Today has been a good day. I got up early and drove to Bagnoles de L’Orne for a fancy brocante/show of antiquities. I took a different route than I had the day before with Hannah and Dave and it was beautiful. The sun was shining and I felt like I was in Vermont with the farms and tree covered roads. Most of the trees here still have their leaves and they were shades of gold and orange. The brocante ended up being a disappointment.. You had to pay admission and then there were very few vendors selling ridiculously expensive rugs, jewelry, and odds and ends. It was not accessible to me so I did a quick turn around and drove to Mayenne.

My mission in Mayenne was multifold. I wanted to get some Indian food for tonight and to freeze for easy meals during the week. My phone service had to updated which meant a visit to the Orange store which is usually a horrid, long, and frustrating experience. I needed to go to the grocery store to get a few more things for the boy’s dinner tomorrow and I wanted to peek in my favorite little boutique to see if there was anything Lily. might like for her birthday.

It was market day in Mayenne so parking was a bit challenging but I found a great spot after a brief search. I completed the Orange store task quickly and easily which never happens. I perused the farmers market and admired the vegetables and cheese vendors. I went to the little boutique I like and made multiple purchases for Lily and me. I ordered a sandwich at the patisserie and sat in the sun to eat it while I waited for my take away Indian food order. The trip to the grocery store was uneventful and I stopped to buy some gas before heading home.

Sophie was ready to get outside so we did a nice walk. It is in the high 50s with a light wind so I was able to get away without a jacket as long as we kept a decent pace. Sophie was able to meet a dog she has wanted some facetime with. We pass this particular spaniel everyday as she lives in a house along our path. Until today they had only been able to whine and bark at each other. The little dog was finally out for a walk so the long awaited and greatly anticipated butt sniffing was completed.

I hurried home because I wanted to get ready for trick-or-treaters. A lot of the little kids here go out mid afternoon and I didn’t want to miss them. The village is doing a small Halloween parade, and instructed residents to decorate their doors as a sign to families they were participating in trick-or-treat. I had some pumpkins in my window box.but it was subtle so I took my pumpkin lights and wound them around a wreath base to really make it obvious I had candy. It was not my best work but it sufficed,. As soon as the wreath went up I heard. my first knocks at the door. Almost immediately I found myself passing out candy to princesses, witches and clowns. Now i’m afraid I’m going to run out but I’ll do what I can with what I have.

I gathered some greens, berries and grasses to make a centerpiece for the dinner table.. It is slim pickings in and around my house so I ventured to the little park next to the house to take some cuttings. Tonight I will have a little fire, eat some Indian take away and remember the Halloweens of the past when my babies were on the hunt for candy!