Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Au Petit Bonheur la Chance

Paris

brocante

cafe au lait bowls

brocante trading



The Brocanting Blond Bag-Ladies Bartering on their last day. They have found their Petit Bonheur la Chance. 

Au Petit Bonheur la Chance
13 Rue Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris
01 42 74 36 38‎

As for me I have a pocket full of memories and a ton of bedsheets to wash. Thanks to modern technology I won't have to go down to the river to scrub the sheets. That is one thing I do not want to buy at the brocante– a wash board and bucket. I like old things but I do have my limitations…. I also like running hot water. What a gift that truly is!


Comments

21 responses to “Au Petit Bonheur la Chance”

  1. Julie Ann Evins

    Another happy adventure comes to a close. The house will soon look bare in the way that it does when the Christmas decs come down. Nice & fresh though & I guess there will now be room to decorate for Christmas, big hug Corey, Jx

    Reply
  2. Vicki

    What we won’t do for “old things”!! What a kind woman you are to share your home and France with those blondes!!!!!

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth Harper

    What fun you must have had. I can only image how tired you must be.
    I wonder how far we live from each other? I know England (I’m in Cornwall) and France are separate countries, but it still sort of feels like popping over to the next state sometimes (like in America) .. except for all that water in-between.
    Hope your life and home tidy up easily.

    Reply
  4. linda marcov

    are you having a bit of empty nest feelings? you are a wonder….

    Reply
  5. Linda C.

    Dear Corey, I re-read my comment of yesterday and it sounded a bit, um,… well, it was supposed to be funny, but I don’t know if it read that way.
    Pardonnez-moi. I sincerely hope you weren’t offended.
    Thank you once again for all your wonderful, daily delights.

    Reply
  6. Paulita

    I love those French bowls. I’m going to load up when we come over next summer. Then every morning I can think of France. I’m not going to buy enough of anything to fill a container though!

    Reply
  7. Deborah

    It looks like you’ve had such a great time! And hot water truly is a huge blessing!

    Reply
  8. Penelope

    I agree, thank heaven for washing machines.

    Reply
  9. Salle

    Corey, your site makes me smile– and sometimes cry–every time I visit. Thanks for sharing your life.

    Reply
  10. Marilyn

    Now what I want to know is, do you hang dry your bedsheets? So many places we went in France and Spain we saw them hanging to dry the bedsheets, even in a hotel we stayed in.
    What a fun time it looks like you all four had. Thanks for sharing as we could live and imagine through your eyes for a little while each day.

    Reply
  11. Delores Arabian

    Can I just say, I love your blog! That picture of the three blondes in front of the store cracked me up. Reminded me of when my best friend and I posed exactly the same way in front of a store in Orange. I want to come and visit someday. I promise I’ll wash the sheets before I leave! haha –Delores in San Francisco Bay Area!

    Reply
  12. M-Noëlle

    I like the name of this shop !!!
    Sounds like “Au bonheur des Dames”, a shop in Paris in one of Zola’s books …

    Reply
  13. Lieselotte

    I want ( need ) all those pretty bowls from the picture, please, pour tromper mon croissant !

    Reply
  14. mindi

    Can’t wait for the next adventure!

    Reply
  15. Ellen Cassilly

    Great memories of Rue St. Paul.
    E

    Reply
  16. Lorrie

    I frequently stand under the shower with hot water cascading down my back, sigh, and say, “Running hot water is one of man’s greatest inventions.” My husband can quote me by now.
    Lorrie

    Reply
  17. bee

    Did you happen to find any crowns in your travels? I want one. I see them in some blogs – I really like them, but never see where I can purchase one.
    Betsy
    ___________________________
    Hi Betsy
    I do see crowns. Old beautiful ones used for statues in churches and for the theater and opera… but they are very expensive. Around $150 and up.
    Hence I do not buy them for myself.
    C

    Reply
  18. Brenda L. from TN.

    Corey….Love the bowls…my style too…but please tell me …exactly how do you pronounce “brocante”….
    Thanks..
    Brenda from Chattanooga

    Reply
  19. Elaine L.

    I haven’t posted, but I have enjoyed reading your latest adventure.
    Amen, to modern conveniences and the being able to choose.
    ~elaine~

    Reply
  20. anne

    Great memories come flooding back to me.. 🙂 I love that shop…fortunately it re-opened before I had to come back to the UK…it is amazing.

    Reply
  21. Kim B.

    When my husband was still my boyfriend, he lived about half a block from that shop. I’ve bought a couple of little things there — enamel café tins, one for me, and one for my mom. Too bad he doesn’t still live there — with me!! But do have to go over there to go to the pharmacy later . . . .

    Reply

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