A bakery in Villedieu (Vaucluse). Don't you love it when the name ("Fournier") ressembles the trade ("boulangerie")? Proof that destiny ne se trompe pas. Do you have any examples of names that match the métier? Thanks for leaving your examples in the comments box. SE TROMPER (suh-trom-pay) reflexive verb : to be mistaken, to be wrong Examples & Sound file (click the links below):tout … Continue reading se tromper
"Ignorance is Bliss" in the olive capital of Nyons. TO BE HONEST, I don't know how to spell today's French "word," or gesture, rather. You'll just have to press your lips together tightly, then force a gust of breath through them. If a "pppp" sound didn't come out, then you've been too prude (and ended up with a "ffff"). Try again. The resulting sound actually … Continue reading pppp!
In the town of Nyons: Persimmons aspiring to be potirons. In children's books: Oxford First French Words potiron (po-tee-rohn) noun, masculine : pumpkin French definition* of "le potiron": "plante potagère voisine de la courge"("vegetable plant, related to squash") *From Le Petit Larousse Do you know of any "potiron" terms or expressions… or would you like to help translate the quote (below)? Perhaps you have … Continue reading potiron
Feeling harried this season? A little Christmas story you may relate to in the column below. sanglot (sahn-glo) noun, masculine : sob verb: sangloter (sahn-glo-tay) : to sob Listen to my daughter read today's word and the following quote: Download Sanglot . Download Sanglot "Dieu entend mieux un sanglot qu'un appel." –Saint Augustine "Mama said there'd be days like this… "(or Maman a dit qu'il … Continue reading sanglot: Christmas time and tears
On Day One we peddled our wines (meeting with an importer) at the Piccadilly Market in London… ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Language Learning ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Oxford Take Off In French: (CD-ROM): Follow an integrating course including activities and dialogues with native speakers so you can feel confident in day-to-day conversation. foire (fwar) noun, feminine : fair : trade fair [from the Latin "feriae" = holidays) Note: this seems to be … Continue reading foire
Photo taken in Monforte d'Alba, Italy. What is poetry? Why can't I always understand it and does it have to rhyme? The former, are questions that I used to ask myself, and the last ("latter"? Oh, fancy word!) is something that I am beginning to understand. One thing that I love about poésie* is that one can (it seems…) break all the rules of prose… … Continue reading poesie
Inspired by the scene above (photo taken in Villedieu), this edition is devoted entirely to green! Today we are focusing on recycling and we are sharing tips on how to be eco-friendly. Please don't hesitate to send in your ideas & eco experiences, via the comments box, for all to see (and use!). Also, don't forget to take today's "green poll", just below. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Events~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~If you happen … Continue reading vert
Poilu… and prickly! in the desert hills of northern Tunisia. A next-to-the-last call to UK readers: We will be at the Barbican Centre this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday–all day! If you're in the area… look us up! (And it's not too late to get a free ticket to this event). * * * Did you know that the French word for caterpillar ("la chenille") comes … Continue reading poilu
Cruisin' through the Tuscan Vauclusian countryside yesterday… My husband still gives me driving lessons (from the passenger seat). I tell him I've been behind the wheel for 23 years. Apparently, says he, it's time to learn to shift gears. Conduire (kohn-dweer) verb to drive. In the winter of 2001, I left work at the vineyard each night to drive myself to driving school, careful … Continue reading conduire
Field of poppies in the Vaucluse (photo taken last Spring). Remerciements to "Intuit" who left a comment* yesterday that inspired the following post. jour du Souvenir (joor-deuh-soov-neer) noun, masculine : Remembrance Day, November 11th, Armistice Day, Veterans Day, Poppy Day The following is Jean Pariseau's translation of the famous war remembrance poem, In Flanders Fields, by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. McCraie, a field … Continue reading Le jour du Souvenir
