A few pretty things from Saturday’s market in Carcassonne.
Like the amazing collections of pumpkins, squash and gourds.
The sign says “edible squash.” In case anybody has doubts. I love the ones that are shaped like acorns.
The florists are gearing up for Nov. 1. It’s a holiday here–no school, everything closed–and not because Halloween is the night before. Everybody is busy cleaning up the cemetery plots of loved ones, and getting fresh flowers. I wish I could do it for my parents.
There also are lots of pansies and cyclamens, which resist frost and tend to bloom all winter here.
The market is often animated by bands or musical groups of one sort or another. And we get buskers, too. This is the first time I’ve seen this cellist.
After the market, we headed to our apartments, just down the street, for a weekend stay. Have to test drive it before we start having visitors! Lots of updates coming. The renovation is nearly wrapped up.
Love the ugly gnarled squash. Friends gave us a trumpet squash, it looks like a work of art, a carving in a very light pine, when the children first saw it they couldn’t believe it was a vegetable!
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I had to google it, then realized I knew it from the Italian name, trombocino.
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To hear anyone say a renovation is *nearly wrapped up* is wonderful! I’ve nearly forgotten what that’s like 😀 We’re only just over the halfway mark, still four apartments to go.
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Light at the end of the tunnel?
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How long has yours taken?
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Nearly a year. We signed on the purchase almost a year ago, and the work started after New Year’s.
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And you’re doing up your own place and also gites?
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No, just two gîtes in town. And you?
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Two old town centre immeubles (one with 3 apartments, the other 7) plus our house. All at once. Hurraaaaaah 😀
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OMG that’s a lot of renovation!!!!
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Splendid color! You could make a framed print for a kitchen out of either of those first two photos. Looks as if visitors to your apartments will find something to enjoy in all seasons.
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Thank you! There were so many gorgeous colors at the market.
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Love these Autumn colors, especially the pumpkins!
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The leaves are only just starting to turn, but the pumpkins give us plenty of orange. And yellow.
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Love all the autumn colours and Carcassonne. For years I wanted to visit it and then I did. French markets are the best.
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I hope you come back!
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Wonderful images…while I’m not really a fall (color) person, I certainly have seen some gorgeous pictures on blogs and IG. Loving those little acorn squash!
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Aren’t they adorable?
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We’ve seen that cellist twice in the past week, at Limoux and Mirepoix, maybe he’s new on the circuit 🙂 We really like his music.
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Aha! Usually we have a guitarist who does flamenco-style music and a number of occasional showings by other performers, but this is the first time I’ve seen the cellist.
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Lovely pictures. I especially like the brightness of the various squash (squashes?) and the cyclamen plants. The cellist isn’t bad, either.
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And I didn’t even use filters.
Maybe the cellist will still be around when you come….
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This looks like the perfect way to spend a fall day!
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Oh, yes! Followed by a coffee (or glass of wine) at one of the terrace cafés encircling the market square.
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The thing I love about those squash is how funny the name is in French: cucurbite. 😉
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OMG. I had no idea!
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I wish we had markets here like that, but no I have to go to the cold grocery store. I remember visiting a market in France and seeing all the fresh produce, cheeses, meats, flowers and even clothes.
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There are some nice supermarkets in the U.S., but I admit the outdoor experience, with so many vendors and so many shoppers, creates such great energy. It’s a feast for the eye while you’re in it, and later it’s a feast on the table.
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Autumn is hands-down my favourite season. But Autumn in France? ❤ ❤ ❤ Love living vicariously through your images!
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It’s a great time to visit. The weather is mild and the crowds are gone.
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Two of the best things about Autumn, the beautiful colours and shapes of the gourds and every churchyard is covered wall to wall with Chrysanthe for toutsaint and all the different colours that adorn each grave, I love france.
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You said it perfectly, Roz.
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The lovely Chrysanths. are so special to ‘the dead’ that I don’t feel able to have them growing in our garden here. But my long gone Mum & Dad had birthdays on 27th and the 30th of this month so I now buy them to display by our front door as a sort of ‘ in rememberance.’
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That’s a lovely way to remember them.
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The pumpkins are beautiful! I love to use them as decoration for fall.
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Yes! Though it’s been warm and humid here, which makes them go bad too quickly.
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