Self Indulgence at the Saturday Market

Vase and lilacs to fill my heart

I kept waiting for the bells of St. Vincent to tell me the time when I woke up this morning.  But they are silent today, no doubt as a statement of what the Christian world would be like had the story stopped with Good Friday.  I miss their quarter-hourly tolling. 

Nonetheless, it's market day and I was on a mission.  I wanted to find a fresh basil plant and some cut lilacs to have in the house for Easter.  Other than that, I had nothing much on the list, other than to enjoy the neighborhood.  It seems like I get to dawdle at the Saturday market less and less frequently.  Does that mean I am really becoming a local?

Beautiful blooms, real and painted

After a few chores in the kitchen, I went to the market by way of the library, to return books.  That route, of course took me by the clothing store I like and the antique store that I love.  I was sort of in the market for a wide-neck vase, something a little bit larger than the ones I have, a vase to fit the scale of my dining room table.  But it was not an emergency by any means.  

I bought a new spring/summer top at the clothing store, which I do need.  I have been wearing the same t-shirts for at least 10 years now and it's high time to spruce up my wardrobe.  I am sure it will be fun and comfortable to wear.

 

But the find of the day was an antique porcelain vase, in PERFECT condition,.  It's tall enough to hold some long stems, opaque, so that if I choose to put in some high quality silk flowers, the stems won't show and decorated with irises, one of my favorite flowers.  It's a shade of lavender, which goes with my walls and most importantly, it made my heart go "thunk,"  Sad, isn't it, that I paid more for that single vase than I did for all of the dining room chairs combined!

Painted iris

 

And then at the market, I scored a basil plant for only 3 Euros, and an armful, and I mean an armful, of lilacs for only 5 Euros.  They are perfuming my living room right now, with the scent of childhood memories.  Lilacs at Easter, right?  Yes, I know they won't last, but the vase will.  Besides, the point is to live in and enjoy the moment, the right now.  And they are in full perfume right NOW. 

Basil plant will get its own window

As for food, well......I have plenty here already.  I see a coconut cake in the works this afternoon and a lovely Easter meal that will include fresh asparagus, fresh strawberries.  Not a day goes by that I don't realize and give thanks for being one lucky, lucky,, girl, who occasionally is a bit self-indulgent.. 

Easter memories