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...

Au marché avec mon sac 'Clover Cottage'

'To the market, with my Clover Cottage bag!' Every French town has a thriving market. Market shopping is very important to the French.

The food is often sold by the producer, and is often more local, more fresh and, above all, you can see, touch, smell or even taste it. There is no point in buying food you haven't checked this way, for the French - the only supermarket which does internet orders only does them for packaged dry goods - OBVIOUSLY no one would buy fruit or veg without checking them first...That amazing 'swirl' above is fish! Dried sardines, I assume... and in front of the marié you can choose your goats' cheese or sign up for some double-glazed windows.

I was looking for a zip for a favourite pair of Son 1's shorts. Here's the haberdashery stall. The lady was happy for me to take photos, but apologised that the stall wasn't well decorated today! Looked fine to me...There certainly were enough zips!I found a good match.It's tricky to see here, but there are loops and loops of dried sausage hanging on the stall here. It's very yummy. Pork, beef, duck...The Halle, which was deserted when I took photos last Wednesday, is full on market day. Ah-ha, the Provencale stalls....All my kitchen towels come from this one (circular blue towels with embroidered provencale foods), and my mum bought a wonderful quilt at a stall like this - getting it home on the plane was fun!After a good look around all the plant and flower stalls, I chose this one to buy some herbs.Here they are - the sweet aromatic ones which Raja ate within a day of planting last year - now safely out of doggie reach below the Pot family and their strawberries.Tomorrow - memories from Scotland, to prepare the way for my 100th post Auld Alliance giveaway!