The Ready Made Brocante Tour Group and B&B

French antique details

One of the many French antique details one can see at nearly every brocante in France… Unless you have your eyes on the million of other things that can get in the way. Or unless a crowd of loving friends scoop it up before you see it.

French antique blue 

My friend Amy Doll arrives in Paris tomorrow. She is on a brocante buying trip for her shop and has invited me to join her. Does this mean I have to be nice since she is inviting me?

I think it does. I think it means I cannot shove her in an armoire. Can I really be that nice?

Mimi will join us. I do not know who will beat up who or who will find what. But one thing is certain it should be a wild chase. The more the merry. I am wearing running shoes…who needs to look cute at a time like this?

French antique leatherdetail  

Mimi bought some furniture at the brocante because she fell in love with it. When you fall in love you often feel more than you think. Or at least I do. Mimi's falling in love does not fit in her suitcase.

Sure she could post it…. 30 kilos cost 195 euro. Though her piece of furniture is heavier and a tad bigger than accepted at the post office.

She could use Baggages du Monde
It is a fantastic cargo freight service available when you have an airline ticket to or from France. They will transport any weight or size. All you need to do is pack the item and bring it to the airport. It costs 80 euro for handling and then a certain amount per kilo.

She toyed with that idea until I thought about my friend Lynn (Lynn has a container of French antiques going to Savannah.) Maybe Lynn would let Mimi add a few things in her container.

I called Lynn.

French buffet 

Lynn agreed, "Why not, sure, that is not a problem."

As Lynn and I chatted Lynn jumped on the plane… okay not just that moment, but several hours later. She was planning to come on a buying trip to France next month but decided not to wait.

…in a blink of an eye three blogging friends, who don't know one another will meet.

Amy, Mimi and Lynn are going to have loads of fun at the brocante. I can see it now: The three of them buying everything I love…. I seriously might have to shove the three of them in the container talking to themselves and take their goods and run!

Maybe I'll strike a deal with them. I won't be stingy or jealous or shove them in the container if they invite me to have: Breakfasts at Laduree, Lunch at Jules Verne, Tea at the Crillion and dinner at Le Meurice. Yes that will do. I think it is a fair trade.

Shell on top of an armoire

The four of us will meet in Paris and spend two days doing the antique thing: Scooping, racing, hunting, & eating antiques.

Then we will take the TGV to my house (who knows where they will sleep? In the fireplace, the bathtub, under my bed, and whoever is the nicest (read gives me the most treats!) gets to sleep in the extra bed.

We will spend the next ten days together… how did this happen? How did I wake up this morning and have a Brocanting Tour Group and B&B ?

Love is a mysterious thing.

So is craziness.

I think love is getting the best of me.

Stand forewarned: The three of them are cooking, doing dishes and driving because I fall asleep at the wheel!

trunk 

There is always the trunk if they are not nice.

Maybe French Husband will put me in there first.

French Husband... Oh yeah him.. oops I forgot to ask him. I guess I better break it to him slowly… "Honey, have you ever wanted to be with four blond women?"

DSC00307 

P.S.

 Tongue in Cheek Antiques opens tomorrow. I will add the link to tomorrow's post.



Comments

45 responses to “The Ready Made Brocante Tour Group and B&B”

  1. oh, Corey what fun!!! i surely will check on your blog update million times a day to see if there is an update from Paris. hope you get a fancy lunch 🙂

  2. What fun your outing sounds. I look forward to your antique shoppe, can’t wait. Best of luck.

  3. Have a great time Corey! Four blonds has to be fun….doesn’t it? 😉 Enjoy the hunt, (but I hope it doesn’t get too violent) There is nothing like finding friends, just remember your Buddhist lessons of non-attachment to materialism and you’ll be fine. xXx

  4. hi corey, looking forward to your antique shop online and hope you post lots of photos of paris and your friends having fun at the brocante and at your home!

  5. Jeanette Mc.

    You might have to change the name of your blog to “The Adventures of Corey”! It just keeps getting more and more exciting. Wishing all lots of fun and enough treasures to go around – although hearing about one of you getting locked in a trunk could be funny.

  6. Aaaak! Help. Could you give some kind of a definiton to the word brocante? We do not use it in Finland I can not quite define the meaning…. sorry. There must be someone else on this planet also who does not know this…

  7. By the way, thanks for your very nice blog!!!

  8. Oh have the very best time … I’d adore to be there … hope the treasures leap out at you 😉

  9. Does anybody have a shipping container going from the states TO France that could fit in a stowaway trunk? It wouldn’t take up much room – only about 2’x5’3″… =)

  10. Ok, so I will be the 5th blond! I will happily sleep in the bathtub (is it one of those teeny tiny european ones?) Not a problem-I’m 5’2″ and I fold up…
    I know there is no comparison between Brimfield and anything/anywhere/anyplace in France BUT there is plenty of bathtub space in Rehoboth, Mass. for a Brimfield field-trip!

  11. Is this the CALM (initials of all 4 ladies) before the storm?
    Or are you a CLAM group on a tour of France?
    C’est la vie!!

  12. How fun!!! Great photo op! cant wait to hear all about it!
    Marcie
    any romance going on with the singles you know…???

  13. I hope you have fabulous, fantastic fun with your blog buddies and I can’t wait to see what is in the new shop of yours!

  14. “a Brocanting Tour Group”
    WHOA
    Now you’re cookin’
    TICA Trips!
    bonne idee

  15. Have a blast Corey♥

  16. Enjoy your tour and your B&B !!!
    Let’s sing:
    “There were 4 blonde ladies in the bed
    and their dear hostess said:
    “Roll over, roll over”
    So they all rolled over
    And one fell out – to the bathtub.
    There were 3 blonde ladies in the bed
    and their dear hostess said:
    “Roll over, roll over”
    So they all rolled over
    And one fell out – under the bed.
    There were 2 blonde ladies in the bed
    and their dear hostess said:
    “Roll over, roll over”
    So they all rolled over
    And one fell out – to the fire place.
    There was one blonde lady in the bed
    And their dear hostess said
    “BONNE NUIT !”

  17. “Oh! The Places You’ll Go!” (“by the incomparable Dr. Seuss”), the things that you’ll see. Once again Corey, thanks for taking us along for the ride.

  18. Naughty girl!! Can’t wait for your shop!

  19. Hello,
    These details are just exquisite
    ~ Gabriela ~

  20. I realize this is off-topic today, but — Corey, could you please give us an update on your dear friend Annie? I hope she’s doing well. She sounds like such a treasure!

  21. How fun. Hey Corey, you know where this is going, why don’t you organize brocante tours? You know you have a following. I’ll come!

  22. Corey . . .I want to come too!! PLEASE! This is all I will ask Santa for . . .a brocante trip to Paris with the blonde ladies and a small side trip to Corey’s favorite brocante spot!
    Have a great time! Looking forward to this adventure . . .thanks Corey!

  23. What fun! Hope you all have a wonderful time (wish I could be there for breakfast–or anything–at Laduree).

  24. jend’isère

    Mocca-cat: Brocante is between a loppmarknad and antikbutik in Swedish. Lopptorg in Swedefinnish.
    Corey: Since I solo-brocante around here, must I go blonde to join your gang?

  25. Sounds like so much fun!! We ate at Laduree quite a few times when we were in Paris. I miss the macaroons so much……….eat one for me, ok?
    p.s. I’m sure French Husband won’t mind : )

  26. I seriously want to go on the next BB tour! Or maybe no one would miss me if I just left today! Have fun I am so jealous. Guess I will have to go crazy at your store instead!

  27. I just found your blog and I’m in love! What a life you live. And to think you met your French husband in San Francisco, where I live. Too funny. I love the South of France so much! We bought a second home in the wine country trying to capture that life, but it doesn’t come close. I can’t wait to explore more of your blog (I’m a follower now). Come see me too! –Delores

  28. Watch out, I’m buying lotto tickets this week and plan on renewing passport soon.

  29. This sounds like so much fun! And I bet FH doesn’t mind….

  30. You must post a photo of FH face when you break the news to him ;=0

  31. Alena dreamer

    I am so jealous!!!!
    But, have a blast and please tell us all about it!!!!!!!

  32. You. Are awesome.

  33. Wow, are you ever going to have FUN! I’m looking forward to reading all about it!
    Lorrie

  34. What a fun adventure !!! I wish I could have shared it with you all. I guess you will be in Paris this saturday ….We are having a saint nicolas party at my show room ..but I guess at this time you will be in ladurée eating …some …Eat something for me and think of me very strong

  35. Corey, the best times are made on the fly! Blessings, Kimberly

  36. Sounds like the ultimate in slumber party fun and games. I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures and purchases!

  37. Victoria Ramos

    Wish I could make it 5!!! But a furloughed California State employee doesn’t have the $$$$ to do so! It sounds so fabulous! I would just go to watch the madness! Pea-green with envy in Sacramento!

  38. Wonderful is…
    an online French antique shop!
    time spent with friends!
    a husband who understands!
    You have a wonderful life!

  39. You are having way too much fun with brocanting. I so wish I could be there too, but then I would probably have to sleep under the kitchen table. Enjoy and I can’t wait to see what Amy Doll brings back.

  40. Sounds like the ya-ya sisterhood to me!
    I have made a note of some of the places you have mentioned here today. We will be in Paris next year and I think I shall tell my beloved we are having breakfast at La Laduree!

  41. Can I come too? (In my dreams…..)

  42. Oh la, what fun!!! I’m blonde too…and I have airmiles!!!
    : )
    Julie M.

  43. Oh fun! You all are going to have such a fabulous time together. I’m really happy for you, Corey. I want to read all about your adventures together afterwards, okay?

  44. I have to confess, we had a family member rushed to the hospital yesterday, I actually stood in the hallway last night and said “I don’t think I read Corey’s blog today” OF ALL DAYS…saw your shop and love it. Talk about addictions…thank you so much for listing things for us to buy. Have fun with your brocante friends!

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