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 young vines? He pampers them!
A Day in a FRENCH Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Le Bichonneur et Les Intrus
Some twenty years ago, while helping Uncle Jean-Claude harvest in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, my husband fell in love with wine.
He quit his job as an accountant in Marseilles, drove his family an hour north and snapped up a Director of Sales position at a vineyard in Trets-en-Provence. Our son was 6 months old at the time, meaning I have watched my husband's passion grow and develop alongside a living, breathing meter.
Max (who turns 19 in May) helped his father plant his second vineyard last week. Along with my brother-in-law, Jacques, and winemaker friends, 3500 grapevines have now settled at the foot of an ancient olive orchard. If you listen closely, you can almost hear the multi-centenarian trees whispering… their encouragements carried forth by the sea's breeze:
"Patience, les minous, in three years you'll have mature fruit!"
Meantime, Jean-Marc is doing all he can to build their leafy immune systems, giving his dream vines a head-start in life. For two weeks now, from sunrise to sunset, Chief Grape's been pampering his young mourvedre. He began my "making their bed": sowing soil-enriching flowers including phacelia and mustard flower seeds. As the plants die back and fall to the ground they will feed his growing vines.
Next, he planted his babies, so closely together that he'll have to manually treat them (no room, along the rows, for a tractor to go!). While tucking in his new crop, the rebel and traditionalist in Jean-Marc could not resist adding a few intruders–or what winemakers call "les intrus": grape varieties outside the rigidly-ruled appellation. (At our former vineyard in Ste. Cécile, these intrus were already there: the white grapes, called Rouxanne, were planted by our anti-conformist "forefarmers" to add fraîcheur to the wine).
This being his first chance to plant intruders all on his own–and with our "forefarmers" now smiling down on him–Jean-Marc honored his favorite wine regions (after Bandol, bien sûr!): Barolo and Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The nebbiolo grapevine is one he dragged home from our weekend in Italy, two Christmases ago. And the grenache vine is a meaningful gift from Uncle Jean-Claude's Domaine du Banneret. The intruders are easy to distinguish and as conspicuous as a tourist in Paris–what with their bright green leaves hanging loosely about, while the native vines are still wearing their fitted red caps. (Baby vines are sealed with red wax, but the leaves will eventually burst through).
Finally, to guarantee his vines adaption, Jean-Marc individually watered each plant, stopping to dig a ditch each time to catch rainwater. Given there are 3500 baby vines, it's no wonder my husband's been MIA for the past two weeks. But neither of us is complaining; the activity of bringing life to the hillside benefits everyone, not least of which les abeilles (who gladly drank nectar from the flowering amendments added to the soil beneath the grapevines).
I think one of the things Jean-Marc loves most about wine-farming is the opportunity for innovation. He is always coming up with a solution to a problem, like "How to efficiently distribute and bury the tiny flower seeds among a hundred rows without a machine?" Oh, I can just see my husband's mind cranking out a lively answer:
Be The Machine!
Indeed. Fueled by inspiration, his shoes cakes with soil, Jean-Marc sprinted from the field into the house, to collect an old rake and our son's 10 pound dumbbells….
Sacré Jean-Marc! There he goes again! My mind recalled the infamous mop-spear: half mop, half silverware (my fork, or place setting!)–the whole tied together with shoelaces… or was it duct tape?
This étrange invention aided my husband during a sea-urchin hunt off the island of Porquerolles. (It also attracted many dubious, and downright uneasy looks from strangers sharing the ferry with us from Hyères. Do you remember the story?)
This time, in place of my mop and my silverware, Jean-Marc used our garden rake–weighing it down with Max's workout equipment (the dumbbells). Tying the contraption to his backside with a bungee cord (what else?), he flung himself out into the field and became, once again, a one man show.
Quel spectacle! As Jean-Marc sowed his plant-nurturing seeds, driving them into the ground with the help of his curious tail (the "dumbbells-rake"), traffic slowed beneath our vineyard as motorists enjoyed an eyeful: a pregnant man (forgot to tell you about his contraption for seed distribution) and a rake piggybacked by barbells!
There is just no word for it, and no term to describe the man. So I'll borrow a funny phrase from my mother-in-law:
"Jean-Marc, c'est un phénomène!"
* * *
Comments: To comment about our phénomène, or lively character, click here. You may also wish him bonne chance with his dream vineyard! After 15 years of wishing for it–he's got his Bandol vines!
Read about this French "phenomenon," here in this tender short story memoir. A chapter called Malentendu opens with a Meet The New Employee disaster (Jean-Marc gets a job at a wine bottle machine factory, and his wife orders a shot of scotch). Click here to benefit from the new book price!
What readers are saying about First French Essais:
Delightful and full of joy.
The book will make a perfect mother's day gift!
Beautifully written with charm, warmth, humor and love.
…filled with French you won't find in any textbook.
…and it's a darn good thing I ordered TWO of your books — one to read and one for opening wine bottles!
Thanks, Cynthia–and to all who are leaving positive reviews and ratings at Amazon. Your endorsements are most helpful in getting the word out to French learners who still do not know of this book's existence. More than a friendly and useful tool for language-learning, this book series is an inspiring story of following one's dreams to France–and staying put when you are flailing like a fish out of water.
There is friendly price when you buy all three! See the special offer here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1496139550/mdj-20
Thank you very much for your book support! Whether you buy a copy, or enjoy the stories here, for free, I hope these essays will help to grow your vocabulary and your understanding of another culture. Mostly, I hope you'll go away, as one reviewer said, with a warm smile on your face for days.
Smokey, book-ended by yellow kale blooms, would like you to know that he's busy too! While Jean-Marc labors in the field, and while I type away at my desk, Smokey sees to it that this sundried sunflower stalk will be re-purposed. But where are you taking that, dear Smokey? To the compost bin? To the tool shed? To Jean-Marc for his next inspired creation?
"I'm taking it to play with!"
Smart dog. We could all learn a lesson from a happy-go-lucky!
Order your copy of First French Essais. Click here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1496139550/mdj-20
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Jean-Marc is unsurpassable when it comes to zest for life! Vive le bonvivant. Smokey looks happy, the kitchen is gorgeous, and la vie est bonne, n’est-ce pas! Now if Amazon would just send me the book, life would be perfect. Looking forward to Spring, which I’m sure will arrive even though it was in the low 40’s this morning in sunny North Fla.
Jean-Marc is unsurpassable when it comes to zest for life! Vive le bonvivant. Smokey looks happy, the kitchen is gorgeous, and la vie est bonne, n’est-ce pas! Now if Amazon would just send me the book, life would be perfect. Looking forward to Spring, which I’m sure will arrive even though it was in the low 40’s this morning in sunny North Fla.
MY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN,
What can I say except thank you for picking me to be your mom. I love all of your words Kristi, you are so lucky to have JM to give you an open pass to process his life out into our hearts. I love you both so much, you post made me cry.
The new kitchen is wonderful, so crisp and easy to keep. I can´t wait to bring in some color…ha-ha.
I am so sad that we live so far apart.
XOXO
MOM
MY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN,
What can I say except thank you for picking me to be your mom. I love all of your words Kristi, you are so lucky to have JM to give you an open pass to process his life out into our hearts. I love you both so much, you post made me cry.
The new kitchen is wonderful, so crisp and easy to keep. I can´t wait to bring in some color…ha-ha.
I am so sad that we live so far apart.
XOXO
MOM
Kristin, thanks, I could see the planting video easily. That looks like a lot of work!
But google makes me sign up under my account, then when it gets through that rigamorole, tell me “nothing is found” for the other video. I will keep trying. I wonder if it is the fault of Google/you tube?
Sarah
Kristin, thanks, I could see the planting video easily. That looks like a lot of work!
But google makes me sign up under my account, then when it gets through that rigamorole, tell me “nothing is found” for the other video. I will keep trying. I wonder if it is the fault of Google/you tube?
Sarah
Our dear Kristi,
What a beautiful post today,accompanied(as always) by such wonderful pictures.
Congratulations and bonne chance to you both
for (first of all and most important) your love for each other and(!)making your dreams come true!
What a gift and an inspiration!
God bless you and your beautiful family!
Love
Natalia XO
Our dear Kristi,
What a beautiful post today,accompanied(as always) by such wonderful pictures.
Congratulations and bonne chance to you both
for (first of all and most important) your love for each other and(!)making your dreams come true!
What a gift and an inspiration!
God bless you and your beautiful family!
Love
Natalia XO
Congratulations, Jean-Marc! May your newly planted vineyard flourish and grow…..every single plant. Kristin, your post today was filled with the emotions which you and J-M both have with the dream come true Bandol vineyard. Thank you for sharing. My very best wishes for all, Cynthia
Congratulations, Jean-Marc! May your newly planted vineyard flourish and grow…..every single plant. Kristin, your post today was filled with the emotions which you and J-M both have with the dream come true Bandol vineyard. Thank you for sharing. My very best wishes for all, Cynthia
Beta’s suggestion worked so well. First get you tube, type in Jean-Marc Espinasse, then filter for the last week, and there it was. Spread the seed then turn the soil to keep the seed in place.
The URL that works is this one:
Yes, that works, to see Seeding Mustards flowers.
Thanks for the suggestion, Beta, and thanks, Jean-Marc for showing how you work.
Beta’s suggestion worked so well. First get you tube, type in Jean-Marc Espinasse, then filter for the last week, and there it was. Spread the seed then turn the soil to keep the seed in place.
The URL that works is this one:
Yes, that works, to see Seeding Mustards flowers.
Thanks for the suggestion, Beta, and thanks, Jean-Marc for showing how you work.
I have prayed all month for les minous to return. It makes me so sad, clear across the Atlantic.
I have prayed all month for les minous to return. It makes me so sad, clear across the Atlantic.
La Bonne chance, Great grape. I thoroughly enjoy Kristins illustrative tales.
La Bonne chance, Great grape. I thoroughly enjoy Kristins illustrative tales.
I wish you both the very best! May your dreams and all your hard work be fulfilled.
I wish you both the very best! May your dreams and all your hard work be fulfilled.
Jean-Marc, your efforts are so inspiring,
may I send you organic roses for placing at end of some of your rows. I wish to offer assistance with this small gift..
June, Qld /
Jean-Marc, your efforts are so inspiring,
may I send you organic roses for placing at end of some of your rows. I wish to offer assistance with this small gift..
June, Qld /
I SO MUCH loved your old range hood in the original kitchen. Please say you didn’t do away with it.
I SO MUCH loved your old range hood in the original kitchen. Please say you didn’t do away with it.
Jean-Marc has so much energy and initiative, as well as creativity. I hope he will be well rewarded for his hard work.
I’m a little curious: You all left Domaine Rouge-Bleu because growing grapes, bottling them, marketing them, etc. was really too much for one person, or even more than one. Yet you now have 3500 vines – which sounds much like what you had before. Was the main idea to move to Bandol and do the same sort of thing? I had thought at the time you announced your move that the idea was to be a bit less involved in the world of wine. Hope everything will work out, whatever you do.
Jean-Marc has so much energy and initiative, as well as creativity. I hope he will be well rewarded for his hard work.
I’m a little curious: You all left Domaine Rouge-Bleu because growing grapes, bottling them, marketing them, etc. was really too much for one person, or even more than one. Yet you now have 3500 vines – which sounds much like what you had before. Was the main idea to move to Bandol and do the same sort of thing? I had thought at the time you announced your move that the idea was to be a bit less involved in the world of wine. Hope everything will work out, whatever you do.
Dear Kristin and Jean-Marc,
For so any of us you represent the risk-taker and the dream-maker and you do it with commitment, passion and grace. Thank you for taking us along on your journey. (So inspiring is Jean-Marc that my husband announced that he would have really liked to have been able help Jean-Marc plant the 3500 vines, after telling me he had dug far too many planting holes for trees and bushes on our little piece of Kansas!) As we enjoy the blossoming beauty of Kristin’s words, we look forward to the blossoming beauty of the vines…. both words and vines seeming to come from the heart . Cheers to and for you both!
Dear Kristin and Jean-Marc,
For so any of us you represent the risk-taker and the dream-maker and you do it with commitment, passion and grace. Thank you for taking us along on your journey. (So inspiring is Jean-Marc that my husband announced that he would have really liked to have been able help Jean-Marc plant the 3500 vines, after telling me he had dug far too many planting holes for trees and bushes on our little piece of Kansas!) As we enjoy the blossoming beauty of Kristin’s words, we look forward to the blossoming beauty of the vines…. both words and vines seeming to come from the heart . Cheers to and for you both!
Oops.. For so many of us……
Oops.. For so many of us……
Dear Marianne,
There was 8 times more vines at Rouge-Bleu…
Thanks all again for your kind words
Cheers,
Dear Marianne,
There was 8 times more vines at Rouge-Bleu…
Thanks all again for your kind words
Cheers,
Looking forward to watching the vines grow into a vineyard with you. Bonne chance, Jean-Marc!
Looking forward to watching the vines grow into a vineyard with you. Bonne chance, Jean-Marc!
Merci Kristin for this charming and amusing post.
I also enjoyed the video of Jean-March seeding his ground with flowers and his “rateau-barbell” contraption attached to his back :-)As us French tend to do, he used creativity and “systeme D” to come up with these kind of ideas.
I love your book and savor it one reading bite after another and allow it to linger in between readings, as one would do between sips of good wine.
Bonne chance et merci encore.
Alain
Merci Kristin for this charming and amusing post.
I also enjoyed the video of Jean-March seeding his ground with flowers and his “rateau-barbell” contraption attached to his back :-)As us French tend to do, he used creativity and “systeme D” to come up with these kind of ideas.
I love your book and savor it one reading bite after another and allow it to linger in between readings, as one would do between sips of good wine.
Bonne chance et merci encore.
Alain
Coucou Kristin and Jean-Marc! I wanted to wish Jean-Marc bonne chance with his vineyard! He is fulfilling his dream and for that I am envious! His heart and soul is in it so therefore it will be a success! Gros Bisous XX
~Regina~
Coucou Kristin and Jean-Marc! I wanted to wish Jean-Marc bonne chance with his vineyard! He is fulfilling his dream and for that I am envious! His heart and soul is in it so therefore it will be a success! Gros Bisous XX
~Regina~
Ooh, is that an Ikea kitchen?? Sweet !!
Ooh, is that an Ikea kitchen?? Sweet !!
Dear Kristin and JM,
You’re both such an inspiration. Thanks for the wonderful story and congratulations on your first planting JM and your new book, Kristi. You have a lot to celebrate! I’m off to order that book and watch the videos.
I hope to have such courage in my own life…
Carolyn Dahm
Dear Kristin and JM,
You’re both such an inspiration. Thanks for the wonderful story and congratulations on your first planting JM and your new book, Kristi. You have a lot to celebrate! I’m off to order that book and watch the videos.
I hope to have such courage in my own life…
Carolyn Dahm
Oh how I miss it when you don’t give me the little list of vocabulaire at the end of your blog . . .
Oh how I miss it when you don’t give me the little list of vocabulaire at the end of your blog . . .