Another leafy front porch, not far from the lieu du crime… read on in today's French-vocabulary infused story column. Thanks to French reader, Brigitte, who offered today's vocabulary word. faire amende honorable (fer-ah-mahnd-oh-no-rahbl)     : to apologize, to make amends AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-Marc Download MP3 or wav file …le coupable doit donc faire amende honorable et dédommager les intéressés.…the guilty party ought to make … Continue reading faire amende honorable

Today's metaphor involves a bowling ball. With no such picture in my photo archives, I offer a not-so-close second: la balle de golf. (In the photo–taken in 2005, near Bandol–our daughter, then 8 years-old, seems to be imitating me. In reality, she's getting ready to roll down the grassy hill. Don't worry about the ball, it won't reach her. I won't even be able to … Continue reading To ask for guidance or advice in French

These elephants were spotted on a French door–and in the window–of a home in Pernes-les-Fontaines. As for elephants in the room, read on in today's missive. "l'éléphant dans la pièce" The English expression "elephant in the room", which literally signifies [in French] "éléphant dans la pièce" but which mustn't be translated as such in French, designates "something very important and very obvious, that we should … Continue reading An Elephant in the Room? Chez moi?

Normally, when panhandling for website donations, I post an attractive picture (a window decked with geraniums, a field of poppies, a stone cabanon). Looking at today's photo, I notice the pan is smudged with fingerprints and should have been polished before the snapshot was taken, haphazardly. Before the last-minute photo was shot, I could be found at my desk, canceling all of the automatically scheduled … Continue reading Quelle idée! = What a crazy idea! Or was it?

From left to right: Kristi, Carole, Nancy, Bernd, Jill, Agnès, Charles, and Jean-Marc. And behind the camera, Charles's wife, Martha. We are in the Crêperie du Hameau, which overlooks the sweet fishing port of Madrague, just east of Cassis. Don't miss Jill's wonderful write up–and you'll love her "vintage buying in France" blog–click here. apprendre à se connaître : to get to know one another, … Continue reading apprendre à se connaître

A car is une voiture in French. But the word "bagnole" has so much more character–and this 2CV, especially. Speaking of character, read about it in today's story! la bagnole (ban-yol)     : car; ride, set of wheels A Day in a FRENCH Life… by Kristin Espinasse Last Sunday I hid in our bathroom as our guests collected their purses and coats. "I'll be … Continue reading Favorite word for car in French