PARIS Iron~

I love ironwork, and so does PARIS! What a coincidence~

Many colors and styles~ This was a favorite in Paris, around the corner from our hotel. We all stood and marveled, talking about it for a while. At the time, I didn't even notice the 'C' - just the 'M' - . Ironwork monogram style~

Look up and you'll always see more~ Ornate...
...and subtle gray with a repeated treillage motif~ Brown doors with black or bronze iron, and more treillage - I love it~

On the doors and the allee' entrances~

Note the ironwork in two decorative ways~

And, you'll always find the simple iron, too.
I could show you lots of iron knockers and knobs - that's for another day~

Layered eye-candy; start at the bottom of the photo and make notes all the way up~Simple again, that's OK with me, too~

The famous bleu that you see in Paris and AngersAnd, I can't show ironwork without the most famous of all. How perfect to see the old gate in the forefront~

Ah, it's always over too soon. Until our next getaway, think Paris! TERESA

Back to FRENCH Inspiration: DOORS

What is it about doors, entrances, allees'?

Not only the promise of what an entrance holds - it must be the grand size, color, architecture and details~
Today's photos are from ANGERS, my favored French city - whose cobbled streets are full of eye candy. I love this bleu door, and the slate outside~

Arched entries - with shield and ironwork details- it made me stop and look up-up!

You'll see lots of center knobs on ANGERS and PARIS doors~
An old building facade, preserved so we can admire and wonder~ We have friends in Angers; why do I forget to ask what the story is?

I've shown this courtyard before- it's worth repeating?

Open these please, I'll drive right in~

Yet another archway - did I happen to snap a photo of that great door, too? I must have...

OK, the swirly iron arch with the distinct paneled doors and surround get me every time~This door (in that famous green) is near the Hotel du Mail - we pass it every time we come and go. Did you note that you actually enter through the smaller door, inset on the right? For me, it's an Angers landmark~

Enter our Hotel du Mail~

Maybe this could be your room, in the courtyard corner? Your own private entrance~

Courtyard, facing the street; if you're coming back after 10:00pm, don't forget your code!

Enter the breakfast room through this door, petit dejeuner begins at 8:00am! Just wander in when you're ready, choose your sunlit table. Serve yourself fresh croissants, baguette with luscious jams, juice, and but of course - be served your cafe au lait or chocolat chaud. Be aware of the quiet (French) conversation around you, the tinkling dishware, all while planning the day ahead, which is always laced with we're happy just to 'breathe the air'.

Thanks for going with me today, TERESA

Simple enough #20

The apartment entry is still stacked with all the goods I brought home from FRANCE. Every time I pass, I mentally pause~

An unplanned vignette on the entree' table - just an unpack and stack, but it all looks good together. The ivory garland was there before I left; the linen-wrapped votives, old

seltzer bottle from the flea market, Eiffels and tiny silver bird candles are all French~

Grocerie items and magazines are grouped on a tray in the apartment kitchen~ J'adore the 'everyday' there: decorating and garden magazines (but of course), teas, chocolate, sugar and bonbons. While out and about, we stop at groceries (I can smell the fresh produce and cheeses) and news stands. The shelves devoted to wine in the marches' rival American pop aisles~And, we enjoy the wine. We usually have at least one evening 'in' - bread, cheese, fruit and vin~ Our Paris hotel has a quiet salon, and we relax on the deep leather sofas. They bring us glasses and a corkscrew, eh voila~
You've heard of ANJOU pears, wine, Cointreau, and more. Angers (related adjectives: Anjou, Angevine) is in the Loire Valley, known for its rivers, vineyards, fruit, and chateaux~
I love Paris, but j'adore Angers~ TERESA

JOURNAL francais de MARCHE' aux puces (French flea market journal)

Journal entry: ANGERS France, Samedi 10 avril 2010.

Yesterday's post took the steps to bring us here - to the Angers flea market!

Flowers, and more flowers. The market was rimmed with 'vendeurs de fleur'. Another opportunity to enjoy something without bringing it home~

The market was huge - and a day's worth of browsing, especially at the rate I translate French to English~

And, considering that nothing is marked - not one price tag. It's all accomplished with bargaining, no fast task for me, either~Therefore, the Marble notebook again - just to make sure I understand what I'm agreeing to. 80E is over $100 American! Sorry, mais non~Browsing all the old stuff, some booths looked like they could be right here in Minnesota~Setups in the back of open vehicles~

Small, large, unique or not - but oh so FRENCH!

The French female attire was what you'd see on the street shopping during the day. No sweats or baseball caps, but alot of women were more casually dressed than she~

I wanted that lantern. I think that's what the 80E in the notebook was for~

Wow. I know someone who'd want this~ Note that it's a four-panel screen - the center panels are narrower.

Tout est le même, mais différent. Everything is the same, but different~

And, between visits, I always forget about the live chickens (no photo...)

Vieille porte étroite. I love old doors~

Old suitcases, too - lovely old ivory color~

Ma belle fille Rachel, on the right. It's early, they're still unpacking - what did she stop to look at?

Now that's a bike basket~panier de vélo

No admittance to the church across the street, there's a wedding today! We've witnessed wedding parties on these steps other years, but must be too early -we love to see the female guests, who all wear hats! We also sat on these steps one time (no wedding that day...) to sort through a box of old brass hardware and treasures. I was tossing some of the pieces into a nearby garbage can, and a passerby told me that instead I should sell it and use the money to buy a cafe'. He wasn't insulting me, he was friendly and serious. French = the original 'green' recyclers. American woman: wasteful~

Speaking of sorting through - I wasn't up to that in this space~

OK, stop. The b o o k. I wanted the book. 30E -- oh merci, non More than one photo of something shown here = like. Alot. 'L'Encyclopedie des styles d'hier et d'aujourd'hui'. Encyclopedia of the styles of yesterday and today.May I take a photo or two? Something to remember it by? Oui~

Well, thankfully, he was good natured, and either thought I was crazy or wanted to get rid of me. 20E after I came back the third time to look at it~ I think he looks like he's given up, don't you?

It was an awesome day - perfect. Many of the photos from that day didn't upload, so those pieces will have to be fond reminiscences~ I wish you all junking experiences extraordinaire~

TERESA