It's July, so it must be...

Red, white and blue, of course!Just in case you're visiting for the first time (and welcome to you, in that case!) I'd better explain that each month I make a display in our entrance area, based on Niki's Nostalgia Calendar photo for the month. Last month was an exception - I was so busy that I was just pleased to enjoy Niki's lovely photo and no extra dusting. But this month I'm back and I mean business! Who could resist bringing out the red, white and blue French china faced with inspiration like this: So that's my red, white and blue contribution for today! There'll be more tomorrow. My other doings today have been round and about our town - a discerning and tasteful internet shopper has bought three of my favourite items from my blog shop, and I needed to go to La Poste to send off her parcel. It was market day, and as I seldom have the chance to visit the market during term time I decided to walk back through the stalls to soak up the ambiance, although I decided not to buy anything, as there's not much in the budget for extras this month.
So, the first things I bought were two oil-cloth aprons. My handmade ones (rather badly made by me, I have to say) were falling apart, and I was sorely tempted by the CK dotty oilcloth ones in the online sale, but these two were much better value... and here's just a quick peep at my much-loved embroidered linen apron, because I can never resist it as I go past...
I then bought some basil to sit on the kitchen windowsill - the dog eats it if I plant it in the soil! It's been well-used already, as the garden tomatoes are in peak production, and Son 1 and I enjoyed torn basil on cherry tomatoes for lunch, while a huge roasting-tray of tomatoes is currently in the oven, topped with garlic and basil, preparing for some tomato soup (à la Delia, of course).
Finally, I wafted by the dried fruit and veg stall, and the olives wafted back at me. I thought of the lovely meal Ben and I had enjoyed on the terrace yesterday evening (garden veg pizza, garden courgette salad, wine) and decided that another lovely meal this evening could be achieved with the help of olives (and possibly wine).
I had 2€ left so I asked for 2€s'-worth of "that one". "ça pique!" warned the stallholder. "Ha," thought I. "I am a British woman who eats curry. I have no fear of what the conservative French consider piquante." I bravely ordered it with a nonchalant expression, and am glad to report, having tasted it at home, that it is indeed pleasantly hot, not nasty. What a relief! I'm looking forward to this evening's meal...