Jackie is doing well in Paris. Max is making friends in Portland. Our dogs are healthy! I am feeling myself again. And Jean-Marc? Read on…. aléa (noun, masculine)     : risk, hazard, chance les aléas du métier = the risks of the tradeaprès bien des aléas = after many ups and downs AUDIO FILE:  Hear today's word: Download MP3 or Wav A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE … by … Continue reading risk in French + an update from Kristi

TODAY'S WORDgaver (gah-vay)     : to stuff, to fill up se gaver = to stuff oneself Expressions:  ça me gave = I'm sick of it  je me suis gavé = I outdid myself! I rock! Look how good I did! A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse This morning when I woke up in my daughter's shoebox apartment (140 square feet — 70 for … Continue reading gaver + winner announced

GERER (zher-ay)     : to manage, to handle things EXAMPLE SENTENCE  Maman, ne t'inquiète pas, je suis assez capable de me gérer moi-même.Mom, don't worry. I am capable enough to manage things on my own. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse Un petit coucou de Paris.  A little hello from Paris, where my 17-year-old is settling in for her three week stage, or internship. … Continue reading How to say “to handle things, to manage” in French: gerer

Over the years, you have seen these treasured keys in various scenes at our old vineyard and here, in the window seat at Mas des Brun. Today, I am giving away a precious third key! Reader Gus Ellison won the first in 2012, and shared these touching photos. It's time to share one more cherished antique French key… in today's post. (Notice Jackie in the … Continue reading French antique giveaway or “key” to the French language with FluentU

I will never forget watching this American speak to the lost soldiers on the beaches of Normandy. Today we honor those who lost their lives, au champs d'honneur. Memorial Day     : jour des soldats morts au champ d'honneur     (day of commemoration of soldiers who were killed in action) Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the French definitions, recording today's sound file from his field of … Continue reading Le Memorial Day: We will never forget

Smell the roses, see the butterfly's wings… slow to a snail's pace but not so slow as to sleepwalk through the day. France and Monaco Rentals: short-term holiday rental properties throughout France. Click here for pictures. éveiller(ay-veh-yay) verb        : to wake up, to excite… "to pull from sleep" (tirer du sommeil) French Vocabulary & Audio File Hear my daughter pronounce today's word and quote (Note: Don't recognize the … Continue reading eveiller

Happy Birthday Max. We watered you. You watered the vines. And everything just grew.  MAS DE LA PERDRIX. Lovely months to rent this home France: July, for fields of sunflowers & lavender. September, for the grape harvest! October: fall leaves. The exchange rate is great. It's a wonderful time to rent this dreamhouse.   TODAY'S WORD:fils (feece) noun, masculine     : son C'est bien le fils de … Continue reading fils + book giveaway + your own personal talent

Field of poppies in Bandol.  See the recent photos of Mom's first days in Provence, here at Instagram or on my Facebook. This is a guest post from Benjamin Houy, author of How to Learn French in a Year and founder of French Together, a website where he makes learning French easy. You love France, you may already live there or plan to live in … Continue reading 6 Little-known tips to successfully learn French