End of the year To-Dos. This old photo reminds me–I need to fish out our santons and make a good-for-any-season French Yogurt Cake, (recipe here). I also want to update you on our move and the sale of our vineyard. Read on!
French Christmas Music: "Mon Beau Sapin", "Sainte Nuit", "La Marche des Rois"… Order CD here.
TODAY'S WORD: la promesse de vente
: promise to sell
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Le 2 décembre, nous avons signé la promesse de vente, et le 21 décembre nous devrions signé la promesse d'achat.
December 2nd we signed the commitment to sell, and December 21st we should sign the commitment to buy.
ECOUTEZ – Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the example sentence:
Download Promesse-de-vente
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
Hoops, Dots, and Holey Socks
When I spoke about Jean-Marc pruning his vines, last week, and when I write about our upcoming wine bottling, next month, maybe you were (or will be) a little confused. After all, weren't we supposed to sell our vineyard here in St. Cyr?
Yes, and we have! Or have promised to! Earlier this month we signed a promesse de vente!
That moment was surreal in the notaire's office, when before a lawyer we signed over our vineyard and our home. I could feel the jolt my husband took when the notary read a certain "non-compete" clause — effectively taking away the possibility for Jean-Marc to make wine in the near vicinity of his soon-to-be former vineyard–in his dream appellation of Bandol! I looked over at my husband, whose thoughts must have been as displaced as his chaussettes (for warmth he wore 4 old–and holed–socks, having come straight from working in the fields to this pivotal rendez-vous).
Though Jean-Marc did not flinch, a sense of loss, of no-turning-back-now, permeated the conference room, with its tangled cords and pile of presentation equipment which had been shoved to the end of a long table, making room for yet another transaction. It could have been any other day in the world of property sales. Business as usual. Just another dot on the face of the planet up for sale.
But what a wondrous dot is was!
This Wednesday, December 21st–a day before my 49th birthday–we will buy another dot (or promise to), and so continue to connect the dots of this French life. (This next move is to La Cadière d'Azur…make that LA CIOTAT) Wish us luck. In order for either sale to take place a list of contingencies must be met. So you see, there are still many hoops to jump through before either sale goes through. Hoops and dots and holey socks. Le cercle de vie continue.
Related story: Jean-Marc's Vineyard Dream and How We Came to Live in Jean-Marc's favorite southern French city
FRENCH VOCABULARY
la promesse de vente = promise to sell
le notaire = notary, attorney, solicitor, lawyer for real estate transactions
une appellation = designation of origin
la chaussette = sock
le rendez-vous (rdv) = meeting, appointment
le cercle de vie = circle of life
Shop for gifts using any of the following links to enter the store.
TABLECLOTH, Provence-themed linens for the house.
LAGUIOLE STEAK KNIVES are for sale in many of the local French market stands.
PARIS PEACE T-SHIRT – "so many people have stopped to ask me where I got it" -Betty.
Don't forget to try the French Yogurt Cake, (recipe here).
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I am so happy for your family. La Cadière d’Azur is a wonderful place! All the best and wishes for a smooth move.
I am superstitious enough NOT to say anything just yet, but I am thinking it…loudly. 😉
xoxo
Happy Birthday, Kristi! And, all good thoughts and prayers for the days ahead! A bit of snow on the ground here on Cape Cod!
What an exciting time! Arliss and I wish you and Jean-Marc an easy, uneventful move followed by all sorts of exciting adventures in your new home.
Your new town, La Cadière d’Azur, looks beautiful! It appears to be historic as well. Will you be “townies” or in the “burbs”? It makes my heart happy to know that you will continue to live in Provence! Best wishes for your next adventures!!!
Kristi, I/we (our paint Provence group with Tessa Nelson) had a wonderful day and lunch at your Mas in October 2015. We all loved wearing your hats, painting your olive trees and vineyards, quaint shed and garden, and of course also tasting the wine… I hope you recall that gorgeous day, too! Anyway, I am so relieved to hear that you will re-locate to another (surely equally lovely) spot in Provence, and not attempt to fit into life in the US anno 2017… As an ex-pat myself, I could not visualize that being a success for the two of you! So I am much relieved on your behalf.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a bright and shiny, happy and challenging new year. Will follow along here, thanks to you!
All my best from Denmark
Happy birthday, best wishes for your next adventure. 🎂🍰🎉
Lots of good luck to you and hope your move goes as smoothly as possible. Good to see Smokey there always doing his part.
Although there is still much to do, you and Jean-Marc must feel some sense of relief now a decision has been made and you will stay in your beloved Provence. I am looking forward to reading about this new chapter in your life.
Happiest of Birthdays, Kristi! Hope you are happy to still be “Blossoming in Provence.” All the best to you and your family always.
Merveilleux!!! Vous allez rester en Provence! Quelle bonne decision!
Happy Birthday !
It seems *the planets are aligning* nicely. I know it was a hard process to go through to change your lives, to sell your home (sob), to decide where to go and what to do next.
We’ve never met, but maybe someday I will make the trip to Provence from Grenoble (my home for 13 years), but I’m secretly happy to hear that you are staying in France.
All the very best wishes for the upcoming holiday season. Merry Christmas – Happy New Year.
Aleta
Happy Birthday! I wrote to you a few months ago regarding Puerto Vallarta. My husband and I closed finally on our condo there and will leave the States on Dec. 31 for 3 months. I had to write today after seeing where you’re moving. About 3 years ago, our two sons and their wives visited us in Nice where we were renting a place in the old town. They had made plans to stay for a few days in Cassis where they’d been before, so we drove one couple there. When it was time to return to Nice, there was a train strike and the buses were booked. Being the good parents we are, we drove back to Cassis to pick them up, and on the way there I noticed again the beautiful town off the autoroute. It was drawing me to it, so we decided to book a couple of rooms there at the Hosterllerie Berard before returning to Nice. All of us fell in love with La Cadiere d’Azur! I’m so happy to read that it will be your new home!
Best of luck with your house sale, and have a very merry Christmas.
Lin
Chicago
Promesse de vente sounds like a promise on the wind. I wonder where that came from. Anyway, it’s all very exciting and there was not even a tiny mention of remorse which doesn’t surprise me with you two adventurers. Keep looking forward!
I love the photos of the beauty you both have created!
Happy Birthday!
The town does look beautuful and close to water.A medieval town first recorded in 993!
Happy for you..Bravo.
Happy birthday, Kristi — sending good thoughts your way as you move in a new direction –or promise to 🙂
Bonne fête Kristi! Does is matter what kind of yogurt you use in your uncle’s recipe: Greek,stirred,Balkan-style plain, flavoured? Merci, Laurie
Blessings…. for a beautiful birthday, a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful move !!
Different kinds of yogurt will work. Let me know which ones you try for this cake!
Happy Birthday Kristi – have a lovely day.
Hoping all goes smoothly in the house sale and closing for your hew home nine La Cadiere d’Azur!. I remember you taking the time to meet me for lunch there on a cruise shore day. Beautiful town (even in the rain), great lunch, wonderful meeting up with you.
Best wishes for a safe and peaceful move,
Happy Christmas to you, Jean Marc, and the family.
Bon courage!! Je suis contente d’avoir lu tes nouvelles!! Amitiés,
Dear Kristi,
Years ago when I read your book, I was excited when you visited Toulon because it’s where I lived for five years as a teenager and it hardly gets a mention as a tourist destination outside of local guides. When you mentioned that you were moving to Bandol and buying your dream, I was overjoyed. I’m glad your upcoming move will keep you in Provence as I know this is where your heart is. It’s a bit surreal to be so close to someone I’ve never met but hope to some day. Thanks for your blog, your insight into your life and your friendship. I really hope to meet you there someday. I too am facing an upcoming move and praying for the process. Wishing you a wonderful birthday on Thursday.
I am so glad you decided to stay in France because you give all of us the opportunity to learn so much about life in France. Please keep up your blog for all of us. May God bless your family with good health, happiness and great opportunities as you leave your current home to enter your new one. The old saying about closing one door and opening another certainly applies to you and Jean Marc!
Ellen, thanks for the memory. That was a lovely meetup! I took my Mom to the same bistro, and she loved it. While there, we ran into Betsy (Betsy are you reading?)
Happy Birthday! and Bonne Chance with all the ‘promesses’ and their contingencies. May your holidays be joyful and thank you so much for sharing those small slices of your life in France. I look forward to them and I am also looking forward to trying a slice of your French yogurt cake as soon as I can find the time to bake it!
Happy Birthday to you, Kristi! I am happy that the sword over your heads has dropped, and that you have signed the paperwork to move on. I can’t wait to learn about the new place! Has Smokey got room to run? And is it handleable for a couple? I know you will now be relieved to move on and out of the murk you have been in over the last year. I am thinking of you…….
Hi Kristi,
Happy early birthday! La Cadière d’Azur looks beautiful! Congratulations to you and your family. It doesn’t look that far from Bandol either, like a 20 minute drive north!
Joyeux Noël!
Eileen
Congratulations on both selling your home/vineyard so quickly and deciding to stay in France. I have to look up your new town after this. If all goes well,then you get the hassle of moving!! We just did it to a rental while our home is being built in chilly Taos, New Mexico. Change is challenging and good. Happy birthday, Merry Christmas, & again, good job!
Happy Birthday Kristi! And Bonne Chance with the move and new venture. Ralph and I seem to have followed your wine making adventures across Le Sud and we look forward to visiting you at a new location! A Merry Merry Christmas to you and your family and we hope to see you in 2017 (our next visit). xoN
Congratulations Kristi and Jean-Marc! Sounds like another adventure begins?! Kristi – I love the picture of the table and how you seem to bring your garden into all your meals and event the decor! Simple, elegant, beautiful. xoxo
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTI,Having been one of the lucky ones, who have had the pleasure of meeting You and Jean- Marc,you know I wish you both the BEST of luck in completeing your sale and move, look forward to visiting you next SEPT. in La Cadiere d Azur, Joyeux Noelle Lou
Kristin, I felt an overwhelming sadness for you both when I started reading your post today, but as I read on and thought about it, the feeling lifted and I am grateful that everything seems to be falling into place so quickly. Allez avec dieu! (That might not be correct French…) Bonne Anniversaird, Joyeux Noel, et Bonne Nouvelle Annee!
P.S. Show photos of the new home a.s.a.p.
Happy Birthday! Life is full of surprises. Many blessings and happy Christmas! ❤❤❤
Hugs!
Dearest Kristi, Blessings to you and all of your loved ones…may your move be with leisurely steps in which you can soak in the beauty you’re moving to and departing from. Thank you for sharing all of your beauty and appreciation with all of us. We’re all sending our love and clarity to you and Jean Marc.
Happy Birthday Kristi. Like many others I am secretly very happy for you both to be staying in France – which I know you love.
So glad that the future has been resolved and you can start a new beginning in the New Year.
Joyous Noel to you both…..and I too would love to meet you one day.
Best wishes from Angela in England
Kristi, congratulations on the sale of your home! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you today, and will wait until tomorrow to send my birthday wishes. What an exciting time this is for you and Jean-Marc! I hope everything will go smoothly and await your next update with great trepidation.
As for that yogurt cake, I have to tell you that it’s become my ‘go to’ dessert and everyone asks me for the recipe. I love the versatility of this cake. The other day, I set out to bake it for a potluck Mr. Wanderlust had at his workplace, only to find out at the last minute that I was missing the key ingredient: yogurt. Feeling cosy at home and being very much against the idea of going out into the -10C night, I improvised, mixing a spoonful of apple cider vinegar into 2% milk. I’m happy to say this worked perfectly. Phew.
Very exciting to have a path forward appear so quickly. Best wishes for everything to proceed smoothly and, as I see here, for a very happy birthday!
Wow, good luck. I know how important it is to you to stay in France and now you can. Keep us posted (the right word) and enjoy the season… Happy birthday too G
Very exciting news. Hope all goes smoothly and wishing you a very Happy Birthday!
Sending Hugs.
xoxo
Congratulations and Happy Birthday. Moves are the best of times and the worst of times. I’m praying that all of the conditions are met with ease. Another beginning for the two of you–and empty nesters, too. Christmas blessings. xoxo Mary
I hope there is some relief for you and Jean Marc now that you have taken that step. Have a blessed Christmas with your family, and happy birthday. I am waiting for your progress reports.
Best wished for a smooth transition.
In the Example Sentence shouldn’t “nous devrions signé” be instead “nous devrions signer”?
Like everyone else I’ve been waiting to learn of your decision as to where your next “dot” (love that phrasing btw) would be- –
and am so glad you’ve chosen to stay in France. I had trouble picturing you and J-M actually living in the US, as one of your musings theorized- & this is not a great time to move to the YS anyway. Can’t wait to see photos and read about your new home. In the meantime, happy birthday and Joyeux Noel!
Hi Kristi, I looked at all the images of La Cadiere… looks lovely, and sounds lovely! I don’t write often, but I think of you and your family and wish you all the best. Esp. with this move!
Congratulations on choosing this new path. Happy Birthday🎂💋
What a wonderful Christmas gift it is to have your life evolving after months of waiting for answers. I too feel very strongly that staying in France is the right move for you and your family. I’ll look forward to hearing why/how you chose La Cadiere. It looks lovely. Bonne chance et bonne anniversaire!
What news! A new door opens, Kristi, for all of you. La Cadière is a favourite spot of ours … a beautiful setting for your family to begin anew. Like everyone else, I’m happy you are staying in France. Bonne anniversaire! Joyeux Noël! Le top du top pour 2017!
Another milestone in the wonderful life and times of the Famille Espinasse! Keep the blogs coming, Kristi….bon chance pour the next stage of your lives. Be good to yourselves.
Dear kristi and JeanMarc and family! Congratulations on new beginnings! You soon will be able to celebrate moving to a new home with new hopes and dreams to come true. How exciting and wonderful for all of you. Bonne anniversaire a toi! another milestone in you life and it will be happpily passed with your loved ones atound you. You both have crossed the rubicon and there is nothing but happiness and the wonder of life’s challenges befor you! I am so happy you decided to remain in France, for that is truly yours and his destiny! Best wishes with the sale and purchase of homes… we will all pray everything will go smoothly. Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee!…. Judi Dunn, TaSllahassee, Florida