Brocanting we will go, brocating we will go...

We are addicted.  I have found my calling!  Walking through the streets of Belgian towns and villages on Sunday mornings, sifting through crappity-crap in search of treasure.  It feels a little like work yet it's so much fun, and oh how rewarding when you score a deal!  

The following pictures were taken last weekend at a not-so-awesome brocante in a decent-sized town a few miles away.  There were not a lot of sellers, and those that were selling weren't selling anything to get too excited about.  I came home with a nice yellow cast-iron dutch oven with a "made in France" stamp on the bottom, but I have no idea of the age or manufacturer.  I must admit to being a sucker for that "made in France" thing.  Also a tarte plate, again "made in France".  All of that for four euro.  The dutch oven weighs in close to 30 pounds or so, it has to be good, right?  At least it looks cute in the kitchen.  The kids always manage to find something to spend their allowance on, be it My Little Pony, Pokemon cards or some weird figurine that was cleared out of Grandmere's curio cabinet.  Brocanting has recently reached a whole new level with the arrival of our friends the Leiendeckers, who are now in Belgium enjoying our three year vacation with us.  While Brian actually likes the treasure hunt, he really likes the beer tent and now has a partner in crime who enjoys it equally.  Drinking in a beer tent at noon on a Sunday is a little weird, but when in Rome I guess.  It's what the locals do so who are we not to join in?  Even the kids like it, they get to indulge in a Fanta and bust a few moves on stage.  This did however irk the DJ who was trying to get the party going with some bizarre French techno stuff.  It irked the DJ's kid even more who was giving our kids the stink eye and trying to have a dance off.  He had a whole bag of tricks for the stage and was pulling out every one once he had some competition up there.  Watching that while drinking beer made for one heck of a morning!

Street scene.  Most brocantes have stuff lining every inch of sidewalk, this one was small.

 

Bartenders

Friterie truck

Oh yeeeeeah Belgium, look out!

DJ's kid on far left, about to school Gavin and Kate in the art of Belgian brocante break dancing

Beer tent/friterie goods

Sam one-upping the DJ's kid

hanging out in a phone booth is fun.  I am glad the kids were facing us and not the man behind them relieving himself (not at all uncommon in these parts)

Just liked this sign

Below are treasures from yesterday's hunt.  It was a long morning as the brocante was big and very crowded.  The kids were troopers and we finished up with lunch at a Chinese restaurant which for the record is just like Chinese food back home.  Not that it would be different, just the names of the dishes are in French instead of English.  I was feeling ok about our finds, feeling pretty good about not spending much money at all, but I wasn't overly excited about any of it until we were about to the car and saw a bunch of junk on a table, far away from all of the other sellers.  That table appeared to be kind of cute and Brian agreed. Yes, he finds things cute but can still cook a mean steak and kick ass on a PT test for the record.  I ran over to investigate while Brian loaded up the kids.  En Francais I inquired about the table, is it for sale?  Oui!  And how much?  Dix euro!  Huh?  Ten?  Like as in five and five?  Yo!!!  Score!!!  Needless to say we brought it home because we need more tables (not).  It's really more desk size but oh it's beautiful!  Heavy as can be with gorgeous green paint peeking through the chips in the white.  Love it, and love that it was ten euro.  Take that Pottery Barn!

And here she is!

Brian's find for the future Man Cave.  The guys have big plans for the shed.

The days' treasures.  Pretty pretty pretty!  All of this, including the table, for 17 euro.