Things that came home with me

 When I left for France recently I said "I don't need anything, but it is fun to look and take pictures".  I did think it would be fun to find a vintage bed sheet and a few feves (those ceramic King's cake trinkets). But other than those two things I wasn't shopping. Let me back track a bit. About 8 years ago I had visited the south of France and found two bed sheets with my initials on them at a street market in Lourmarin. I loved sleeping under those sheets until they wore out. I saved a piece of the sheet with my initials and made a pillow, which still resides on my bed. So this time around I knew if I found another sheet with my initials I would buy it. Yes, I found it. The initials are small, can you see it? The sheet was the heaviest thing I bought and made of ramie, which is a cheap grade of linen. It is a bit rough and many of you wouldn't like sleeping under it, but I love it. The width was perfect for my bed, but the length was very long; so there is about 2 feet turned over the top of the blankets. The sheet came from a collection the vendor found in an old chateau. His prices were very good and I was thrilled with my sheet purchase.

And then I came across feves in several places. I think I came home with about 2 dozen of them. There is something hypnotizing about digging through a basket of feves.

My collection:

I have given some of them away as small gifts.

Then of course I had to bring home one tea from Mariage Freres, called Eros. It is a bit fruit/florally in flavor and quite fragrant. 

At the airport I grabbed a box of macarons from Laduree. What a treat!

And then there was a few bars of soap.

Oh how I love French soaps!!!

OK, do you see a pattern?

For someone that doesn't need a thing there were indeed more than a few things that jumped into my shopping bag. Here you see a few small pottery pieces.

But I think this picture was the biggest surprise.

I came across a portfolio of pencil sketches that were very old at a street market.

This one just tugged at me. The price was amazing, the paper light to carry, and of course it could fit in my bag. I framed it after I got home.

Here it hangs on my wall with two other small art pieces found in a second hand store in France.

There were a few food items too.

And two hand towels because after all they had teacups and a teapot on them.

And then a girl needs some new things to wear.

 

This one is vintage and the fit is a bit strange, but it will be fun to figure it out.

And a vintage nightie, which I may wear in a different way. The lace detail is lovely.

There were a few gifts, such as comic books for two boys in my life and a few things for family members.

All in all I did shop! More than I planned on, but what fun. I tried to be a bit practical and now I wonder should I have been less practical and spent more or should I have not shopped as much as I did. Since I travel light it was a challenge just to get home what I did purchase.

There was an artist we visited where I purchased a small gift for my daughter, but didn't get anything for myself. Now I wonder, does she ship? Ha!!!

Since I had several curious about what shopping I did, this post is for you.

Maybe others of you can resonate with me in not needing a thing, but shopping anyway.

Sending much love,

Marilyn

An Adventure North

 For those of you that followed along with me for awhile, you have seen this view before. Last week my "live-in-gardener" and I ventured north to visit my sister-in-law. This view always takes my breathe away when we step into her home. I sit mesmerized at times just watching the landscape and nature outside her windows. There are always many birds and if we are lucky we see river otters and eagles. This visit I was lucky to spot them. Boats sail by and the sun rises to enchant me.

It was a beautiful time to walk into Autumn and walking we did.

I will show more of this lovely location on another day.

We even took a little time to walk on the sand at a local beach. I love walking here. Sometimes you can find sea glass, but the tide was quite high; so no sea glass was found. Though "live-in-gardener" couldn't resist a bag of rocks. Now I ask, "what are you going to do with all those rocks?"

On the way home there was a stop at Point Defiance Zoo to see Thomas Dambo's four traveling trolls. The first one was easy to find, it greeted us at the entrance.

We had not been to this zoo before and it was fun just to see the zoo and get in a good walk too.

The three others were tucked in the trees in different parts of the zoo. 

Someone offered to take our picture with Troll #2.

Of course, there were animals at the zoo too. It was feeding time for the tiger.

Troll #3 found!

Troll #4 had a garbage container on his head. Silly troll!!!

We learned there are more traveling trolls in another location near Seattle, but we had to head home. Maybe another day. They are so  much fun to find.

How's your week going?

Have you been in nature or found a troll?

I am home now to enjoy Autumn and Winter in my own surroundings, but who knows what adventures might call me.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Day Seven - Final Day French Adventure

The final day took us to Cassis by the sea.

But first I just had to enjoy sitting at Corey's morning table in her kitchen one last time. Such a treat to sit there and sip my tea each morning.

The town fountain near her home.

And off we went for another day of adventure and shopping.

We stopped at this warehouse, flea market to do a little browsing.

I ended up with a small ceramic creamer and two pictures.

And then we arrived in Cassis. We stopped in at Cote Cassis, one of Corey's friend's shop.

Yes, in here I bought some Mariage Freres tea called Eros, a shopping bag, and a small gift for a friend.

In the background is their wall of tea.

And then we walked to the sea for lunch along the waterfront.

We sat under the red awning; so my pictures have a red cast.

The pate with apricot jam and the freshest bun I have ever had was amazing.

Passion fruit sorbet was a perfect final treat.

Some at the table had this lemon dessert, which they said was amazing. Isn't it pretty?

Just sitting by the sea was a delight to my heart for sure.

The drive each day through the countryside was pure joy. Many vineyards along the way.

I will just wrap it up by saying, I was well cared for all of the seven days. For me it was a dream come true that I never really thought I would do. I definitely recommend jumping when the opportunity comes along and grabbing hold of those dreams. Go for it.

After all of the travel I have done the past couple months you would think I would stay home. But a planned small adventure had been on the agenda for quite awhile to visit my sister-in-law next week; so I will return here in a week. Several have asked me to share pictures of some of my shopping, which I will do when I return.

Sending love,

Marilyn