Jean-Marc's frangine. la frangine : sister (in informal French). A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse When Jean-Marc's sister comes to stay with us, the kids want to touch their aunt's pink hair, ride in her orange car, and give up their beds for her comfort. Do you still live in a school bus and can we come visit? they want to … Continue reading la frangine
This week we reunite with three characters from the archives, French personnages who have touched me in one way or another. I hope they will touch you, too. Note: a sound file for today's word, and more, can be found at the end of this letter. * * * Pantoufle (pahn-too-fle) noun, feminine : slipper The man in line in front of me wore … Continue reading une pantoufle
Please excuse this extra email in your inbox this morning… I hope this photo of a ravishing "roseburst" (taken yesterday, just outside the orthodontist's office in the French town of Orange…) will make up for that! le rosier (leuh rhoh-zee-ay) noun, masculine : rose bush, rose tree * * * Missing a little French in your weekend? I've just posted another 15 photos over … Continue reading le rosier
Where Angels Fear to Tread. The red sign says "off limits to the public". That didn't stop Mom from wandering into the junk shop's entrails. I shouted for her to come out and, when she did, she looked up at those angels, shook her head. bousculer (boo-skoo-lay) verb : to jostle, push, shove; to bump into or against; to rush, hurry up to shake … Continue reading bousculer
"Zig" and "Zag" a couple of gypsy chicks (…or "pintades") that live up the street. I mentioned them in Saturday's Cinéma Vérité, and showed a few other "characters" from my neighborhood including one Don Juan of a swan. bougeotte (boo-zhowt) noun, feminine wanderlust; itchy feet avoir la bougeotte = to have ants in one's pants, to be always on the move French definition : … Continue reading bougeotte
That's my mom, center stage, ever curious about what lies just around the corner. She's a gypsy at heart. Read on, in today's story column. gens du voyage (zhan-doo-voy-ahzh) noun, masculine, plural : people of the voyage, gypsies French synonyms: Romas, Gitans, Tsiganes, Manouches, Romanichels, Bohémiens, SintisShopping: 1. Practice Makes Perfect: Advanced French Grammar 2. Learn French in your car : comprehensive grammar and … Continue reading gens du voyage
Today we are talking about growth… and goals.: by the way, ever feel too chained down to bloom? (photo of a budding vine here at our farm). velléité (vay-lay-ee-tay) noun, feminine : vague desire, impulse, whim. French definition from L'internaute.com Intention de faire quelque chose qui n'est finalement pas mise en pratique. The intention to do something that is, finally, not put into practice. … Continue reading velleite
Is this field of poppies "Half full or half empty"? Such philosophy can make or break one's day! (Watercolor by Dr. Warren Plauche.) moitié moitié (mwa-tee-ay mwa-tee-ay) expression : halved, shared, fifty-fifty ; so-so faire moitié moitié = to go halvsiesà moitié moitié = by halves Read about the lastest art showing, below, and find out how to buy a painting from the artist. … Continue reading moitie moitie
Hello from Sainte Cécile, where the vine rows are newly-plowed and the ravens and magpies are out, pecking the fresh earth, much to the alarm of the earthworm…. In other news, read about the "red grass", above, in today's story column… * * * Special thanks to South African writer Marita van der Vyver, for her generous write up on French Word-A-Day in her column … Continue reading desherbant
Ever feel like this? Unhinged, patched together, or just plain in pieces? Let me tell you… we got to sleep late last night after our latest mise-en-bouteilles. Read about last night's bottling, in the story column, below. Photo © Jules Greer (thanks Mom!) Cinéma VéritéCinéma Vérité will go cinematic this weekend! Don't miss our first court-métrage* titled "Blond". The filmmaker (13-year-old Max) filmed his mom in this … Continue reading scotcher
