Month: October 2009

Recette / Recipe

Olive Cake Recipe! Savory cakes and Cake aux Olives

For the purposes of this edition, and so as to remain neatly "in theme," we'll call the little guy in the lower left "Frank." franc, franche (frawn, frawnsh) adjective  frank, true, free, exempt …and the verb "franchir" : to cross, step over (out), overcome :: Audio Clip & Example Sentence::Hear our son, Max, recite today's quote: Download franchir.wavSans franchir sa porte, on peut connaître le … Continue reading Olive Cake Recipe! Savory cakes and Cake aux Olives

Kristin Espinasse34 Comments
Jean-Marc's "saccoche"

contretemps

Braise & Smokey's Excellent Adventure. While the kids, the husband, the mother-, brother-, sister-in-law and I visit Morocco (a trip two years in the making!), the rest of our furry family will be "séjouring" in Vaison la Romaine… Chez Ellen and Mark. Not sure if the Sullivan's will have time to update their blog… but you might check in just in case! CONTRETEMPS (con-truh-tahn) noun, … Continue reading contretemps

Kristin Espinasse37 Comments
Smokey's Accident

percer

A clock in Cairanne. It is time to put this word journal on automatique—but only for the next three posts. Beginning Wednesday, we will revisit the word-a-day archives—in time for our family to take a mini-break. I am already looking forward to telling you more stories dans un petit semaine. percer (pehr-say) verb     to pierce percer quelque chose à jour = to see right … Continue reading percer

Kristin Espinasse24 Comments
Uncategorized

lumiere

"Droguerie… et Lumière" from the Cinéma Vérité photo archives. In Upcoming Events: Jean-Marc will be hosting a Domaine Rouge Bleu Winemaker's dinner on Monday 23rd November in Copenhagen. Menu and price will be fixed. There are only 40 seats. Booking has to be made directly to The Wine Company by e-mail: thewinecompany@private.dk, phone +45 22 24 68 82 or fax +45 38 80 74 82 … Continue reading lumiere

Kristin Espinasse59 Comments
Uncategorized

subir

  "Méfiance & Insouciance" ("Mistrust & Unconcern"). The pictures above show Smokey's parents, Sam & Braise, illustrating the concept of "méfiance" (see Sam, left) and carefree "insouciance" (see Braise, right). Smokey's family trusts that he will move from one emotional stage to the other, before long (we hope!). (See the original photo at the end of this edition.) subir (soo-beer) verb     to suffer, undergo; … Continue reading subir

Kristin Espinasse74 Comments
Uncategorized

une plaie

Smokey and his new silver cheek. Our vet stapled Smokey back together: his cheek and upper jaw were mended and several more staples were used to patch up his throat after a couple of attack dogs wandered into our yard on Friday. Read on, in today's story column just below. une plaie (play) noun, feminine     : wound une plaie béante = open/gaping/wide open wound … Continue reading une plaie

Kristin Espinasse110 Comments
Uncategorized

la journee mondiale de l’alimentation

A basket of pomegranates at our local superette. la journée mondiale de l'alimentation     : World Food Day .Audio File & Example Sentence: Download Wav or Download MP3 Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the following French words: Aujourd'hui c'est la journée mondiale de l'alimentation. Comme dit Coluche, "Quand je pense à toi, je pense à moi." Today is World Food Day. As Coluche says, "When I … Continue reading la journee mondiale de l’alimentation

Kristin Espinasse23 Comments
mother-in-law, Recette / Recipe

caviar d’aubergines

"Aubergines." An old door/former shop front in the town of Suze-la-Rousse. caviar d'aubergines (kah-vee-ahr doh-behr-zheen)     :  eggplant caviar . Audio file & Example Sentence: Download MP3 file or Download Wav "…profiter des bontés de cette généreuse saison des récoltes et courir acheter aussi des paniers d'aubergines et de courgettes, pour… ratatouille et … caviar d'aubergines." –from Le Soleil A Day in a French Life…by … Continue reading caviar d’aubergines

Kristin Espinasse27 Comments
Milestones, Paris, Public Speaking

une idée fausse

Shakespeare and Company: an historic expat bookstore in Paris. Still soaring from the high of speaking at the American Library… I marched right into Shakespeare & Co. (before Fear had a chance to bully me and lie to me again…) and offered up my new public speaking services… To get this new gig–I acted as if–as if I had the confidence and composure of a … Continue reading une idée fausse

Kristin Espinasse52 Comments
Public Speaking

Milestone in French

It was a dream come true to speak in Paris at the American Library. Read on, in today's story column. (Picture taken with my camera after the speaking event, as Jean-Marc and I walked back to our hotel.) jalon (le jah-lohn) noun, masculine     : milestone   A Day in a French Life…by Kristin Espinasse The night before last I stood outside the American Library … Continue reading Milestone in French

Kristin Espinasse57 Comments