French Flea Market Cures
At the flea market this morning, I came across a stand that had a 19th century pharmacy collection. Apothecary jars, packets of pills, cotton bundles, glass tubes with ointments and dried herbs in paper packets, gathered together in wooden boxes. I asked the dealer if there was a magic potion in the lot? He replied, No, but that he was hoping for a cure for a broken heart. I looked into his eyes and smiled sadly...
photos: French flea market hopefuls find happiness and ancient cures.
Did you by all those bottles?
Are you gonna sell em here
???
Posted by: Anonymouse | 01 December 2006 at 03:23 PM
What a find!!! Did you purchase any of those bottles? I think my suitcase would be overflowing had I been with you!
Posted by: Deb L | 30 November 2006 at 02:14 AM
I love Harry potter and I am sure the teacher cupboards would have been brimming with these kind of magical things <3
I love your photos and words. Every time so touching!
Posted by: Delila | 28 November 2006 at 03:16 PM
I am sure there is not a single love potion for everybody..
there must be a different formula for everyone..
enjoy..
Posted by: pnardnmz | 28 November 2006 at 06:21 AM
Not visited you for a while but you're still posting wonderful dreamy romantic posts, you have such wonderful places around you. Have you thought about a book yet for us all to drool over, Hugs Jude x
Posted by: Judy Scott | 27 November 2006 at 02:59 PM
Lovely post! I am lucky to have a 19th-century pharmacy cabinet and I've been collecting apothecary jars, funnels and unique and curious pharmaceutical items to fill it.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 27 November 2006 at 02:12 PM
Dear C! I am a complete sucker for the old bottles that once held potions for that which ailed you...Love the photos!
http://oneblue-egg.blogspot.com/
Posted by: berrie | 27 November 2006 at 01:48 PM
j'aime beaucoup votre blog ! les images, l'ambiance !!!
Posted by: boubou | 27 November 2006 at 09:37 AM
Corey - all of your posts - the photos and sentiments and stories are so lovely. (I loved the keyhole photo and thoughts). Unending creativity and insight.
My favorite love potions come out of medieval herbals - entailing ingredients like 'dew, collected naked, from lady's mantle leaves under the light of the first full moon after the spring equinox'... If you can decipher the antique spelling, they are charming and sometimes hilarious.
Posted by: Tara Larsen Chang | 27 November 2006 at 08:55 AM
My love potion is made of lots of hugs and appreciation. I've been making lip balms this weekend and thinking a little dash of magic might be a good ingredient.
Posted by: deirdre | 27 November 2006 at 07:53 AM
Corey.....Your Sunday morning flea markets look so appealing. Wish I could tag along.......maybe someday:) A girl can dream.......
Posted by: Linda Harre | 27 November 2006 at 05:07 AM
I would have purchased at least one little bottle and I must find some Carl Hancock Rux to listen to.
Posted by: negativeEclipse | 27 November 2006 at 04:49 AM
I so love those old packages tied in string.
I have in the past created them myself, using bundles of rolled paper and glued together and tied up: they are like little sculptures and only I know what the print inside says (magic words?).
I so miss les marchés aux puces.
Posted by: Colette | 27 November 2006 at 04:28 AM
Corey, I'm sure this is what I miss about France and Europe the most, the flea markets..
especially the outdoor ones..
And no I don't really knit. But yes it's quite cold considering we are only 12 blocks from the ocean!
Posted by: expatraveler | 27 November 2006 at 03:42 AM
Love potions? And store owners with broken hearts?
Now THAT is romantic...the stories are oozing ;)
love to U
xxx darlene
Posted by: Darlene | 27 November 2006 at 03:36 AM
oooh mumms for me, love potion with bubbles!
Posted by: artesprit | 27 November 2006 at 02:43 AM
love potion for a broken heart? time
Posted by: Jenny | 27 November 2006 at 12:53 AM
Love Potion! Mmmmmm,
Take time.
Listen, but more importantly, hear.
Touch.
Laughter.
Never go to bed angry with each other ( making up is so much fun, afterall:)
Posted by: herhimnbryn | 27 November 2006 at 12:08 AM
Boy you really know the flea market to shop! I viewed Annie's art..very ~*unique!*~
My love potion..kisses n hugs add a generous amount of communication and heaps of respect!Makes a long lasting love!
Posted by: naturegirl | 26 November 2006 at 10:16 PM
tu as l'art et la manière de dire l'esprit .
*** Nice words in such a great world ,
yours dear !
Posted by: eivlys | 26 November 2006 at 08:47 PM
is there ever a cure for "flea markets?" love'em!
your findings are a winner, as always.
I wish you a sunny French day!
sage
Posted by: sage | 26 November 2006 at 08:15 PM
My love potion (for a broken heart or not) is chocolate, hot coffee, hugging my kids, and watching a movie with my husband.
Now, it is a very good thing that the flea market is so far away. My husband is not only a collector of junk, I mean interesting things, but he is also a pharmacist. He would have bought that whole lot! That would have solved that guys broken heart!
Posted by: CathyC | 26 November 2006 at 08:08 PM
oh how i would love to go to the brocantes with you my dear!
what mischief we'd have, lol!
thanks so much for your most kind words on my blog lately...i deeply appreciate each & every one of them!
xo,
mary ann
Posted by: mary ann | 26 November 2006 at 07:59 PM
Ahh, poor guy. He just needs to have faith for that broken heart. I adore all those old jars and everything!
Posted by: Teresa Sheeley | 26 November 2006 at 07:40 PM
My potion for a broken heart:
A good stiff drink mixed with lots of laughter.
Posted by: Shannon | 26 November 2006 at 06:56 PM
My love potion consists of an open soul, the path of awareness and authenticity, and some magic fairy dust from the gods and goddesses of fate.
Beautiful photos, JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 26 November 2006 at 06:44 PM
The potion that currently seems to be effective for me is finding others with mutual love for a thing, an idea, art, God, spirit. Love comes in so many forms that it is impossible to exhaust them all. This realization is healing my broken heart every day. Scarcely a fracture is traceable.
Posted by: lisa | 26 November 2006 at 05:32 PM
Faith, laughter and wild wild roses...
Dreamy photos, I want to transport every single jar and package into my studio for future creative cooking! Did you buy any???
Posted by: Ulla | 26 November 2006 at 05:28 PM
It's not my love potion but the one I use:
do unto others as you would have them to unto you
Posted by: Star | 26 November 2006 at 05:26 PM
7 UP and punch mixed together...whatever it's called, and spiked. If not then hot chocolate will do.
Posted by: Julie | 26 November 2006 at 05:18 PM
Treasure troves.
Love you Sugar Plum!
Love Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | 26 November 2006 at 05:14 PM
I think it is time to pack up and move to your neighborhood! WOW I am constantly enthralled at the treasures you find as well as the words you wrap around them to create a moment in time.
Posted by: Kristen R | 26 November 2006 at 05:00 PM
Firstly prepare to make a love potion by loving yourself..
Mix liberal measures of attraction,trust,kindness,
affection and romance to taste.
Add spice to the potion with a little excitement and lust.
Caution..unless used unconditionally, this may lead to heartache.
Posted by: Sheila | 26 November 2006 at 03:55 PM
Amazing, is it safe to take 19th century medicine? I love the packaging, and how poetic yet sad for one to be hoping for a cure for a broken heart. Annie's artwork is beautiful.
Posted by: cruststation | 26 November 2006 at 03:24 PM