We had a great day yesterday–our friend Lesley picked us up about 11 and drove us into the Médoc to ogle the chateaux. At several of the vineyards, we could see workers getting organized to begin harvesting the heavy purple tumbles of fruit that decorated the rows of green. . . We stopped at a ginguette by the Garonne for lunch in warm September sunshine, and then had the added treat of watching paddle-boarders ride the tidal bore — the equinox high tide pushed heavily silted water far down the estuary and along the river almost down to Bordeaux. Impressive, although it had almost petered out by the time it reached Macau, our vantage point, Still, it was fun to cluster on the bank with the French families who had gathered to watch their paddlers, our presence at just the right time for this natural phenomenon pure Serendipity.
We got home at 6, happy to have picked up the makings of dinner at market in the morning. Luckily, Paul had energy to put it together and carry it over to the couch where I was watching Candice Renoir on Netflix, because Saturday’s 60-kilometre ride to La Sauve had definitely caught up with me. Caught up with me and smacked me around a bit, judging by the sudden and obliterating fatigue. I enjoyed our countryside drive with Lesley so much that I must have kept pushing the exhaustion back into its box, but Boom! It will no longer ignored.
So today’s an easy day here, a catch-up day (did you read Lisa’s lovely post Saturday. She’s all caught up for now, what a feeling!). A slowing right down to zero day.
But I have some photos I’ve been saving up, ones I took when I had a solo morning of window-shopping last week. I loved meandering on my own, but I did rather wish for someone to ooh and ah with, especially when I found a cluster of children’s wear stores. The French do children’s wear so beautifully, and, of course, they do magical window displays as well. Put those two together and there’s something exponential that happens to the cuteness.
Here, I’ll show you what I mean:
Eiffel Towers and party dresses at Tartine et Chocolate
And back-to-school at Petit Bateau
And these wonderful Window Art windows at Catimini
THat little dog, right?!
Even the very cool L’Ile Bleu with its super-expensive skater shoes and very chill pants and wonderful street-skater-casual-cool sweaters, even they had a corner of their window for the cutest baby gear in an aesthetic to match the moms and dads who ride their skateboards alongside the stroller-pushing or baby-wearing parent. …
And they’re not the only shop window sporting leopard spots for little ones’ shoes. Bon Ton (below) has some on offer as well….
And theses sophisticated colour mixes for the grade-school set…
And oh, oh, the pretty. . .
I’m keeping that carry-on-only policy of mine firmly in mind, as immunization against coming home with bags of budget-busting delight that will be outgrown before blinking, but it’s been such fun to have company as I ooh and ah. I hope you enjoyed as well.
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I'm really enjoying your holiday posts … beautiful pictures. You did well to resist filling a case with clothes for your grandchildren! French children's clothes are so beautiful!
I don't have grandchildren yet but when we were in Paris I was often tempted into lingering by the window displays showing baby and children's wear …. One day! 🙂
I hope you're feeling more rested now. It's strange isn't it how total exhaustion just seems to come out of no where and all we want to do is flop on the sofa or crawl under the duvet! Take care …
Rosie
Thanks, Rosie. So pleased you're enjoying theses posts. And yes, the way one can be Ambushed by fatigue, I'm not keen on it, but sometimes you have to pay attention!
Strolling and admiring windows in France is always a joy – because price normally rules out purchase. But then you can go and have a reasonably priced coffee and feel all urban and sophisticated.
I love this! A very healthy way of dealing with the almost inevitable cravings that window displays such as hear can invite… Here comes urban, sophisticated me! 😉
Ah, the window displays…it's one of the things that delights me most when in France! So much artistry and attention to detail.
Exactly, although it does make me a very. Slow. Walker. Poor Paul, when we're actually trying to get somewhere . . .
Oh the joys of window displays! Thank you for sharing.
You are so very welcome. As you commented on my last post, you'll be looking at such displays in France yourself, before long, but meanwhile, I'm very happy to have you share my wanderings.
Beautiful things! If I have grandchildren……hard to resist. As Rosie says…one day…..:-)
But you make my day with these photos
Take care
Dottoressa
Very hard to resist! But I did for now, you take care as well, D
Window displays in France! How they are such a delight for the flâneuse (us). It isn't necessary to buy or even have anyone to buy for to enjoy the children's ensembles. I read Lisa's post and it resonates with me. We don't have to go "flat out" in order to make the day "worthwhile". The carry-on does indeed limit the temptation. I'm enjoying your photos.
I could play flâneuse day after day after day here . . . One way of slowing down, catching up . . .
I can imagine some little people I love wearing those outfits. How delightful to flâner avec insouciance, just looking and not buying. Fatigue can slam hard, but how wonderful to just take the days as they come. Your outing sounded interesting. So much of what we North Americans admire in France is human-built and we forget the sheer beauty of the natural landscape. Yet that's there in abundance, too.