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: sap, lifeblood
Parlez mieux : Pronounce it Perfectly in French or Exercises in French Phonetics
BILINGUAL STORY by Jean-Marc
Il est temps de tailler la vigne
Download "It is time to prune the vines" – Jean-Marc's bilingual story
Une fois que toutes les feuilles des vignes sont tombées, que la sève est redescendue, il est temps de tailler la vigne.
Cette opération est très importante car elle conditionne la prochaine récolte.
Chaque année, lorsque la Nature revit au Printemps, la vigne va produire un certain nombre de sarments en fonction de la taille qui aura été effectuée et ces futurs sarments produiront les futurs raisins. Plus la taille est courte, moins la végétation sera importante et plus faible sera la récolte mais meilleure sera t-elle, probablement. Il faut donc penser à la fois aux aspects quantitatifs et qualitatifs avant de tailler chaque pied de vigne et chaque vigne est une nouvelle équation à résoudre.
Même si c'est un travail physique (surtout lorsque la vigne est basse) et répétitif, j'aime faire cette opération. Marcher dans l'herbe produit des arômes uniques. On y découvre aussi quelques coccinelles qui seront, je l'espère, porteuses de chance pour la récolte à venir.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
It is time to prune the vines.
Once all of the vine leaves have fallen, and the sap has fallen back, it is time to prune the vines. This mission is very important, as it influences the next harvest.
Each year, when nature comes back to life in springtime, the vine will produce a certain amount of shoots depending on the pruning that will have taken place, and these future shoots will produce future grapes. The more severe the pruning, the less growth there will be and the less of a harvest there will be – but a better one, surely. It is necessary, then, to think of both quantity and quality aspects before pruning each vine and each vine is a new equation to solve.
Even if it is a lot of physical work (especially when the vine is low to the ground), and repetitive, I love this mission. Walking over the wild herbs produces unique aromas. You also discover a few ladybugs that will be, I hope, lucky charms for the harvest to come.
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If you enjoyed Jean-Marc's story and would like more bilingual posts by him, let us know in the comments.
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Did you enjoy Jean-Marc's bilingual post? He's added these photos (taken of us, 10 years ago), to illustrate his story. Thanks for sharing it with a French learner.
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PARIS PEACE T-SHIRT – "so many people have stopped to ask me where I got it" -Betty.
My friend Barbara (remember Barbara and Noelle, her Jack Russell?) asked if I could recommend a hotel in France. I sent her the site we use, called Booking, and she and Noelle easily found a place on the port in Cassis (the hotel welcomes dogs!). Because people are always asking me for hotel recommendations, Barbara encouraged me to sign up for Booking's affiliate program. I'm thrilled to have just been accepted! (Thank you, Barbara!). Jean-Marc used Booking when we went to Santorini, Greece, and recently, to book an apartment in Roses, Spain. My family used Booking last summer to rent a chateau for our family reunion here in St Cyr-sur-Mer (wish I'd been an affiliate then!) If you are looking for a hotel or an apartment or a lovely "bastide" anywhere in the world, thank you for using my affiliate link. Any revenue helps keep me doing what I love most – writing for a living. Please bookmark this Booking link so you will have it next time you need to reserve a hotel–or simply visit my blog, where you will see the Booking banner. Merci beaucoup for your support!
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YES, I’d like more bilingual posts by Jean-Marc. I was encouraged that with my
high school French and some refresher courses, I could understand the gist of his story.
Thank you for taking time from his work schedule to do the stories for us.
I’d love to read more bi-lingual posts by Jean-Marc. They will help me prepare for my son’s wedding next month, where I will be using whatever French I can muster to communicate with my new (and French) son-in-law’s mother, who speaks no English. And they will help me advance toward my lifelong goal of becoming conversational in French. And, well, I enjoy reading whatever either of you writes! Thank you, Kristi and Jean-Marc!
Yes, I am very interested in JM’s bilingual posts. thanks so much!!!
Love both the bilingual post and the insight into the circle of life in a vineyard.
The bilingual posts are terrific, as are the stories of the vineyard – thank you so much. Merci beaucoups, Jean-Marc!
We have been using Booking.com for several years, to book hotels, B&B, apartments in several areas of France and Italy, as well as in the U.S. and have been very pleased, too!
I really enjoyed Jean Marc’s bilingual post not only because my French is rusty but also because it displayed his passion for growing grapes. It is obvious he has thrown his heart and soul into it. I hope there are more.
J’ai beaucoup aime l’histoire par Jean-Marc, et je lirai avec plaisir de nouvelles postes quand il les ecrira.
Hi Kristi
I’ve followed your blog for ages, usually without leaving a comment, and always look forward to the latest instalments. Having struggled with learning for french for so long now I would love more bi-lingual posts.
I’m from Edinburgh in Scotland but love France and so enjoy hearing about your life and family. I hope that we can meet someday.
Merci, Jean-Marc! Quel plaisir de vous lire!
I would really like more bilingual stories to help practice my French and help understand French culture. Merci beaucoup!
Loved Jean-Marc’s story. More, please, to help with practicing reading French.
Kristi and Jean-Marc – what a apt parable of the Christian life! We strive to be leafy tall green vines and take the credit ourselves. God prunes us back in what feels like harsh cuttings and tearings, only to produce fragrant, rich, tasteful fruit in us. Our job is to yield to the Master’s hands. Like Jean-Marc, He enjoys His work and is a master gardener.
Ditto everyone who enjoyed the bilingual pieces!
Loved Jean-Marc’s story…..more, please! Merci!! God bless, C-Marie
Oui! Bien sûr. S’il vous plaît, donnez à nous beaucoup des histories, des nouvelles, et des leçons tout en français!
Merci pour tous les années de vos cadeaux et de l’esprit de la France.
Yes please continue this bilingual format.
Thank you, I always enjoy your site and your photography. Oui, more bilingual posts.
God moves in mysterious ways! This week our church is studying the passage in John 15: 1-17, Jesus, the true vine. In this passage Jesus illustrates a teaching using the image of a vine and pruning to produce better fruit. I’ll be using Jean-Marc’s comments when I facillitate our discussion of this passage. Merci mon ami pour votre aide!
Yes! That was great! The voice of a real Frenchman!
Thank you!
Please provide more bilingual stories — they are a great way for me to practice my French and are entertaining.
Thanks for writing a fabulous blog!
Jessani
I would love to read more bilingual stories from Jean-Marc. This is a Godsend for teachers. I already love to share your blog with students, and your photo journeys are unequalled.
Thank you for sharing these bilingual stories. I love them! And they help me a great deal to sharpen my language skills.
Would you please ask Jean-Marc if it is true that in France it is forbidden to water the vines? In California, with the drought, more and more vineyards are being watered…
Thanks,
Jose
I really enjoyed Jean-Marc’s story. He speaks so clearly and with your vocab lesson, I only needed to look at a little of the translation. Very good for my French! Merci beaucoup à vous deux.
Cheers,
Michele