Jackie in Milan, at the spectacular Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.   TODAY'S WORD: bluffer  (bluh-fay)     : to surprise, impress, astound someone    : to lie, pretend, fake something être bluffé = to be bowled over, to be impressed, to be stunned AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-Marc:Download MP3 or wav Pensant qu'elle irait à Paris,  Kristi a été bluffé en voyant un billet de train qui l'amène … Continue reading bluffer + mother-daughter trip

As the end of the year approaches, I'm running out of steam… and so have devised a GIANT HEADLINES approach to this posting. (Photo taken yesterday, in Evanos, France.) TODAY'S WORD "faire monter la mayonnaise" = to give more attention to a subject–to stir up interest. We will learn more about this word in a moment…. AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jackie read today's definition Download MP3 or Wav … Continue reading Winner is announced! + faire monter la mayonnaise

Enter to win a week's stay in this 17th century village house in Provence! See details, below. Your chances of winning are GREAT ! After all, this is not the French lottery. So far the average number of entries for these giveaways is 300, but this could change given today's prize! What will your chances be in this giveaway? A vous de tenter votre chance!  TODAY'S … Continue reading Gagner: Enter to win a one-week rental in Provence!

I would have never met GUS, had he not entered to win one of these blog contests. Proof that the best part of these giveaways is getting to know readers! (Pictured: wrapping for the antique key that Gus won. Click on the hyperlink in the first sentence to see Gus receiving it!) TODAY'S WORDtirer (teer-ay)     : to pull, to draw, to close… Word … Continue reading Tirer au sort + Prize giveaways

Today's story begins in Mexico… and this is Mom, who taught me the example sentence in today's edition (see "audio file")… Enter to win a $30 Amazon gift certificate when you answer the following question: Which part of this newsletter do you most enjoy: the word, the soundfile, the pictures or the story column? (Or maybe these giveaways?!) Click here to enter. (update: this contest … Continue reading appuyer + win this Amazon gift certificate!

So good to be back!  Celebrating with another giveaway! Enter to win the beloved, the exquisitely made French Country Diary. Simply answer this question: What are you celebrating this month? Click here to answer. TODAY'S WORD: luxer (loox-ay)     : to dislocate AUDIO FILE: Listen to today's word in context: Download MP3 or Download Wave file En promenant Smokey en laisse, Kristi s'est luxée le coude droit.While … Continue reading luxer + win this French Country Diary

 Autumn and the sound, in the distance, of leaves crunching underfoot   sagesse (saah zhess) noun, feminine     wisdom, (good) sense; discretion Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read these expressions: faire preuve de sagesse = to be sensiblela sagesse populaire = popular (or traditional) wisdomagir avec sagesse = to act wiselyla dent de sagesse = wisdom tooth    A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse (Note: … Continue reading How to say “wise” in French?

The painted sign reads: "To live well, love well, and let the others say what they will!" Pour bien vivre, bien aimer, et laisser dire  se sublimer (seuh-soo-blee-may)     : to transcend oneself, to go beyond one's limits Audio File: listen to today's word in the following story, written and read aloud by Jean-Marc! Download MP3 or Wav file A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse (Note: … Continue reading French for “To go beyond one’s limits”

What to focus on? Take your pick! Car, seeds, dirty dishes, compost… Smokey. Ah, there's a comforting place to rest the eyes. Today's Prize: Desiderata poem, framedWhat do you do when bad things happen? Answer here and enter to win today's prize (more info below). à bientôt (ah-byen-toh)     : see you soon! Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc Download MP3 or Wav Je pars quelques semaines. A … Continue reading “See you” in French… and I hope you win this prize!