They don't say chick magnet in French. Here, it's aspirateur de gonzesses (literally, that's "vacuume cleaner of broads") un aimant (ay-mahn) : magnet Example Sentence Les aimants décoratifs servent à maintenir les messages sur la porte du frigo.Decorative magnets are useful for holding messages on the fridge door. A Day in a FRENCH Life… by Kristin Espinasse See the Humor in it or Skip … Continue reading aimant + How to be a Chick Magnet + recipe
"With my husband's blessing, I quit my job and turned my attention to writing, learning to spell and punctuate along the way." –from the chapter "Valorisant." (Thanks, Patrick & Sandra, for the photo!) Good news: C'est prêt! It's ready: the e-book version of First French Essais is live! For a limited time, get the e-book at this price. Then read the chapter "Valorisant," and let me … Continue reading livre numerique – limited offer!
Late, late… with the kitchen update! May this snapshot hold you over. Don't mind the compost, and ignore the wires coming out of the wall. And those bottled plants (euphorbia, but which kind?) are a failed attempt to screen the electrical "juttings." bichonner (bee-show-nay) : to pamper se bichonner = to pamper oneself, to doll up Example Sentence:Ses jeunes vignes? Il les bichonne!His … Continue reading How “to pamper” in French & some intruders…
Thank you, Eileen DeCamp, for your photo vignette of Jean-Marc's wine & my First French Essais! Eileen titled her picture, "Two of my favorite things!!!" With any chance, Eileen's photo, taken on Seabrook Island, SC, will work better than my publicity stunt, filmed here near Bandol! le flic (fleek) cop Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's word and example sentenceDownload Flic or Wav A Toulon, j'ai … Continue reading Flic: A near-collision with the cops!
You don't have to drink wine to benefit from today's incredible tip! (I use the opened bottles for ice tea.) Don't miss today's lively, one minute demonstration on how to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew. le tire-bouchon (teer-boo-shohn) : corkscrew Un tire-bouchon est un ustensile utilisé pour tirer le bouchon en liège naturel ou reconstitué d'une bouteille. A corkscrew is … Continue reading No “tire-bouchon”? + How to open a bottle of wine with a BOOK! (video)
Do my thighs look big? Some would be surprised French women ask themselves this question. But three months till summertime and, truth is, the French–men, women, and even children–are already dieting! They're talking about it at the picnic table, in the school yard, and in programs on T.V. The other day I overhead the term "culotte de cheval" and guessed the subject was fashion (as in … Continue reading culotte de cheval + new “prix amical” for book!
Exciting book update at the end of this post! First, take note: Cousin Audrey, from Banneret, and Caroline, from Rouge-Bleu, will be pouring their wines in Portland at Pastaworks (Hawthorne, Saturday 03/15 from 3-5 PM & City Market, Sunday 03/16 from 3-5.PM) Don't miss this! sans façon(s) (sahn fah-sahn) : no, thank you : unceremoniously A guest at last night's dinner party taught me a new way to … Continue reading Tips for entertaining + book update!!
Ça y est… It's book launch day! First French Essais is now available here, on Amazon. A Very Special Day in a French Life…The morning sun is warming the countryside and still I'm trembling like a leaf–trying to write this crucial book launch page without a PR team, without a marketing director, without Mom. Like the two shots of coffee I've just downed, I trust Mom … Continue reading My new book is available now! One reason to buy it today…
It's time to meet up at my place–or very near it! Since leaving Domaine Rouge-Bleu, where we welcomed visitors weekly, I have not organized a cozy get-together. How about an April rendez-vous? More details in the story column below… First, the expression of the day: Manger la soupe sur la tête de quelqu’un : to be taller than someone else, so tall you … Continue reading Meet up near Bandol!! + Manger la soupe sur la tête de quelqu’un
Kale blossoms! So many surprises outside. Last night my ears were tickled by the call of les grenouilles, or frogs. And then there were those poppies I told you about…. Springtime is here! Forgive me for not posting a word or a sound file today–but there will be vocabulary sprinkled throughout this post–like seeds scattered in the back yard potager! La Guetteuse. Our, spotter (or watcher or guetteur) … Continue reading Pictures of our yard
