Basic Goods

Friday is the big market day in Thouars, and it is larger than any of the other markets around.

Abdul sells dry herbs and spices, as well as large "paniers" to get your shopping done.  He lives "on the way to La Rochelle" and just came back from a trip to Montréal. 

 

 He told us all the sites he saw in Ottawa, Toronto and Montréal.  He loves Canadians!

Synthetic belts in any colour you like.

Herbs for your garden.  I bought a little Basil plant.

Most vendors have small quantities of multiple fruit and veggies.  They provide quality, not quantity.  But there are dozens of vendors selling many of the same things!

Loved this lady who seems so typical of the gardeners who pick their veggies fresh in the morning, still stylish with her necklace and earrings.

Mont St. Michel garlic (ail), stacked up to indeed look like the impressive Mont St. Michel in Normandy, northern France.

 

We love this bakery, but they're tricky with their prices.  Croissants, pain au chocolat and pain aux raisins are all sold in threes.  But then, who can't eat an extra croissant for breakfast...

This gentleman makes apple juice and cider.  He had us taste two kinds and we had to buy a bottle.  Delicious!

Colourful pottery: bowls, small olive servers, butter dishes, appetizer portions, large platters, jugs...  Whatever you need, they've got!

Live chickens, ducks and geese for sale.  We watched the sales woman pack two robust chickens in that white carton.  See the goose in the background?  Looks a little worried he may be next...

Boutis, a type of quilting.  It is not handmade but looked attractive nevertheless.  Liked the colours.

Plastic tablecloth rolls, which some would call oilcloth.

With this array of shoes, surely you will find your style and your size!

Karl bought a real leather belt from this gentleman who took off his sweater to have his picture taken.  He even wanted to pull out a Canadian flag, but we assured him that wasn't necessary.

Sewing needs: needles, thread, snaps, elastic, lace, scissors, etc.

Karl bought a new summer hat.  Doesn't he look handsome!

A variety of pocket books.  Interested in reading the early years of  Pope Jean-Paul II?

Kitchen knives available in boxed sets.

Mr. Chicken Man!  We bought a rotisserie "farmer's chicken" and some little potatoes cooked in the chicken drippings.  Fattening?  Probably, but oh so delicious!  Dinner is done for tonight.

Mr. Chicken Man packing our dinner.

Who knew the market was a little bit like going to the National Exhibition, with demonstrations of the latest gadget to slice and dice your way to culinary delights!

This melon will taste very good by tomorrow.  I think I'll cube it and add some Muscat liqueur.  What a delicious little entrée.

Glad I was not asked the colour of a carrot in a trivia quiz, because I did not know they came in yellow.  Apparently they are much sweeter than the orange carrots.

Bought loads of stuff from this vendor, including a yellow, red and green pepper.

You will not believe this, but we bought olives!  Yes, we have a stash at home from L'Oulibo, but those do not have basil and oil in them.  Nice to have a little variety when snacking on them.

The Olive Guy knows us by now and suggests which ones we should try.

Ah, my brown or blood tomatoes.  Here they are called "Black Tomatoes from Crimea".

 

I bought those tomatoes and some onions from this lady who definitely did not have time to stop for a photo.

 

Our fish monger -  a very busy man with 3 employees running off their feet.  He has been here for years.

At a client's request, he will prepare certain fillets for baking or grilling with the appropriate oil and herbs.

We're home with our bounty!  Two types of strawberries; red, green and yellow peppers; bananas; yellow, red and Crimean tomatoes; onions; carrots; melon; apple juice; olives; haddock fillet with parsley; croissants, pain aux raisins, pain au chocolat, baguette; basil plant; rotisserie chicken and potatoes.  Let us not forget Karl's hat and belt.

My little basil plant seems well settled into her new home just outside the front door, next to the geraniums.

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"The most fortunate are those who have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder and even ecstasy."

~  Abraham Maslow