THE BITTEREST WINE: a novel about a family's conflicting roles in WWII Provence and famous writers of the Resistance who influenced them. Order the book. TODAY'S WORD: le juste milieu         : happy medium ECOUTEZ – Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word: Download Juste-milieu La vertu est le juste milieu entre deux vices. -AristoteVirtue is the happy medium between two extremes. -Aristotle Improve your spoken … Continue reading The Accidental Shoplifter & Happy Medium in French

"New Day". Smokey reminds us all to live simply, slowly, and not to make a cheese about things! Speaking of fromage, tell us your favorite kind here in the comments. TODAY'S WORD: en faire tout un fromage         : to make a fuss about something      : to make a mountain out of a molehill      : to make a big deal out of something ECOUTEZ – … Continue reading French Etiquette: Did you know about this rule for cheese? I sure didn’t!

It is raining this morning, here in St. Cyr-sur-Mer. Visibility is fuzzy–just like today's word (and our situation). TODAY'S WORD: être dans le flou         :  to be in limbo   BEAUTIFUL FRENCH FARMHOUSE for rent near Portland Oregon. Multi generational possibilities . Click here. YOUR AD HERE. Reach 26,000 readers. Place an ad in the French Word-A-Day newsletter. Click here. ECOUTEZ – Listen to Jean-Marc … Continue reading To be in limbo

An arbousier we planted behind our farmhouse. I first noticed these "strawberry trees" while visiting Corsica, where they are plentiful in the wild—as are boars, which gobble up the fallen fruit. More about sangliers in today's post.TODAY'S WORD: un gigot     leg, thigh (of animal) le gigot d'agneau = leg of lamb ECOUTEZ – hear Jean-Marc pronounce today's word: Download MP3 file Un gigot. Hier, … Continue reading Gigot: a surprise from our neighbor

Picture taken on Election Day morning. Is the sky half full or half empty? Depends on how you see things. TODAY'S WORD: la paix des choses sauvages     : the peace of wild things A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE     by Kristi Espinasse Have you missed me? Or have you been so absorbed in the election results that you didn't notice a post … Continue reading La Paix des Choses Sauvages , Wendell Berry, and Thoughts on The US Election Results

Here in France, we set our clocks back one hour on Sunday. And you? Do you have a time change coming up? And how does it affect you, le changement d'heure? Share your thoughts in the comments at the end of this post. TODAY'S WORD: le changement d'heure     : time change heure d'été = daylight savings time, summer timepasser à l'heure d'hiver = to … Continue reading Le Changement d’heure : do you like it or dread it?