SURPRISE!!

While all you Canadians and Americans in the north (at least most of the ones I know) are pulling up wilted plants and city workers are climbing ladders to remove frostbitten hanging baskets of flowers ........

Brusselers are planting pansies for the winter season!! 

I forgot about you dear friends on the west coast who are enjoying roses right now :)

OCTOBER GOLD

Autumn comes in October to Brussels: golds, browns and some reds but I miss the intense scarlet of the sugar maples in the sunlight. 

 

                                 Rain comes more frequently, leaving shiny paving stones

 

                                                              and night falls sooner.

 

But Brusselers still sit outside at tables on the sidewalk .....They just dress a little more warmly :)

It was a gorgeous day today and I wanted to share it with you.  Brussels "cried" as she always does at least once a day: today it was about 15 minutes and then the afternoon sun came out, bringing us all out into the streets and squares to soak up the sunshine.  Coats, hats, gloves and scarves.... but all the café chairs facing the sun were full!  The paving stones on the streets were shiny, the yellow leaves too and the sun shone.  Flower stalls were full of yellow, brown and red mums.  And I had fun wandering with my camera around an old neighbourhood of Brussels called Les Marolles, looking curiously into antique shops, old junk and clothing stores, churches and a flea market, and down narrow cobblestone alleys.  An absolutely wonderful way to spend an afternoon :)

I have been very remiss in putting up posts on my blog since August.  I have been so busy with guests and some travelling that I just haven't sat down to do this.  I apologize and promise to do better, so don't give up on me!!