Brocantes, Bastides, and Besties

Theo traveled to America the last two weeks of August to meet his newest baby granddaughter. And while he was gone, my best brocante buddy, Mary, came from America to get some concentrated, unadulterated, unfiltered, no-holds-barred girl time with lucky, lucky me!

Mary is a master at finding the greatest treasures in heaps of rubbish. A true talent that I can only hope rubbed off on me during her visit!

With a shared sickness of loving to treasure-hunt for vintage French junque, we didn’t waste any time scheduling trips to dig through all kinds of crap! Some days were super finds. Other days were a bust. But that’s just how it goes.

This barn sale was probably our most satisfying stumble, a HUGE Vide Grange. Literally. It took us hours and hours to sort through the piles, but came home with a car FULL of goodies.

Vide Grange in the Hood

On that note, I will soon be announcing the opening of my online French vintage shop. With Mary’s help during her visit, my inventory is well on its way. As if I need another project to juggle, but sourcing and selling bits and pieces is still in my veins, and I look forward to finding new homes for all my finds.

Our conquests, doctored up for a birthday photo for me!

During Mary’s stay, I stumbled upon this old iron baker’s rack. JUST what I had been looking for—finally at a price I was willing to pay. It goes into the Potting Room/Winter Garden to house plants over the winter and to start seedlings and cuttings the rest of the year. It took four of us cussing and panting to move the damned thing, but now it’s in place and I love it!

My new ‘old’ rack for my winter garden.

After viewing the baker’s rack, we enjoyed a light snack and wonderful local wines in Perigueux.

We even ventured out for a little sightseeing and spent one very HOT evening at the otherwise fabulous Marqueyssac Gardens. They offer candlelight evenings every Thursday during the summer with performers, musical talent, and thousands of candles throughout the gardens. Of course, we weren’t the only ones who thought it sounded like a good idea—the place was so jamb-packed with kids and people, you could hardly see the gardens! Eventually, we we agreed to call it an early night and head home for a well deserved cold adult beverage and a late night dip in the pool!

Sweatin’ with my Bestie!

Another day, we enjoyed a nice trip to the stunning bastide of Monpazier, visiting many boutiques and shops and the obligatory sipping at the brewery!

I look like a GIANT in this photo with my itsy-bitsy beer ‘taster.’

Between shopping excursions, we picked enough wild berries to make a batch of jam and Mary experienced fresh walnuts from our trees. We enjoyed numerous restaurant meals, but I also made my favorite duck breast meal for my dear friend.

We had lots of late nights, talking about everything under the sun. Lingering and laughing. Nothing could ever beat this precious time spent with the best of friends. I loved every minute!