Sunday Market

Everyone sleeps in. We've been going non-stop.....having a great time, but this morning was a big giant WHEW!!!! Weather is (still) perfect as we get going nice and slowly!!!!! Breakfast of eggs, croissants (I stole the van and drove the quick 5 minutes to the center of our village, Vendays-Montalivet. Blink, and you miss it....one bakery, a little "epicerie" -a civilized version of a 7-eleven/corner grocery, with produce out front - and TWO HAIR SALONS. Once back at the house and breakfast is over, we take note of the warning by our proprieter, Jane Butler, that the outdoor market, two villages away (Motalivet les Bain....by the water), closes at 2pm....many stalls start finishing up just after 12 noon.

So, off we go. No luggage in our very comfortable 7 passenger van. Within 20 minutes we are there, parked and heading for the grouping of sellers at the market. Produce, clothing, lots of food, and a tapestry vendor. The husband and wife who run the tapestry stall are, in fact, the first stop we make. David and Jacqueline immediately have their eyes on one very special hanging. Jacqueline's sister, Mary, a very talented decorator in Washington State, has urged David and Jacqueline that this very empty wall in their (Reno, Nevada) master bedroom is crying out for something "with texture". BINGO, this is IT. I urge them to walk the rest of the market and contemplate it OR see if they find something equally ideal for that key spot in the bedroom from, maybe, another vendor.

The market is pretty crowded and, as always, David and I have one thing on our minds: "what to make for dinner". David has always been a partner in crime when it comes to food and cooking. When we shared an apartment in Berkeley (way, way, way back in 1980....almost 30 years ago) there was never a shortage of good foods. By that time, David had already begun what was to become a lifetime passion for wine. When Jacqueline would come over for dinner we would really FEAST OUT!

So, divide and conquer it was. Idris, Jacqueline, Morgan, Margaux and Madeline headed out into the stalls looking for clothes and other goodies. David and I hit the food stalls. On the spot, he and I planned the week's menus. Something equally as easy as last night's ravioli for dinner tonight. We scored a leg of lamb at a "butcher", some cheese, and then bought two very large rotisserie chickens from a rolling roasted chicken stall. The line for the roasted chickens (many people were eating them on the spot - at adjacent tables, with the freshly cooked french fries) was huge - - - always a good sign.

The girls scored lots of cool stuff for themselves, David and I scored stuff for dinners, so now it was time to decide about the hanging tapestry. Back to the stall, David and Jacqueline had lots of help from Idris (her French is "super", as the French love to say) negotiating with the husband and wife for the beautiful hanging. After agreeing on a good price one problem presented itself....the couple only takes cash - as you'd expect from this kind of a market. So, after exchanging phone numbers and the promise to rendezvous later in the week with EUROS we mapped out a plan to acquire the money. It was going to take David, Jacqueline, and I pulling the maximum amount of cash allowed, each day, from whatever ATM machines we passed. I didn't think it would happen - but I do know David and Jacqueline: when they set out to do something....THEY DO IT.

Home for dinner of roasted chicken, more great wine, and a homemade fresh cherry clafoutis - suggested AND cooked by Idris and girls.

Pictures:

Negotiating for the tapestry - that's Idris on the right!!!!
Truly incredible fresh cherry clafoutis - thanks Idris and the girls.