Month: January 2013

Uncategorized

Inspiration all around as a Frenchman talks about cooking, childrearing, embarrassing language gaffes, and writing… in today’s entretien with Marc Levy

Marc Levy's books are available now, for the first time, in English! Learn about this former Red Cross worker who, in the decade since he began writing, has become most-read French author in the world. To all who dare to follow their dream… may today's interview give you wings! un entretien (ontr-tee-en)         1) an interview         2) management/service (a car check-up, etc…) Audio … Continue reading Inspiration all around as a Frenchman talks about cooking, childrearing, embarrassing language gaffes, and writing… in today’s entretien with Marc Levy

Kristin Espinasse146 Comments
Decorating

coussin + before & after photos of my home office!

… and you were expecting a picture of a cushion, were you? See a stylish one in today's story…. Meantime, have a look at the new blooms in our winter potager! One of the joys of being a perennial newbie gardener is to be amazed to learn that broccoli flowers! (Ditto, on witnessing this artichoke bloom–in electric purple!). Now back to our story-column.   le … Continue reading coussin + before & after photos of my home office!

Kristin Espinasse126 Comments
Jackie

Hound dog French: Pronunciation practice with my daughter

A charming shop in Paris ricain(e) (ree-kah(n) ree-kahn)     : American (slang) Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French lyrics to the famous song, below: Download MP3 or Wav file Si les Ricains n'étaient pas là, vous seriez tous en Germanie. If the Americans weren't there, you'd all be in Germany. -Michel Sardou, French singer A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse Ricane English and … Continue reading Hound dog French: Pronunciation practice with my daughter

Kristin Espinasse162 Comments
Cuisine

pate

Green Juice and Tomettes (tomettes, and not tomates!) It's a rainy day in Bandol, a perfect morning for some pancrêpes. Instead, Jean-Marc and I are drinking green juice (this time with fennel–and it's dill-like leaves–bergamot lemon, ginger, pomme, and celery). We'll definitely have pancakes this weekend! Read on… Meantime, put your pancake tips here in the comments and we'll keep them in mind for the next … Continue reading pate

Kristin Espinasse124 Comments
Uncategorized

How to say “care package” in French?

Since becoming winemaker and majority owner, along with Thomas Bertrand, of Domaine Rouge-Bleu, Caroline Jones has few free moments. Yet, she took time out during her busy first bottling last week, to put together a caring package for a friend.  Read on, in today's missive. Question: How to say "care package" in French?Answer: I'm not exactly sure—but here are some ideas!:  un colis suprise une … Continue reading How to say “care package” in French?

Kristin Espinasse114 Comments
animal expressions

brebis

A troupeau of sheep grazing on another pasture. Photo by Jean-Marc. la brebis (breh-bee)   : ewe   Note: brebis (masculine) refers to the cheese brebis égarée = lost sheep du fromage de brebis = sheep's cheese une brebis galeuse = a bad apple, a black sheep, or a personne indésirable Audio File: (check back later for the recording) Il avait eu une époque où … Continue reading brebis

Kristin Espinasse120 Comments
Characters

berger

Cabane de berger (the shepherd's wooden hut) photo by the Neurdein brothers. Here we have a slumbering sheepherder with his border collie and german shepherd (is it?) minding the troup. (When Mom sees this photo, she'll ditch her latest treehouse scheme… in favor of this fort-on-wheels with a nifty sliding door! Mom has had a hard time deciding where to anchor, here on the olive farm. This just may be … Continue reading berger

Kristin Espinasse134 Comments
Food and Drink, Gastronomie

Mealtime and How to say “I’m full” in French

A typical country lunch in southern France… read on, in today's story. rassasier (rah-sah-zee-ay)     : to satisfy, to satiate; (reflexive) to have enough, to be filled Audio file: listen to Jean-Marc teach us three ways to say I'm full (and not "je suis plein"!):  Download MP3 file or  hear the Wave file Non, merci. Je n'ai plus faim. Non, merci. Je suis rassasié(e). Non, merci. J'en … Continue reading Mealtime and How to say “I’m full” in French

Kristin Espinasse158 Comments
Uncategorized

veuve de la vendange

I wrote the story “crush widow” two years ago. Were you reading then? (Photo of a modern cabanon with its carpet of white flowers taken in Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes. In wintertime, the old, leafless vines always look, to me, like upended chicken feet—as do all the pollarded trees.) la veuve de la vendange (lah vuv deuh lah von danzh)     : crush widow Audio file: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce … Continue reading veuve de la vendange

Kristin Espinasse60 Comments