Life: Idiotropic

This morning I left at 6am with mom, Tiara, and a friend to go to Tongeren, Belgium - one of my European happy places. Filled with flea market finds and rare antiques, it's a museum of great finds that you can touch, and buy. It's creative, interesting, and fun and I always leave with some new little treasure.

Today I passed up a beautiful book of French costumes, all vibrantly painted, a really interesting old cow bell, and a large wood framed mirror with lion heads carved into the top. Of course, there was so much more - and treasures too exquisitely expensive to even be considered... but I did leave with a couple little things, some old sterling souvenir spoons that I'll make into something else, an art deco peacock clock, ... and... the dream of owning this beautiful chestnut Spanish table - large enough to comfortably seat 10. It was at Bab's place - a stop now necessary every time I go to Tongeren. I always have to stop now and just say hello - and always, Babs has something special in her tiny little ally shop. Tiara had the find of the day when she got a almost 200 year old wooden bowl - absolutely gorgeous - and only 30 Euro. I think the man who sold it to her was amused to see my friend, my mother, and myself all complaining that we'd missed it. Tiara has her sea shells in her bowl now sitting on her windowsill and it looks wonderful - very classy.

The raspberry beer was abundant today. I didn't have any, but it seemed to be the drink of the day with many people either sitting with it, walking around with one, or carrying trays of 5-6 glasses back to their friends. Belgium is fabulous for beer and while I haven't acquired the appetite for it, there is one particular raspberry beer that is quite yummy.

All that shopping works up an appetite. We always stop for something small at the little cafe in the covered warehouse. Today was cappuccino and a shared sandwich - delicious! After Bab's place, we were starving again, so we stopped at the little Italian restaurant located right through the old city gate on the left. The lady who works there is absolutely delightful to talk to, very genuine and friendly. It's another "must stop" on the list.

[Later... my husband and mother decided that the Spanish table that I fell in love with would make a lovely birthday present... so, it was delivered just the week after my birthday and it now sits in my dining room. It's gorgeous and will fit my girls with their partners someday! Room for ten people! I love that! The man who delivered it is the man who found it. He drew me a little map of where he found it, so I'll save that scrap of paper - another piece of the story.]