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….
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Faire monter la mayonnaise—çela veut dire: donner plus d'importance à une affaire.
To stir up the mayonnaise–this means to give more importance to a subject, or to call attention to it.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
My heart is beating very fast… as I am one click away from discovering the winner of our "one week free rent in Provence" contest.
For most of these drawings I use random number generator….
This time it picked number "561". All I have to do now is comb through 10 pages of comments (100 comments per page) to find out who, among 1021 entrants, has won. Here goes…. And the winner is….
"A.M."
Off to match A.M.'s signature with the email address listed with this comment. A.M., if you are reading, Félicitations! I will put you in touch with Cynthia and you two can work out the details of your prize. Please take lots of photos for us when you get there!
(Update: To be clear, and in case anyone with the initials "A.M." is reading… the winner's email address begins with "abatc").
ESPALIER
Yesterday was my birthday and I received the tree of my dreams: un espalier! (Espaliers are those trees that have branches trained horizonally along a wall or support. See it, above, next to a very old, uprooted grape vine. And that is our golden, Breizh, who began having seizures last month. Keep her in your prayers!)
Almost as delightful as the arbre, is the word's original meaning: "something to rest the shoulder against." (This comes at a good time, as my arm is sore from all the ELBOW exercises I am doing lately. (See the journal entry for "luxer")
POMMES DE REINETTE
…or "pippins" are the kind of apples that will grow on this new tree! Because espaliers produce more fruit in less space, we should have plenty of fruit for une tarte tatin–a French apple pie that was born of this famous variety!
ZERO DECHET
I am reading a facinating and inspiring book by French woman, Bea Johnson. Bea has managed to turn her house into a ZERO WASTE home. Last year her family of four produced so little waste that all it took was a one quart jar to contain all their garbage (in fact, the family no longer has a poubelle, or trash can, at home!). Extreme? Qui sait? (Who knows.) I'm reading it for the books ability to open my eyes to that which I can minimize….
Read along with me when you download the ebook here!
FAIRE MONTER LA MAYONNAISE
The main tip in Bea's Zero Waste Home–is to refuse (of the 5 R's she lists: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot — refusing is the most important: don't even let the waste enter your home! Bea gives a wonderful example of refusing those free shampoo and conditioner bottles offered by most hotels. I shared this with Jean-Marc (a freebies collector!) and he instantly agreed to stop this compulsion! He even said that awareness about such freebies will help monter la mayonnaise–or stir up a topic many of us don't think much about. (Idem for all those free pens. As Bea says, we are offered a free stylo and immediately we think "Cool! Free pen!" but we don't consider the bigger picture: accepting freebies encourages the production of more (cheaply made) freebies, which end up in landfills across the globe.
I hightly recommend ZERO WASTE HOME. Read it for the awareness, the education, and the intention it'll stir up–like a good, homemade mayo!
RIGOLEZ! (GO AHEAD AND LAUGH)
I hope we know each other well enough by now that I can share the news. I've quit toothpaste! In as little as one-two-three (items, minutes) you can stir up a wonderful treat for your teeth, via this natural dentifrice:
* 4-5 tbsp French green clay, or this kind
*2-5 drops essential oil (organic grade): peppermint, rosemary, or other…
*pinches of sea salt (though some say this harms enamel, I like the taste)
*optional: water
I added enough water to make a paste (some say to stir with wooden spoon, but I used metal). And some people sprinkle the powder directly on their tooth brush and then add water. Option: Instead of green clay you can use baking soda (food grade).
- Green clay powder has another benefit: it remineralizes your teeth!
- And remember when I used it on Smokey, after his attack? Story here.
MUST NOT FORGET OUR SPONSOR…
New rental in Provence. In the charming village of Sablet–this spacious home is the perfect place to return to after sightseeing, bicycling or hiking. Click here for photos.
Jean-Marc, wheeling my presents to the cash register…. The espalier is in good company: blueberry bushes to warm its feet and another kumquat tree!
MERCI BEAUCOUP!
Thank you very much for reading my French language journal this past year. Your comments and encouragements helped keep this blog going! May the following cheers keep your own dreams fueled and may you continue to live the kind of life that brings you the most peace and joy:
Allez! Continue! et surtout BON COURAGE!
Keep going! Keep on! and especially GOOD LUCK (be strong, be brave)
Amicalement,
Kristi
Photo taken in Evanos, a tiny hilltop village not far from Bandol.
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a very Merry Christmas and an exciting new year for us all
a very Merry Christmas and an exciting new year for us all
Belated Happy Birthday to you, Kristin, and a very Merry Christmas. I must thank you again for sending me a copy of Still Alice. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in several days, record time for me. Such a great book. I look forward to seeing the movie when it comes out in January, if it is only half as good as the book, it will be a wonderful movie.
Belated Happy Birthday to you, Kristin, and a very Merry Christmas. I must thank you again for sending me a copy of Still Alice. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in several days, record time for me. Such a great book. I look forward to seeing the movie when it comes out in January, if it is only half as good as the book, it will be a wonderful movie.
I really enjoy your postings and photos even if I get a bit behind reading them…….Then I catch up all at once. I have been trying to ease up on the trash myself and now I want an espalier also. I have the perfect place for one. My mother made me brush my teeth with salt and baking soda years ago and I prefer it to any toothpaste….and am deadset against the addition of fluride to everything ! hopefully they don’t do that in France?
Joyeux Noel and Happy birthday….!
I really enjoy your postings and photos even if I get a bit behind reading them…….Then I catch up all at once. I have been trying to ease up on the trash myself and now I want an espalier also. I have the perfect place for one. My mother made me brush my teeth with salt and baking soda years ago and I prefer it to any toothpaste….and am deadset against the addition of fluride to everything ! hopefully they don’t do that in France?
Joyeux Noel and Happy birthday….!
When I was a child, my mother always had baking soda in kitchen and when we ran out of toothpaste, this is what we used for brushing…salt too, but had not thought of it eroding enamel…so good to know this!
As always, merci pour votre blog…so happy I heard about it & I can practice my French. And love France…seems to call to me…. possibly because my family derives from there. Raised in bilingual family but now that parents/grandparents have died, don’t get to hear/speak it often & am forgetting! Am hoping for return trip this coming year!
Bonne année à vous et votre famille!
When I was a child, my mother always had baking soda in kitchen and when we ran out of toothpaste, this is what we used for brushing…salt too, but had not thought of it eroding enamel…so good to know this!
As always, merci pour votre blog…so happy I heard about it & I can practice my French. And love France…seems to call to me…. possibly because my family derives from there. Raised in bilingual family but now that parents/grandparents have died, don’t get to hear/speak it often & am forgetting! Am hoping for return trip this coming year!
Bonne année à vous et votre famille!
I have recently been acquainted to your website. What a joy. I look forward to learning how to speak French…as well as hearing about your beautiful life. What a lovely way to learn French. I plan to visit one day and hope to meet you. My daughter has an eleven year old golden retriever. He brings us much joy,
The information about the French way and the area is so exciting. I look forward to each entry.
Merci beau coup. Bonne anne.
I have recently been acquainted to your website. What a joy. I look forward to learning how to speak French…as well as hearing about your beautiful life. What a lovely way to learn French. I plan to visit one day and hope to meet you. My daughter has an eleven year old golden retriever. He brings us much joy,
The information about the French way and the area is so exciting. I look forward to each entry.
Merci beau coup. Bonne anne.
Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thanks for sharing your life with us, and have a great 2015!
Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thanks for sharing your life with us, and have a great 2015!
Always enjoy your post, poor “Breeze”, I know how you feel, lost my beloved Border Collie last year to a stroke…will pray for your sweet one and you!
Love the espalier, have been working on one for several years!
Always enjoy your post, poor “Breeze”, I know how you feel, lost my beloved Border Collie last year to a stroke…will pray for your sweet one and you!
Love the espalier, have been working on one for several years!