Sunny Sunday afternoon.

We enjoyed the blue sky and sunshine at Plan d'eau at Marville this afternoon and found Egyptian geese visiting the lake...or maybe there for the winter. Unlike ducks, they weren't interested in the stale bread I threw onto the lake - the fish enjoyed that instead!

The left bank of the lake...

...and on the right.

I remember this vivid tree from last year!

More signs of Autumn.

Each day now, the autumn colours in the countryside become more apparent and the sky, so blue yesterday, returns to grey cloud today - although the midday sun did make an effort to peep through…

The shopping done, we spot a couple of colourful city trees before heading for the main road that snakes up and over the Meuse Heights.

Part way up, we turn right onto the narrow road that leads to Beaumont - a destroyed village I have previously mentioned on this blog.

Back to the main road to find the forestry workers busy - more so at this time of the year although this is not an unusual sight in any season.

We then take a left turn and stop to capture glimpses of Colonel Driant’s WW1 bunker in le Bois des Caures, part of the Verdunois Forest…

Just a few quick shots today as I have previously covered this too.  Lovely to see what light there was filtering through the tress.

 …and on to wide open land and sky beyond.

It’s all looking and feeling very autumnal.

This way to Autumn…

Clear blue sky and warm sunshine as autumn colours become increasingly noticeable as the days of October pass…

Autumn

Last Sunday saw the return of the town’s annual Autumn Fair when the main streets and centre ville were filled with market and brocante (second-hand goods) stalls, which were well supported by the local community from not only the town but the surrounding villages.

It also saw the return of the autumn season with a mix of clear and cloudy skies, a chill wind and a midday shower.

Since then, each day has felt cooler than the previous one.  Log fires have been lit and central heating turned on, summer and winter clothing swapped in wardrobes - and my various pockets of arthritis have woken up.

My least-favourite months of the year are on the horizon…time to think of thick soup and hot chocolate.  Well, there have to be some comforters!