Tiles, Mink, Cows, Chestnuts

I survived summer. It's now October, which is different if we spend it either in Geneva, Switzerland or Argelès-sur-mer, France.

Geneva...

 The hot roasted chestnut stands appear on the street replacing the ice cream stands.

 

In villages the cows are brought down from pasture.

Signs in restaurants and butchers say, La Chasse est ici. Citizens allowed a short hunting season sell deer and boar to them. Also signs appear saying Le nouveau Beaujolais est arivée. 

 

Fondue pots are brought out and cheese is soon bubbling in them.

Leaves change to bright yellow, and in a few spots red. 

Argelès-sur-Mer 

The childless tourists, wrinklies as we call them as we are ourselves, have returned to Paris, Lyon, Copenhagen, Berlin, Stockholm and other northern cities, pleased that they have missed most of the families and can enjoy the beach and the Medieval and St. Damian Fêtes. 

The beach is almost deserted.

No longer do we worry about being able to get reservations in a restaurant.

Squash, apples, figs, pears, honey combs appear in the green grocers. This year's walnut crop comes in from Grenoble. Lots of good nut recipes. The most simple is a salad with nuts and walnut oil and a little sea salt.

We may miss the long evenings at l'Hostalet with friends and a glass of wine, but they are replaced by cozy evenings in our living room, watching Netflix or reading. 

We can light a fire in our patio fireplace and can watch it through the glass doors. The burning wood smell brings back memories of my childhood autumn nights with a fire in the living room fireplace. We might read, watch television or play board games or cards. From time to time we might toast marshmallows and rarely hot dogs.

 I love bedtime. We preheat our bed with electric under sheets so when we slip under it's toasty warm. We pull up the duvet and the thick Korean mink. Its weight is comforting. We may read before drifting off. 

Sherlock at 7.5 kilos needs to be discouraged from occupying most of the bed, but usually can be convinced to snuggle against Rick or me. I will sometimes caress the mink, mistaking its softness for the dog.

Going to the bathroom, two rooms and five stairs away, can be a challenge if I've forgotten to leave my slippers handy. The cold of the white tiles is a shock to my feet. However, going back to the warm bed, knowing my husband and dog are there gives me an all-right-with-my world feeling cancelling out the horror of the rest of the world.

If you like D-Ls writing try her 300 Unsung Women, about women who fought against the gender cap and won. Available at  www.barnesandnoble.com/