The the first time since summer I can truly say it is cold. Others felt the cold for some time, but Mr. Swiss tells me I have a strange body temperature as when everyone walks around in long sleeves and warm socks, I am still bare footed in my shoes and wearing a t-shirt. Even I have my limits, and now is time for a semi winter jacket outside and perhaps socks. I am still thinking about the socks. I feel uncomfortable when my feet are covered and never wear them indoors all througout the year.

Yesterday I was too lazy to go anywhere and stayed at home, but made myself useful.

This time I made the Swiss apple tart. It has been a long while, as it has become a Mr. Swiss thing, but I had the time and the apples, almost too many. I can still do it and everyone found it was a good one. I must admit I used more apples than Mr. Swiss. I quite enjoyed the experience and will do it again. There is still a corner left, but that will be eaten today at some time I am sure.

So what do you do when you do not go anywhere and stay at home. I finished my inventory of the kitchen, noting everything we have in the cupboards. I discovered lately that if you do not know what you have, you buy unnecessary stuff because you already actually have it. I also registered my packets of pasta. This might sound  bit silly, but when you have a cupboard full of half empty packets, you have to use them up somehow. And when you go shopping and buy more, you no longer have room.

I mean this is really too much of a good thing. The packets are sold in sizes of 500 grammes, and that is just a little too much for a meal for three people, although my No. 1 son eats everything that is on the table. We are really living a life of luxury when I see what we have for a choice. I have decided to get some structure in my shopping and today we will have Fusilli. I can use the complete half packet that we have. It might sound silly, but being a golden oldie I have the time and probably nothing better to do. It hit me last week when I threw two packets of ham  away because it was long over the best before date. I have one and a half packets of Alpler Magrone pasta which I got as a free sample from the supermarket, and which we never eat. I am the only one in the family that actually eats cheese with anything.

I am also keeping an eye on the biscuits. Since I do the shopping on my own, I now have a better control and no-one adds something in the trolley which I only discover at the cash desk.

The photo is of my kalenchoe which spent the summer outside. Kalenchoe are very pretty when they flower and are easy to care for, but after they flower they begin to spread. I have had this one for a year, hoping it might flower again. It only needs water once a week. I think it lives of love and air.

And now to move on. They are letting me out today for a shopping trip. My list is already made, so what could possibly go wrong. I will not be going places today, but hope to get a few photos to and fro to the supermarket on the road. Have a good begin to the week and remember to check your stocks in the kitchen cupboard, you might get a surprise.

Basically it was a mysty morning, plenty of humidity in the air, although it did not rain. When I took a first look at the sky it was grey, but the planes had left their traces and somewhere the sun must have been shining to get a pink glow.

The big news of the day is that it is Mr. Swiss birthday, although we golden oldies do not make such a fuss these days. He is now 79 years old, still listens to jazz, drives the car and accompanies me on my shopping trips, although I seat him in restaurant for a coffee and do the rest myself. Sometimes he puts in a guest appearance, but he is no longer as good on his legs as he was. We all have our problems growing older, and his is a back problem. We now have a collection of walking sticks at home, his and mine.

I took a walk yesterday afternoon, still making the most of the very late Autumn weather with the sunny days. Even the local cemetery has a touch of Autumn now. I just love the colours. I find Autumn one of the best seasons for variety, as if compensating for the barren and perhaps white days of Winter. Although I am still wearing my short sleeved t-shirt when going for a wheelie in my chair, I made a decision that for further trips at the moment I will wear a jacket. Especially wheeling over the river on the bridges it can get quite chilly if there is a wind blowing.

I wheeled on into town and what did I see. This group of ladies from other villages and perhaps country women, or just dressed in our traditional clothes, were on a visit to town. As I speeded on I saw another group. Perhaps there was an event in town, or they might even be yodlers. They were leaving the tea room after a coffee break and I was wheeling past. I could not resist a photo. I suppose you could call it our Swiss traditional dress and the various styles are typical of certain areas.

As I wheeled on further another group left another restaurant opposite our cathedral. There always seems to be something different happening on Saturday afternoons in the town. I wish I could go on Saturday mornings when we have the weekly fruit and veg market, but those days are now gone. Mr. Swiss and I used to go now and again and mix in the crowds.

I entered the town by the “back door” making a round trip and passed our Swiss reform church. Less decoration than the catholic cathedral, but it also has its charm. My sons were christened there. No. 1 son on Christmas Day in a small chapel as that is actually an exception, but my parents were here from England. No. 2 son was christened in the church. It is quite plain inside: no big decorations.

I wheeled on home along the river bank as noticed that there were still a few boats on the water. A bit cold for a river boat ride at the moment.

Being Sunday morning I hugged the bed a little longer, although what difference does a Sunday make. However, I should now get into action with a little bit of tidying up and of course preparing a dinner. No special birthday luxury, it will be sliced veal in a mushroom and cream sauce accompanied by a Swiss Röschti (sliced fried potatoes), typically Swiss and one of our favourites.

Have a good Sunday everyone. Even our Swiss Jura mountains are embracing the mist at the moment, but the Autumn trees can be seen in the foreground.