The family hat. John bought it for Mom, in Mexico. Mom left it to me, in France. Marsha borrowed it in San Remo, and yesterday, while sitting out in the morning sun enjoying our coffee together, Dad asked: may I use your hat?
une nappe (nap)
: tablecloth, sheet (layer)
la nappe phréatique = ground water, water table
la nappe de mazout = oil slick
la nappe de brouillard = layer of fog
In English–nappe refers to either the ability of a liquid to "coat the back of a spoon" or the act of coating a food (i.e. to nappe a leg of lamb with glaze). —Wikipedia
While at the market in San Remo, my belle-mère Marsha saw this tablecloth. Les coquelicots! Poppies! It would be perfect for the faded metal table we use, on the front porch, where we have breakfast and dinner these days. Plus, it's plastified! You can use a sponge to clean it. And we did, when I spilled spaghetti sauce last night, and when my young friend and upcoming novelist–10-year-old Madeleine–spilled hot chocolate. These self-cleaning nappes are formidable!
That's all for today's word (more pictures below), you can read more about the word "nappe" in these stories from the French Word-A-Day archives:
brader = to discount
coussin = cushion
brusquer = to rush, hurry, hustle
Now for more photos of Italy, where we spent the weekend with Dad and Marsha…
Jean-Marc rinsing giant cherries in the fountain. He bought them at the market stall, after Marsha mentioned they were excellent for gout.
Who needs one more laundry photo? There are so many, but it's hard to resist! Clotheslines remind me of the slow life, simple times, and eco-friendliness. Plus, they force you outdoors, if only for the time it takes to etendre le linge or hang out the wash. Depending on zoning laws, it may be illegal to hang out your laundry in your neck of the woods!
My turn to wear the hat, and Dad has his trusty cap. Above, more laundry in the streets of San Remo, Italy.
I love window vignettes! You'll find hundreds of them on this blog, including this one from a 2006 blog post on "10 ways to say No! in French". If you are a pushover, like me, that'll be a helpful article to read!
Forward this edition to a friend, and help spread the French word. Thanks! For more words, buy the book.
A clever floor runner! We also saw these coffee sacks used as wall paper at a local wine bar in San Remo. Repurposing is alive and well in eco-friendly Italy. To comment on a photo, or text, click here.
Les poivrons, les haricots, de la laitue… peppers, beans, and lettuce in the hilltop village of Ceriana. The Italians love their produce and almost everywhere you look you'll find a kitchen garden.
The camera lens turns on the photographer. Jean-Marc's iPhone rivals my Nikon D-60. Look at the crispness of those stones!
Wonderful flowers outside what looked to be a nunnery facing this church.
At Il Ponte Restaurant where Jean-Marc and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. Ten years later and we brought these sweethearts with us to enjoy an unforgettable meal. No menus at Il Ponte. Just sit down and let Sergio bring you course after course of Ligurian deliciousness!
Mr Sacks (Jean-Marc's side-kick ) came with us, of course! If only we had snuck a Tupperwear inside, we could have brought home leftovers!
Jean-Marc and my dad. Time to drive home to France. Will the market lettuce (lots of baby romaine to plant) make the three-hour trip?
Did you enjoy your virtual travel to Liguria? It's not far from Nice, so next time you are in France why not cross the border and wander up to the magical hills of Italy's hinterland?
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
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Darling photo’s Kirsten and what a beautiful
day trip for all of you!!!
Darling photo’s Kirsten and what a beautiful
day trip for all of you!!!
Your dad photographs wonderfully!
should be modeling, he is a natural….never posing really, just caught in a great pose!
J.M. always looks untidy!! tee hee;)
handsome dad!
Your dad photographs wonderfully!
should be modeling, he is a natural….never posing really, just caught in a great pose!
J.M. always looks untidy!! tee hee;)
handsome dad!
Love your photos and your blog- thank you for sharing!
Love your photos and your blog- thank you for sharing!
We’ve just returned home from a long and lovely holiday at Les Arcs. Your three-hour journey from Bandol to San Remo is the same as ours from Melbourne Airport to our home in Dunkeld! Loved your pics. We often used to cross to Ventimiglia from Menton when we stayed there. So close but quite different.
We’ve just returned home from a long and lovely holiday at Les Arcs. Your three-hour journey from Bandol to San Remo is the same as ours from Melbourne Airport to our home in Dunkeld! Loved your pics. We often used to cross to Ventimiglia from Menton when we stayed there. So close but quite different.
HI Maureenann,
I had to laugh at your comment about JM looking untidy…John and I are always telling Kristi we want to dress JM up because he is so beautiful. I’ll tell Kristi over and over, buy Jean-Marc some beautiful clothes…Kristi just laughs and says, “Mom, do you think I am crazy, I’m not going to put him out ‘all decked out’ on the Riveaira (sp?)…I know what I’m doing!
My John is very, very picky about his clothes, as is Kip. They both look polished perfect everyday…of course they aren’t out sawing down trees and triming vines plus all of the other outdoor work JM does to run a vineyard and now an olive farm. It seems to me a few weeks ago when Ann Mah visited for dinner in the garden one of the photos of JM was knock-down beautiful…Kristi please post that photo for Maureenann and me so we can appreciate how GQ he was that night.
XOXO
JULES
HI Maureenann,
I had to laugh at your comment about JM looking untidy…John and I are always telling Kristi we want to dress JM up because he is so beautiful. I’ll tell Kristi over and over, buy Jean-Marc some beautiful clothes…Kristi just laughs and says, “Mom, do you think I am crazy, I’m not going to put him out ‘all decked out’ on the Riveaira (sp?)…I know what I’m doing!
My John is very, very picky about his clothes, as is Kip. They both look polished perfect everyday…of course they aren’t out sawing down trees and triming vines plus all of the other outdoor work JM does to run a vineyard and now an olive farm. It seems to me a few weeks ago when Ann Mah visited for dinner in the garden one of the photos of JM was knock-down beautiful…Kristi please post that photo for Maureenann and me so we can appreciate how GQ he was that night.
XOXO
JULES
What utterly charming photos! I loved being able to share your trip. I’ve never written before, but I had to let you know. Thank you.
What utterly charming photos! I loved being able to share your trip. I’ve never written before, but I had to let you know. Thank you.
Keep the window and door pictures coming. They are so charming. I always wonder: “Who lives there?’ I wonder what is in the jars hanging from the window in picture #6.Do you have any idea. I notice Jean-Marc is wearing his new olive loafers; very nice. I agree with your idea of not dressing him up too well. We women know about these things! Love your blog. I can take a quick trip to France (or, in this case, Italy) with all you good-looking, happy people. France is definitely on my bucket list.
Keep the window and door pictures coming. They are so charming. I always wonder: “Who lives there?’ I wonder what is in the jars hanging from the window in picture #6.Do you have any idea. I notice Jean-Marc is wearing his new olive loafers; very nice. I agree with your idea of not dressing him up too well. We women know about these things! Love your blog. I can take a quick trip to France (or, in this case, Italy) with all you good-looking, happy people. France is definitely on my bucket list.
Enjoyed the pictures in this one, very much.
Enjoyed the pictures in this one, very much.
Loved all the photos and the gorgeous colors of the produce. Puzzled about the temperature in San Remo. It’s in the low 90’s here on the Atlantic but you and Marsha seem bundled up and even Jean-Marc looks bundled up in hoodie. By the way, JM is way too Mamma Mia to spoil by dressing up. Anybody can wear nice clothes but very few can exude the appeal of JM/. Merci from an elderly widow.
Loved all the photos and the gorgeous colors of the produce. Puzzled about the temperature in San Remo. It’s in the low 90’s here on the Atlantic but you and Marsha seem bundled up and even Jean-Marc looks bundled up in hoodie. By the way, JM is way too Mamma Mia to spoil by dressing up. Anybody can wear nice clothes but very few can exude the appeal of JM/. Merci from an elderly widow.
Hi Diane,
Love your comment…Mamma Mia!!!
XOXO
JULES
Hi Diane,
Love your comment…Mamma Mia!!!
XOXO
JULES
Kristin,
Oh, my! I so want to be there with you all! Every picture tells a wonderful story. And, today, I learned an English word – I thought at first your title was a mistake “What is a “nappe” in French?” – because I have never ever heard of the word ‘nappe’ in English. So much for my linguistics degree!
We are starting to think about an itinerary for Spring, 2014, and are wondering just how much of France we can squeeze in to four weeks — and, now after this post, I want to add Italy!!!I think I’m in trouble! I want to go everywhere – especially when you show us the wonderful travel pics of you and your family, living life!
P.S. I have a ‘Mr. BackPack’ who lives & travels very much in the same fashion as J-M, so I smile every time Mr. Sacks comes into the picture!
Kristin,
Oh, my! I so want to be there with you all! Every picture tells a wonderful story. And, today, I learned an English word – I thought at first your title was a mistake “What is a “nappe” in French?” – because I have never ever heard of the word ‘nappe’ in English. So much for my linguistics degree!
We are starting to think about an itinerary for Spring, 2014, and are wondering just how much of France we can squeeze in to four weeks — and, now after this post, I want to add Italy!!!I think I’m in trouble! I want to go everywhere – especially when you show us the wonderful travel pics of you and your family, living life!
P.S. I have a ‘Mr. BackPack’ who lives & travels very much in the same fashion as J-M, so I smile every time Mr. Sacks comes into the picture!
You are so fortunate to have such cordial and loving relationships with your parents and in-laws! I know it’s not always perfect, but everyone tries… When does Jacquie leave for the U.S.?
You are so fortunate to have such cordial and loving relationships with your parents and in-laws! I know it’s not always perfect, but everyone tries… When does Jacquie leave for the U.S.?