Halloween is two days away. It seems we associate the poor pumpkin to Halloween, yet it is a fitting symbol for all of autumn, a squash as tasty as any, and a delight to paint.

The Great British Bake Off (Series 17) started its new season 3 weeks ago so our Friday evenings are booked each week. We pick our favorites, and least favorites, and of course now and then I do a sketch.

We are members of Alliance Française Portland. It is a community that promotes French culture and language. Sunday we joined about twenty other folks for a fall tasting of wines from different regions of France. The wine was good and the people we met shared so much that we love – wine, food, France and its language. We are already signed up for the November Champagne event.

Tuesday I made a veggie quiche with a quinoa crust in an 8” springform pan; it turned out quite good. We both like a quinoa crust over a pastry crust, and considering the butter content of a pie crust, it is certainly better for us.

We Voted. We dropped our ballets off at the Library, tracked their journey, and were notified that they have been received and processed, so now we wait. Next Tuesday is on our mind – hope mixed with anxiety. I hope you folks in the US have or will vote, it is more important than ever.

Thanks so much for following, I hope you are eating good food, meeting with friends, and sketching a bit now and then – lots of good moments to capture in the coming weeks. Love to hear from you, and any ideas about tutorials you would like are welcome and I might just do one if I can.