Bread & Cheese

Where's the promised bread and cheese?

If it's not market day in your village, a short ride through the countryside......

..............a few turns through narrow village lanes..............

.............will bring you to a new village and another daily market.

Before heading for the freshly baked breads and gorgeous local cheeses, we have to admire the vegetables.

When they look as fresh and gorgeous as these how could you resist!

The French may think we vegetarians are a bit peculiar, but surely they must know we have good reason to skip the meat when offered such amazing veggies.

I do eat my veggies, as I'm sure you do................but then there's the bread and cheese!

There's no stopping me when the gorgeous crusty breads and amazing selection of French cheeses appear.

All images taken at various markets in the South of France in October.

You know about "bringing home the bacon"............more important is the fresh baguette. In France it will be presented to you proudly by the boulanger, wrapped in a piece of paper and, like the French, you will take a bite from the end while it's still warm!

Pink Saturday

Pink Caunes marble.

The village of Caunes-Minervois, where my family now live, is famous for its marble which comes in three shades ~ pale pink, sandy pink and blood red. The marble was used for the columns of the Grand Trianon at Versailles, the Opera Garnier in Paris (yes, where The Phantom hung out), the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel at the Louvre, and many famous buildings in Europe. The marble quarries have long contributed to the village's prosperity and renown.

Winning pieces from annual marble carving competitions are displayed around the village.

Local grape picker?

Early Autumn leaves in one of several pink marble fountains in the village.

Visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound

to enjoy more pink posts today.

My "French" Family

Sometimes a visit to one's immediate family means a long journey. On arrival at my brother's home many doors open in welcome ~ warmth and love soon surround ~ feelings of comfort and happiness prevail.

Ring the bell ~ soon one hears the latch lift on the gate.......................

...............step through onto the crunchy gravel path...............

.............pass by the garden, still and quiet in the early Autumn sunshine......

................the old, original front door...............


.............and enter the house through these doors leading into the dining room and kitchen.

This lovely house was not a home when I visited the first time in 2006. It was being restored ~ it needed a lot of time, muscle, money and love to bring it back. It was the house of the corn merchant. It's location is perfect, on a small lane called an impasse, across from the elementary school where the voices of the children liven the crisp morning air.

The warm welcome from my family in their French home.

Aix-en-Provence........and Corey

On the Cours Mirabeau, Aix-en-Provence - October 2008

We planned to meet late morning under a statue on the Cours Mirabeau, Aix-en-Provence's main street known for it's fountains and ancient allée of plane trees. The previous night's heavy rain, and showers that morning, still had me up bright and early, anxious to meet both Corey, and her cousin Judy with husband Chris, visiting from California. As you can imagine, my dh and Chris chatted about sports and guy stuff, while we three gals had more important things to do, like antiques hunting at the morning market!

Many of you are familiar with Corey Amaro's beautiful blog Tongue In Cheek where she shares details of her life with French husband and their children in Provence, and her visits home to California. Corey is funny and has a great sense of style, both of which are captured by her camera. Meeting her made me realize, yet again, that the blogging world is amazing in the way it brings people together who share similar interests.

Corey writes/photographs fabulous articles for well known magazines such as Victoria, Romantic Homes and Somerset Life, and images of her own French village home have been an inspiration to me. She also directed me to her friend Nathalie's beautiful house La Madone in Apt where I stayed last month (see recent posts).

Corey, camera always at the ready, and Judy at the Aix market.

Plenty of small antiques available - always have an extra suitcase!

We snapped each other across one of the many historic fountains.

Great photo opportunities around every bend in the old cobbled streets and alleys of Aix-en-Provence.

Following market browsing and purchasing some small antiques - great bargains because Corey knows all the dealers who were kind enough to discount purchases Judy and I made - the five of us enjoyed a relaxed and delicious lunch. Corey then offered to show us more of Aix - historical buildings with amazing architecture, delightful shops, and even took us to a large brocante for more bargain shopping. Judy and I knew we had to stop before we needed to arrange for a container to ship our treasures home!

Small treasures discovered at La Rotonde ~ Vente Depot.

We said goodbye in the late afternoon. The sun did come out when the rain stopped, the day was lovely, and I was thrilled to have spent time with a special friend and members of her California family.

Be sure to get a copy of December's Romantic Homes where Corey's article 'Christmas Surprises' celebrates the season at Judy and Chris' beautiful home in California. Toile, red transferware, and many of Judy's antique treasures are showcased.

Le jour de marché

It's market day. Hurry, grab one of these authentic French market baskets (these were made right here in the Provencal town of Apt in the Luberon Mountains).....................we're going shopping. I know it's early morning, the sun is just up, and you want a second cup of coffee, but do hurry please, the best stuff is waiting and the market will close at noon!

There is so much to see on market day. The abundance of goods for sale amazes one's senses. As you travel from town to town, village to village, there is always unlimited bounty at each market. Colors overwhelm your vision, your nose breathes in the heady scents of fresh bread, lavender, olive oil soap, Camembert cheese, ocean seafood, garlic, spices and so much more.

Pretty and pungent just harvested lavender from the nearby fields of the Luberon below Mt. Ventoux.

Robust chunks of kitchen soap made from pure olive oil..............

................the piece I brought home to my kitchen!

The local olives now being harvested and brined...............

.................and some made into the purest extra virgin oils and delicious tapenade spreads.

Sunny lemons...........................

................for dried fish (a local delicacy)............guess you soak it, but then what?

.................and freshly caught seafood from the Mediterranean.

Freshly bagged herbs, blended for whatever you are preparing for dinner.............

............and an array of spices to make any dish sing!

Perfect braids of freshly dug garlic..........to make the tastiest aïoli, that so French garlic mayonnaise.

Flowers at every corner - in every color.

Much more to see, can you wait until next time? The breads and cheeses - my favorites of course. The fashions, the antique treasures.................yes, French markets don't leave out much. So dress comfortably, tuck your euros in your pocket...........and choose your basket.
What does your heart desire?