What I Saw on (Mon) Day

I'm calling this post What I Saw on (Mon) Day but it could just as easily be titled What I Saw on Bastille Day.

no treasures uncovered today, just the usual mix of bric a brac, toys and children's clothing

We celebrated in our own little way by mooching around a vide grenier in the nearby village of Bernesq in the morning.

insde the village's church of St Vigor

As a special treat I baked a Strawberry & Almond Cheesecake sponge from a recipe featured on the cover of the June 2014 issue of BBC Good Food magazine.

You can find the recipe here.

my cake on the left - not a bad "look a like" even if I say so myself!

Sitting on the terrace looking out over the garden with a large slice of cake and a good magazine, what a perfect way to spend the afternoon!

I found the vintage blue and white "Asiatic Pheasant" plate (one of a pair)
at an Antiques market in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire. May 2014

Vive La France!

Joining Patti & Paula for
What's It Wednesday
@ Ivy & Elephants

Last of the summer vide - greniers

On our way home from the Sunday walk we stopped in a local village to check out what was probably the last vide grenier of the year.
I wish that I could show you the beautiful vintage linens and antique pottery which I found there.
I know of several bloggers living in France who always find the most wonderful decorative pieces for their homes and on line shops.
You may know them too.

Hélas, I found nothing at all that spoke to me or demanded to be taken home to live with us!

Was I wrong?

Perhaps it was a mistake to leave this Vallauris leaf shaped platter behind?

Now that I think about it, maybe it would look good in the centre of a Fall tablescape?

Vallauris pottery is produced in south eastern France and is quite popular with collectors, although it's not really to my taste.
I remember that many years ago I found a set of 8 oyster plates, at a brocante fair in Paris, which I listed for sale on ebay as "the ugliest oyster plates I have ever seen".
That turned out to be a battle of an auction and although I can't remember the end price I do know that they fetched a lot more than I paid for them.
Have a great week!

V is for Vide Grenier

Alphabe-Thursday has come around again and this week Mrs Matlock's students are pondering the letter "V".

Here in France, V must mean "vide grenier", which when literally translated means "empty attic".

A Vide Grenier is a cross between a yard sale, a flea market or a car boot sale depending which country you live in!

Need a bike?

I bought this little item for 3 euros at the last vide grenier we went to.

At the moment it is residing in the downstairs loo but I'm not inspired by it there.

I get so jealous when I read about all the great thrifty items some of my blogger friends find at Goodwill or Estate sales.
Two experts that spring to mind are Bill @ Affordable Accoutrements, he is the one to go to for beautiful, stunning tablescapes, and Jane @ Mamie Jane's who has the best "eye" for turning other people's junque into wonderful decorative home accents.
I can't imagine that you don't already know about these two fabulous blogs, but just in case you don't, click on the links to see what I mean when I say they are two of the best.
See you in class.