Whoops! That shop sign should read "MERCI"… please help me remove the "ER"… and accept my thanks for your patience as "word a day's" delivery schedule is temporarily interrupted! The next word will go out next week. Meantime a message from one of our harvesters to Imogen in the UK: Happy Birthday! comme si comme ça : so-so A Day in a … Continue reading comme ci comme ca
A year ago, my son noticed a pimple on my forehead. It was true, there was a blemish that would not go away. You can just spot the growth in the photo (center of forehead, about an inch from my hairline). It was a waxy translucent bump that grew in diameter. I have darkened the following picture, so you can see the basal cell cancer tumor better: … Continue reading Skin cancer: nodular basal-cell carcinoma tumor on face + post-op photo forehead
The first day of harvest (Part II) ended with a blast! And a down-on-his-luck Chief Grape drove, with a flat-tire, two hours beneath the darkening, cold sky. The harvesters waited for him, working late into the night to process the grapes, which made it back to the farm in the back of a crooked and wobbly wagon. So much for romancing the grapes. belles fringues … Continue reading belles fringues
At a souk in the Medina of Marrakesh. (Mom, I promise I did not see the "no photo" sign until much later! Not that this would have stopped you from taking a picture!) Update: No newsletter or word-a-day, on Monday. I'll be in Avignon, chez le plasticien, or plastic surgeon. Wish me luck (it's only a consultation, following the skin scare). Also, wish Jean-Marc & … Continue reading vexer
"Raw Paws" – or the Society for Mutts that Don't Do Meat or Cooked Veggies. The group is only a fictional one–for Mr Smokey R. Dokey (pictured) won't be giving up his viande vittles any time soon. But, being the gentle cohabitant that he is, he respects certain members of his family that are experimenting with a new way of eating… read on. cru (kroo) … Continue reading cru
In contrast to the chaos in today's story, we'll begin with a peaceful glimpse of Morocco. Read on, now, for another 'picture'! (Photo taken two years ago, on a family trip.) le trajet (trah jay) : trip, journey In books: French Demystified…simple enough for a beginner but challenging enough for a more advanced student. Order your copy here. Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc Download MP3 or Wav file … Continue reading Trajet: Drivers, travelling in Morocco, and the road to Marrakesh
In case you were wondering, this photo has nothing to do with anything. I was just scrambling to find a picture, in my photo archives, for today's post! (This door-knocker picture was taken in Orange, where today's story takes place…) Note: the next edition will go out on Monday.… couper la parole (koo pay lah pah rhohl) : to interrupt a person who is … Continue reading couper la parole
I like to run this photo (taken in the summer of 07', in Italy) every now and then. The words painted on the fence are inspiring: "To live well: love well and let others say what they will". ("Pour bien vivre, bien aimer et laisser dire.") le sanglier (sahn glee ay) : boar, wild pig Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French words … Continue reading sanglier
We'll go ahead and use this photo (for its calligraphie) to illustrate today's story, which might as well be titled "Les Bêtises de La Peau" or "Skin Stupidity". Read on… and cover up with sun screen! la peau (poh) : skin Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc Download MP3 or Wav Protégez votre peau du soleil. Mettez un écran solaire. Protect your skin. Apply sun screen. A … Continue reading How to say “skin” in French + visit to the dermatologist
