tried shaking off my blues with a walk into the village this morning. It was a cool, not cold, and moist morning with a light, dewy drizzle off and on.my first stop was my favorite little boutique where I was dropping off some jeans to be shortened. every jean or pant I purchased here has required the same routine, even though all the french women I've seen are petite like me! but I love this little nook with lots of cute clothes and a friendly mademoiselle to assist. In fact, it is called Mamzelle so I probably shouldn't be there! ha. next I strolled up to my favorite boulangerie where I bought a tourte (round country loaf which lasts longer than a baguette) and a brioche with sugar crystals instead of my usual croissant. On to the little bar facing the plaza, where I had a petite café and enjoyed my brioche. so much in fact that I walked back and bought another for tomorrow morning. As I sat and sipped my coffee, I spied on the couple in front of me. Not young, but still loving ... they cooed and nuzzled like love birds as they enjoyed their pains aux chocolats and I recognized the meaning of the phrase 'love birds' ... their little kisses made soft smoochy sounds as they smiled and pecked.
le sigh.
after the 2nd trip to the boulangerie, I walked up to the patisserie and bought one small tarte aux fraises and a small paquet of sarments ... chocolate dipped orange zest. as I walked up the street, I noticed another little shop had finally opened, I have been observing the renovation of the space for months. It is another chocolate shop, Belgian, called Les Deux Venises. The region of Belgium they are from is called the Venice of the North, Brantome is the Venice of the Perigord, thus ... the name. The gentleman was quite kind and a little shy, so I bought a few chocolates and gave some encouraging feedback. A sweet little shop, and for my efforts I left with a couple of extra chocolates, gratuit!
on to the horlogerie where I finally made the drop off of a wristwatch that I haven't been wearing. It is a vintage Hermes, turquoise, more jewelry than watch as it has this really cool cover that is a pyramid like stud, you don't even see the watchworks unless you wish to (by lifting the cover). I've never grown an affinity for a timepiece, but I love the look of this one. so there it is, for examination and pick-up on Tuesday.
I strolled back and tried to concentrate on the beauty that surrounds me. the life I'm slowly creating. my haves vs. my have nots. I dropped off my items at home and continued my walk the opposite direction to the little fleuriste up the road from me. I picked up a new climbing rose, Queen Elizabeth, for my trellis pot in the garden. and a small bunch of ranunculus, red with interesting leafy green centers, for my own morale.
a friend just recently commented to me that she had been bemoaning her desire to return to Europe for her European life. And husband reminded her that where we go, we take us along.
it is true, i've brought *me* here ... and while there has been growth, there are parts of me that I imagine will remain sad and unfulfilled wherever I wander. for now, I'm going to just let them be, offer comfort and succor to those wounds as best I can ... and try to accept that parts of my path this go around may not be meant to change...ever.
I do wish you all could walk along with me next time. for it is a truly lovely place I've landed.
4 comments:
Shortening jeans? You get a lot of flooding in those parts or is this a subtle campaign to sexify?
Pay no mind to that couple for they are obviously on an acid trip. Love is for chumps.
I'll take you up on that walk, though. Certainly more inviting that walking down Euclid Ave. No offense, Cleveland, but you ain't France. Although now I'm mad because I'm hungry thanks to your listing of the contents of 852 different shops within walking distance.
Yes, I'm in agreement with Randal... my husband just offered me a piece of toast and after reading your blog my reaction was YUK! who wants old, dry toast when we could be feasting on a luscious croissant in just that very cafe we have sat at ourselves...funny how life is, we always want what we can't have. but, truth be told, what amazes me most about your move to France is that you made a dream that you've had all your life actually come true. So, you've proven to yourself that whatever you can dream, you can also make happen. It just doesn't always come in the package we imagine. We love you and wish we were there, K&D
p.s. still working on the jazz festival possibilities... dream on!
Lovely post. Thank you for taking us along with you for the trip into the village.
I tried to reply to this earlier but blogger was not happy with me for some reason.
it is true, i've brought *me* here ... and while there has been growth, there are parts of me that I imagine will remain sad and unfulfilled wherever I wander. for now, I'm going to just let them be, offer comfort and succor to those wounds as best I can ... and try to accept that parts of my path this go around may not be meant to change...ever.
Apart from the odd details, that was more or less the conversation I was having at my house yesterday.
randal- no flooding I'm just SHORT! 4-6 inches of denim or other materials are wasted per pant on me. On average that would be the equivalent of one or 2 pairs of pants per season, given my jeans addiction. And yeah, I'm trying to find the hook-up for a fix of that acide. I'm due.
Kathleen-love you guys too. i hate it when you tell me the truth. *je boude*
Michelle-I'd love to hear more about that conversation...
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