Talking, Kissing, Brocanting and the whole Apple Strudel

It is a given that I have a thing for antiques, the brocante, the marche aux puces (flea market), the peeling, scratched, tarnish left over from another time. It is a fact I cannot deny. I asked French Husband, "Do you feel a rush of excitement when you buy a building, do you feel a surge of happiness when you land a good deal, do you get a high after a deal is done? Does it make you want to burst?"

He said, "Yes," in a matter of fact sort of way.

I said, "Yes? Just yes?" in a kinda snotty tone.

He said, "Yes, I do," then flashed me an American smile.

Lace-sample

French-linen-dishtowels

I smiled back and thought to myself, he is a man of little words, I am a woman of too many words.

Then I gushed on and on how happy I was at my latest finds at the brocante market. I showed him every little thing. I told him how I was doing on my brocante online shop. I told him how I felt like bursting because I was so happy to be doing something I love.

It is a good thing one of us listens.

Frenh-antique-wedding-crown

Street-in-Paris

Guys speak a different language then women. I am not saying this because my French Husband's first language is French and we speak English together… though I can see how that adds chunk's of confusion to communicating. But beside that do they speak a different language. I know they do. I had four brothers…

Flowers-in-Paris

Then French Husband grabbed me, literally lifted me off my feet and said, "I am HAPPIEST when you are happy. When you are living what you love!"

And he then he smiled that smile that makes me care less about anything else.

Brocante 

(photo source: Ladelle)

Yeah guys speak a different language, but when my guy speaks it really is music to my ears.

I think talking is as good as kissing. Well a close second or third at least. Brocanting is first right?



Comments

41 responses to “Talking, Kissing, Brocanting and the whole Apple Strudel”

  1. Yes! Brocanting comes first, and online brocanting comes second… You are so blessed, Corey! May more blessings come your way!

  2. Lucky, lucky woman.
    And remember me if you find another of those little ancient jewelry boxes. Particularly “distressed”. 🙂

  3. Oh I don’t know Corey, the love of a good man would come first for me, followed by a close second, (very close), brocanting. I think also we all know who comes first on FH list!!! And yes men do speak a different language but as long as we understand that languague all is well.

  4. Julienne

    brocanting is a new word for me and already I love it…as I love flea market! In Oz we just have plain markets and clearing sales and estate sales, auction sales and garage sales. All are wonderful places to hunt out that wonderful, useless piece of absolutely must have! It has been my passion since I found my first piece at the age of 12. Happy brocanting

  5. Good husbands, whose goals are to see their wives happy, are a rare find. They’re smiling behind us, even when we’re excited and looking forward to something else, like brocanting, which I don’t do, but writing and running and just living. It makes me smile to hear your story about FH because my husband is the same way. Hopefully, I make him happy too.

  6. jend’isère

    Soup bowls and pill boxes up for sale,your healing is transmitted in real time all morning.

  7. jend’isère

    and where is the apple strudel?

  8. I sure like your priorities. Also, thank you for sharing your brocante items online, without you how would I buy such wonderful French books. I remember the day you announced you were going to start selling. Oh happy day….Oh happy day.

  9. What a lovely romantic post, Corey! Yes, my husband speaks another language, too, which is to say he rarely speaks at all. Of course, I remind myself that I can’t be upset about that because it was his “strong silent”-ness that I found attractive about him when we first met.
    And often when he does speak, he has incredible insights… or he says something so deadpan hysterical that he leaves me gasping for air… and I never know when these things are going to come out of his mouth, so it keeps things exciting around here.
    The hardest thing I’ve had to learn in marriage – and I am still learning – is not to try to speak so much to make up for him not speaking.

  10. Don’t you just love a good man??!! You’ve got a peach!

  11. Oh the thrill of the brocante and a good man!!! Have a strong itch to return to France!!!!

  12. The mention of “talking” reminded me of a funny story. A friend of mine who has been married for over 40 years was on a short road trip with her husband. She was stewing about something and didn’t speak to him the entire time. When they finally arrived, she asked if he even noticed how mad she was because they had driven in complete silence. He replied “No, I thought we were just getting along great”. Ha, different language for sure!

  13. hahaha!
    it would seem
    that
    we are BOTH married to Smart Men
    who know that when we are happy
    their life is simple
    and filled with yummy foods
    {{ and other treats }}
    🙂
    when we are NOT,
    then
    ”’Whoa, Nellie!”’
    {{ to shop with you would be a dream…
    maybe you need to arrange tours }}
    here
    i am flashing you an American smile!

  14. I cant wait for the online shop..I want to come and visit with you and shop. Oh and eat..You and your husband are very blessed to have each other. Thanks so much for sharing your treasures. Grace

  15. Nancy from Mass

    Brocanting would be up there with talking and kissing but I think kissing is best. You can fake lots of things (listening, caring, the big ‘_’)but you can’t fake a good kiss.

  16. This post is like a little short story. Just lovely. I’m an artist and if I had more money I would be an avid antiques collector. Thanks for the story.
    ~~JB

  17. You are a treasure, Corey. You could never have too many words to share.
    Kissing and talking… 🙂

  18. jend’isère, I suspect that by “apple strudel” Corey was alluding to a lyric from the song “My Favorite Things” from “The SOund of Music.” Is this correct, Corey?

  19. Clearly you and FH understand each other and that’s all that matters! My hubby speaks a very special language – POETRY! Here’s his latest offering for me to post on my website:
    http://thebutterflymind.com/thecowboyspoetry_0015_cheyenneat100.htm
    And I’m with you when it comes to brocanting! 🙂

  20. When it’s GOOD, Right!

  21. How wonderful that he “gets” you! You could have a passion for macaroni art, and he would still be just as happy that you’re happy (though your house wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful…)

  22. Guys do speak a different language. I wish they would learn to speak ours. Oh how I would love to go brocanting with you. You make it sound so fun, even in the early morning hours.

  23. Who cares what guys say..How much were those frames!!! how many of those linens did you get?? Who’s that woman next to you grabbing all the stuff!! Love those medals!! When do we eat?…Corey those Brocante photos make my mouth water… I see a European trip in my future

  24. the thrill of the hunt! nothing more fun!sweet story:)

  25. So true, so very true. When I really listen to my husband, it is my happiness that makes him happy (and vice versa).

  26. I am so happy you decided to open your online shop! Even thought I always get to it tooo late. But, one day I just know you will have the perfect thing waiting for me. And hopefully my husband will realize that it made me sooooo happy to have it!!!

  27. This weekend my dh and I were at a country auction. I know what you mean about being so happy in the moment of discovery of a good find at the right price…. This auction was so fun. I found an antique coffee grinder like I remember my great grandmother having. My daughter had such fun grinding coffee by hand after dinner. I bought a lovely green art deco vase for a dear friend. My dh bid (and won) on an oak tray full of printing press spacers. He said to me “I didn’t think I’d get them, I just thought they looked neat.” He has not mastered the art of auctions or brocanting. But I do understand and share your joy of brocanting.

  28. That is what love is: being happy when the other is happy. It always makes me melt when He says that. Last week He said, “I want to come to the evening class you teach because it turns me on to see you holding forth”. I felt the tribute and the love.
    Also last week someone asked me, “Do you worry when he jumps off the mountain with his paraglider?” I said, “No, that really makes him happy and I would never want to dampen his passion”.

  29. Ana Maria

    A couple is kissing in his car after a wonderful date. The girl says, “Do you realize that today marks the sixth month that we’ve been dating?” The minute the words are out of her mouth she regrets having said them! The guy remains silent. She begins to think, “Oh no, I should’ve never said that! What if he thinks I’m pressuring him? What if I reminded him of others he had dated this long? What if he wants to break up? Why isn’t he saying anything? His eyes aren’t focusing on me. He must be looking for words to break up with me! That’s it! I knew it, he wants to break up!”
    “Honey”, she says, “Say something. What are you thinking of?” “What? Oh yes, you’re right – six months, Wow!” “What about it?” she asks. “Nothing,” says the guy, “You just reminded me, I have to take the car in for an oil change.”
    WE SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES!

  30. My husband allows me to drag him everywhere, including thrift shops, craft stores, and yard sales. Once while we were in a thrift shop, he toted around a life-sized sheep for me even though he looked absolutely ridiculous doing so (insert sheep joke here).
    One of the sweetest things he’s ever said to me was at a time when I was hesitating about making a purchase because our funds were running low. He wrapped his arms around me and said “Go ahead and get it – I have everything I need right here.”
    However, my favorite moments are when he’s following me around the library in silence, carrying my books like a schoolboy – and we’ve been married for 25 years.
    Corey, I think French husband (and my Irish husband) deserve a little extra “strudel” tonight, don’t you? Lol!

  31. Mutual joy – t’ain’t nothing better!

  32. I smile when I read your stories.

  33. Your stories are great and interesting..
    yvonne

  34. Brenda L from TN

    AHHHH Corey,
    You are very lucky to have such a good man in FH. Men do speak a different language…but when yours speaks I have a feeling he is speaking with love in his heart because he knows YOU are happy…and he is trying to speak YOUR language…LOL..

  35. What a truly beautiful thing for FH to say to you.

  36. When I was complaining to a friend that my husband didn’t understand me because he was French she said, “Honey, he doesn’t understand you because he’s a man!” I think she was right.

  37. Congratulations on the online shop. How fun and exciting. And yes, I just started reading men are from Mars-Women Venus … aie. We are so different. I have a great man, but he certainly does not want to chit chat. He laughs at how I need to call my girlfriend in the US (we are in Paris for a few months) to chat about my daily train-train (grind). He just doe snot get the importance of this kind of connection. aie. On the other hand, he will help lug all of my brocante finds to their final resting place of my choice, no matter how heavy and cumbersome. Ahhhh, men! Right now, the house is dirty in need of a clean for our guests tonight, and he is making a dessert at 8:15 in the morning (and we are going out to dinner), go figure!

  38. Corey….although we are thousands of miles apart, it’s so funny that we share so many similarities in our day to day lives. Husbands that know that when “Mama’s” happy, everybody’s happy!

  39. your blog is so lovely! Thanks for sharing such beauty and life to everyone and giving me a way to experience France vicariously!

  40. Aww, you and FH are so sweet. Love that he grabbed you in his arms and told you that he was happiest when you were happy. Perfect answer, Yann. 🙂

  41. please someone help in making and preserving apple juice – not cider –
    it has the inclination to go brown – can i stop this in a natural way?

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