What does it mean to be on a Brocanting Tour

snowman postcard

The Brocanting tour is coming to the end of the road. We have traveled many miles to the different brocantes in the area. Day after day loading and then unloading the antiques into my house the (Yes, my house has become a true warehouse.) With every room filled to the brim with antiques. You might say we are eating, breathing, living… and sleeping with them.

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French Husband said gleefully, "Oh yes I love this terrific mess! I love it, simply love it! From this day forth I can leave my stuff: my ski equipment, my caving equipment, my papers, my shoes, my mess everywhere and Corey "Loopy" will have to smile and not say a word."

vintage christmas decor

 

With those endearing words spoken I looked up at him from the heap of papers and books I had bought, that were scattered on the kitchen floor and thought out loud, "Was that part of the deal? I do not remember that?"

But he does have the upper hand on this one.

vintage christmas postcard

Today we are renting a truck to pick up the furniture they bought. Then they will load their boxes from my house, and drive the goods to their transporter.

Fun fun fun and a hellavu lot of work.

Lack of sleep wears heavy on us. My mother often said, "You cannot burn a candle at both ends." You cannot brocante all day, pack all night. It is not human.

vintage postcard

I would show pictures of my home…. and maybe I will… though I am certain you will think I am nuts. Maybe you already do? My house is out of control… I cannot open the door to any room, or any cupboard …well I can barely get in or out of my house. It is that full. Fun and nuts that is what I think I am.

My home is a sight to be seen– but not lived.

Short order cook, bottles of wine, laundry, child in school, husband, conversations and swinging moods add to the roll of the brocanting tour… thankfully I do not have to drive!

 vintage christmas postcard

 

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Overall it has and is a wonderful experience. But it is not all fun. It is hard work. Now I know why antique dealers prices are as high as they are. Those items they have do not just appear in their shops with a blink of an eye.

Dust. Did I talk about the dust?

 Christmas red bow



Comments

21 responses to “What does it mean to be on a Brocanting Tour”

  1. Corey, you are not nuts!!! I am for being online at 1:00 am. Wish I was shopping with you girls!

  2. “You cannot brocante all day, pack all night. It is not human.”
    Welcome to middle age, Corey! It only gets worse…

  3. I know my boys complain when I take them shopping, ‘This is tiring’ they say. I tell them you need to stay in shape that’s why I shop. But antiquing is different again, bravo to you.

  4. You seem to have come upon a plethora of snowmen. Don’t let them melt in your house! Better sell them quick.

  5. I thought you were done! No wonder I haven’t heard from you! As a shop owner I know first hand what you are experiencing-it is exhausting! No dealer/shop owner I know adds their time and work to the price of items-if they did the prices would be through the roof! I am salivating at the thought of the treasures you’ve unearthed…

  6. Massilianana

    Come on , now that you’ve tickled our curiosity : show us your house as it is now !!! We want the house ! We want the house ! ;o)

  7. I hope that you can get some rest soon!

  8. Tell Yann what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. LOL

  9. Isn’t brocante dust the same as fairy dust, one swift breezy whoooosh and it will all be gone? Please show us the treasures, pretty please 😉

  10. Oh my darling this is where the “be careful what you wish for” adage comes into play….. breath(not old dust) and smile and then get some rest… remember loading out of Marburger…. it is sort of like that one way or the other in this world we all live in, most of the time.. and then someone comes along and finds something you have,simply must have it, swoons.. and it makes it all worthwhile.. Love You Linda

  11. jend’isère

    Would love to see all of those brocante cartons around the tree and everywhere. Soon there will be the space under that tree for your well-deserved family presents.

  12. What crazy, messy fun you are having. I would love to see pictures of a messy house.

  13. Show your house! I would love to see the mess!!!

  14. Lieselotte

    Oh my dear, Corey, you must have very strong nerves in all that mess! When will you just close the front door behind you and say “Let´s get away from it all”? ( I have a spare room for you )

  15. As my mother says, this too shall pass. FH sounds like my Faux Husband, ah, now I can get away with something…ah ha. I usually just squint my eyes and tilt my head to the side. He get’s the message. Love the photos of the snowmen.

  16. I just checked out your online store…and it’s beautiful! It seems to me that the mess and confusion in the house will pass…and you will figure out a way to store your treasures!
    You are doing well, my friend. Congratulations!

  17. Corey
    What a big heart you have ….I hope that the two quests PAY you well and hope they are as generous as you have been to them. — For their stay — for the great places you took them and for all the work and arrangements and free advertisement on your blog, You have been an important part in helping them with their business.
    What a great Lady you are( and FH a great sport for putting up with it all)
    LOL,
    Joanny

  18. gatheringjunque@att.net

    it’s all in the wonderful memories you are making…
    Enjoy!

  19. I love your hubby’s attitude about all of the stuff! He has a great sense of humour and a good perspective on things. Good luck with all the goodies!

  20. Ellen Cassilly

    Corey, We are decorating our tree tonight. We got it last week (enjoyed it in it’s naked state), added the lights and candles a few days later (this is my favorite stage) and tonight we are adding the ornaments. We had a big bowl of white bean and kale soup with sun dried tomato bread. Yum.

  21. Ah, but when all those lovely antiques are long gone, you will have the memories 😉

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