"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!
Picture of the balcony off our bedroom. It was my dream to live in a stone house and, in 2012, this rêve came true–with a view of the sea to boot! TODAY'S WORD: sourire : (noun) smile : (verb) to smile AUDIO FILE: Listen to the following quote: Download MP3 Ne pleure pas parce que c'est fini, souris parce que c'est arrivé. – Dr … Continue reading Before We Move… The Story of How We Came to Live at Mas des Brun
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
The French eat quail eggs (les oeufs de caille)… but do they eat fried eggs? Read on… TODAY'S WORD: un oeuf au plat : a fried egg, egg "sunny side up" ECOUTEZ – Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word: Download MP3 for "Oeuf-au-plat" Un œuf au plat, œuf sur le plat, œuf à la poêle ou œuf miroir est un œuf… cuit à … Continue reading Fried Eggs in French, a Maman Poule, and a visit from Max
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?
Une citrouille, in French, is a pumpkin (and a pumpkin is also a potiron). But in today’s story, une citrouille is a mode of transportation…and we’re not talking about a Citroën! TODAY’S WORD: Une Citrouille : pumpkin : head (synonym, in French, for citrouille) la citrouille d’Halloween = jack-o’-lanternla tarte à la citrouille = pumpkin pie SABLET HOME – for high quality vacation rentals in … Continue reading Pumpkin in French – And “Plan C” (living in an RV?)
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
