fall fervor

This fall, we've been going on lots of family walks to make the most of the warm sunshine, the cold, crisp air and the sweet smell of fallen leaves.  Some friends came over for an impromptu dinner party the other night. Our table was looking a little empty and it was too late to buy flowers. I opted for some leaves and collected a bunch of these autumn beauties in the dark, minutes before our guests arrived.  Recently, the winds have started to pick up and bring the colorful leaves flurrying and swirling about the street. I’m reveling in this most recent transition from toasty, sun-filled afternoons to blustery, wintry weather.  How can one not love this time of year?

book envy

I saw this book from Julia Rothman, via Design Sponge.  I think it might just find a way onto my bookshelf.

no mountain high enough

The other weekend on a bright and sunny morning, we set out to hike a mountain, just Félix and I. It was fantastic and hard and I am glad we did it. The Mont Joly has been on my list of hikes to do since I moved over here.  It felt so good to be out early in the morning, working on getting to the top and in a lot of ways that hike has mimicked some recent obstacles in my life. Some parts are steep, some with narrow passage but the hard work required leads to something amazing.  Were it not for toil and difficulty, there wouldn't be breathtaking beauty and a sense of accomplishment at the top.

eating local

A sign that summer is in full swing is the abundance of  farm fresh produce at our Tuesday market. The lady at my favorite fruit and vegetable stand likes to pretend to listen to my order and then give me whatever she thinks appropriate.  "4 apricots? oh, no, six would be much better. They're pesticide free! The tomatoes were just picked yesterday, they'll last the whole week. You want only 3? hmm, how about a kilo?! Have you seen the courgettes? Two? No, no, you need four."  I can't say  that I mind that she tops up our order, a few more fruits and vegetables to finish isn't a bad thing. I'd say it's a healthy, win-win situation.