Recently, while editing photos in Picasa (Google's free photo-editing software), I noticed they offered a newer version. After hitting the update button… I tried out a tool called "effet lomo" (lomo effect?). The result is seen above (I snapped the photo while driving to the dermatos the other day). Which photo editing software do you use? Thanks for sharing your answers here, in the comments box.
Come see our family vineyard! Visits are by appointment only… but don't let that formality scare you away! We would love to see you for one of our convivial wine tastings! If you plan to be in Provence, leave us a message here, in today's comments box, and we'll add you to one of our upcoming April, May, June, (…) get-togethers. Jean-Marc and I hope to see you one of these days!
contrarier (see sound file, below…)
1: to annoy
2. to frustrate, to thwart
3. to alternate
4. to force to write with one's right hand
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Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc read these French words: Download MP3 or Wav file
Quand j'ai vu que les chiens avaient creusé des trous dans le jardin, j'étais bien contrariée!
When I saw that the dogs had dug holes in the garden, I was very annoyed!
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Everything's Coming Up Choses!
I think it was one of the plantes grasses–you know, those low-maintenance types, the kind you see on every mémé's window sill?–yes, I believe it was one of those that flowered first, sending out little yellow blossoms, fine as baby's breath, sassy as firecrackers!
Next, I discovered periwinkle-color coureurs beside the garden steps. The vinca had bloomed! and for the first time in the two years since Malou passed me the cuttings!
I knelt down beside the small scattering of flowers (there were one… two… trois!), appreciating the exact shade of blue, and giggling "Pervenche! Now I have pervenche, too!"
Buoyed by success, I waltzed over to one of the messy, unmade flower beds, where I discovered that Doreen's what's-her-names had flowered too! It now seemed safe to give that plant a name…. Madame Quelque Chose! Not only had Madame flowered, she had become fertile–in time to send out offspring! One of the "little springs" must have landed in the tiny crack beside the cellar door, where the seedling was now blossoming!
High on hope, feeling as invincible as the irises which were budding right alongside the rest, I might have floated blindly past the first bêtise… bêtise, to say the least–for the dogs had dug up 'The Eye's Feast'! (well, that's what we might have called them, those curly-leafed blossoming things for which the Latin name escapes me).
Speaking of escaping… there go the guilty ones! Smokey and Braise are now running like blazes to hide behind the Whaddayacallits (just what is the name of that bush? Oh, never mind. I've got work to do in the garden, beginning with a couple of very big holes to fill!). Quelle bêtise!
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Post note: (or "turning trous into treasures"") I didn't stay ruffled for very long… but soon had an inspiration! One of those holes was the perfect size in which to plant the grand courge plant… it had been such a little courge plant when my friend Caroline carefully uprooted the seedling from her flower pot and gave it to me. And now a bright yellow flower has appeared! Beneath the blossom an olive-size pumpkin is growing! Off to tuck that one into the newly-dug you-know-what.
To respond to anything in this post, click here. Hint: the comments corner is a great place to ask questions about French and life/travel in France. Your collective knowledge and helpful answers to each others' questions are appreciated!
French Vocabulary
la plante grasse = succulent
la mémé = grandmother
le coureur = runner
trois = three
la pervenche = periwinkle
la bêtise = bit of mischief
le trou = hole
la courge = squash
Smokey in the window…
In case you're feeling inspired to add a caption to this photo… please share it with us here, in the comments corner!
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LES PORTES TORDUES (The Twisted Doors): The Scariest Way in the World to Learn & Hear French! Mystery, vocab, grammar, Audio!
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At Corkscrew in Portland- Nancy, left, and Kelly on the right
David Wolff, JoAnn Calfee, Jean-Marc and Cindylee Giammona. Cindylee writes:
Here at the wine bar, Corkscrew, miles from our home in Hawaii, my dose of France converged over clinking glasses of wine, tabled with two other women readers of your blog. We enjoyed the wine and atmosphere immensely. My disappointment to lose out on a bottle of the, sold out Lunatique, was replaced by my prize bottle of Mistral, as you can see by the smile on my face. Aloha and all the best, Cindylee
Do you have a photo from Chief Grape's wine tour? Or maybe you have a photo from your visit here at the family vineyard? Send it to me with a "permission to post" and I will share it here. Merci!
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Dear Kristin,
I’ve been a long time reader of your blog. Seeing French Word A Day in my inbox is always a highlight. My husband and I are staying in Eygaliéres, and would love to come to your wine tasting on Tuesday if possible.
Thank you!
Dawn Anderson, usually in rather chilly Michigan.
I would like to confirm for April the 3rd 11h30. There are two of us, looking forward to meeting you. Mia
Caption for the photo: “Can’t a dog get some water around here!”
Hi Kristin,
Please add me…would love a chance to meet you when schedules allow!
Thanks,
Julie
DEAR KRISTIN,
PAULETTE AND GUS ELISON WILL BE IN PROVENCE FROM 24 THROUGH 27 APRIL. WE ARE STAYING AT VILLENEUVE LES AVIGNONS
Caption: “Excusez-moi,” I believe there are treats in here for me…??
My husband and I are traveling to Provence with a friend to visit a mutual, long-time friend who has lived in Avignon for many years. By September when we visit he will be in a new home in Isle sur la Sorgue. We hope to visit you then if possible.
Thank you very much for your replies! I will update the blog this week, with more dates and information regarding meet-ups. For those who are able to make it to the April 3rd tasting, this Tuesday, please look for a confirmation email from me. If you havent received one–send me another message and Ill get back with you as soon as I can!
Kristin,
Happy Friday! Hope you have a lovely weekend planned with your family. Love that cute-as-a-button picture of Smokey saying, “Okay, Mom, I’m gonna get some sun AND keep an eye on things inside just in case anything edible happens to fall to the floor”.
Like you, I watch in wonder as more things bloom each week. I’m a little anxious though as we may be getting a snow storm here in the Boston area tomorrow which might damage things. I pray our flowers will somehow escape….I’ll let you know.
All my best, Carolyn Dahm
Hello Kristin,
We are from the wine growing region of Northern Californi….Sonoma County….we would love to participate in a wine tasting at your vinyard…..we will be in the area July 11 – 20….any ideas around those dates? Thanks much and bon chance !!
Kent
Hi Rosemary, the stone building is a cabanon, where workers could store their farm supplies and, perhaps, take refuge from the cold Mistral. Would anyone else like to add to this answer? Thanks!
Hi Abby,
We are about 3 hours from Valbonne. Ill be posting the dates for July meet-ups soon. Please check back, and let me know if you can make it to one (there are many lovely postcard villages in the area. You might make see some of those as well and make it a day!)
I love your blog, your stories, the dogs. THE DOGS!!! What cuties they are. I think the quotes from your other visitors about cover my thoughts. Particularly like the one about “digging up your whatchmacallit. Wish I was going to Provence this year – but I still have not made it up to Houston to visit French Country Wine store. We are having daffodils, tulips etc. now. From Port Townsend, Wa.
Kristin,
I’m leaving for France April 19. Will be in Reims & Alsace until the 26th, but I believe you are in Provence, non? I am going to be in Avignon from the 26th of April until May 5. How far are you from Avignon & do you have degustations daily or only by appointment?
Thanks,
Elly
Photo caption: If I inch in slowly, they’ll never know I’ve been outside!
Not a mouse will get by this nose!
I use Picasa also. I want to be true to the original as possible unlike all the things one can do in Adobe Photoshop. I will check out the new version. I took a class in Photoshop and OMG it would take a couple of years to learn how to use everything. And I just am not interested in putting my head on Raquel Welch’s body! And it goes unsaid that she would want hers on mine!
As for a caption: “If I lose just 5 more lbs I will be able to get through!”
Hi Kristin,
I’ve used GIMP since 2004. Being Open Source, it’s totally free and can do 90% of what Photoshop can. On the downside it is very unconvivial and has a learning curve as steep as PS. It also has the advantage of being multi-platform. There are many books available in english and several in french. I unconditionally recommend it. The €700 they save by not buying PS would be better spent on a good pocketcam!
….. C’est moi le gardien officiel, personne ne passe sans mon autorisation, pas même ces chipotes de souris” …..
Domaine Blaise,
Julie, thank you for that helpful correction (avaient and not avait).
Elly, visits to our home vineyard are by appointment only. We will try to organize two visits each week, hopefully on a Tuesday or Thursday, depending. We are located 45 minutes north of Avignon and would love to see you. How about making it to the May 1st tasting at 4pm.
Can anyone else make it to the May 1st tasting. Let me know 🙂
Just wanted to add my hopes for a chance to visit. My husband and I, along with another couple, will be in Sablet Sept 9-15 for our first visit to Provence. Are you too busy then?
I always look forward to French-Word-A-Day!
Dear Kristin,
I feel very remiss because I have enjoyed and loved and gained from your wonderful blog for at least a couple of years. Everyone of my friends as well tunes in to you and your life. My daughter and I have it set onto our computers to come up as soon as the computers are turned on. I’ve long known that I should write to you to thank you very much for some many lovely moments with your family. Now, though, I must write because I told your husband that I would say hello to you.
I am the rather strange lady who blasted into the Punchdown wine bar in Oakland with my daughter and cried out, “Oh, Jean-Marc, I know you so well, but you don’t know me.” He was very gracious, much to his credit. Joanna (my daughter) and I drove from the lovely town of Larkspur, an hour and a bridge away to meet him. He was pretty exhausted – just wanted you to know that it’s not all fun – and very dear. He managed to talk with everyone in that bar and came back to us several times, when we discussed your dogs, your loss of temper – kids do need to see that (I had five), and your basal cell surgery. I’ve had seventeen hours of surgery (Mohs) on my face, including a cast they once sewed to my nose, but I’ve now moved from infiltrative basal cells to squamous cell surgery. Cool. Keeps us humble, n’est-ce pas?
Jean-Marc invited us to join you. I would love to more than I can say. Some day I’d love to rent a French farmhouse and treat all 22 of our immediate family to a lovely stay. However, the lottery tickets I bought yesterday did not produce the money I fully expected that they would.
Thank you for the wonderful glimpses into your life, for the gorgeous photos, for your wonderful spirit, and for your deep generosity in sharing a life well lived with many whose days are so much better for having read your writings.
Sincerely,
Cathy Plocki
Hi Kristin,
I too use Photoshop for my photos. I love your photos on this post! Just perfect for my bithday…your dogs are so cute!
I might be in France in July too and would love to know what days you may have wine tasting then. It would be lovely to meet you all. Take care, Lisa
Hi Kristin,
I’ll be back in Provence at our favorite apartment in St. Didier, this time with two francophile friends, from 23 May to 13 June. Would love to see you again and join a wine tasting if you schedule any during that time.
Thanks so much for your posts which provide such a wonderful insight into daily life in a part of France we have come to love.
Barbara
Hello,
We will be in Provence from July 10-17th. We’re staying in Cheval-Blanc and will be touring the markets and vineyards. What town are you near. Will you have any events that week?
Kind regards, Vicki
Bonjour,
Friends and daughters will be in Provence (Murs) for a week, 16 June to 22 June. If you
have tastings, would love to plan.
Merci en avance,
Betsy
Interesting to read that many people like the special effects of the tools like Picasa. Photoshop doesn’t have those to my knowledge, though I suppose one could replicate the effects. But I use Photoshop to do things like correct keystoning (the way buildings lean back when you tilt the camera if you are not using a perspective correcting lens or a view camera); to correct imperfections in exposure; sometimes to remove things I don’t like — for example, a trash can that couldn’t be physically moved when I took the picture; and to sharpen if I am going to print, of course. All digital images need some sharpening.
Just about anything I could do in the traditional wet darkroom I can do more easily in Photoshop and the results can be exactly repeated. And I’m not breathing in chemicals!
Bonjour Kristin,
My wife and I and another couple are staying at Bello Visto — one of your advertisers — the week of May 19-26. I met Jean-Marc at one of his DC-area wine tastings last month and he said he would probably be in London that week and that you might be hosting your father that week also. At your convenience, we would love to come by for a wine tasting — and a book signing! But only if it works for you and your schedule.
I do a lot of photography and very much enjoy seeing your work on this blog. I don’t think anyone here has mentioned Lightroom yet as a photo editor. It has tremendous capabilities, is easier to learn than Photoshop, and allows you to catalog your photos as well. But overall, for people who are just starting and/or don’t want to spend much, I recommend Photoshop Elements. They’re all fun to play with!
Bonjour Kristin et Jean-Marc,
My husband and I attended Jean-Marc’s winetasting in Alexandria, VA last month and I mentioned to him that we (along with our 2 kids, ages 11 and 13) will be in France from June 21st-July 22nd (actually, my husband will only be with us until July 8th), with plans to be in the Provence region sometime between July 1st-5th or so. Would you be available for a visit of your lovely vineyard & dégustation sometime during this timeframe? I am a high school French teacher located in the suburbs northwest of Washington, DC and I LOVE your blog and your books! I always tell my students that they should subscribe to your blog, as it is a fun way to increase their vocabulary and learn un peu de la vie française!
Alors, dès que vous aurez du temps, veuillez me faire savoir si ces dates vous conviennent ou pas pour une visite. Merci mille fois!
p.s. Une autre chose…où précisement êtes-vous situés en Provence?
Hi Kristin,
Enjoy your blog and your books! My husband and I are San Diegans who spend part of the year in Sernhac, halfway between Nimes and Avignon. We will be here during April, May and June, and would love to come to one of your wine-tastings! We are pretty unscheduled, so let me know which date(s) would work for you!
Thank you so much for all you do!
Bonjour aux ESPINASSE
POURRAITON AVOIR DES NOUVELLES DE KRISTIN ?
DEPUIS MARS 2 ,AUCUNE BLOGERIE …
merci
PIERRE