Don't Blame it on the Brocante: The Road Trip Takes a Pit Stop

 

 It was as simple as a sign saying, "Ring and Come in."

I poked French Husband, "Its a sign!"

By the look on his face I knew what I was saying in French wasn't expressing what I meant in English. 

He repeated, "A sign?"

"A symbolic sign that I am to ring and go inside... the brocante is calling me." I added, "Its a sign!" I went on to say in English,  "I need to refuel." Though I don't think in any language I made sense to him.

 

 

We spent the night in Mortagne au Perche, and instantly felt like we could live here. 

We had a "Coup du Coeur" as they say in French, which means, "Love at First Sight".

 

 

 

Blame it on the adorable village, the countryside, the restaurant, the pastry shop with the best lemon cake... 

 

 

Blame it on the pastry table and Provencal urns.

 

 

Blame it on the best baguette, hot from the oven. That French Husband and I ate on the street like tourists.

French Husband wished he had butter.

My American ways have finally, twenty five years later, rubbed off on him.

 

 

 

 

Blame it on the oil paintings in the restoration shop.

 

 

 

Blame it on Stephanie, Chistine and Christine's Husband Jean Philippe, antique dealers from Paris who have settled in Mortagne au Perche. A few hours later we were having lunch together, talking about renovating our apartment in Paris, and coming back later this year to visit them.

Kindred spirits.

Blame it on Stephanie who mixes an antique chair with a piece of tin roof.

 

 

Blame it on the sign:

Enter Freely (Entree Libre).

I believe that where ever we enter freely we gain just that freedom.

 

 

 

Blame it on this oil painting with a black leather and burgundy velvet case.

 

 

 

Blame it on Christiane and her charming old fashion style.

Blame on French antique textiles, iron beds and faux taxidermy deer heads.

Blame it on the sweet mercury glass, Louis Sixteenth trumeau.

 

 

 

Blame it on Stephanie and Christiane, their mis en scenes, their conversations, their bright welcoming smiles... their inviting us to share lunch with them.

 

 

But whatever you do don't blame it on the brocante.

A pit stop to refuel.

 

 

 

Stephanie Mayeux, 

French antique and decorator

34 rue Sainte-Croix 61400 MORTAGNE-AU-PERCHE
Téléphone : 00 33 (0)6 08 16 03 72

06 82 39 79 33 telephone.

Website: http://www.stephaniemayeux.com/

 

 

Le Grand Cerf:

Christiane-Amicie Cousin

French antique dealer and decorator.

34 rue Sainte-Croix 61400 MORTAGNE-AU-PERCHE
Téléphone : 00 33 (0)6 08 16 03 72

Tel : 06 08 16 03 72

Cours in painted furniture and patines.

 

We spent the night here, in this 13th century Demure.

Hotel du Tribunal,

with its Michellin star restaurant.

http://www.hotel-tribunal.fr/

4 Place du Palais
61400 Mortagne au Perche 
02 33 25 04 77

Comments

[annie]

Plenty of blame to go around and loving it all. The fabric deer head is awesome.

[Diogenes]

Love the pictures of their shop. I see so many things I would love to have. Thanks for sharing.

[Rebecca from the pacific northwest]

The reflection of you in the window makes me want to see what you were wearing.
I too love the fabric deer head.
Glad you got to refuel.

[g]

corey it is the RED in those first few pictures= the window= and then the chairs through the shop window-I JUST LOVE IT-love making friends along the way...life's greatest pleasures-sharing stories, ideas, loves and anything that comes to mind....

[Marsha Danosky]

Oh, what a treat this was! Many treasures to recharge you!

[Jeannie]

I could live very happily in the shop with lemon cakes and baguettes for breakfast. :)

[Jenny M]

Beautiful photos.....just what I needed on a grey cloudy morning, here in Melbourne .

[Chris Wittmann]

I absolutely love those ornate iron bits over windows and doors...what a great way to keep intruders out and look great at the same time! A marvelous tour, so many beautiful antiques, I'm afraid I would feel overwhelmed by it all and not know which to take home with me!

[Barbara in Sydney]

This trip of ours is just getting better and better!!!!

[24/7 in France]

Looks like a wonderful pit stop full of lovely, conversational pieces.

[Cheri Hansen]

Corey, Did you or didn't you load -up? I saw those green pieces of pottery, fabrics, food and hotel. What a wonderful trip. Be safe and enjoy, Cheri H

[Kiki]

Bliss - BLISS - bliss.....

We do not have to blame anything on anything/anybody - you just madly fell in love (again).... it happens - like that - and NOTHING can do anything to prevent it, to change it - just accept it!

WONDERFUL post.... wonderful people and delightful scenery - I could live here too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dd]

Really enjoying this journey you are taking us on. This looks like a beautiful place. I absolutely loved the movie Au Ckocklate and have always wanted to visit that village

[Peggy Braswell]

how I adore "our" trip + every single mile of it. Thank you for taking me along. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

[Joanna]

Corey, a very fundamental question that I now ask myself on a daily basis when I read your blog is why the French pays so much to visual aesthetics while the rest of the world does not, but only in the well to to do or upper scale places. Almost every I go in the world, except for the Scandinavian countries , or selected places elsewhere, the average middle class and even middle upper class live in places, use things, dress w clothing, that are devoid of beauty or inspiration. I am thinking of something as as simple as a plastic shopping bag. But in France, even the most common things are wrapped in designs that inspire or bring a whimsical feeling, and I mean in little things even, a thread, a paper bag over the bread, fonts on street signs.

[Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic]

Love your photos and the shops. Now I want to visit this village :-)

[Rhonda]

sigh...so beautiful and I'm constantly checking Air France's rates.