Goods, etc., when the Christmas decorations come out. We have many pictures of all of us in goofy hats, and sharing really corny jokes🥳
How delightful! Loved your Christmas cape, and your chocolate pot. Your kitchen table is almost the same as the one I grew up with in my mother's 300 year old house.
Oh my God! I'm completely in love with you beatiful Chritsmas cloak! In fact I think I need one desperately! In Spain we haven't that lovely tradition of crackers but I would like it, It seems really funny! Thanks for your videos I love it and I waiting for them every day 😊😘
Love to see you two together Stephanie and Phillip, Love, real Love is so precious and vital and rare, blessings to you both!!! Tell Gerald I and still praying for him and Mother and husband!!! Have a great week!!!. Lots of love to you all as well!!! God Bless!!!
Nati and Amauri….. please lean over the table for a kiss! Wow…. The chocolatier is so beautiful…..just love waking up in Sydney, knowing I’m going to be transported to Lalande for a visit to you all….laughter, beauty and delightful humans! Love to you x ❤️
Marvelous cake making, and all the love put into it! Wow the red cape fantastic, so cute on Stephanie in the enchanted forest. Great to see all no matter when the vlog is out. Will have to look for that Rum...☺
J’aime beaucoup comment Amaury aide Natty à ne plus glisser sur cet arbre … et aussi comme il est charmant d’aider à porter les courses ! Encore une vidéo délicieuse, chaleureuse, pleine de beaux souvenirs d’été … bravo ! Sacrée organisation !! Par contre, le gui au dessus de la table ne me parait pas une si bonne idée… il ne faudrait pas que les boules de gui tombent dans la nourriture !!!! C’est du poison !!! Il vaut mieux l’accrocher dans une entrée, à un chandelier 🤩 … pour s’embrasser dessous 😉 À bientôt ! 🌸🌸🌸 PS : attention au surmenage !! Les vidéos sont nombreuses mais on peut attendre… 😄
I spy another blossoming romance? Wow you scored on mistletoe for sure, girl. I think the Italians use a thickener like corn starch to thicken theirs. I think the best is Mexican, look that recipe up. It's insane.
It scant what we usually use in the US (the poppers) but I have used them with my kids when they were younger and they have used the, while involved in some organizations while growing up. I love the,m’ we need to do them more.I also loved the tour and information in Barbados about the bourbon making. Love learning more about the history of other 0laces. Hugs and love from Texas!
Christmas Crackers have always been a tradition in Canada. I remember wearing the tissue hats at my Grandparent's house in Ontario the 1950's. We read the lame jokes inside and marveled at the tiny prizes within. They're available in most shops. I bought ours today. We snap the crackers with glee before Christmas Dinner starts. By the way, here in Canada, we also have Christmas Puddings, we watch the Queen's Christmas Message on TV, read Dicken's A Christmas Carol and have BOXING DAY- where it's a madhouse in the stores with all the sales! Happy Holidays from Vancouver Island, British Columbia CANADA.
It’s so exciting to be part of the Fun Team of La Lande in search of Mistletoe into the mist !!! 😃 😆 Spending Christmas at Chateau La Lande is like being in a Fairytale!!! 🧚♀️
I'm from the Caribbean island St.Lucia, we call our Christmas Cake: Black Cake. To get your cake black in colour you need to burn brown sugar and add a tiny bit of water to create "Browning". Or you can simply purchase (GRACE) browning. We also add molasses and lots of black currants. We are very impressed by Stephanie making Christmas Fruit/Rum Cake. And the more Rum you add, the longer the cake is preserved, even after a few years stored in the freezer, it will still be edible and delicious. And yes you can get tipsy or drunk from eating too much fruit cake.
I'm sorry that tonight's Advent Calendar is a little late tonight! It's a three vlog day for us at Lalande! This one is launching as a premiere, Cadeaux will be out later tonight (not as a premiere) and I'm currently editing tonight's video for my Patreons. So it's an extra busy (and Christmassy!) day here :)
Ooo…. Take care or you’ll burn out xx 🥰🎄🎅🏻🏰
Much appreciated but please take care of yourself, I don’t think it would be good to repeat last year and end up in hospital again!
Omg please don’t stress it! Take care of yourself.
No worries from Canada ❤🌲❤☃️😘
Don't make yourself sick please.
We can wait.
The level of preproduction and thought that’s gone into these vlogs over the year running up to vlogmas is astounding 👏 👏👏
I was just thinking that! Very professional!!
TIP. to avoid the chocolate pot flying of fthe table when using that whisk, ring out a tea towel in water - so damp - fold it and place it underneath. I learnt this technique in cookery lessons at school to steady a mixing bowl.
Genius
I also thought the chocolatière would fly!
PHILLIP that was not nice!!! Stephanie is timeless and will never age!!!! LOL
Dan and Amaury are going to have sooo many jokes to do with that mistletoe 🤣
If you want to spike that hot chocolate, put some Grand Marnier in there for a chocolate orange effect 🖤
Thank you for this!
Oooh, I’m going to try that! 👍🏻
Genius idea Julia Kneece Gregg Columbia SC USA
Or Irish Cream!
Be careful Phillip with age jokes or Stephanie may have no need for the mistletoe😂
Love the teasing. she a Brit , she can more than handle it.
@@lynnpetti3817 Bit unkind though. Unnecessary.
Is there a doghouse at the chateau?😉
@@jennymay4720 yup not funny at all
Yes, please stop with the age "jokes" and that weird snorting sound into the microphone.
Love the red cape Stephanie, very festive 💖
Gorgeous!
Your chocolatier is absolutely gorgeous. A fun day for all of you.
I have been trying to create the hot chocolate of my dreams because mostly what passes for cocoa in the US is a dismal little packet that water gets added to for a very anemic impersonation of chocolate. So shaved dark chocolate, mixed with a bit of hot milk and cream then whisked looks like the magical secret. I will be trying that out very soon. Thank you from Los Angeles where yes we do get a few days of cold and need our cocoa too!
I think that handle would only work for Right Handed people🐧💦
No apologies necessary for the lateness ! I'm happy to see that all is well! LOVED the Mistletoe adventure! The mist was so romantic!!! I was looking for Mr. Darcey to come riding up on his steed! 🤭😆😉
We absolutely have Christmas crackers in North American, my family has had them at the Christmas table since I was a child. I have even made some myself!
I live in western Canada and we have ALWAYS had Christmas crackers - they're available in stores all over. Can't imagine Christmas without them!
I was just going to say this! It's such a strong family tradition that my mother updated me the other day "I've got the Christmas crackers! They're very pretty this year!" We have many, many Christmas family pictures of us all wearing our paper crowns - even my wonderful 95-year old, grandfather and 93- year old grandmother. I wonder where the paper crown tradition came from? It would be interesting to know the history behind the crackers.
Yes, I was surprised to hear that it's not common in the US, because it's common, not just for Christmas, but for any celebration in Ontario.
5 francs says Amaury & Nati don't need mistletoe ;-)
I was waiting for someone else to say it!
😄”le petit chaperon rouge”in the woods!😍,😘👋🎄💕💕💕
Just perfectly magical.Stephanie looks like she belongs in a fairytale , just so beautiful ❤️🦘❤️🦘❤️🧚🥰🎄✨
This was great fun. Amaury and Nati are becoming a little more obvious, which is sweet. I have a "chocolate set" from my great-grandmother from about 100 years ago (it's Art Nouveau) - the pot and creamer are fairly small but the sugar bowl is enormous, which gives a clue as to how people drank their chocolate at that time. Mexican-style chocolate comes in cakes and usually includes cinnamon (and vanilla and chili spice). About mistletoe - those trees you mention for "next year" might fall soon, as that much mistletoe really shortens their lives.
When did I miss that Amaury and National are a couple?????,, good for them, they deserve love.😚
Oops, auto correct at it again. Sweet Nati
I thought that might be the case as they seem together a lot!❤️❤️❤️
@LisaKilmer - Yes! If you look back through the videos, you’ll see they are always sitting together at meals, and Amaury giving Nati the sweetest looks. Especially at Dana’s birthday party. This is wonderful ❤️❤️❤️
I’ve noticed that. I hope so they look perfect together.😀
Christmas crackers are a thing in Canada. I was supposed by the comments as well! Ours have a paper crown that everyone wears during dinner 😊
When I was a child I lived in Normandy ( My Father was in the US Army stationed in Evreux) and the farmers would shoot the mistletoe out of the trees to sell in the markets. It was quite exciting to watch!
I’ve seen videos of people using shotguns to retrieve mistletoe from treetops. I like the digger idea.
Yes I believe that is how many gather it here .
Arkansas friends shoot it downn
I’m a volunteer beekeeper in Ontario, Canada. It would be so great to hear more about your bees and Amaury’s beekeeping experience :)
I know that someone else (a local farmer?) owns and manages the bees, and in exchange, he provide Lalande with some of the honey made every year! But it would be nice if he would agree to be in a video when it’s honey harvesting time! Perhaps Amaury would meet him and film/interview him.
LOL! Christmas crackers were very much a part of my childhood as my grandmother's family is from Wales. I have seen them in local stores including Target. They tend to be smaller here in the states but I did make them with my grandma as a child. Thank you for the tutorial on rum. This explains so much about why they taste different.
As a Texan =, I only knew about Christmas Crackers since I watched British shows on PBS growing up.
I live in Northern Ontario Canada and we always had crackers on our plates at Christmas dinner but now I suspect that is because my grandmother's mother came to Canada from England and my grandfather came here as a little boy from Ireland. Having said that...I see a lot of them for sale here in the stores every year but we are part of the commonwealth! Lovely video today as always!
Yes we always had them in 🇨🇦
Me, too. Uk roots and always Xmas crackers. Sold everywhere here in S Ontario
We shoot mistletoe out of the trees. A 22 caliber rifle with a scope is very efficient.
Does it come out in wholes balls? That’s intriguing
so much fun rewatching last years
Using “puns” in your second language is very impressive Philip.😉
I love that you chose to wear that cloak, it was stunnung! (And slightly humorous with the yellow welleys lol). Wonderful episode!
Little red riding hood
Wellies and cape on a misty mistletoe hunt is a WHOLE MOOD!
About the brown sugar. You can make it yourself, by adding molasses to regular granulated sugar and then mixing it with a food processor.
Love the distillery tour and mistletoe hunt. You never disappoint your viewers! (BTW, we do have Christmas crackers here in the US, but they’re not widely used.) Happy holidays! 🌺
I adore your love of celebrating life. Planning christmas in the summer. Beautiful.
Every single thing about this video is delightful. I did learn that mistletoe grows on trees and not bushes. Never knew that. So thank you for doing a segment on that. I use spiced brandy for my Christmas cake although the rum looks delish also. Mistletoe hunting, hot chocolate, the caribbean and crackers, what's not to love about this video. Steph, you looked adorable in your cape.
Stephanie, your cape is absolutely stunning!
Hi All, I’m loving the advent vlogs. It’s must be so nice to be able to go out on your property and forage for mistletoe and any greenery you want , it’s just beautiful there. I’m also happy to see the relationship growing between your cousin and Natti they make a beautiful couple. Take care and stay safe, loads of love and hugs from Canada. 🤫💗🥂👍
So glad you have spotted it too! xx
Christmas crackers are found in the US in stores such as TJMaxx or Tuesday Morning. Here in Virtginia mistletoe is shot from the tree.
Imagine Stephanie or Mummy aiming at mistletoe with a shotgun. That would be hilarious😜
World Market carrier them as well 😘 Purchased mine today 👍
We shoot it out of the trees here in the country “Alabama” for sure 😉
Mistletoe can cause damage to a tree in certain situations and removal may be to the trees advantage. For years I thought it was a type of lichen but tis not.
May we all get some kissin under the mistletoe this year 💋
Amaury went under the mistletoe and looked at Natalie😍
They were both absent from Lalande for a week, at the same time, I think. Ooooh gossip!
❤️
I would be thrilled if two such nice people found each other!
Did you expect him to lean in and kiss his cousin? He was talking to her so of course he was looking at her. Just leave them alone. Steph wasn’t ever intending to talk about her romantic life until she got outed by a tv series. I’m sure the rest of them want their private lives to be private too.
Seems likely they're together now, what with them both going on vacation at exactly the same time, running errands together, always showing up together, etc.
Nothing says Christmas like wearing paper crowns on your head, reading silly jokes and getting cheap little trinkets. I'm Canadian and we do not do Christmas without them. :) I'm going to attempt making my own this year with a little bottle of clementine gin in them.
I am a Canadian in Ontario and always had Christmas Crackers - I too made my own when my children were small and even sold them to others. It's huge fun at Christmas. I am now wanting a chocolatier! The hot chocolate looked yummy. 😊
The fact that all the Canadians commenting here about our family traditions if having Christmas crackers with paper crowns as opposed to it being less common in the US must have something to do with our British colonial past?
Thank you for explaining the Christmas crackers. I knew how they looked in a game I use to play, but never knew about the treats and popping. I never trusted the fruit cakes as I grew up....Now as an adult and watching your Christmas vlogs....I want to try them.
Mistletoe is what the Druid in Asterix would collect with his 'serpe d'or' to make the magic potion.
My mother made this “fruitcake” in June each year. She would feed it once a month till December! It was delicious!
Wow! We start ours on thanksgiving and I thought that was early. June! It must be a supremely delicious cake!
Advent trip around the world with Stephanie. Day 14, in Italy: Day 15 in sunny Barbados for rum and a nod for Demarara sugar which was first made in 🇬🇾 Guyana, South America (former British colony on Caribbean coast). The young lady who received the beautiful gift of the Chocalatier from the fascinating lady is now living her own glamorous life. Stephanie, God be praised! I drink my chocolate like Phillip.
Love the mistletoe, but please remember that it is poisonous for dogs! That lovely golden lab was enjoying the walk. Blessings and Happy Christmas from Devon, England.xxx
Thanks for that worldwide adventure Steph. Also Nati, Amaury & mistletoe in one shot…=very cute vlog ☺️
Oh well I must have missed that update before :)
I knew it!!!! What a perfect match. Amaury is never going to leave Lalande again!
I am an American who did not know what Christmas crackers were until I lived in Europe and worked with a bunch of Brits in 1998. I mailed some to my family that year, and they loved them, especially the kids. I spent Christmas on Jersey (the Channel Island) with a workmate's family. It was so fun wearing our paper crowns at the dinner table. Though, I think British Christmas cake is an acquired taste. I really am not much into dried fruit and rum in my cake. I will stick to a dessert pie for my Christmas 'pudding'.
You can find Christmas crackers in the U.S. noe, but not in the 70's when I was growing up. I would say plenty of folks from the States have never heard of them.
Your advent vlogs have filled me with such joy. The positive spirit of those who live within the beautiful walls of the Chateau have been felt from sunny Sydney. Love to all
I had this strange fear that a wolf was going to eat her in the woods !
We do have Christmas crackers in the US - but it’s probably not a widely held tradition. I buy them every year at HomeGoods.
You can buy them in Walmart most of the time. But you see them in movies all the time but Americans aren’t very observant as a species, are we?
I have noticed in my travels through the States that traditions vary a great deal from State to State, the older States retain many traditions on the East Coast whereas the Southern States don't seem to have any of these traditions
@@Motherhubbard170 They like to start their own traditions. Also when marrying each bring their own & soon u have too many so some things have to go or become forgotten🐒💕
I live in Central Ohio and never heard of crackers until Stephanie. In my area we place chicken and noodles on our mashed potatoes. The Christmas cake reminds me of our fruitcake mixture wise.
Steph is such a romantic...and comedienne.
Stephanie, you look absolutely festive (and cozy) in the red cape. The cake looks delicious; the hot chocolate ---- oh, my! The mistletoe brigade was very successful in their quest; a treasure of riches. There seems to be lots of romance in the air along with the scent of Christmas cake.
I crush up candy canes and place it in a glass jar and then put some in my hot chocolate each morning. So good. Enjoying the Christmas season with all of you. Much love🌲❤️
Phillip, you would be wise not to even kid around about older and younger ages. Good thing Stephanie has a good sense of humor.
She took it well but.........not a good idea Philip.
Not funny at all, especially from the much younger one in a relationship. I've dated a few younger men in my years and had one said something like that, I would have found it quite offensive.
That's very sweet of you, but I don't mind at all. We tease each other about the age difference rather than letting it become the elephant in the room! Also, I come from a family in which teasing is seen as a major sign of affection!
@@TheChateauDiaries I came here to say that I loved how he teased you about the age difference and how you teased back. Shows you are comfortable with each other as you should be in a loving healthy relationship. My husband is older than me and I tease him all the time. Why should it be any different when the woman is older? I’m new here and one of the things I love most about your videos is the relationship between you two and your relationship with everyone else. It’s very loving and respectful. ❤.
Love the red cape!!!
Others have probably mentioned this already, adding cornstarch is what adds a velvety mouth feel.
Wow - the Chateau looks so lovely in the mist...
Yaay, I love honey bees! They contribute so much to our food sources through pollination! Take good care of them.
I will never complain. You work very hard and I am grateful and delighted.
Stephanie's face glowing like a child in a candy store, when explaining how she'll be in the next few days putting a little more rum into her fruit cake is priceless.
This might disappoint you to know but the condistency of hot chocolate in Italy is using a little of corn flour. (Lived in Milan as home base 32 years).
Phillip! All the Bee references. You’re killing me here! LOL!
Hey Amaury, pass the salt please!
Thank you for teaching us to use the good stuff, Stephanie ❤️
Who else gets the vibe that Amaury and Natalia are an item. Just feeling the vibes all the way from NZ!
Loved watching the cake looks yummy. Loved watching x
Lovely thank you!Your cape is beautiful as you are!
That’s how my grandmother in the Philippines prepared our hot chocolate and served in small cups like shots back in the days. We called the whisk ‘batidor’.
Such a wonderful hostess for advent. Thank you.
Stephanie you are as pretty as a Victorian Christmas card. And squeal with glee when you find mistletoe. Age is only a number ,to keep the child within alive ,is to be forever young.
Amaury is a man of mystery and many talents! I liked learning a bit about bees. The chocolate pot is stunning.I love your Christmas Cracker demo!!!!! Sadly most American have know idea about Christmas Pudding,Christmas Crackers or Boxing Day. Love from Vermont
'i've got a hive back home, got a cloak and everything'...did I just fall in love?
Amoury is a beekeeper! I am a hobbyist beekeeper as well - with 2 hives and the whole outfit too.
Oh my I was getting worried! Thank you all . See you all tomorrow. Merry Advent🎄👍🍬
Ye are so lucky to have all the greenery around ye . The mistletoe is stunning . Stephanie is really giving Mrs Claus a run for her money 🎀🎄
I love how you planned your advent videos in advance and are showing the thought that goes in to making them. Merry Christmas from Kentucky!
Another fascinating Christmas Diaries episode. Thank you!. Re the Christmas cracker tradition. I think it must be a little spotty in North America. I grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was a well-known and widespread tradition there, probably because of the many families with British roots who settled there. We also pulled the crackers all at once with our arms crossed pulling the crackers with whomever was sitting next to us at the Christmas table. I now live in Winnipeg and the tradition is live and well here as well. In California the tradition is not so well known, but it is growing, maybe because the upscale kitchen store chain, William-Sonoma sells them. They sell them at Easter too. The paper on the Easter crackers is decorated with bunnies, chickens, eggs and flowers in pastel colours. 🇨🇦
Oh, I've never seen Easter crackers. Sounds like a great idea though. French-Canadian background so we didn't have these, even though my maternal grandparents were British immigrants. But my kids have experienced crackers to reflect the dual heritage. That's what makes Canada special.
I live in Minnesota and grew up in Wisconsin, never heard of crackers.
They weren’t as easy to find in small town Northern California when I was a kid, if I remember, but my parents always liked them and would find them. Once I was a teenager in early 2000s, we didn’t have a problem finding at least one pack somewhere, and as an adult now with lots of shopping in SoCal, they seem to be everywhere. But I think that many families aren’t aware of them or don’t have them as a tradition?
maybe othr places it became tafffy pulling
@@jomeyer13 St. Catherine's Taffy is a candy made by girls in French-Canadian families to honour St. Catherine, the patron saint of unmarried women on her feast day, November 25. St. Catherine's day is sometimes known in Franco Canadian families as "taffy day," a day when marriage-age girls would make taffy for eligible boys. Marguerite Bourgeoys, a founder of the Notre-Dame de Montréal and an early teacher at Ville-Marie, the colonial settlement that would later become Montreal, is credited with starting the tradition as a way of keeping the attention of her young students.
Loving the advent adventures! 🎄💞💝💞🎄 Thank you so much for the energy and thoughtfulness you put into each of the advent vlogs. They are all wonderful.
I grew up in Durban, South Africa and we always had a full British Christmas and still do even though it was sweltering hot.
Thank you!
Merry Christmas to you all ..not sure if you read all the comments so just in case…I want to send a hearty thank you for all the work and joy that has gone into these Advent vlogs. They have bought happy escapism for a few minutes from these dim days of daily news and doom and reminded us of love and being together ❤️ Happy days
Those French hot Chocolate cups look exactly like Scandinavian Glögg glasses, so if you have a hankering for Glögg, you have the glasses!
Where do you buy cups like these?
@@Jtoedt Iittala Tsaikka is a classic
Your Christmas cape is exquisite, Stephanie 😍
my mom made christmas cake one year, and started them in august and would bring them out once a month and feed the cakes, by the time christmas came around the cakes were black from all the fermentation that went on over the three months and surprisingly, no one turned it down. the best christmas cake ever
I’m in New York, and my family has always had Christmas crackers. You can find them in stores like Lord & Taylor and TJMaxx/Home Goods, etc., when the Christmas decorations come out. We have many pictures of all of us in goofy hats, and sharing really corny jokes🥳
I am in Georgia- I have seen them at New Years once, but we didn’t know what they were for or how to play the game. I have never seen them at TJ Maxx.
You make such great vlogs!!! Love the Advent series but everything you do is fantastic. Thank you!!!
This was my favorite Advent video so far! Absolutely LOVED it! So festive and fun! Thank you! xx
How delightful! Loved your Christmas cape, and your chocolate pot. Your kitchen table is almost the same as the one I grew up with in my mother's 300 year old house.
I grew up in New England and my mother always had Christmas crackers for us🎄
Oh my God! I'm completely in love with you beatiful Chritsmas cloak! In fact I think I need one desperately! In Spain we haven't that lovely tradition of crackers but I would like it, It seems really funny! Thanks for your videos I love it and I waiting for them every day 😊😘
love the cape...
Canada has Christmas crackers. We are NOT the US. We are a separate country. 🌲🎅🇨🇦
Very….very different Country.
Love to see you two together Stephanie and Phillip, Love, real Love is so precious and vital and rare, blessings to you both!!! Tell Gerald I and still praying for him and Mother and husband!!! Have a great week!!!. Lots of love to you all as well!!! God Bless!!!
Nati and Amauri….. please lean over the table for a kiss! Wow…. The chocolatier is so beautiful…..just love waking up in Sydney, knowing I’m going to be transported to Lalande for a visit to you all….laughter, beauty and delightful humans! Love to you x ❤️
They must be an item, hopefully! The looks say everything….
I’m sure they want privacy whether they are or are not a couple. People need to stop obsessing over these things.
Marvelous cake making, and all the love put into it! Wow the red cape fantastic, so cute on Stephanie in the enchanted forest. Great to see all no matter when the vlog is out. Will have to look for that Rum...☺
J’aime beaucoup comment Amaury aide Natty à ne plus glisser sur cet arbre … et aussi comme il est charmant d’aider à porter les courses !
Encore une vidéo délicieuse, chaleureuse, pleine de beaux souvenirs d’été … bravo ! Sacrée organisation !!
Par contre, le gui au dessus de la table ne me parait pas une si bonne idée… il ne faudrait pas que les boules de gui tombent dans la nourriture !!!! C’est du poison !!! Il vaut mieux l’accrocher dans une entrée, à un chandelier 🤩 … pour s’embrasser dessous 😉
À bientôt !
🌸🌸🌸
PS : attention au surmenage !! Les vidéos sont nombreuses mais on peut attendre… 😄
C’est exactement ce que je pense! Dangereux au dessus de la tablée!
I spy another blossoming romance?
Wow you scored on mistletoe for sure, girl.
I think the Italians use a thickener like corn starch to thicken theirs. I think the best is Mexican, look that recipe up. It's insane.
It scant what we usually use in the US (the poppers) but I have used them with my kids when they were younger and they have used the, while involved in some organizations while growing up. I love the,m’ we need to do them more.I also loved the tour and information in Barbados about the bourbon making. Love learning more about the history of other 0laces. Hugs and love from Texas!
Christmas Crackers have always been a tradition in Canada. I remember wearing the tissue hats at my Grandparent's house in Ontario the 1950's. We read the lame jokes inside and marveled at the tiny prizes within. They're available in most shops. I bought ours today. We snap the crackers with glee before Christmas Dinner starts. By the way, here in Canada, we also have Christmas Puddings, we watch the Queen's Christmas Message on TV, read Dicken's A Christmas Carol and have BOXING DAY- where it's a madhouse in the stores with all the sales!
Happy Holidays from Vancouver Island, British Columbia CANADA.
It’s so exciting to be part of the Fun Team of La Lande in search of Mistletoe into the mist !!! 😃 😆
Spending Christmas at Chateau La Lande is like being in a Fairytale!!! 🧚♀️
Your doing so much love watching you so glad you there ! Julia
Little Red Ridinghood shopping for mistletoe ;-))
Such a lovely content💜💗🤍
I'm from the Caribbean island St.Lucia, we call our Christmas Cake: Black Cake. To get your cake black in colour you need to burn brown sugar and add a tiny bit of water to create "Browning". Or you can simply purchase (GRACE) browning.
We also add molasses and lots of black currants. We are very impressed by Stephanie making Christmas Fruit/Rum Cake. And the more Rum you add, the longer the cake is preserved, even after a few years stored in the freezer, it will still be edible and delicious. And yes you can get tipsy or drunk from eating too much fruit cake.
It's the best!!!