Urban Market Hunting.....Part Deux

Writing this blog has taught me about what I like and what I'm drawn to. I've discovered that I like letters, signs, odd/unusual things, mannequins, bicycles, France and FALL!

After my first trip to France...(note I said FIRST because I WILL go back again)...I now have a small collection of French sign/plaques.  These reproduction plaques are similar to the originals I found near Aix en Provence at a horse barn/track.  Mine is from 1976 (ahem....I'm drawn to that date because it's when I graduated from High School....yep...I'm officially O-L-D).  These were made into lamps....good idea, huh?

I've seen many bottle dryers over the last few years.... before that...I didn't even know what they were!  Isn't BlogLand great for learning new things?

I've also learned while blogging that I LOVE old bicycles.  I only have ONE old bike and I retrieved it from Heavy Trash in my neighborhood....which I prefer to call Big Trash Boutique. WOOHOO!!!

A globe collection would be great for me to start (if I had the room).  Travelling is a LOVE of mine and maps intrigue me.

A very Martha Stewart-Esq idea on this pumpkin that I'm going to "borrow" next year!  Upholstery Tacks!

A pretty re-purposed dresser.  They did a great job matching the pattern, don't you think?

Once again...my love of French things drew me to this piece of artwork...I think I'm an official Franc-o-phile.

Pretty French Pillows!

Even though my basic style is Cottage...albeit FUNKY Cottage....I adore other styles as well.  If I were rich enough to have two house....one would be cottage and one would be more contemporary.  My designer friend calls this look "Transitional"....what would YOU call it?  

Orange is definitely THE color this year.  It seems to have made a big resurgence since the 1970's when harvest gold and avocado green and orange were used a lot.  It think this zoomy, sleek and stylish orange sideboard would look good with the chairs above.

Who knew a simple, newspaper craft could turn out so cute.....perky flowers!!!!

Yeehaw.....we love our Texas cowboys hats and don't they look chic on these mannequins?

And again....MORE fun and exotic pumpkins.  Check out that long, bright orange one on the top of the pile ....FUNKEEEE!!!!

Anyone having a Blue Christmas this year?  Love the retro look of the pink and blue.  

So....guess what I came home with?!?!?  The leg's below!  I'M Super Excited to try a Pinterest project on them!  

Cooking Class in a French Chateau!!

We had been told we were going to a French Cooking Class....but imagine our surprise when we pulled up in front of THIS beauty!

And not to Name-Drop or anything, but this chateau was visit many times by Louis XXIV as a hunting lodge!

Our host, Mark, now lives in this family home that was once occupied by the German's during World War II. He was the ultimate host and showed us around before the cooking class started.  Have you EVER seen a fig tree this big?

This was just a "little guest house" on the property.  I think I could just stay there forever!

Here's the pool and garden that the guest house looks out on.WHAT a view, right?

And the other end of the pool.  Beyond that stone fence were some pet donkey's. 

This is the view looking back to the house.....rough life, huh?

Mark obviously has a green thumb and has a way with begonias.  Loved the fact that just random pieces of concrete fences decorated the flower beds.

A pretty little stair way to lead to secret parts of the garden.

Stunning, right?

More of the hidden garden............

Then around the corners was a century old bathhouse.  The walls of the little domed building were decorated with shells. 

The mosaic ceiling of the bath house.

Pretty Garden shed............

An interesting planter.............

A winding stairway..........

Another out building...............There's SO much room there....I don't think they would notice if I moved in, do you?  Until all my friends started traipsing thru; because if I'm going to live somewhere THIS cool, you are ALL invited to come and visit!

A beautiful old (maybe I should quit saying "OLD" because everything THERE is old.  LOL!

A random little cactus garden in the South of France.

The beautiful green house.............

Not sure what this building was....but who cares!  It's COOL! 

The bird house for fancy French Chickens.........

And THEN, we are invited into the special Cooking Class Kitchen.  We all sat around this beautiful table and watched our host prepare a scrumptious meal of lamb.....and, OF COURSE, the wine was flowing.

Mark, our host and chef, was so personable and cute....AND a sexy French Accent!

This is a ricotta pie he made for dessert.  The bowl is lined with fig leaves (from that huge fig tree, no doubt) and then baked for dessert.

More dishes and more wine.....................he even provided recipe cards to we could write down the recipes.

And here is the ricotta pie after it was cooked.  Interesting, huh?  It wasn't my all time favorite dessert but it was SO French....what's not to love.  The other dish is a rice and chickpea side dish.

The buffet in the cooking kitchen.....

Being the nosy guests, we asked the walk through his REAL kitchen.  Check out this stove and tile work. 

And finally, just a funny thing I found in the hallway......This is PROBABLY one of his relatives....I just liked the shadow. 

Check back later in the week for MORE FUN FRENCH ADVENTURES!  Bon  Jour..........

France....Here I Come!

Blogging is such a COOL thing!  You "meet" so many nice people and see so many cool and clever things.  But my blogging has taken me even one step farther in the realm of COOL THINGS.  Hold on to your hats ladies....I'm going on my first trip to France.  With..... The fun ladies at the Red Shed in Grapevine. http://redshedantiques.blogspot.com/   You see...when I blogged about Grapevine, TX a few weeks ago, I had made the short trip from Houston to Dallas to meet some of my fellow traveling buddies and learn more about the trip.

Check their fantastic blog out....they put on these trips several times and year and even though I haven't gone yet....I know it will be the trip of a lifetime. 

 We will be visiting all sorts of fun flea markets, antique stores, have a cooking class, visit a chateau, a trip to the Cote D' Azure and much, much more. 

The weather in Aix en Provence in October promises to be some of the best weather they have.  Highs in the 70's and lows in the 50's with lots of sunshine.  I'm envisioning we will be strolling down streets just like this one.  I can't WAIT!!!! 

 We will see hillside views just like this!

 We won't be seeing any fields of lavender because that season is in the early summer.  However, I'm sure there will be plenty of "lavender things" to see.  

 Provence has at its southern edge the famed Cote d’Azur with its wonderful coastline along the Mediterranean Sea.  Generally Provence is consider the area east of the Rhone River with the Alps being the eastern border.  Provence enjoys a southern sun that shines 320 days yearly, giving the region blue skies and mild temperatures year round.  And as a Southern girl, living in Houston with the temperature still hovering in the mid-90's, cool and sunshiney weather sounds like Heaven!

 After 7 days in wonderful Aix en Provence, the Red Shed portion of the trip will end, but my traveling companion, Tyra and I, will continue on to Paris.  We simply COULD NOT be that close to Paris and skip it....so we opted to add a few more days on our itinerary.  LIFE'S SHORT----LIVE A LITTLE!

The few short days will only whet my appetite for more of Paris....but, hey....it's a start. A boulangerie/bakery is one of the first things I want to find.  We will need strength for our busy and fun-filled Paris excursions.

 And of course, we'll have some coffee, giggles and people watch while we plot out our day.

 Montmarte is, of course, on the list.

And then perhaps a crepe, or I've been told to be sure to get a Jambon Sandwich (?)....

And it wouldn't be a "girly trip" without some serious window shopping! 

Where would YOU suggest we go????  All suggestions are much appreciated.  And of course, I'll be blogging when I return home.  On the previous trip "The Red Shed" took they blogged along the way, so be sure and check out their blog! http://redshedantiques.blogspot.com/

Wish me luck!!!