Apparently the vine leaves are changing up north, but in our area of Bandol the zinnias and the cosmos and one or two hollyhocks are still in bloom. And can you believe one little sunflower just blossomed, here on the eve of November….
marcotter (mar-koh-tay)
: (of plants, especially strawberries) to layer–or when plants develop airborn roots, then skip across the garden, replanting themselves.
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the first line, below Download MP3 or Wav
C’est encore la bonne période pour marcotter vos fraisiers. Si comme moi, vous n’avez pas été hyper consciencieux sur leur entretien vous devriez trouver une multitude de stolons autour de vos plants. Ces stolons vont vous permettre de multiplier vos fraisiers afin de commencer une nouvelle plate bande de vos fruits rouges préférés.
It's still the right time to layer your strawberries. If, like me, you haven't paid much attention to their care, you should find a lot of stolons around your plants. These stolons will enable you to multiply your strawberries in order to begin a new row of your favorite red fruit! (From Tous au Potager)
- Correctly pronounce French with the book Exercises in French Phonetics
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
"Distracted by a Newfound Freedom"
In the potager garden behind the house, the tarragon, sage and sarriette are tumbling over the sides of the rock beds, like lush green lava from a lively pit.
A similar kind of chaos is alive inside of me as I try, once again, to go with the flow of life. In four hours we are expecting some very important guests who might as well be rock stars or Jesus. Being the one-track thinker I am, I've pushed everything aside in order to prepare for this event. Mainly–I've pushed everyone aside, according to the belief that I can only succeed in solitude–I can only organize a perfect lunch in peace, without people around me needing things in the meantime.
And then, suddenly, the world showed up–as if to disprove this conviction. My husband announced his sister was arriving for the week. Next, our son showed up unexpectedly, with his girlfriend. The duo handed me a bouquet of flowers and my son asked, "What's for dinner?"
As two innocent faces looked on expectantly, I began to realize that now is the chance to make my son's girlfriend feel as cozy and welcome as my mother-in-law had made me feel once upon a time. I set the colorful marguerites in a vase, and watched as my son prepared with care a plate of aperitifs. Next, my sister-in-law arrived with her close-cropped platinum hair and wearing a satin pink bomber jacket.
Surrounded, now, by my loving family, I still fought the urge to send everyone home. It was getting late and according to my written-in-stone plans I should be in bed by now, resting up for tomorrow's production titled "The Perfect Lunch."
Refocusing on my sister-in-law, I thought of all the tattoos hidden beneath that pink satin bomber jacket and how the soft and hard contrasts of taffeta and tattoos mirrored the face of suffering: hers, yours, mine, my lunch guests….
What if none of us were weaker or stronger than another? What if we all tortured ourselves? The only difference being the time and the occasion? What if everything were OK, after all? Do we dare let everything be?
* * *
It's 7:30 am and my guests will be here soon (translation: in 4.5 hours). Last night's dishes have been put away. Normally, at this hour, I'd be standing in the kitchen with a roll of scotch tape. Winding the tape around my right hand, careful to keep the sticky side exposed, I'd be swatting my arms and legs with the makeshift glove, trying to vacuum every square inch of my body, lest one single stray hair fall from my sleeve into my gratin dauphinois! The thought of one of my guests reaching for a hair makes me want to run off to a nunnery and live out my days in the bleach-scented blanchisserie, washing away any an all stray hairs of character till kingdom come.
Instead of so much torture, I have been transported to the backyard garden with my sister-in-law, released from the chains of imagination….
"Can I take some to a friend?" Cécile asks, and fast as that our arms begin wading through the aromatic branches, collecting a bouquet of fines herbes. When we almost yank out a population of strawberry plants, our pace slows dramatically to a stop.
"See how they run across the garden?" Cécile says, as we study the long arms of the fraisiers. "We call it "marcotter". Les fraises qui marcotent…."
For a strawberry plant to regrow itself, it must be partly air-born. That is, its roots must be exposed in order to jump to new horizons. Perhaps we too must be a little up in the air, not so tightly grounded–open to new directions–in order to skip off, or marcotte, to higher ground?
My lunch guests have already come and gone and if there was so much as a hair in the potato casserole I didn't see it. I was too distracted by a new-found freedom. Hopefully it will stick around a while. Better toss out that stock of scotch tape and make sure it does.
le potager = kitchen garden
la sarriette = savory (herb)
la marguerite = daisy
la blanchisserie = laundry
les fines herbes (f) = mixed herbs
I should be showing you a picture of strawberries that marcottent. But sometimes it is hard getting one's act together. I will try to post a picture over at Instagram and Facebook. Please join me there!
The winner of Friday's book giveaway is Kathy, who wrote: I was just introduced to a wonderful French cheese, Brillat-Savarin, at a wine-pairing event. It is my new favorite – soft, creamy, YUM!
Thank you all for sharing your favorite cheese. What a chance to learn all about the fromages of France and beyond!
Favorite stories about French life in the book First French Essais–filled with vocabulary-building terms! When you order any item at Amazon, via this link, your purchase helps keep this free language journal going. Merci beaucoup. Click here to shop.
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Your best post yet. God is definitely working in your life and weaving every part of it, wasting no suffering or ‘mistakes’, to teach you ( and us) His truth – truth that sets us free. I heard today from a John Piper sermon that enjoying and Savoring God most over all else ( our agendas for example) sets us Free! Merci
Your best post yet. God is definitely working in your life and weaving every part of it, wasting no suffering or ‘mistakes’, to teach you ( and us) His truth – truth that sets us free. I heard today from a John Piper sermon that enjoying and Savoring God most over all else ( our agendas for example) sets us Free! Merci
Here in Brittany, near the North Coast, I came across a roundabout this morning that was full to bursting with cosmos plants of every hue of pink, from pale to dark – what a fantastic sight! It is really mild at the moment and our roses are on their third flush of the year. Long may it last!
Here in Brittany, near the North Coast, I came across a roundabout this morning that was full to bursting with cosmos plants of every hue of pink, from pale to dark – what a fantastic sight! It is really mild at the moment and our roses are on their third flush of the year. Long may it last!
Hi Kristin!
I agree with Maria…I really loved this post and the pics of course.
I loved the following line…
“Perhaps we too must be a little up in the air, not so tightly grounded–open to new directions–in order to skip off, or marcotte, to higher ground?” I wish I could always be like this! Thanks for a lovely post today and keep doing what your doing!!!
Hi Kristin!
I agree with Maria…I really loved this post and the pics of course.
I loved the following line…
“Perhaps we too must be a little up in the air, not so tightly grounded–open to new directions–in order to skip off, or marcotte, to higher ground?” I wish I could always be like this! Thanks for a lovely post today and keep doing what your doing!!!
Growing up on my grandfather’s tree-nursery farm, I often heard him refer to his strawberry plants as ‘runners’. He watched over the bed like they were his little babies. His tender care brought a bounty of harvest the next year.
Growing up on my grandfather’s tree-nursery farm, I often heard him refer to his strawberry plants as ‘runners’. He watched over the bed like they were his little babies. His tender care brought a bounty of harvest the next year.
I concur – best post yet! You transfixed and transformed me with that story. Actually, it was several stories all rolled into one, perhaps each jumping its boundaries to reach that next higher ground. Thank you, my dear!
I concur – best post yet! You transfixed and transformed me with that story. Actually, it was several stories all rolled into one, perhaps each jumping its boundaries to reach that next higher ground. Thank you, my dear!
Brillat-Savarin … the cheese is named in honor of Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. His story is very interesting.
Brillat-Savarin … the cheese is named in honor of Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. His story is very interesting.
Thanks for the little escape into France. I’m sitting at my desk, paralyzed by the options and responsibilities of the day in trying to motivate my French I, II, III, and IV students, who are not always as enthusiastic about what they are privileged to learn as I am.
Joan L.
Thanks for the little escape into France. I’m sitting at my desk, paralyzed by the options and responsibilities of the day in trying to motivate my French I, II, III, and IV students, who are not always as enthusiastic about what they are privileged to learn as I am.
Joan L.
Yes I agree about the Brillat Savarin & the story attached to it. Interesting facts about strawberry plants. At the garden centre the other day, people were more interested in them, than the winter pansies et al !
Would have loved a photo of Cécile !!
Yes I agree about the Brillat Savarin & the story attached to it. Interesting facts about strawberry plants. At the garden centre the other day, people were more interested in them, than the winter pansies et al !
Would have loved a photo of Cécile !!
Dear Kristin,
The softest whisper can carry the most meaningful message. How beautifully you capture life’s moments and inspire the hearts and minds of others…
Dear Kristin,
The softest whisper can carry the most meaningful message. How beautifully you capture life’s moments and inspire the hearts and minds of others…
I wouldn’t usually suggest a correction, but you do say edits, as well as comments, are welcome:
“a lot of stolons” (not “alot”).
I wouldn’t usually suggest a correction, but you do say edits, as well as comments, are welcome:
“a lot of stolons” (not “alot”).
Thoroughly enjoyed this post. I will definitely read it again…..beautiful message that I can relate to.
Thank you , your writing inspires.
EM
Thoroughly enjoyed this post. I will definitely read it again…..beautiful message that I can relate to.
Thank you , your writing inspires.
EM
Gratin dauphinois, yum. Have you ever posted your recipe? We still make the yogurt cake of Jacques’ and everyone loves it.
Gratin dauphinois, yum. Have you ever posted your recipe? We still make the yogurt cake of Jacques’ and everyone loves it.
Great post. I think that many of us get anxious when we have important guests and want everything to be perfect. I also need to learn how to relax and I know that I have a million things to do,but here I am reading FWAD and enjoying this deviation from my many tasks.
It has been also been mild here in Connecticut and I have an hydrangea that is now blooming for the first time this season…go figure. I have other plants also flowering ( I don’t know their names), but we all know that it is quite unusual for this….climate change!
Kathleen
Great post. I think that many of us get anxious when we have important guests and want everything to be perfect. I also need to learn how to relax and I know that I have a million things to do,but here I am reading FWAD and enjoying this deviation from my many tasks.
It has been also been mild here in Connecticut and I have an hydrangea that is now blooming for the first time this season…go figure. I have other plants also flowering ( I don’t know their names), but we all know that it is quite unusual for this….climate change!
Kathleen
Bravo for handling everything so well!
Now that you’ve tantalized all of us, I hope there’ll be a vignette about the lunch, or at least the guests.
Bravo for handling everything so well!
Now that you’ve tantalized all of us, I hope there’ll be a vignette about the lunch, or at least the guests.
Great post! Meaningful to us all! Merci Mucho!
Marjorie Rancho Bernardo, CA
Great post! Meaningful to us all! Merci Mucho!
Marjorie Rancho Bernardo, CA
Our dear Kristi,
Once again you have wrapped us in hugs and brought sunshine to our day.Sunshine and inspiration!
Next time I feel anxious and overwhelmed with events in my day,I will remember your example.
THANK YOU!!!
love
Natalia. xo
Our dear Kristi,
Once again you have wrapped us in hugs and brought sunshine to our day.Sunshine and inspiration!
Next time I feel anxious and overwhelmed with events in my day,I will remember your example.
THANK YOU!!!
love
Natalia. xo
Thanks for an especially wonderful post today. I was anxious, too, until you began to relax and enjoy your family. I’m certain that your lunch was lovely! Amitiés, Cynthia PS: The weather is still warm and mild here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with late flowers blooming and the trees showing their Fall colors.
Thanks for an especially wonderful post today. I was anxious, too, until you began to relax and enjoy your family. I’m certain that your lunch was lovely! Amitiés, Cynthia PS: The weather is still warm and mild here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with late flowers blooming and the trees showing their Fall colors.
I cannot read the email you sent of this post. So I had to go to the website. What is the problem? Is it something on my end?
Be well
I cannot read the email you sent of this post. So I had to go to the website. What is the problem? Is it something on my end?
Be well
Here in Tucson, Arizona, I daily study my French Pimsleur lessons as I’m planning a trip to Aix en Provence next year. Never studied French before so your postings are a welcome and varied addition to my quest for command of the language. Thanks . I love to read your musings.
Here in Tucson, Arizona, I daily study my French Pimsleur lessons as I’m planning a trip to Aix en Provence next year. Never studied French before so your postings are a welcome and varied addition to my quest for command of the language. Thanks . I love to read your musings.
I love your posts so very much. Sometimes I miss your part of the world so much, I cry as I read your sweet words. Thank u!
Jann
I love your posts so very much. Sometimes I miss your part of the world so much, I cry as I read your sweet words. Thank u!
Jann
Loved the post, the pictures, the audio file, your lovely writing. Yes, we all do torture ourselves. And yes, let’s dare believe everything will be okay. I loved the analogy with the strawberry plants. Thanks!
Loved the post, the pictures, the audio file, your lovely writing. Yes, we all do torture ourselves. And yes, let’s dare believe everything will be okay. I loved the analogy with the strawberry plants. Thanks!
What a lovely post Kristin. So difficult to part with worry at times I find as well. The “perfectionistic” tendencies pulling at our thoughts and capable of over shadowing our sense of joy and eager anticipation. I do not see myself as a easy going “natural” hostess at all with company, fretting too much in advance. Your words remind me to let go and live more fully in the moment, going with the flow of life’s events. What a blessing it seems to have had the sudden arrival of family. Am certain everyone enjoyed a fabulous time. With love and hugs from Phoenix. The weather was beautiful in S. France when we left with roses blooming in the garden at our house sit. Here the bright blue AZ skies welcome us back to spend time with family. I have learned my heart is large enough to straddle the ocean and am so grateful. Bises.
What a lovely post Kristin. So difficult to part with worry at times I find as well. The “perfectionistic” tendencies pulling at our thoughts and capable of over shadowing our sense of joy and eager anticipation. I do not see myself as a easy going “natural” hostess at all with company, fretting too much in advance. Your words remind me to let go and live more fully in the moment, going with the flow of life’s events. What a blessing it seems to have had the sudden arrival of family. Am certain everyone enjoyed a fabulous time. With love and hugs from Phoenix. The weather was beautiful in S. France when we left with roses blooming in the garden at our house sit. Here the bright blue AZ skies welcome us back to spend time with family. I have learned my heart is large enough to straddle the ocean and am so grateful. Bises.
Kristin, this post is so moving, so rich and deep! I love the lessons you impact to all of us, your readers, through your stories of wisdom. Your talent with words leaves me in complete awe.
“For a strawberry plant to regrow itself, it must be partly air-born. That is, its roots must be exposed in order to jump to new horizons. Perhaps we too must be a little up in the air, not so tightly grounded–open to new directions–in order to skip off, or marcotte, to higher ground?”
Thank you for the reminder to stay fluid while keeping my feet on the ground!
Kristin, this post is so moving, so rich and deep! I love the lessons you impact to all of us, your readers, through your stories of wisdom. Your talent with words leaves me in complete awe.
“For a strawberry plant to regrow itself, it must be partly air-born. That is, its roots must be exposed in order to jump to new horizons. Perhaps we too must be a little up in the air, not so tightly grounded–open to new directions–in order to skip off, or marcotte, to higher ground?”
Thank you for the reminder to stay fluid while keeping my feet on the ground!
Kristin, forget the winding the cellophane tape around your hand. Go get a two inch wide roll of tape. Pull out enough that you can wind it backwards, sticky side out, around itself. Put your hand inside the roll and using your hand as the axle roll the wheel of tape here, there, and everywhere. It picks up everything. When it’s full tear off, pull out some more tape, and do it again, Hope this helps, thelma in tucson
Kristin, forget the winding the cellophane tape around your hand. Go get a two inch wide roll of tape. Pull out enough that you can wind it backwards, sticky side out, around itself. Put your hand inside the roll and using your hand as the axle roll the wheel of tape here, there, and everywhere. It picks up everything. When it’s full tear off, pull out some more tape, and do it again, Hope this helps, thelma in tucson
Superbe JOIE de vivre! For sure, among all the your many excellent blogs, this one entry is my new and very special favourite. Such waltzing-rhythm eloquence and humanity capturing the triumph of Being Present over Being Perfectly In Control. Also conveying so beautifully the power of self-compassion, something everyone with a lurking Inner Perfectionist needs to nurture. A treasure of a ‘keeper’, to print out and treasure in my scrapbook of rich reflections on living well. Thanks for being you, Kristi, and for sharing with us so vibrantly. Marcotter indeed!
Superbe JOIE de vivre! For sure, among all the your many excellent blogs, this one entry is my new and very special favourite. Such waltzing-rhythm eloquence and humanity capturing the triumph of Being Present over Being Perfectly In Control. Also conveying so beautifully the power of self-compassion, something everyone with a lurking Inner Perfectionist needs to nurture. A treasure of a ‘keeper’, to print out and treasure in my scrapbook of rich reflections on living well. Thanks for being you, Kristi, and for sharing with us so vibrantly. Marcotter indeed!