La Rentree, Tour Jean sans Peur, les Pommes Française

It's that time of year in Paris - La Rentrée.

The kids are back. Getting off the Metro I nearly got run over by 4 racing kidlets scrambling for some empty seats. Their mom reminded them, "DOOCE-A-MENT"(gently). I haven't heard that word in 2 whole months. French kids were out of town building sand castles.

It's time to covet gorgeous school supplies specially designed for French kids.

Art supplies are on sale big time. I have to remind myself I do Not need another paintbox.

Families are out scarfing up colorful cahiers (notebooks). Papetterie are like rainbows.

This is a once a year event. Get it now or forgettaboutit.

The tournasol (sunflowers) are back in flower shops.

Ina Caro in PARIS TO THE PAST  talks about visiting Tour Jean Sans Peur at 20 rue Etienne Marcel. It's one of the last remaining bits of the original ramparts of Paris outside the Louvre. Each branch of this column/tree represents a Burgundian aristocratic family.

Look put the window of the tower and you'll see right into a French school playground, jump ropes and all.

I'm not tower climber so I didn't make it to the top of this one. But as part of my search for Medieval Paris and following in Ina Caro's footsteps, I felt obliged to venture up.

There's an exhibit on till 15 November ' The Medieval table'. This harvest scene looked Fallish..

Sheafs of wheat still decorate Paris restaurants and boulangeries to remind you where your croissant came from

The weather the 1st week of September has been absolutely glorious.

Fall transitional clothes are out for the OFG (Older French Girl) and the Ados (adolescents).

Scarfs are out too.

Apples and apple sauce are the flavor of the month.

My favorite tarte fine aux pommes is beckoning. Almost healthy since it's just a thin slice of crust loaded with thin slices of apple.

I get quizzical looks from the French when I mention the American tradition of 'Bringing an apple to the teacher' at the beginning of the school year. 'Won't her table be covered with apples?'

Never mind. The September Sketch Letter is full of French Fall apples plus a tarte fine and the Apple Lady from Marché Grenelle. I wanted to include the names of the French varieties but it looked awful according to the boys at my print shop. A scowl from them and I'm back at my drawing board.

I got interesting envelope stuffers including the concert schedule at Sainte-Chapelle this month.

This Fall's project - testing out new watercolor papers. 

This months gift-with-purchase of any subscription or renewal is a sample apple watercolor. I have a feeling I won't be switching but it's fun to experiment.