Tuesday, August 7, 2012

A trip to the cellar.




The rain that interrupted the village festivities stops. After twenty four hours of storms we're back to drought conditions and 100 degree temperatures. The forecast in the local paper claims that this week will be the hottest of the year .  The poor garden is suffering. The trees along the lane are so parched  the bark is peeling off them, the new acers are turning brown, and the box hedge planted by the swimming pool may or may not make it. Next year we'll plant yucas. By contrast the roses planted above the old septic tanks continue to flourish . They've bloomed four times already and boosted by three centuries of accumulated nutrients seem gloriously indifferent to the heat.

' The font ' felt sorry for the poor potters who showed up for the village fete. Many of them had driven for hours to set up their stalls . Because of  the rain the number of tourists who showed up could be counted on the fingers of two hands . As a result the potters takings were way , way down. Thankfully , Scandinavian civic mindedness is alive and well in this household. Every so often Angus would be told " that poor man hasn't sold anything. Go over and buy something. Do remember to smile and show an interest ". This explains why the kitchen counter is now covered with no less than six bowls, one milk jug, one bright read pie dish and a plant holder with leaf decoration painted on the side . Angus has also learnt the French for crackle glaze. Later today there will be the annual trip to the cellar to feed our ever growing store of artisinal earthenware.

17 comments:

  1. My mother is looking for a jug for a birthday, and would be quite happy with the one in the second picture, provided it is a 'good pourer'. Perhaps we should strike a deal?
    Cheers! Gail.

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    1. BB- What a wonderful idea. Sadly , the whole idea founders on the concept of it being a ' good pourer '. Wouldn't a plant holder painted with forest scenes do instead ?

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  2. You may have to hold a garage sale in the near future. Madame Bay could cater.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  3. I always feel badly for the vendors that don't sell anything either, and have been known to buy something from a few of them myself--I hope you're find relief from the heat, and 'the font' creates something delicious to put in that red pie dish before it ends up in the cellar! Enjoy your day!!

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  4. Hurray for 'the font", she is a kind soul.....always thinking of others.
    Angus you did well with your purchases, even though they will be added to your ever-increasing stash in the cellar.
    Start handing them out to guests as gifts. Some of the larger pieces I'm sure Madame Bay could have raffled off at one of her byeways committee events to raise funds.
    Sorry about the heat and the garden...we are having the same problem here, although there were a few showers overnight.

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  5. Bless "the Font" - a woman after my own heart! I've ended up with numerous glorious works of "art" from the annual silent auctions at my daughter's sorority functions; I walk around and bid on all the horrendous things everyone else is shunning - usually created by the girls' parents :) Then they go to Goodwill (and I hope the artists don't somehow end up seeing them there!)

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  6. I kinda like the white pottery with the blue flower. Cheerful. Perhaps a thousand years from now when futuristic archaeologists are sifting through the remains of the rickety farmhouse, they will wonder at the variety of shards found in your cellar; possibly radically changing their ideas of societal development in 21st century France profonde!

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  7. Well done you! Crackle glaze en francais?

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  8. I have always admired the talents of potters. Your new collection of pieces is lovely.

    B&L,

    Janelle, Maggie Mae and Max

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  9. If you need a home for the copper-ish looking one in the third photo - I could give it a good home, and would feed it liberally!

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  10. The font has a kind heart.
    Next time you take a trip by car to a distant destination, take the pottery along with the idea of donating it to local charities. Animal charities are always in need of donated items for their jumbles. A win- win situation.

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  11. LOL...I think you could have a "blog-sale" right here and not have to banish it to the Cellar...Maybe you should open an Etsy shop...!! Your "ever-growing store" down below reminds me of the "appliance graveyard" my husband occasionally used to speak of...In the recent move to Iowa, I unloaded it all so that it did NOT get loaded on the moving van. (except the JuiceMan). no more graveyard..:-) {**But your kindness shown to the vendors is outstanding!} ~ I have to say....having a Marine, that the first photo immediately brought to mind Desert Camouflage. :-) **PS- The display did make a marvelous photo setting for a pretty kitchen vignette!!

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  12. It's nice that you bought this stuff.

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  13. I really like most of those bowls. Too bad they're going to the basement! The one in the third picture looks like it's made of copper. I love supporting local artisans, too! :)

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  14. I love supporting local artist and am have thrown a few pots myself (not at my husband!!) These are great and I would love to have them in my basement.

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