French Country Diary – everyone’s favorite calendar and it makes a great gift: Click here for the French Country Diary 2017 TODAY’S WORD: faire des courses    : to go shopping    : to run errands SABLET HOME – for high quality vacation rentals in the heart of Provence. Click here for pictures.            FRANCE & MONACO We offer exclusive short-term holiday … Continue reading Rent Our French farmhouse? Your Year in Provence? + Faire des courses

It is proving difficult to illustrate an article on learning grammar naturally! So we'll take inspiration from good ol' Smokey, who is always his best, most natural self–especially on vacation! (In our brief absence we leave you with a helpful article by Benjamin Houy of FrenchTogether.com) HOW TO LEARN GRAMMAR NATURALLY Have you ever tried asking French people why they say things the way they say … Continue reading How to Learn Grammar Naturally

We all need more mudita! Mudita is the benevolent and altruistic joy that delights in the happiness and success of others. It is a sacred joy that finds its pleasure in the well-being of another rather than by feeding envious thoughts and jealousies concerning the other. To illustrate "mudita," we often give the example of parents, who delight in the progress and happiness of their … Continue reading Mudita: The Secret to Happiness in France…and Denver, Portland, Bozeman?

TODAY'S WORD: avoir la niaque (also: avoir la gnaque)     French: Être très motivé, être capable de soulever des montagnes. (Wikipedia)     English : To be very motivated, to be capable of moving mountains ECOUTEZ – Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word: Download MP3:  Avoir-la-niaque Avoir la niaque. Aujourd'hui, je n'ai pas la niaque pour continuer ce projet de vignoble au Mas des Brun.To … Continue reading Jean-Marc’s open letter

I think I could live anywhere…as long as there is a garden to call my own. Or is it time to share another's garden? To contribute and to humbly accept a portion of the harvest? These things cross my mind. Meantime, we continue in limbo, until the day our vineyard sells and another decision is made. Read on. (Photo taken on the island of Port … Continue reading If we left France, Where we could move…

Voici une photo d'un caraco. Here is a picture of a caraco. Worn by Jackie, to her brother's birthday party. TODAY'S WORD: le caraco     – camisole    – bodice, corset ECOUTEZ – Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word: Download Caraco Ni un débardeur, ni un marcel, le caraco c'est une camisoleNeither a vest top or a tank top, a caraco is a camisole Improve … Continue reading New friends, new words, and meme pas peur!

It's good to be back in France! Please give a warm welcome to our returning sponsor, Cynthia: Provence & French Alps Tours – Two regions of France in affordable, small group tours since 2009. Majestic mountains, Provence colors. Wine/cheese tastings, Michelin Star cuisine. Click here. TODAY'S WORD: fresh as a lettuce    : to be calm as a cucumber, in French, is to be Cool … Continue reading Fresh as a lettuce : and other delights from Mama’s in Mexique