Wait for it................................

Will you all settle down please!!! You are not too big to go over my knee you know!!!
 Yesterday it was brocanting until late and today Mark has gone to the UK for three days for a family birthday. So.................................you absolutely cannot make me go down there alone in the pitch black with a mouse, a candle and a teaspoon to dig in the clay! ......what?.....oh.......yes you can!!!

I have asked Dominic who is the grandson of the old lady that lived here before, but he was too young to remember what it was like when Grandmere bought the place but he says his eldest brother may know so he will ask him for me.

The tiny village "mairie" town hall is open tomorrow afternoon so I will ask if they have any records of the chateau kept there . But, I suspect they will be held at the area records office in Coutances or Carentan so I will ask our lady mayor how to go about that too.

Now if you can all arrive here tonight some of you can hold the candle and we will take it in turns to fend off the mouse and dig.

Talking of Dig.....Digger is not talking to me as I managed to catch him to Frontline him this morning! He is allergic to any kind of insect bites - his stomach turns bright red and he itches so much he has to have a cortisone injection at the vets. I told him it was for his own good as a little Front line as a precaution woulod be better than an injection but he wasn`t interested. I am sure he can read the words on that Frontline box - the minute I have it in my hand he becomes Harry Houdini and today I finally managed to corner him by the armoire!

So you will have to keep your camiknickers on wait a little longer mes belles!!
A demain!!

Have we found the chateau tunnel at last?

I told you sometime ago that local legend says that somewhere here in the grounds of Le Petit Chateau is a hidden tunnel. When we bought this place it had stood empty for over 10 years.The grandson of the last owner told us that his grandmere was a fabulous gardener - but she hadn`t unearthed anything. We too have had a good scout about in the grounds but never came up with any ideas.

 But today I went down into the cellar to see if the swallows had nested in there again this year. The cellar is not accessible from inside the house but does have a small access door in the garden. When grandmere purchased the house in the 1950s it had already long been derelict and the wooden ground floor floors had  fallen through into the cellar. She renovated and put new floors throughout but it is clear to see with all the mud and debris in there that it was never cleaned out. The floor remains deep in mud and old rotted 19th century wooden beams  - and, to be honest it is the last thing to deal with on our list of renovation work.

I went down into the half light and immediately  saw a tiny field mouse scuttle along the mud floor. Rather than leave him to run the gauntlet with Charles le Baron I decided to catch him and put him outside in the bushes. He ran into the second half of the cellar and into the darkness - and I had to wait until my eyes became accustomed to the darkness to try and see him. And then I saw it......a huge flat triangular stone in the corner. After living here for over two years it is the first time we have ever seen it!!
So after a some investigation, digging into the heavy clay and soil moving this is what we have found................

The first stone was cleared to reveal another stone step below. Did those steps lead down to a hidden 19th century privy? But then it became apparent that there is a hole below the second step. The left hand side of what we have uncovered is a solid wall and continues down but the front opens up below the second step. It feels as if there are some stones in there and we have pulled out some old bottles and mother of pearl buttons.

So......we have lost the light now and have to stop - but cannot wait to do a bit more digging tomorrow.

Double click on the photograph if you want to look closer.
So............... what do you think?

I only went to look for a door......................

I only went out to look around the local brocantes to find a door..............................but........................

.....you know what its like.............

you see something tucked away covered in dust......................

and you have to truffle it out because you have the perfect spot for it................

and so then you can`t leave without it..........................

and then on the way home you pass the garden centre so have to stop and buy a pond pump and a tall passion flower that will eventually wind its way behind it......

................because what good is a fountain if it doesn`t work!!

And.....if the Chateau de Versailles can have huge fountains......I can have just a petite one!! I must stop these delusions of grandeur!

Love it...............love it.....love it!!

Treasures from Tartelette..............

This is what Tartelette bought for me for a present in whilst she was truffling in Paris...................

....the most divine 19th century boudoir box covered in a toile the pattern of which, even after 28 years or so of truffling around France, I have never seen before.

The inside is so pristine and she had tucked away inside two little bon bon boxes too.

And to think...........10 years ago when she emailed me; no, harassed me; no, stalked me to help her furnish her home with French treasures I had tried to escape her clutches!!

I am so glad I gave in because she has become such a wonderful friend who has a heart of pure gold. But don`t tell her that; I have to keep her thinking she has not won me over yet!!!! To be honest she has such a sharp eye for timeworn shabby French treasures she doesn`t really need me at all...................but don`t tell her that either!!

On her next visit she may re-possess the box and it will then live with her for a while too....but I don`t mind sharing with her at all!

But she is now safely home after a hideous flight travelling through two huge storms on the way - and I nearly got to call in that pair of gilded 19th century wings bequeathed to me after 2 glasses of red.

I do know that she has taken back some delicious finds for her next private sale which she arranges at her home in Portland, Oregon. I have seen her latest haul and it`s no wonder the queue starts early! I am very tempted to simply join the end of the queue one day as a suprise!
Here is her blogsite  - and I am sure she will get blogging again nearer her sale time......
www.charlottesbrocante.blogspot.com


So, peace reigns again and back to normality whatever that is!
I have had a few days truffling locally with Miss Frou frou and we have unearthed some little mignons like these.....

....exquisite faceted crystal candle shades for me,

....and adorable cherub prints and 19th century silk brocade for Froufrou.
You will find Miss Froufrous listings here:

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/cafe-de-paris/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

Have a wonderful weekend, mes belles!

sculptures............

The driveway is finally finished and I`d love a pair of stone sculptures.............................but perhaps not Froufrou and Mr Froufrou!!!!

The feline speed bump.....................

Finally our new driveway is taking shape. I went along with Mark to a local quarry carriere to make the order as I had a hidden agenda. I tagged along so I could choose the stone that has a little rose blush when wet.....well why not?....if its going to rain it can at least look girlie!!

We are using a special membrane that goes under a riding menage as Normandie is famous for its lush grazing and that grass can get through anything!!

Work is slow and the reason?.................................Charles le Baron du Breuil is obsessed with it all and hides underneath at every possible chance. There`s going to be a huge lump at the centre of the driveway if he doesn`t vanish soon!!!

Tartelette is safely back in Oregon and before she left she bought me the most delicious treasure from the Paris brocante as a gift. I am not worthy!!!! I will show you tomorrow..............

A demain mes belles!

Hope its the right choice............

As our renovation continues we had been putting off our decision on what to do about a fireplace in the new sitting room. Rustique old stone or something a little more grand? It simply had to be right as it will be the main focal point for the room. All I knew is that it had to be floor to ceiling  - and it has to look as if it has always been here.

 I have trawled through  back issues of virtually every interiors magazine I could find,  have stood and looked at the blank wall where it will be from every angle - and have looked at every fireplace in every cafe and  restaurant for miles around!!!! It was getting to the point where if a choice was not made soon the work would be held up....................but then we saw what we had been looking for !!!

Whilst out truffling recently at a brocante we found an old fireplace propped up against a wall almost hidden under a layer of dust. A huge old treasure that had been removed from a manoir some years ago. We brushed away the dust and as it revealed itself we knew that if we walked away without buying it we would regret it. How many times have I walked away from an old treasure only to still talk about it and ponder 'I wished I had bought it'!

The gesso on the fireplace we had found carries old gilded cherubs and dolphins.................

........some amazing carved and painted faces....

.....and winged cherubs on the pillars.

There is room on the back panel for a gilt mirror and perhaps lustre sconces on either side. It is going to sit against a wall with old pale lime plaster so, hopefully, it is going to blend in with the room.

Did we make the right choice? I hope so!!!

Works halted......................well, sort of!!!

It is pretty chaotic at the chateau to say the least!!! We have the " mini pelle" digger on site pipe laying, drive clearing and all sorts. The tractor and trailer are in and out and various stone works are happening. The drive work was halted briefly by Charles, le Baron du Breuil who decided that " Mais oui.................a three legged cat can also attempt to drive some heavy machinery !!".

Work has also had to be halted on the ceiling in the renovation as a nestfull of baby swallows have hatched up in the rafters and are using the beams for flying school. When the swallows returned in April I did tell their mother that, as much as I like her, I would be grateful if she would use one of the barns as a hotel this year; but she disobeyed me and laid a nest full of eggs in the roof rafters! I have tried to photograph them but they are flying round and round so fast in there that you need a crash hat and visor as some of their flight paths are a little dubious to say the least - and getting an action picture of them on the wing is nigh-on impossible! Charles lies inside on his back looking up -  and hoping!


So, with all this going on I had told Tartelette (who had arrived in Paris from Oregon last week)  that I would not be able to catch up with her before she makes her way to Provence - but I wished her good truffling. She has phoned me daily......no thats a lie, five times daily  - and has kept me updated with her finds and her location.

Then, I had THE phone call. A call from a dealer who had emptied an old house and had kept the textiles for me to see. Now this is a man I never ignore. The last time he called I had the most divine haul of period pieces from him which I still dream of to this day!  He is a good four or five hours away so we decided to surprise Tartelette en route. Arriving late we knocked on her hotel door, Mark was ready with the camera to capture the moment. It's a wonder you couldn`t hear her screaming!! And of course she cried!!

Opposite the hotel was a small bar that was having an open air barbeque with live music so a little dancing was in order ....and after a few glasses of Bordeaux....

......bet you didn`t know I could dance that fast, did you?

I recently found a stunning batch of early faceted crystal candle bulb covers that look like tiny chandeliers so I had to give Madame a couple towards her truffling fund. The next morning she walked into the busy hotel breakfast room wearing one on her head as a crown!! Its okay; I never have to go to that hotel again!!!

So, the drive to the man who had kept the textiles for me was as good as I expected and the car was crammed with hoards of stunning 19th century treasures. Lots of faded roses curtains, morceaux of silks and linens, ribbons, hats with corsages, lace, tassles and much more...........

But then, on my return home, photobucket kicked off - and the bulk uploader for my photographs will not work. Apparently I am not the only one with this problem.  2 emails to their support team and 2 very slow replies later and I am still stranded. Perhaps Auctiva is looking inviting?
So................all at a standstill until tomorrow at least!!
Have a wonderful weekend mes belles!!!

Betty Ford brocanting...........

Rain....rain and then more rain. Will it ever stop? No brocante today and I am now getting withdrawal symptoms! Do you think that The Betty Ford Clinic deals with a brocante addiction?

This sweet little mill has just come up for sale closeby................

Do you think you could get three floors in there? Ground floor a kitchen, middle floor a sitting room, top floor a bedroom but where would the bathroom go? Perhaps that tent would have to stay!!

I am hoping for just a little break in the rain for some Sunday treasure truffling.

French market.......

Up early today for my local market. I wanted to get there before the rain set in again. Work on the ark has commenced just in case the chateau should float away down the marsh....do you think I should go for a toile interior or are arks more minimalist this year?!!

Dominique in his traditional Normandie indigo linen and hemp chemise always does a roaring trade with the tourists as he proudly offers a "degustation" of his home produced Calva.......

Who can resist these strawberries?.......actually I think it`s those little wooden punnets I like most!!

These cherries had the most divine smell!

I always think artichokes look exciting but I am never quite sure what you do with them...........

How many more colours of oignons are there?!!!

The fromage stand is definately a little "whifferama" but wonderful to say the least!!!!

I would bring home even more flowers................

if I could guarantee results like this...................

If you do not want to cook there are always some pretty interesting takeaway options.............

This is my last little haven of peace for a week for as we speak Tartelette is mid flight from Oregon on her way to Paris. Heavens!................ that will be the end of any peace and quiet!!

I wonder if I should send out some kind of alert to save any poor Parisians she may flatten in her rush to the brocante?

The "tranquillite" is about to be shattered - and I shall report when the eagle has landed!!!!