'alloween

Carrie and the girls called in with some lunch, then I got on with preparing the real Irish Stew (with lamb!!) for Saturday.

Also made lentil and sausage casserole, cornbread, and orange mousse for tonight's pud.

Took Coquine out for a couple of walks today - once down the apricot path and once down to dad's garden. There are massive cardon plants (from the thistle family, I think) growing down at the plot. They go through various stages - all pretty beautiful - until they reach the seeding point. They are big, tall, dead-looking plants, eerie looking things. Like something out of a Tim Burton film. They have massive seed heads that produce gorgeous little fluffy seedlings. So soft. There's something really beautiful about them.

Pierre arrived and we had dinner together. Delicious.

Had my first French trick or treaters before Pierre arrived. I had no sweets as I wasn't expecting them, so gave them a fiver instead. They were delighted, funnily enough. And then, of course, when Pierre was there, the doorbell went again...I wonder if the first set of kids had told their mates to go to the nice foreign lady's house...you know, the one that gives you cold, hard cash instead of sweeties. Anyway, more euros were doled out. Ah well, it's only once a year and not much happens in Les Pilles, so hopefully it made their night!