Fall is definitely here. In an effort to embrace it, home decorations were in order. The first problem I encountered was the fact that I couldn’t find our Halloween decorations and in an apartment this size, I’m absolutely flummoxed that they were simply not to be found. OK, I will not be denied my attempt to get happy about the change in weather and out we went to get something quick to adorn our front door.
Next I made a double batch of Laura Colwin’s gingerbread just to fill the apartment with the feel-good smell. Those batches got delivered to our apartment building neighbors and friends. It’s my favorite fall item, next to pumpkin pie.
When we turned our attention to getting more of an autumn feel for the inside of our place, we had to turn to Amazon since there was a dearth of things in the town stores. It makes sense – the fact is that they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, so we aren’t going to find little figurines of turkeys or pilgrims. We went with a cornucopia approach but in a basket – filling it with paper leaves, pinecones, acorns and fake squashes and pumpkins. Adding a string of miniature pumpkin lights, the effect was cosy, which we totally needed against the grey, outside weather.
Continuing on my ‘let’s hug Fall’ mission, we tried a veal stew out of our favorite cookbook, The French Farmhouse Cookbook by Susan Loomis and it was wonderful to smell in the apartment. We weren’t disappointed with the result either, disappearing pretty quickly. Sorry, no pictures. The next one we tried later in the month was Jacques Pépin’s veal cutlets with apples, from the Normandy region. Scrumptious!
AND we voted. Contrary to a rather curmudgeonly, former friend, coming abroad to enjoy traveling in our retirement does not divorce us from our country. We read no less than 10 different US news sources daily, keeping an active interest in global news as well. From medical, science, sports and political arenas, we are well-versed in current affairs. We own a home in the US, pay taxes and will never give up our citizenship. We are proud to be Americans and we strive to present our country well in all of our interactions in every country we visit. AND, as is our treasured privilege, we vote.
On the 16th, visiting Lille, the Capital of Flanders, their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were hosted at a luncheon at the Opera House and we got to watch the area being readied and the procession come down our street.
They had been in Paris for a three-day state visit that included the lunch with Lille Mayor Martine Aubry, a visit to the Bois-Blancs district and a meeting with start-ups. They were then received in the prefecture around 5 p.m and the day ended on Place de la République with a military departure ceremony, shortly after at 6 p.m. The last visit of the Belgian royal couple to France dates back to 2003. Before the luncheon, there was the meet and greet with the school children who lined the streets waving little Belgium flags before the Royals climbed the Opera House steps. We weren’t invited so we can’t tell you what was on the menu.
One day, on our walk back home from a doctor’s appointment, we passed a canal boat that had its resident standing outside of it. There are a few boats regularly anchored on the canal but this was the first time that we had ever seen anyone to speak to. The woman we met, Julie, explained that they were from Britain, coming by way of Dover. They split their time between England and France and this was a first time for them in Lille. A very pleasant way of life that fits them perfectly. G and I had once considered owning a houseboat in Oakland/Alameda but decided against it when the dock space was not guaranteed. As it was, before we left the area, the company changed hands and the dock spaces had to be renegotiated, of course at a much higher price. We also had, in one of our first three years together, lived in an 8′ by 29′ Winnebago trailer. It eventually became claustrophobic for us during a winter in Colorado and we never returned to tiny space living. Having experienced that, living on a houseboat is a case where the romance of the idea would not realistically work for us.
We did get a little barge experience on an event called Lille Tables et Toques on the barge Eldorado. Held four times a year, different teams of chefs assemble a multi-course gourmet meal on a barge which travels on the river Deûle canal that backs up to the park of the Citadelle. The weather was absolutely perfect as the guests moved back and forth from the interior to the top deck. We even got to go through a lock, changing to another level of the canal. The cruise took us through the Port of Wambrechies, the lock of the Grand Carré, the Port of Lille and the Grands Moulins de Paris, an old flour mill no longer used.
The meal was six courses and each course was just sublime. I do believe the main course, Cordon Bleu, was the best I’d ever tasted. We got to meet the chef, Benjamin Bajeux, and found out that he had traveled, cooking in several cities globally, including New York. It was a great treat, one we chose to celebrate G’s upcoming birthday and we were so fortunate that the weather cooperated since at the end of the month fall was fully upon us.
On a sad note, we lost a close friend this month who passed from a heart attack at the age of 56, leaving behind his husband and three small children. Mitch leaves a big hole in the family, friends, community and our hearts.
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