A big thank you to the ladies who welcomed me yesterday to their bookclub in Marseilles. Merci beaucoup Cari, Julie, Agnès, Andrea, Anne, Cris, Olivia, Lisa, and Christiane for reading Words in a French Life and for your very encouraging feedback–as well as for the cheers to keep on this writing path! Today's picture: Last winter's frost killed many of the lauriers roses,  or oleanders, … Continue reading Bourdonner: to hum or buzz in French + The sound of wheat

"Bunk beds". Smokey (upper bunk) and Braise demonstrate one of today's vocabulary words: les lits superposés. (P.S. Thanks to 14-year-old Jackie for her helpful photo styling. She managed to get our dogs to bunk together. Not an easy task!) Thanks to The Dirt Divas, Doreen and Malou, for all of the beautiful flowers that are currently thriving in my garden! Blossoming in Provence is a book … Continue reading lit

The sky above Mont Ventoux.  s'éteindre (seh-tehndre)     : to go out (flame), to die Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentence: Download MP3 file or Download Wav file Une jolie lumière s'est éteinte. A lovely light has gone out. A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse A lovely light goes out… Gus and Paulette wrote to tell me the sad news. Jeanne … Continue reading s’eteindre

Note to self: hunt for wooden goose to put in upstairs window.  P.S. find wooden door beads, curvy curtainettes, and exotic leafery to dress up front door. What else is needed to charmify? Leave your answer in the comments box and play The Door Dress Up Game with us. What other animal might you replace the bird with? Would a bench or a chair add … Continue reading la SPA

After hearing about them and viewing the photos, I was very excited to visit some of the love padlocks, or love-locks on one of the bridges in Paris. Some fear that the growing number of cadenas d'amour pose a threat to the city's cultural heritage. I snapped this photo when I saw the "Honey Bunny" lock (in green, a little to the left)… once upon a … Continue reading la bourde

Very excited to tell you that Blossoming in Provence is now available on Kindle! Click here if you would like to order, and many thanks in advance! un mouton (moo-tohn) noun, masculine1. sheep, sheepskin2. mutton3. fluff (dust); piece of fluff Also:moutonnier, ière = sheeplike Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's word and the following expressions: Download MP3 or Wave file  Expressions: compter les moutons = to count sheepun ciel … Continue reading mouton