Birthday Season

Two weekends ago, as I mentioned before, S and I drove to my bro- and sis-in-law's for a visit and to celebrate my m-i-l's birthday.  I made her a succulent wreath and Gramercy Tavern's Gingerbread Cake. (I love this cake.  Love, love, love it with extra ginger. Sadly, it isn't J's favorite.) This past weekend, we took S to Spain as planned, and we had a great time. I think she did, too.

( Pics behind the cut )

The weather was really on our side.  With people swimming and sunbathing, it was hard to believe November is only a week away.

Then, Monday, it was J's birthday, and we headed south again, this time stopping in Basque Country* on the French side of the border.  The weather was wet and blustery, though, so we didn't spend time outdoors, exploring, as I had planned.  Instead, we ate lunch in Espelette, where eponymous chilis festoon white, white houses with pepper-red or Basque-green shutters. We then visited Edmond Rostand's mansion, now-museum, where his works, notably Cyrano de Bergerac, and life are featured.  Photography is not allowed indoors, but you can visit the site here to see a little of the interior. 


_________________
* This being the area of France J would like to settle in on that distant day when we shall decide to put down roots.

It's beginning to feel a lot like autumn

We've had some amazingly beautiful days of late, but the mornings and evenings have that chill bite that lets you know autumn is preparing winter's way.

The maples are ablaze with color: yellow, orange, red, purple-black. Ferns taller than I form a separate, russet forest beneath the lofty boughs of maritime pine, plantations of which cover the Gascogny Coast.  Pine cones and acorns fallen from golden-leafed oaks litter the ground, and pumpkin-orange mushrooms as big as my hand sprout on logs and amidst still-green grass. 

Soëlie is getting acquainted with fall, old enough at last to explore on her own. I just wish for her sake (and for mine) the air smelled more consistently of autumn's goodness--mouldering leaves, mushrooms, woodsmoke--instead of the stench of the nearby Smurfit-Kappa's paper mill.