Today is your story. Write on!
Tenir tendrement, bercer
: to cradle
AUDIO FILE: Jean-Marc recorded the example sentence, below, in lively Marseilles. Enjoy! Download MP3 or Wav
En regardant bien cette photo, on dirait que les fèves, les artichauts, et compagnie sont en train de tenir tendrement ma maman. Looking at this photo, you could say the favas, the artichokes, and the rest are cradling my mom.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
Today is "Wordless Wednesday"… except it's Thursday. Please have a look at the photo, above, of my Mom in the garden….and would it be possible for you to write today's story? You know, your interpretation of Mom in the garden, her thoughts at that moment etc. Make up something good and mix in as many French words as you wish!
Mom and I will be anxiously awaiting all of your stories. Just post your words here in the comments box. Mom loves this idea; actually she made most of this post up while I was emptying the dishwasher.
I would like to thank Laurel Zuckerman, author of Sorbonne Confidential. See her Paris Writers News for our talk about publishing and France. I especially had fun with the question Do you have a favorite word in French? Read the intervew here.
Share this post and help spread the French word. Merci beaucoup 🙂
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Assise au jardin
Au fin du jour
Je me souviens
L’enfance de ma fille
Maintenant tout est parfait
Et je suis content
Parmi les amis en cet jardin charment
Assise au jardin
Au fin du jour
Je me souviens
L’enfance de ma fille
Maintenant tout est parfait
Et je suis content
Parmi les amis en cet jardin charment
I know there are errors if any one want to correct them.
I know there are errors if any one want to correct them.
Burst of spring mellows
softly into summer fruits.
Garden peace surrounds
(an attempt at Haiku!)
Burst of spring mellows
softly into summer fruits.
Garden peace surrounds
(an attempt at Haiku!)
Fin de la derniere page de son roman, elle posa sur les pierres et pense “bien, qui s’est mal terminee”. “oui, je suis d’accord”, murmura le bourdon. Une Rose froid vif serait bien de temps en temps – peut-etre je vais lire un livre de cuisine suivant.
Fin de la derniere page de son roman, elle posa sur les pierres et pense “bien, qui s’est mal terminee”. “oui, je suis d’accord”, murmura le bourdon. Une Rose froid vif serait bien de temps en temps – peut-etre je vais lire un livre de cuisine suivant.
Le jardin m’amène confort,
Le jour apporte paix,
Et ma fille adore.
Le jardin m’amène confort,
Le jour apporte paix,
Et ma fille adore.
I just noticed that Jan and I had somewhat the same take on the moment.
I just noticed that Jan and I had somewhat the same take on the moment.
The years of strife and struggle, through illness and despair. I finally reached that precious point in life, where I know what is important. Love, family and peace.
The years of strife and struggle, through illness and despair. I finally reached that precious point in life, where I know what is important. Love, family and peace.
cradled in my daughter’s garden
drowsing, absorbing the warmth of the day
half-hearing the nearby familiar voices
encircled by the the sweet perfumes
of flowers and herbs
… coming home again
cradled in my daughter’s garden
drowsing, absorbing the warmth of the day
half-hearing the nearby familiar voices
encircled by the the sweet perfumes
of flowers and herbs
… coming home again
Réflexion dan le jardin. A beautiful picture often makes time stand still. Artiste, mère, grand-mère, épouse, ami. Was she looking at the garden through the eyes of an artist? Was she planning her next masterpiece, inspired by la vue? Perhaps a closer look would find a surprise. Une sieste! Sweet dreams in the garden! What dreams might the garden have painted for the artist? La famille et les amis sont les fleurs du jardin de la vie.
Réflexion dan le jardin. A beautiful picture often makes time stand still. Artiste, mère, grand-mère, épouse, ami. Was she looking at the garden through the eyes of an artist? Was she planning her next masterpiece, inspired by la vue? Perhaps a closer look would find a surprise. Une sieste! Sweet dreams in the garden! What dreams might the garden have painted for the artist? La famille et les amis sont les fleurs du jardin de la vie.
As I sit here in this earthly paradise, I think about my beautiful, talented daughter
married to a handsome , hard working man who produces wonderful wine
and my sweet grandchildren. I am blest.
As I sit here in this earthly paradise, I think about my beautiful, talented daughter
married to a handsome , hard working man who produces wonderful wine
and my sweet grandchildren. I am blest.
There she sits, the lovely grande dame, the matriarche, in the beauty of nature; that beauty that her daughter always seems so able and willing to capture and share through her eyes as she does with her sharing which is the artist within both. Merci!
There she sits, the lovely grande dame, the matriarche, in the beauty of nature; that beauty that her daughter always seems so able and willing to capture and share through her eyes as she does with her sharing which is the artist within both. Merci!
Thank you for the warmth of your words. As I read through these stories, I’m struck by how similar your voices sound to my Mom’s. That must be love speaking.
Thank you for the warmth of your words. As I read through these stories, I’m struck by how similar your voices sound to my Mom’s. That must be love speaking.
Thank you for the warmth of your words. As I read through these stories, Im struck by how similar your voices sound to my Moms. That must be love speaking.
Thank you for the warmth of your words. As I read through these stories, Im struck by how similar your voices sound to my Moms. That must be love speaking.
Reflections cast
Dreams dreamt
Love surrounds
Laughter within
xoxo
Reflections cast
Dreams dreamt
Love surrounds
Laughter within
xoxo
Our dear Kristi,
This lovely photo of beautiful Jules in the garden at sunset made me think of Clint Eastwood’s words to Meryl Streep in Bridges Over Madison County(paraphrased):”I had a lot of dreams and not all of them came true,but still I’m glad I had ’em”.
Something I think) it is easy to identify with!
Wonderful (so well deserved !) write up!
So proud of you!
LOve
Natalia XO
Our dear Kristi,
This lovely photo of beautiful Jules in the garden at sunset made me think of Clint Eastwood’s words to Meryl Streep in Bridges Over Madison County(paraphrased):”I had a lot of dreams and not all of them came true,but still I’m glad I had ’em”.
Something I think) it is easy to identify with!
Wonderful (so well deserved !) write up!
So proud of you!
LOve
Natalia XO
“Ce Moment”
In this moment (ce moment)
she knows how to savor
the light in a garden
lush with flavor.
Surrounded by beauty
And quietly safe
she remembers the dark dancer
a loss, a hardship
a cancer.
Nature whispers
the dark night
a difficult fight
Can be
our best teacher.
She understands
what is real
knows how to feel
and savor the light
in this moment.
“Ce Moment”
In this moment (ce moment)
she knows how to savor
the light in a garden
lush with flavor.
Surrounded by beauty
And quietly safe
she remembers the dark dancer
a loss, a hardship
a cancer.
Nature whispers
the dark night
a difficult fight
Can be
our best teacher.
She understands
what is real
knows how to feel
and savor the light
in this moment.
If you realized how powerful your thoughts are you would never have a negative thought!
If you realized how powerful your thoughts are you would never have a negative thought!
This is something from Rabindranath Tagore, a poet I love. Its what I thought of seeing your mum sitting there, part of the garden.
‘The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day, runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers’
And here is one for you, her beautiful daughter who writes wonderful stories drawn from life.
Life
I don’t want to leave this lovely world,
I want to stay in the midst of mankind.
In this sun drenched flower filled garden,
I’d like to be at the pulsating heart of life.
Life in earth ripples on everlastingly,
Mingling unions and partings, joy and sorrow;
Out of human happiness and distress
I’d like to compose immortal songs.
But if this proves a vain wish
As long as I am alive, let me at least
Place myself where night and day
I can pen words that blossom into stories.
Please accept my blossoms with a smile
And when they wither, cast them away’
I don’t think your stories will ever wither though!
Enjoy your mum being with you, and thank you again for your stories.
Namaste, x Karen
This is something from Rabindranath Tagore, a poet I love. Its what I thought of seeing your mum sitting there, part of the garden.
‘The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day, runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers’
And here is one for you, her beautiful daughter who writes wonderful stories drawn from life.
Life
I don’t want to leave this lovely world,
I want to stay in the midst of mankind.
In this sun drenched flower filled garden,
I’d like to be at the pulsating heart of life.
Life in earth ripples on everlastingly,
Mingling unions and partings, joy and sorrow;
Out of human happiness and distress
I’d like to compose immortal songs.
But if this proves a vain wish
As long as I am alive, let me at least
Place myself where night and day
I can pen words that blossom into stories.
Please accept my blossoms with a smile
And when they wither, cast them away’
I don’t think your stories will ever wither though!
Enjoy your mum being with you, and thank you again for your stories.
Namaste, x Karen
I want to slip into a chair beside her and hold her hand, and just be still.
I want to slip into a chair beside her and hold her hand, and just be still.
Seeing Jules in the garden of tranquillity is such a wonderful gift to all of us who read this. How great it is to take a few moments and just be, soaking in the beauty of nature and the respite from the noises of the world. Merci, Kristi, pour la peinture vivante which your camera has captured. Le Bon Dieu est en (au?)son ciel and tous les choses sont bien avec le monde.
Seeing Jules in the garden of tranquillity is such a wonderful gift to all of us who read this. How great it is to take a few moments and just be, soaking in the beauty of nature and the respite from the noises of the world. Merci, Kristi, pour la peinture vivante which your camera has captured. Le Bon Dieu est en (au?)son ciel and tous les choses sont bien avec le monde.
Kristi, I’ll try speaking for your mom. “Ah, the serenity of this moment. I’m so happy that my daughter has a wonderful life in this beautiful corner of the world. I just wish she weren’t so far away.” …. Mon cher fils a suivi l’amour á la Rėpublique Tchèque. Je suis très contente pour lui, mais il me manque tous les jours. Wonderful to visit, though, and as often as I can. Jules, I imagine that you have similar thoughts.
Kristi, I’ll try speaking for your mom. “Ah, the serenity of this moment. I’m so happy that my daughter has a wonderful life in this beautiful corner of the world. I just wish she weren’t so far away.” …. Mon cher fils a suivi l’amour á la Rėpublique Tchèque. Je suis très contente pour lui, mais il me manque tous les jours. Wonderful to visit, though, and as often as I can. Jules, I imagine that you have similar thoughts.
Jules! (I have a beautiful fille with this name). As I sit in Scottsdale’s 106 degree heat, J’ai envie de the peace and cool of your fille’s garden a St. Cyr-sur-Mer. Prenez plaisir à la jour!
Jules! (I have a beautiful fille with this name). As I sit in Scottsdale’s 106 degree heat, J’ai envie de the peace and cool of your fille’s garden a St. Cyr-sur-Mer. Prenez plaisir à la jour!
She has found a perfect place to recover from her long journey. Relaxing in the sun in a comfortable chair, savoring the sounds and aromas wafting by, she lets her thoughts
drift and gently falls asleep as her body
follows the Mexican time to which it is
attuned. Beauty and love la tiennent
tendrement.
She has found a perfect place to recover from her long journey. Relaxing in the sun in a comfortable chair, savoring the sounds and aromas wafting by, she lets her thoughts
drift and gently falls asleep as her body
follows the Mexican time to which it is
attuned. Beauty and love la tiennent
tendrement.
Admiring in detail the lovely nostalgic photo of you, Jules, I imagine that you are thinking: Maybe I should pinch myself in order to make certain that I am sitting in Kristi’s peaceful garden tenderly embraced by everyone and everything surrounding me. Since I am almost in a dream-like state, maybe I can convince the colorful libellules on the sleeves of my dress to flit over Kristi’s garden in search of their lunch!
But the watch on my arm is ticking the minutes away et je ne fais pas des rêves. My attention is caught by the plants which have ventured into the pathway; now there’s the spirit and spunk which is so much like my own. By this time tomorrow, I shall have my paints out and I will begin to capture all of these feelings and beauty.
P.S. Have a wonderful visit, Jules. We all love and admire you. Cynthia
Admiring in detail the lovely nostalgic photo of you, Jules, I imagine that you are thinking: Maybe I should pinch myself in order to make certain that I am sitting in Kristi’s peaceful garden tenderly embraced by everyone and everything surrounding me. Since I am almost in a dream-like state, maybe I can convince the colorful libellules on the sleeves of my dress to flit over Kristi’s garden in search of their lunch!
But the watch on my arm is ticking the minutes away et je ne fais pas des rêves. My attention is caught by the plants which have ventured into the pathway; now there’s the spirit and spunk which is so much like my own. By this time tomorrow, I shall have my paints out and I will begin to capture all of these feelings and beauty.
P.S. Have a wonderful visit, Jules. We all love and admire you. Cynthia
Breathing in, I absorb this moment in its fullness, in its complete sweet beauty. Breathing out, I give great thanks for the miracle of being alive. All is well in the garden.
Best wishes Kristin & Jules.
Breathing in, I absorb this moment in its fullness, in its complete sweet beauty. Breathing out, I give great thanks for the miracle of being alive. All is well in the garden.
Best wishes Kristin & Jules.