Golden larches light up the Alps while a wonderfully wacky cake disappears from our kitchen. Jean-Marc packs a slice for the mountains, Mom reaches for her spoon, and Ricci waits for crumbs. Come for autumn’s colors, stay for Gâteau Fou—and a French kitchen term that might make you blush. Continue reading Autumn Colors in the Alps—and a Cake So Easy, You’ll Think It’s Fou!
What makes a place feel like home? From her cozy, occasionally trembling New York apartment to a shared meal at church, Jackie reflects on hospitality, homelessness, and the dignity of being welcomed as a guest. This week’s French word is foyer: home, household, hearth. Continue reading Foyer: A Warm Welcome, a Shared Meal, a Sense of Home
WORD OF THE DAY: rebondissement (ruh-bon-dees-mahn) : an unexpected twist; a surprising turn of events Entre les chutes de Mom, la rupture de Max et les fiançailles de Jackie et Vinny, notre vie de famille est pleine de rebondissements ! Between Mom’s falls, Max’s breakup, and Jackie and Vinny’s engagement, our family life is full of unexpected twists! A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by … Continue reading Rebondissement: A Breakup, Three Falls, and an Engagement
WORD OF THE DAY un cappronounced: kahpa cape; figuratively, a threshold or turning point franchir un cap — to reach a milestone; to move into a new stage of life UN…DEUX…TROIS… By Jacqueline Espinasse If you went to kindergarten in France, chances are you played a game called Un, deux, trois, soleil ! All you need is a wall and a few friends. One child stands … Continue reading Un cap: Jackie’s Big News—and a French Childhood Game
WORD OF THE DAYle frelon (fruh-lohn)hornet RELATED EXPRESSIONSUn nid de frelons — Literally “a hornet’s nest.” Figuratively, a volatile situation in which interference may provoke anger or conflict.Les frelons de la littérature — Literally “the hornets of literature.” An old literary expression describing envious critics who disparage other writers’ work while stealing from it. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse For our … Continue reading Frelon: An Anniversary with Uninvited Guests
LA FOULE = MOB I was on my way to the gym yesterday when I saw some police officers near the local high school. Three flics, to be exact. I wondered why they were there, but asking might take their attention off of something imminent. Just what, exactly, might be imminent? I noticed batons and holstered guns. The street was as quiet as it usually … Continue reading Student Riots & La Foule
UNE DURE À CUIRE une dure à cuire (ewn dewr ah kweer) : a tough cookie; a tough woman “Je suis une dure à cuire,” a dit Maman après sa mésaventure.“I’m a toughy,” Mom said after her mishap. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse I wasn’t sure whether the scream was real or part of a dream. Then I heard Mom calling … Continue reading “I Have a Little Problem…”: Mom, a Giant Mirror, and a Tough Cookie
LA MAÎTRESSE (may-tress) a female teacher, especially in preschool or primary school IS IT TEACHING OR BROADWAY? by Jacqueline Espinasse Last Friday, I turned twenty-nine. I never thought I’d get here, or more accurately, I never really thought about what it would mean to turn twenty-nine. As a little girl, a teenager, and even into my early twenties, I could only ever picture myself up to … Continue reading Maîtresse: When Teaching Feels Like Broadway
UN ANGEange (ahnzh) : an angel Bien avant de descendre sur terre, tu étais déjà notre petit ange.Long before you came down to earth, you were already our little angel. Useful expressions:un ange gardien = a guardian angelêtre un ange = to be an angel; to be wonderfully kindun ange passe = an angel is passing; said when conversation suddenly falls silentdormir comme un ange … Continue reading ANGE: Do Our Children Choose Us?
TODAY’S WORD: LA BONBONNE pronounced “bohn-BON” Une bonbonne is a large, rounded glass bottle used for storing or transporting wine and other liquids; a demijohn or carboy. It is also known as une dame-jeanne, a name derived from the older Occitan damajano, possibly tracing back to Damghan, a Persian city once renowned for its glassmaking. The charming story that it was named after Queen Jeanne … Continue reading A Baby, A Bottle, and a Secret to a Happy Marriage
