Still pinching images from Google image search (I promise I took these!) after my computer crashed one week ago (typing this post on my son's PC)…. This photo was snapped in St. Tropez. Its artist theme fits with today's story of the "tree artists" (or pirates, rather…). Read on, in today's column.
chaparder (sha-par-day)
to pinch, to lift, to steal
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
Pirates of the Olive Plantation
For the next week or two there will be a modest camping-car parked in the driveway below our house. This is part of Jean-Marc's solution to our tree-pruning dilemma: hire a specialized team to tackle the project in one intensive fortnight!
Like this we have insta-neighbors—though we don't see them or hear them very much. Tanguy* and Thomas, who arrived Friday from the Gard region, will spend their days cutting back the enormous oliviers that have graced this land for centuries.
It would be fun to imagine the two tree-trimmers as Edward Scissorhand's distant French cousins, but the truth is they look more like pirates than gothic gardeners. (There's a definite Johnny Depp connection. It must be the rock ‘n’ roll demeanor they share. It's that giant silver hoop, or créole, that Tanguy sports or that bad boy air that surrounds Thomas, who, with une clope dangling from his lazy smile, easily perpetuates the myth that cigarettes are seductive.)
I knew a little bit about Tanguy before he came to live here for this short séjour. His partner, Aurélie, has helped at all our grape harvests. I had a hunch that Tanguy might know a lot about how to forage wild plants, as Aurélie does, so I asked him to help me identify some pissenlit (or confirm it was indeed dandelion) that I was hoping to use in the kitchen. That is when I learned that Thomas, Tanguy's friend and co-pirate, knew a thing or two about les plantes sauvages. At the picnic table, yesterday, a sleeveless Thomas reached down and snapped up an herb with lance-shaped leaves, declaring it plantain.
Thomas handed me the wild specimen, which I could use to compare against other wild plants—eventually adding it to my knowledge base. I am hoping to have a certain understanding of the comestible plants on our property ("certain" being the key word. I want to be sure the plants I am picking are mangeable and not poisonous as they are destined for soups, salads, and juices).
Changing the subject, so as not to take up Tanguy and Thomas's lunch break, I said:
"By the way, that would have been a great photo of you two in the olive trees this morning!" I was remembering the image of Tanguy and Thomas, each on a different branch high above the ground which is graced here and there by wild orchids this time of year.
Tanguy laughed. "You aren't the only one to think so!" he admitted, telling me how he and Thomas seemed to be stopping the traffic that normally cruised by the great olive field.
More than a sight to behold, the tree-trimmers were surrounded by some very attractive commodities: the centuries-old branches that were piling up on the ground beneath them.
"One grand-mère pulled over, hiked up her skirt, and climbed onto the olive grove," Tanguy explained. "She plucked up a couple of olive branches, saying they'd make great gifts (an olive branch symbolizes peace—what better offering than this?).
"Another guy pulled over and snapped up an armful of leafy cuttings. 'For my sheep,' he explained." (I wondered if the punk rock sheepherder was back? Was this whom Tanguy saw stealing away with the olive branches?)
Tanguy shook his head, smiling. "I let him take what he wanted. Sheep love to eat olive branches!"
(Come to think of it, that was true! I remembered the transhumance that took place on our land last month—and how the sheep stood on hind legs to reach the olive branches!)
I listened to stories of the other motorists-turned-thieves. What funny images it all painted in my mind. It was amusing, too, to think that Tanguy and Thomas weren't the only ones to share a pirate's likeness—apparently half our neighborhood did too!
I pictured Tanguy and Thomas dangling high up in the olive tree (or ship mast…) as a host of unlikely pirates landed on the orchid spotted deck below, before disappearing with the leafy loot.
***
Here I have to smile at the colorful French definition of today's word:
chaparder: dérober de modestes objets (to steal objects of modest value). True, the branches weren't worth much, but many an unsuspecting thief found value in those discarded tree limbs, and yo-ho-ho! away they rode.
*Learn all about the cool name "Tanguy"–click here and scroll down to the story column. We met Tanguy via his partner, Aurélie. I wrote a poem about her here: "…Heroines with hot peppers in their hearts, they sizzle with mystery and soul." Read the story-poem "Bohème" – click here.
French Vocabulary
un camping-car = camper van, RV
un olivier = olive tree
une créole = large hoop earring
une clope = cigarette
un séjour = a stay
le pissenlit = dandelion
la plante sauvage = wild plant
le plantain = known as ribleaf, lamb's tongue and other names
mangeable = edible
127 things to do in Paris: click here to read the latest reader-submitted tips!
The gnarled and noble trunks of the olives trees that Tanguy and Thomas are pruning this week.
Pronounce It Perfectly in French - with exercises in sound discrimination and accurate sound creation. Order your copy here.
Always leave on a sunny note–something I sometimes forget, especially when taking for granted the daily comings and goings of family. Speaking of sunny, have you planted sunflowers seeds yet? If you don't have a big yard, where else could you plant one? Ever seen one of those cool sunflower houses–where you dig a square trench and plant seeds all around – leaving space for the "front door" door? When they are grown you can connect the tops! To comment on any item in this post, click here, and thank you for forwarding this letter to a friend.
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Alyssa, sorry about that. Tanguy is a popular name in NW France, or it originates from there, I think. Can anyone reading this correct me or add more info on this charning name? re the * — this was to point out a further reference, about Tanguys girlfriend. See the link.
Beverly, I sometimes include argot so that we French learners are aware of the terms, which come up in spoken French. I have often heard the word clope, during the harvest or at a cafe or… So it is useful to be aware or these words, or one might miss part of the conversation. re meli-melo, you are likely to come across this term while shopping, or see it in a catalogue. A look at the French news pages turns of numerous meli-melo references.
Alyssa, sorry about that. Tanguy is a popular name in NW France, or it originates from there, I think. Can anyone reading this correct me or add more info on this charning name? re the * — this was to point out a further reference, about Tanguys girlfriend. See the link.
Beverly, I sometimes include argot so that we French learners are aware of the terms, which come up in spoken French. I have often heard the word clope, during the harvest or at a cafe or… So it is useful to be aware or these words, or one might miss part of the conversation. re meli-melo, you are likely to come across this term while shopping, or see it in a catalogue. A look at the French news pages turns of numerous meli-melo references.
Richard, love the apple tree image! Though you must have been sore! That homemade granola seems delicious.
Richard, love the apple tree image! Though you must have been sore! That homemade granola seems delicious.
Hi dear Kristin,
Another wonderful post (and pictures!)
You have such a great cast of characters filling your days (!) and what a privilege it is for us to share in them! Especially love your descriptions! Your words just paint pictures for our imaginations!
A comment about my experience with daily aspirin: I’m both a heart patient and skin cancer survivor, and I used to take a baby aspirin every morning with hopes of helping myself.
(with the doctor’s okay) The only downside to this regime is that I began to bruise,terribly. Even the pup’s paws would leave an imprint which would then turn blue and black. The doctor told me that this is a not uncommon side effect. I noticed other women with my same’ markings’ ;we look at each other and nod in understanding.
Love, Natalia XO
Hi dear Kristin,
Another wonderful post (and pictures!)
You have such a great cast of characters filling your days (!) and what a privilege it is for us to share in them! Especially love your descriptions! Your words just paint pictures for our imaginations!
A comment about my experience with daily aspirin: I’m both a heart patient and skin cancer survivor, and I used to take a baby aspirin every morning with hopes of helping myself.
(with the doctor’s okay) The only downside to this regime is that I began to bruise,terribly. Even the pup’s paws would leave an imprint which would then turn blue and black. The doctor told me that this is a not uncommon side effect. I noticed other women with my same’ markings’ ;we look at each other and nod in understanding.
Love, Natalia XO
By the time I read the FWAD, a lot of my questions have been answered. However, note it’s “rock ‘n roll”, specimen, orchids. And Jules uses apostrophes which aren’t needed in plurals unless it’s letters (mind your p’s and q’s) or numbers (6’s, etc. ) The funniest thing about today’s column has got to be pissenlit. I couldn’t figure out what peeing on a bed had to do with a dandelion. Live and learn. Merci for the great pictures of the olive trees and the house.
By the time I read the FWAD, a lot of my questions have been answered. However, note it’s “rock ‘n roll”, specimen, orchids. And Jules uses apostrophes which aren’t needed in plurals unless it’s letters (mind your p’s and q’s) or numbers (6’s, etc. ) The funniest thing about today’s column has got to be pissenlit. I couldn’t figure out what peeing on a bed had to do with a dandelion. Live and learn. Merci for the great pictures of the olive trees and the house.
Every time I hear “plantain” I think of the early part of the play Romeo and Juliet. Romeo’s cousin Benvolio is trying to get Romeo to forget about Rosaline and fall for another (more willing) girl:
BENVOLIO: One desperate grief cures with another’s languish:
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the rank poison of the old will die.
ROMEO: Your plaintain-leaf is excellent for that.
BENVOLIO: For what, I pray thee?
ROMEO: For your broken shin.
(“Broken” means skin that has been cut or opened, not a broken bone.)
Remember that the next time you run out of Polysporin! 😉
Every time I hear “plantain” I think of the early part of the play Romeo and Juliet. Romeo’s cousin Benvolio is trying to get Romeo to forget about Rosaline and fall for another (more willing) girl:
BENVOLIO: One desperate grief cures with another’s languish:
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the rank poison of the old will die.
ROMEO: Your plaintain-leaf is excellent for that.
BENVOLIO: For what, I pray thee?
ROMEO: For your broken shin.
(“Broken” means skin that has been cut or opened, not a broken bone.)
Remember that the next time you run out of Polysporin! 😉
Kristen,
Dean beacame very concerned about how much you were pruning from the trees. He thought that it was only a small percentage of a tree that should come down in pruning…although this might be only American trees. I’m sure that your guys know what to do!
I want to get out into my garden , but we still have snow on the ground…ugh! I need to prune and cut back my ornamental grass and a lot of other things. Too much to do before our trip to France.
Enjoy your spring weather…hope we get out soon.
Kathleen
Kristen,
Dean beacame very concerned about how much you were pruning from the trees. He thought that it was only a small percentage of a tree that should come down in pruning…although this might be only American trees. I’m sure that your guys know what to do!
I want to get out into my garden , but we still have snow on the ground…ugh! I need to prune and cut back my ornamental grass and a lot of other things. Too much to do before our trip to France.
Enjoy your spring weather…hope we get out soon.
Kathleen
Tanguy is not tan guy. How to say this name? Something like tanh-ghee?
Tree guys working high up, so confident, so skilled, they impress me tree-mendously. As did your story today.
The olive trees are gnarled if you mean twisted in their trunks and limbs — knarled seems to be an archaic spelling.
Then there is knurl — a cross grained knot in cut wood, among other meanings.
Not wanting to be a knurl 🙂
I hope your hard drives are all saved and your lap top restored to full function soon. Why it is good to have more than one computer in the house!
Tanguy is not tan guy. How to say this name? Something like tanh-ghee?
Tree guys working high up, so confident, so skilled, they impress me tree-mendously. As did your story today.
The olive trees are gnarled if you mean twisted in their trunks and limbs — knarled seems to be an archaic spelling.
Then there is knurl — a cross grained knot in cut wood, among other meanings.
Not wanting to be a knurl 🙂
I hope your hard drives are all saved and your lap top restored to full function soon. Why it is good to have more than one computer in the house!
Jan, love it! Now I will never forget plantains properties!
Diane, thank you for the needed edits. Re apostrophies, they dont show in my comments (some glitch that has to do with my commenting via my email program).
Natalia, i will remember that next time I see a friend with bruises on her arms. I did not know aspirin could be the culprit.
Jan, love it! Now I will never forget plantains properties!
Diane, thank you for the needed edits. Re apostrophies, they dont show in my comments (some glitch that has to do with my commenting via my email program).
Natalia, i will remember that next time I see a friend with bruises on her arms. I did not know aspirin could be the culprit.
Sarah, thanks for the pronunciation of Tanguy — yes, that is how we say his name, just as you noted. I appreciate the edit (gnarled) and will update the post soon. Merci 🙂
Sarah, thanks for the pronunciation of Tanguy — yes, that is how we say his name, just as you noted. I appreciate the edit (gnarled) and will update the post soon. Merci 🙂
J’aime ce blog!
J’aime ce blog!
Sunny pix and prose. Just the lift that I needed today in gloomy New Hampshire!
Sunny pix and prose. Just the lift that I needed today in gloomy New Hampshire!
Kristen-
I love your sunflower photo. I’m always surprised how like paintings your photos are. That’s what inspired my copy of your photo. Not sure when I’ll get around to painting ‘Sunflowers’.
Merci
Kristen-
I love your sunflower photo. I’m always surprised how like paintings your photos are. That’s what inspired my copy of your photo. Not sure when I’ll get around to painting ‘Sunflowers’.
Merci
Hi Kristi,
Fabulous writing! Don’t ever doubt your writing!
I so really enjoy your stories – and this was was so funny and I have already LOL at the next post!
Ah…Johnny Depp..we all like a little of the strange sometimes and he is so ‘interesting’ as are your ‘pirates’!
Thanks for all the good reading 🙂
Marie
Hi Kristi,
Fabulous writing! Don’t ever doubt your writing!
I so really enjoy your stories – and this was was so funny and I have already LOL at the next post!
Ah…Johnny Depp..we all like a little of the strange sometimes and he is so ‘interesting’ as are your ‘pirates’!
Thanks for all the good reading 🙂
Marie