It was the first day of the NORMANDY tour and I was of course tired…….three days in PARIS,blisters under my BIG Toes from DAY ONE,jet lag and the early start to zip up to Normandy and not be late!Needless, to say I did not sleep well……..
So,Sharon picks us up at the train station and we start the day at JACQUES………..to most a pure JUNK STORE.To me memories of ITALY!I would search these places out 23 years ago in the land of the TUSCANS.You see in those day GARAGE SALES were illegal in ITALY.No one did that!Except me!Consignment stores and thrift shops did not exist either……….but this kind of shop did.
IT was HEAVEN to me.Me the only one in the group who was not going to make a purchase!This was the first stop. Less then five minutes in I was holding three watering cans……child size but still……..REALLY??I put one back!Big of me.That left room for the iron keys I had to have!And the gold, chippy PLATEAU……….that sell for a bloody fortune here in the STATES.I couldn’t balance all my treasures and wandered through without doing more damage.So, I pulled out my EURO’s and started to peel them off one by one………….
More stops made and I was able to control myself a bit BETTER.Small purchases that weighed nothing and that spoke to my heart.Then about the third house we entered through a walled garden…………
And I was CAPTIVATED……………
THE BARN………….the barn surrounding by the lush greenness of frequent rain.Inside the barn is HER shop.Could not have been more STUNNING with the white FAIRY lights a twinkling……… for you AMERICANS that would be white Christmas lights!
This is ME before my break down…………..I was in HEAVEN.You see when we lived in ITALY years ago this was my DREAM HOME.An old FARMHOUSE with a barn.I was standing in MY DREAM of 23 years.While I was having that DREAM my Gorgeous hard working ITALIAN husband calls to see how I was doing…if I had made it to Normandy okay.I couldn’t speak to him.The tears just came the throat tighten and no words could escape my mouth.I was overcome with emotion.First off, for him letting me take part in this adventure and two for being in the world I had dreamt about for two decades……no longer then that.Most of my LIFE.
Then we are greeted by this BEAUTIFUL woman!Note her earrings!She couldn’t have been more gracious.Her name I believe was CHARLOTTE.
CHARLOTTE, served coffee for us in the garden.I learned something about dunking a sugar cube is called a DUCK?Did I make that up or did you tell me that SHARON?I think I’m missing a bit of the story………………gorgeous cups FRENCH coffee.Note her sandals too………I had my eye on those!
Then there was the shop across from the BARN shop!TAXIDERMY,Vintage HERMES scarves,clothing with PARISIAN designer names I managed to screw up the shot!But you can STILL READ it RIGHT?The BEST of the BEST.(See below)This right here reminded me so much of my shop HEN HOUSE.A little of this and a bit of THAT!
I adore TAXIDERMY…………I know some of you willNOT AGREE thats okay…………..I would NEVER go out to shoot one of these creatures but since it has already been done and I assume many years ago I feel I am saving them.Does that make any sense to YOU?Probably NOT but thats my reason.I adore how she mixed the religious with the Taxidermy and the old used paint brushes.
Now, for the real story I started; I was overwhelmed with the BEAUTY and SPIRIT of the place.The PROPRIETRESS fit the surroundings perfectly.She had on pearl earrings that when I stopped crying I asked are theses magnetic?She replied ,”No,” and proceeded to take them off to show me!They were interesting because the BIG PEARL was in the back of the lobe and a smaller pearl was on the EAR LOBE.It caught my attention as being rather attractive!Upon our departure I started to cry again!By this time she had allowed us to see HER home inside…………….I have no photos of that as I thought that would have been rude………well, maybe I took TWO or THREE!!Again, I couldNOT help myself.
Beautiful YES?I happen to own a chandelier just like this petite one in CHARLOTTES home.GOODY, something we share in common.But I must get back to my story………..so she hugs me good~bye and offer’s me HER earrings!She takes it off again!I shake my head NO NO…….and say GOOD~BYE as that is the only word I can get out.Once back in the MINI van that SHARON is the MASTER of maneuvering the country roads of she says………Charlotte worked for CHRISTIAN DIOR COUTURE for over 20 years.THAT SAID IT ALL TO ME!NO WONDER I HAD A MELT DOWN……………..she lived in my DREAM world and had worked in FASHION!I told the GALS in the van now we must keep our eyes open for those EARRINGS!
Seven days later…….I’m home.Open AMERICAN VOQUE and what do I spy?The DIOR AD with the earrings on the models EARLOBE.I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!She wanted to give me the REAL DEAL.How utterly gorgeous of HER.IT even has an 800 number to call……………I call.(I’m calling PARIS by the way!)I tell the MADAME who is very nice and helpful my story and how much are they and where in California can I find them!She loved my story……..I of course, ask her if she knows my CHARLOTTE!She tells me there are many CHARLOTTES working for DIOR.However,she is truly sincere in helping me find the EARRINGS!
LOCATED……….AFFORDABLE…….ON HOLD………..STAY TUNED!!!
A few days later I drive to SAN FRANCISCO to BLOOMINGDALES where there is a DIOR BOUTIQUE.
DO I have to TELL YOU what happened NEXT?
These will BE treasured by ME for years to come…………HER HOME ~HER SHOP~ HER NATURAL BEAUTY………….
and of course HER EARRINGS!
I missed her in GIVERNY at the FLEA MARKET but I think this photo belongs to SHARON who had the where -with-all to SNAP.
If I can have HER energy and GRACE just a little bit of it I will BE a HAPPY MADAME!
I do OWN HER earrings now!
THANK ~YOU CHARLOTTE.
YOU really touched MY HEART!
XX
Stacie Bodel says
I love this story…The Lady and Her Earrings, I’m going to call it (kind of like the painting?). Look at Charlotte, all stunning in her Dior earrings and camo-print cargos. Oh French Women!
contessa says
THEY ROCK don’t they those FRENCH MADAMES!!
FIFI says
A most wonderful story by a most wonderful woman (YOU!!) Miss you! xoxoxo fifi
contessa says
THANK YOU MADAME FIFI!!!
XOXO
Karena says
Elizabeth you are having me in tears as I can truly feel what this experience must have be like! There are these deja vu times in life and I believe that we must must roll with them….
Xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
PS you will love my next post….Cartier Jewels 20th Century
contessa says
CANNOT WAIT……….HoW DO YOU KNOW??!!!
XO
Anita@letshavelunch says
Elizabeth, I’m really touched by this story. I felt all your excitement, emotion and sensitivity. So happy you now have the earrings and they look gorgeous on. How beautiful is Charlotte not only physically but wanting you so much to take her earrings from her. Wonderful post……thank you sweetpea
xx Anita
contessa says
THANK YOU ANITA for feeling the EMOTION with me!I was in my element…….and it JUST SEIZED ME!
XOX
Faded Velvet says
La Contessa,
Such a magnificent job you did conveying us to those wonderful days of shopping in Europe. I visually “picked” through the picture of your first junk stop! I do not have a plateau in my home, though there is one in the store that may have to come home with me…
Madam Charlotte looked the picture of chic elegance and those EARRINGS!I’m so glad you found them for yourself.
No worries about the breakdown…we all get it. The perfection of the time, place, sights, sounds and atmosphere….just too much!
Thank you for sharing the pictures. I truly felt as if I had been there!
Donna~Faded Velvet
contessa says
I”M so HAPPY I could get YOU out of OHIO for a few moments and TOUR FRANCE with ME!Can you imagine what a BALL we would have TOGETHER!!!XOXO
dulce says
I love the story and photos
Dee
contessa says
LOVED THAT YOU COMMENTED DULCE!
THANK YOU!!!!
andy says
What a great story!!! I love it!
contessa says
GO GET THE EARRINGS!!!!!!XX
Jody Brettkelly says
Wow, I’ve loved coming along with you on this. Charlottes home is so like yours, beautiful and interesting. What a trip, can’t wait to hear about it from the filly’s mouth.
contessa says
FIRST your trip………….then if we have time a bit of mine!!28 DAYS walking the CAMINO……..I’m SOOO PROUD of YOU!
French Basketeer says
Love these stories! What a fantastic trip to Normandie! Will you be sporting the earrings next weekend for us to see?? Look forward to hearing more about your trip!
contessa says
PERHAPS………..they will make the trip SOUTH!
LOOKING FORWARD to OUR SOIREE VERY MUCH!
XX
sarah says
Wonderful story Elizabeth……I think you were definately meant to take that trip. I have an Italian girlfriend here in Melbourne with those exact earrings so I know how gorgeous they are! Enjoy wearing them.
Sarah xx
contessa says
WILL DO!
XX
joanie says
I am so glad you got a pair of those beautiful earrings! Charlotte was indeed a beautiful woman – so much style!
contessa says
SHE IS the image of a LADY………….even in HER FLEA MARKET ATTIRE!LOVED OUR VISIT THERE!
Kimberly Bringgold says
I’m having a tearful “breakdown” just reading about your TRULY AMAZING experiences! You can’t “plan” for that type of OVERWHELMING “once in a lifetime” sensation! What a treasure to cherish … you were living your fantasy “dream” in a true “shock and awe” reality moment! WOW! It was all “meant to be” … as so many things are in life! I believe that it was “meant to be” that the two of us met that night at the RiteAid (?) while picking out and purchasing steamer trunks! Little did we know back in 1981 what SPECIAL MEMORIES we would be making and what precious friends we would becone while traveling around the world on Semester-at-Sea!!! Thankfully neither one if us have lost our WANDERLUST and PASSION! Can’t wait to see you (hopefully) soon! xoxo, Kim
contessa says
LONGS DRUGS………it was LONGS.
Good grief I just did the MATH!It was 33 years ago!!!!!!!!!!!
I can remember it like yesterday!I think I approached YOU asking by chance are you going on THE BOAT!
XO
shortie says
such emotion beloved CONTESSA ,such a vivid description of that moment in time & such a beautiful outcome Shortiexx
contessa says
SHORTIE!
I almost put YOU in SPAM!
THANK YOU…….you all thought I had LOST IT am certain!
XX
Diane says
A beautiful happy ending to that story–Contessa with the Pearl Earring! Now Charlotte must be in tears of joy. Gorgeous!
contessa says
THANKS for READING…….YOUR sister~ in ~ law wants the earrings NOW!!!!
XX
Vignette On Ruby Lane says
Dear Elizabeth,
Earrings now forever cherished and a sweet story to go with ! …….. Blue shuttered window with vines ,
gorgeous scenery everywhere , taxidermy and all ! Fun to hear the stories along with the pictorial . …….
xo,
c
contessa says
VERY FRENCH NO?????
XOX
Marsha @ Splenderosa says
I have the same earrings, in many different colors, on my website. Too cute!!
contessa says
SO~ thats where I had seen them………ARE YOURs MAGNETIC or pierced?I remember NOW !!!
THATS what TRIGGERED my ATTENTION NO DOUBT!
This world is SO small……….petite REALLY!
I will send INQUIRES TO YOU !!!!
XO
foodiefan says
This is your best story so far of your incredible trip! Wouldn’t it be amazing to one day live in a barn like that and surround yourself with all the interesting finds you might discover in all the flea markets around either France or Italy! Can just imagine how emotional you must have felt! And lucky you to find the earrings but such a lovely gesture to be offered them by Charlotte in the first place. Both Gus and I love taxidermy and I showed him that great photo of the deer heads – I agree I don’t like the thought of them being killled either. Fabulous photos too. xox
contessa says
OH MADAME WORLD TRAVELER…………YOU are so kind to take a moment away from your MAGICAL trip to comment!SOON you will be in PARIS!!!!!!!!
THANK you for all your comments!!!
XO
Penelope Bianchi says
Love those earrings! The daughter of close friends tells the hilarious story of going into Dior and them trying to sell her all kinds of things…..all she wanted was the earrings!!
DIVINE!!!!!
kim says
Oh how I love this story! I would have been in heaven with all those little shops and the farmhouse! What a fantastic trip. I love meeting one of a kind people like this lady. Such a lovely person. I’m so glad you got the earrings! I have seen them and they are fabulous. That last shot of her with the camp pants is the best. SO French!!
Love your blog and all you do! xx Kim
kim says
I forgot to say that Normandy is a fabulous place ! It was one of my most favorite places ever and has so many darling towns..Charm and sweet people too. I just wish I bought more souvenirs when I was there! My favorite town was Bayeux. There’s a terrific inn there run by a mom and son-Hotel Tardif. Beautiful.
Heather in Arles says
An amazing story and so beautifully told…you made me tear up too!
Loree says
What a sweet, sweet story. Those earrings are unbelievably beautiful. Glad you lived your dream 🙂
sharon santoni says
Dear Elizabeth, you tell your story so beautifully.
Poor Charlotte was quite concerned when you started to cry … first she worried that she had done something wrong, and then she simply worried that you would never make it to the end of the trip !!
I saw her last Friday in Paris, we met up for coffee, and one of her first questions was to know if you were well, and if you enjoyed the tour. You made a lasting impression 🙂
I’m so glad you found a pair of the earrings, and I’m so glad you have taken the time to write about your little tour of Normandy – next time I’ll have to show you the South of France!
love to you
Sharon
xxxx
contessa says
Love this comment as it is the perfect ending to my STORY!THANK YOU SHARON once again!Can you imagine ME in the SOUTH of FRANCE!!We would move at a snail pace……………
I was with others at a SOIREE last night who have been on the road with YOU!GREAT memories of your cottage and family were re-laid to me!
Petite World We Live In!
XO
Marsha @ Splenderosa says
Contessa, I have the same earrings on my website.
Take a look, you might like some of the other styles too.
What an amazing coincidence isn’t it?
And, I do the same thing…see something I love somewhere and hunt it down with a vengeance until it’s found. xx’s
Sandra Sallin says
Love, love, love this blog. Where to find those earrings? I visit San Francisco all the time. My grandkids are there. Would love to try on those earrings. Thanks for giving us that adventure.
contessa says
BLOOMINGDALES………THE DIOR BOUTIQUE FIRST FLOOR!!!!
Sandra Sallin says
Oops, forgot to select the box so I’ll be notified of your reply.
contessa says
BLOOMINGDALES……DIOR BOUTIQUE!!!!