Brocante

When I went to Chambery last month, Classy Spice and I ate at a restaurant where I noticed a sign that I really liked.  It was painted wood, in rustic colors, and had a scene from the Alps on it.  I mentioned to her that I liked it, but wouldn't want one exactly like it, because I don't like skiers (which was what the scene was).  The next day, we stumbled upon a brocante, which is a yard/antique sale.  When French people clean out their houses to get rid of their junk, the "junk" happens to be antiques!  Someone in a book called a brocante a "magpie collection of bits and pieces of domestic history rescued from attics all over Provence."  (Peter Mayle, "A Year in Provence, " pg. 93).  Anyway, as we walked through the brocante, I found my dream sign.  Same painted wood style, same rustic colors, a scene from the Alps, and a bonus: the rock-climbers are two-dimensional!  I've had it sitting across from my bed ever since, and can't stop staring at it.
We walked a little further through the brocante, and found an old, leather-bound book with a cross on the front.  The pages were gold-tipped, and there were beautiful drawings inside.  A sign said, "Bible, 5 euros."  I couldn't believe my eyes!  I bought it, and found it dated from somewhere between 1887 and 1907...but it turns out it isn't a Bible, but a prayer book.  It's still beautiful to me.
Today, here in Marseille, there was another brocante.  It was HUGE!  My friends and I strolled through it for hours and hours.  We found several more prayer books like the one I'd bought in Chambery, and a French copy of Thomas A.Kempis' "Imitation of Christ" from the late 1800's.  All of my friends that I was with had not been to a brocante before, so it was fun to watch them discover their own personal treasures.  Then, under a tree, I saw this cute little table.  When I asked the man how much it was, I expected to hear between 30 and 50 euros.  When he said, "5 euros," I responded, "SOLD!"  My friend JellyBean looked at me as I picked up the table and said, "WHAT are you going to do with that!?"  I told her, "Take it home.  I'll be back in a minute!"  And sure enough, I went home with my table, and then carried on searching through the treasures at the brocante.  I did not find my dream Singer sewing machine...which I will find one of these days and happily purchase.

I bought a few presents at the brocante as well...so some of you need to be checking your mail boxes soon.  :)