Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Sunday Brocante

    Corey amaro wine glass

 

Thank you for the overwhelming response to the re opening of my online French Brocante shop.

I will be adding more French brocante items later tomorrow afternoon (24th of July), and throughout the week.

Just between you and me, I think you have the Brocante Bug badly… You do know there isn't a cure, don't you?

 

Photo: An 18th century wine glass, (Note that the base of the glass is larger than the rim, that is one classic detail of 18th century glasses.) I found it years ago at a dusty hole in the wall shop in Aix en Provence. It cost the price of Coca Cola. Hard to believe that 18th century glasses can be found. Usually, one glass costs more than a dinner at the Jules Verne restaurant on top of the Eiffel Tower.

 

 

Fleur de Lys Letter opener

 

Louis sixteenth sofa

 

My friend's daughter Natacha (18) is staying with us for a few weeks. Last night she said she loved our house, and asked the history of a few things. Of course she scored big points in my book, I told her that my children wished our house was more practical, "…. you know Mom, it would be great if there were chairs in our house that were actually comfortable, and mirrors you could actually see in…."

 

Apollo bust

 

In defense, Sacha chimed-in that one of his favorite things in our house was the Apollo bust.

I asked Natacha if she would like to go antiquing with me this weekend, she nearly jumped out of her skin saying, "Yes!"

Dang, maybe my friend and I got our babies mixed up in childbirth? Chelsea and Sacha would rather have their skin pulled off rather than go to the brocante.

 

Tinted french engraving

So antiquing we are gonna go.

If you came to France what would you want to do?

 

 

Comments

38 responses to “Sunday Brocante”

  1. Vickie

    if I were to go to France I would go see our old house in Fontainebleau – my heart and soul dreams of this with a fierceness. just soak in the smells and colors and feel of the air. with a croissant in hand of course. bravo to the brocanting Natacha!

    Reply
  2. Di

    I am coming to France! I want to go to the Camargue, eat freshly baked baguettes, try out my school girl french, visit markets…….oh I could go on for ages.

    Reply
  3. maria

    I’m right there with you, Corey! Let’s make sure to have copious amounts of French pastry and espresso in tow. How about early morning brocanting, mid morning crossants, more brocante, then a sumptuous lunch, and the Lourve in the afternoon?
    Shopping, eating, and sightseeing: the perfect day..:)

    Reply
  4. Irina

    I miss Provence!!!

    Reply
  5. Jackie

    anything, as long as it’s in France…

    Reply
  6. Paulita

    That’s how it is with children. They always pick the opposite path, so you can realize they are themselves and not you and don’t even think about influencing them at all. But you still do. Hee hee hee.
    My boys have always complained about living in old houses. My husband and I marvel at the architectural details and they admire new, square houses in suburbs that all look alike. I tell them that when they are grown I will come in their square house and say, “Sorry I’m late. I stopped at 10 other houses that looked just like this.”

    Reply
  7. Julie Loeschke

    Sit and talk with you and Annie.:)

    Reply
  8. Carol L

    Eat while brocanting.

    Reply
  9. Debra

    Go to the brocante with you, then wine & dinner at one of the fabulous restaurants you have blogged about, visit Cassis and rent apartment with a marvelous view . . .and, spend a day meeting Annie and listening to her wisdom.

    Reply
  10. everton terrace

    Brocante and dine with you and Annie of course!
    Also speak only French the whole time which I do not know but since this is a fantasy I’m indulging 🙂

    Reply
  11. Gretchen Seibert

    Return to La Madone and sit by the pool, enjoying the lovely scene and a glass of wine. Then, perhaps Nathalie would come out and serve one of her homemade pizzas? Perfection!

    Reply
  12. Candace

    Go to the brocante, take lots of photos and drink lots of wine. I would love to just walk the streets and act like a tourist.

    Reply
  13. Marilyn

    brocante with you

    Reply
  14. Rhonda P.

    Brocante with you and visit with you and Annie.
    My nephew said the same thing to me while staying with us in Chicago. Auntie, next time you buy a sofa get something comfortable…LOL Antiques are not comfortable – they’re beautiful.

    Reply
  15. Tamra/The Gilded Barn

    When I’m in France it’s the Porte de Cligancourt and E. DeHillerin for me. That’s where you’ll find me.

    Reply
  16. Kathie B

    Next time I’d buy more pastries :-))) And see if we could meet Annie. And return to Cassis. And loaf even more!

    Reply
  17. Mardog

    Was in Alsace and Burgundy in June looking at vineyards and farming equipment which may not sound like much fun but was beautiful and great b/c of the people we met.
    Next trip would be to watch the Tour de France mountain stages. Pick fruit and make jams w/ you and Annie.
    Beautiful job on your online shop.

    Reply
  18. patty g

    Plum Village
    La Madonne
    The brocante through your eyes, to appreciate it more
    People, simple food, and simple lifestyles, art history and countryside!

    Reply
  19. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Duh…..go shopping with YOU!!

    Reply
  20. Jacqueline

    Like the previous comment, Duh! Do anything that you are doing, especially going shopping with you!!! and experiencing France!!!! I love France.

    Reply
  21. Lucy

    Visit with your family.
    Get to know your kids and find out what they think about life.
    Take Annie anywhere she wanted to go and let her tell me about it.
    Walk up old stairs.
    Visit abandoned homes.
    Sit by the sea.
    Eat lots of food and desserts.
    Go in every antique shop there.
    Sleep in a big fluffy, antique bed.
    Go a the oldest chuch there and worship.

    Reply
  22. marlis

    Visit with half brothers (digne, poitiers ) eat lunch with you. My treat. Meet Annie. Shop. Brocante. Xo

    Reply
  23. Zosia

    Eat, drink wine, travel around, go to a brocante.

    Reply
  24. Kelleyn

    I would love to go antiquing with you, taste pastries, and see the lavender fields.

    Reply
  25. Rochambeau

    When I do one day get to France I would like to meet you very much and also to make a date to see ALL the Brocante’s possible! I want to meet Melanie and see her shop and her parents shop very much too!
    Glad your online shop is reopening and nice to see snippets of your lovely home here!
    xox
    Constance

    Reply
  26. Brenda L. in TN.

    Call you up and meet you at a nice restaurant…then go home with you and meet FH and your children…then off to Annie’s house…go see Ladelle….then to the brocante!!! And PRAY we run into Brad and Angelina like you did that time!! OH!! A dream come true!!! If only…!!

    Reply
  27. Barbara, Sydney Australia

    Dear Corey,
    Apart from the joy of meeting you, I want the answer to the greatest mystery in the universe. If French people eat all that magnificent food and those delectable cakes and pastries HOW is it possible that they remain so chic and slim?

    Reply
  28. Cathy

    Eat, drink, play and shop of course!

    Reply
  29. Elaine L.

    Chelsea and Sacha have lived around old things their whole lives. It isn’t a novelty for them. Don’t be surprised if they go for modern minimalist decor.
    ~elaine~

    Reply
  30. Judy B. Texas

    Would love to stay in a working type farm or vineyard in the countryside for about 3 months or more. Would choose the months in order to see 1) lavender blooming and 2)harvest of grapes. Hopefully the owners would allow me to spend time in their kitchen learning how to cook the local fare. Brocanting would take up a lot of my time; plus visiting quaint little restaurants to sample food and wine and festivals/market days. My camera would be my constant companion.

    Reply
  31. Rita

    Brocantes, brocantes, brocantes!!!!
    Wonderful French food in small village restaurants.
    Great wine.
    Touring the beautiful villages of your area where you have shown us such beautiful pictures.
    Pictures, pictures, pictures to bring home.
    I would love to meet all the people that you have written about!

    Reply
  32. Rita

    PS – my friends and I are planning a trip to the fairs in Montpellier, Beziers and Avignon in September. I have two shops in Missouri and they have in Atlanta so we are looking to buy many items. May I ask what your view is of these fairs? Are there any great brocantes near there that would be a great stop? Thanks so much for your help. I can’t wait for you to add to your brocante this week.

    Reply
  33. Franca Bollo

    Rent an apartment in Paris for a year. Mr Bolla says he’s not completely against the idea but would prefer NYC. I usually get my way …

    Reply
  34. Franca Bollo

    Mr BollO feels the same.

    Reply
  35. Sharon Penney-Morrison

    I am with you on that Gretchen.
    So delicious and such a beautiful place.
    Corey, could you meet us there?

    Reply
  36. Mia

    I would LOVE to go to the brocante with you, Corey! But first I have to get to France… 🙂

    Reply
  37. Marie-Noëlle

    As I live in France, I have changed your question into:
    “If you came to Provence what would you do ?”
    – I would like to visit you, just to sit round a table. Chatting. Either while having a drink or while peeling some veg or “stoning” olives or fruit …
    Don’t know what we would share, but sure, we would be chatting !!!
    – I would like to meet Annie, wherever she would be then: your kitchen, your garden, an orchard, her door mat, a bench round the village, …
    Again more chatting … more sharing …
    – I would like to share a family meal with the 4 of you. The mixture of your cultures, languages, experiences, personalities, senses of humour, … etc …
    I would love just being there, watching, listening, catching, breathing-in everything !!!
    – I would like to follow you to one of those local events (is that a village walk or a village picnic ?) where all the people gather and walk through the countryside, dressed in their traditional garments?
    I could carry on for a while…. but those above are my top ones…
    One more thing : I would like to see you how you use/cook “tofu”, an ingredient I have never ever bought. I do not even know what it looks/tastes/smells like. So i’m curious !

    Reply
  38. Brenda, Walker, LA, USA

    I would love going with you to the Brocantes, and enjoying the things you see in France, and learn how to send all that treasure back to USA, so it would be waiting for me when I returned!

    Reply

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