TODAY'S WORD: la fumée
: smoke
panache de fumée = plume of smoke
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EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
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Le drame s'est produit quand une bûche est tombée à l'intérieur de l'insert de cheminée, faisant soulever la vitre et laissant alors toute la fumée sortir à l'intérieur de la pièce.
The drama happened when a log fell from inside the fireplace insert, causing the glass to lift and letting all the smoke go out into the room.
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A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
Last night I drove to the village of Ollioules to visit my friend the potter. How inspiring to learn that 5 years ago, Susan, who worked in film, had not an inkling of what would become her love affair with clay. Looking around her atelier, I was delighted to have ventured out of my own, predictable train-train, to be peering down into an exotic four à céramique, still hot from Susan's latest creation: a Mediterranean blue glaze. How to describe the glorious shade of blue?
Jean-Marc was away last night too–at a pizzeria in Cassis, with his friend Pierre. I knew he'd make it back much later than I and I did not want to return to a big empty house. So I lingered a little longer chez Susan. Finally driving up the dark, winding driveway I arrived at our old mas and was disappointed to see that Jean-Marc had forgotten to leave the interior lights on.
Then again…on closer look…there was an ethereal dimness beyond the windows…. Was that a light?
I struggled to get my key into the keyhole, dropping my jeu de clés several times. That's when I sensed the smoke! Finally opening the door, a thick white cloud billowed forth–our golden retriever rushing out from beneath it!
Smokey!
As my dog and I made it several meters away from the house, I turned to witness all that fumée–a smoke so thick you could see nothing beyond it. Checking to make sure our older dog was OK (how he could survive in a room that dense with smoke is a mystery. You could say our Smokey lived up to his namesake last night. And lived he did!).
In the time it took Jean-Marc to hurry back from Cassis, my sister, Heidi, kept me calm on the phone as I rushed into the house, in several short bursts, breath held tight, to open doors and windows. I also moved the lever for the chimney damper to the right.
Jean-Marc pulled into the driveway so fast his car skid several meters over the gravel. He took over right away, opening the rest of the windows in the house, before examining the scene of the drame which almost stole Smokey away from us. The accident happened when a bûche fell against the glass door pushing it open and letting the smoke go out into the room…. It eventually filled the entire house and every cubby hole!
I stayed outside comforting Smokey (or the reverse) until the house was completely clear. It was unusual to be sitting in that dark gravel driveway – the place I always hurried away from to get into the house (when returning late at night). On this night no big bad méchant loup lurked outside, but a great open sky blanketed us in peace. The rain felt good, too.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
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Ollioules = a town in the Var, west of Toulon, east of Sanary-sur-Mer
le train-train = daily routine
l'atelier (m) = workshop, studio
le four à céramique = pottery kiln
Cassis – seaside town east of Marseille, just west of La Ciotat
le mas = farmhouse
la fumée = smoke
le jeu de clés = set of keys
la bûche = log
le méchant loup = big bad wolf
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I am so grateful that Smokey – and everyone involved! – is fine and that no lasting harm was done. I am sure that I won’t be the only to ask this, but would you mind giving him a kiss on the top of that sweet head from me, please?
Dear Smokey, I am so thankful that you are ok! You are one special boy.
Dear Kristi and Jean Marc, I hope there was no damage to your beautiful home. Give Smokey a little kiss from me too!
I’m so glad you and Smokey are OK.
I’m worried that you went in and out of a smoke-filled house, not knowing whether a fire had started somewhere and could be spreading, and that you didn’t call the fire brigade.
So very grateful that you got home in time to save Smokey – doesn’t bear thinking about – your only child still at home. Hugs from Jane and Henry and Lily to all.
Dear Kristi,
Thank goodness all seems well now. So glad your precious Smokey is okay. Perhaps his Mama Breizh was watching over him…
Smokey definitely has a gardian angel! So glad all is okay, Kristi!
Ditto all of the above. What a fright!! Smoked is golden. Glad you are all ok.
Whoa! What a scary scene to come home to. So glad Smokey and you are okay (as well as, I hope, the house). Life has a way of keeping us on our toes!
So grateful that everyone was okay.
Kristi – You must have been terrified, thinking that the house was on fire! Luckily for Smokey, he is low to the ground where there was still usable air….
Ron, After opening the doors and windows (and the trap inside the cheminee) the flames shot up! Thankfully the fire was still in the fireplace. It was very hard to see through the thick, white smoke. There must have been, as you say, breathing space beneath it, for Smokey. This morning he let out a series of violet sneezes, followed by some wheezing. Hes breathing freely now.
Thank you, Heather. Id be happy to!
Angels were taking care of Smokey. So relieved that you all are OK. xoxo Mary
So glad you were okay; when I was a senior in high school our home burned to the ground; only my father was there and barely made down from upstairs bedroom where he was sleeping. Praise God.
Oh my! I’m so thankful Smokey is alright, and the house too!
What a fright! Timing is everything! So glad it all ended well. Life …
So scary. Fortunately for Smokey, smoke rises. And perhaps it had not been this way long. Give him a huge hug. How did the chimney trap get to be closed? I am assuming a trap is a damper.
Dearest Smokey & famille ~ so thankful you are ok! Extra treats, loving hugs,
From your adoring Fan Club across the pond xox!
Joie, Thank you for this word, damper. The damper was to the left. I moved it back to the right. The other problem was that the glass door has fallen open, after being hit by a log which fell against it.
I’m so thankful and happy for all your family that Dear Smokey did not get seriously hurt. We had a similar thing happen just before our Christmas open house party. Lordy, we were waving wet towels laced with vinegar water, with bowls of vinegar placed around to take the smoke smell out of the air. As people started to arrive, they all said how wonderful to smell a nice roaring Christmas fire, “smells like a forest!,” so uncommon in Southern California! We had to laugh at our “expert party planning” and smile with relief that the house did not catch on fire! We did have to call insurance and have people them come in to clean the ceiling and walls. A fine film, hardly noticeable until they started cleaning, had covered everything!! Ours happened because we had accidentally closed the damper and used too many dura flame logs!! Hope all is right with you now!
Judi, thank you for that wonderful story – and I loved the “Lordy” which I feared was only ever said in old American movies. Kristi, what a scare for you all. Fire and smoke are terrifying. Our Yorkshire Rayburn (for heating and cooking) is a terror for both and although only a few years old is moody and unpredictable. It literally spits out Bad Stuff although we only feed it good wood. Subtle tweaks of the damper are to no avail. I am so relieved your lovely house is still intact. You have quite enough to contend with at the moment. Very best wishes.
What a relief to read that Smokey and you are both ok. I imagine it was quite a shock and some scary and stressful moments. So glad that you can laugh at Smokey’s appropriate name today!
Jeez, thankful everyone is all right–it could have been a lot worse. Is there anyone you can call to come have a look at the fireplace? Logs shift around and fall inside a fireplace. A log should not be able to open the glass!
You’re welcome, Margaret! It was quite an evening! Sounds like you have some interesting fits and starts with your stove! Be careful!
Whew! We are SO glad that everything turned out ok! “Things” can always be cleaned or replaced. So glad that you and Smokey are fine.
I’ve been told that it is very common for dogs to be the only inhabitants to survive house fires. Primarily, because it is smoke inhalation the usually kills, not the fire. The most dangerous fumes rise with the heat leaving the floor as the only safe place. For this reason, firefighters often advise people to crawl on the floor to exit a burning building. So, the lesson is, when it’s smokey, always remember Smokey!
Grace a Dieu que ce n’etait pas pire… I’m wondering why lace symbolizes smoke and the red mailbox fire… I didn’t know that there are fireplaces that you can leave burning. The photo looks very safe.
Bon weekend a tous!
Oohh, you scared me! Please promise you won’t leave a fire, clothes in the dryer, or anything cooking when you are not home or I will worry about you! (and Smokey!)
Sheila
Is the fireplace the only heat in the house? The inserts can put out good heat. Remember….little logs only if you are leaving the house…and damper open…and maybe a doggie door for Smokey.
Leaving the clothes dryer on when not there is very, very bad. I had some friends who had a new house, new dryer…left for a couple of hours and guess what….fortunately it just burned a small part of the garage.
So scary – so glad everyone is OK.
All thanks be to God for His tender loving care!! God bless, C-Marie
We love our sweet dogs. So glad all is okay with Smokey.
Dieu merci that Smokey and your home are OK. Our animals are so dear to us; they are family too!
Ditto Sheila…! Don’t leave with anything on…not even my dishwasher!!!
So thankful everything was ok. I would not care about anything but my dogs. On a different hote, in the picture of Susan’s pottery area, could you please tell us what is the purple plant, bougainvilla?
Smokey! You have been so brave with adversities in your life! Happy to hear you are OK! And so glad no one was harmed!
Robbie, yes, that bougainvillea.
Kristin, please add another kiss on the top of his beautiful head from me, and a dog kiss from Henry the Golden Retriever and Bob the Long-Haired Dachshund. Smokey is, quite literally, precious!!
Glad everything is okay. Give Smokey a kiss and some ear rubs from Kipper Poodle.
Dear Kristi,
So glad you are all safe. Please don’t leave anything on or lit when you are not home. We all want you to be with us a long time, including JM and Smokey. Sorry I can’t send money by Pay Pal no matter how hard I try. I looked up La Ciotat in the Euro travel guide and it looks like a lovely location, right by the sea. Praying for you all to get there soon and stay safe.
Thank you, Diane, and no worries. Your encouraging and loving notes here are, and have been, a great support.
Hooray for Smokey the wonder dog! So very grateful your guardian angels were there to look after Smokey and your home! What a scare and stress to come home to after getting away for a relaxing visit with your friend Susan. I’m sending you a hug and please give Smokey one too!
SO grateful you were all protected and the only damage is a smoky odor which will hopefully soon dissipate. Thanks and praise to God for the way this turned out.