Sundays are slow here. In a super fast paced world, being able to walk to our Sunday morning village market is a real treat. And when our teenage children also appreciate how special this is I just know something is right.
Today is another stunning day. There’s absolutely no need to hurry, it’s a gentle stroll through century old streets, past houses that were built in the 13th and 14th century and a church that dates from the 12th century. That’s the beauty of being on foot, we notice the little things, we can stop, take photos, linger. There is no pressing engagement, time is for once totally on our side.
The market is undeniably the best place to shop for produce. Here you can taste, you can choose and you can discuss what you are looking for. If you want a melon ripe to eat in an hour’s time for lunch or later during the week. If there’s a cheese you’ve never heard of then you’ll be offered a slither to try. The market is sociable, friendly and fun.
And who can resist gladioli at 3 euros a bunch. 6 stems, so thats around 50 cents a stem. A real bargain, cut this morning fresh from the garden of the lady who runs the vegetable stand.
You can order ready made dishes from the traiteur.
With a bag overflowing we slowly wander home. It’s a very short walk, less than five minutes, so we take a detour and go the long way round!
The first of the blackberries are starting to ripen.
The streets are quiet, it’s midday, the market is closing and families are gathered in their homes, in their gardens. Long lazy lunches that last for hours. The smell of bbq smoke starts to fill the air.
This is what we love most about village life. We can walk to the boulangerie, we can walk to the market, it really is the best place to live! Now for our own lazy Sunday afternoon. Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday wherever you are and whatever you are doing.
Our French Oasis 
Lovely.
Glad you enjoyed it, Eileen
What a beautiful day.I dream of doing that. 💖💐
I hope one day you manage to, Vicki! XX
Ah, this is heavenly…. 6 gladioli for €3.-? I’m dreaming! Mother with some of her children going to the market, discussing and chatting, buying fresh goods and discovering new food. Sounds ‘about right’. Beautiful snaps too, love and greetings to your daughters! And the men in your life too!
Yesterday, my son built a ‘garden’ for me, next to our patio, under the windows of 2 of our rooms…. It’s not totally finished yet, we need a garden company to bring 2m3 of good soil and fill the low ‘raised’ frame he built for me. It’s about 25-30cm high, just so that the caretaker (he who’s cutting the grass, cleaning the interior staircases etc) is not bothered by our ‘wild extension’. We didn’t ask because now that’s done and nobody is complaining, we might get away with it….. I shall – once it’s completed, try to find some veggies and flowers (they are very dear at this time of the year and much had to be thrown away with the beginning of the pandemie) – but I’m incredibly thankful for my son’s kindness. There IS a life after my long years in France and I try to go down to the lake at least once per week to feed my soul.
Tell me, is the bakery what you hoped for? Can you get good baked goods once more? I so wish it for the village…. Wishing you well and saying Thank You to Roddy/‘The Boy’ for the lovely pics.
How wonderful, Kiki! What fun! And just so you know, Izzi also took some photos this week – nothing to do with Roddy for a change 🙂
Here five stems 10 CHF…… and no choice, you get what you get!
Didn’t know that Izzi is with you, thought of Roddy because of him not being in the pics.
We may not live in a French village but we can still enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon after a long ride in the Nicois hinterland. Can I just say you have a great market!
It’s great. isn’t it! We’e not had it long and it seems to be growing, little by little.
Having spent (it seems) my whole life trying to catch up on what I should have done during the week, on a Sunday (Marking my pupils books, chores, shopping, DIY etc) it took me quite a while to ‘get’ the lazy, family oriented Sunday when we moved to France. Now, I love the gentle walks through the village, lazy lunches with friends and just sitting in the garden reading a book. It really sets me up for the new week of work!
Indeed – I understand that only too well! So happy you are enjoying France, too XX
Ohhhh such a beautiful life. Oh to walk past all those beautiful homes built so long ago. Your picture are beautiful and so wonderful you can walk to your market and place to catch a bite to eat. Happy Sunday to you too. xoxo Kris
Hello Kris – thank you for your kind comment 🙂
That red door looks beautiful!
It always does – I really want to know what’s behind it!
I love the sign with the ready made dishes. Have you tried any of them? And, votre petite chien blanc semble heureux…..Michael
The sense of peace and tranquillity…….the “family outing” to the market……gorgeous produce….and no people!
It’s a wonderful way to pass a Sunday morning 🙂
Thanks so much for the lovely pictures. I always enjoy the older buildings & the flowers so much. It looks so nice to have that sunny walk! Such sweet pictures of your daughters too! The tomatoes at the market looked fantastic. Would like to find some like that here!!
So happy you enjoyed the pics, Shirley – thank you for the kind words XX
Oh, my, the market, raclette (dearly LOVE that), berries, and flowers! Life is good! Your title sounds rather like an Enid Blyton book, I think. 🙂 Anyway, much love from Arizona and wishes for a wonderful week.
janet
Thank you Janet – wishing you a great week back XX
Our weekly market is on Sat and is so wonderful. Even if we all need to be 6ft apart with our masks on, it is a true joy of some normalcy. Farm goods from veggies to fresh meat and poultry to sunflowers and freshly made donuts make our Saturdays all worthwhile.
The markets in France are wonderful, no matter what the day! Totally agree with all your thoughts XX
A happy blogpost. Thanks Susan.
My pleasure XX
I love everything you’ve ever posted, Susan, but this particular post for me captures village life in France so perfectly. It also makes me positively yearn to go back. I hope we can someday.
Oh, I hope you can too, it will still be here for you when you come back 🙂
I loved the hollyhocks on the white wall! I loved your market when we went—the people so friendly even when we could not speak the language—only “hand speak.” I want to come back, but sadly we can’t travel due to closed borders (& I understand why). How is life there in September?
September is a lovely month, Sandi. Not too hot, and life is still good. Hurry back! xx
It’s so nice to find pleasure in little things — fresh vegetables grown in the country, slow walks between buildings, the warmth of the sun on your face. Your post is peaceful, and I needed that today.
Hi-ho, hi-ho…it’s off to market we go! 😍
Hello. It’s a wonderful place where you can forget all things so sad and bad even illness.
Reading your post is such a great way to start my day. It is good to know that there is peace and tranquility out there. Hopefully we in the states will eventually be able to enjoy some,
I do hope so – strange times for so many people XX