TODAY'S WORD: purée!
: mushy, mashed, creamy (peas, potatoes, spinach)
: gee! whoah! oh! jeepers!
EXAMPLE SENTENCE & AUDIO FILE
Jean-Marc pronounce the following French words, click here
Les exclamations « purée » ou « punaise » sont souvent (mais pas toujours je pense) utilisables à la place de l'exclamation « putain » mais sont moins grossières. Le fait qu'elles commencent par la même syllabe me fait supposer que ces expressions ont peut-être été inventées après coup, pour éviter de jurer. —French Stack Exchange.
The exclamations "purée" or "bug" are often (but not always I think) usable in place of the exclamation "f@#!" but are less crude. The fact that they begin with the same syllable makes me assume that these expressions may have been invented after the fact, in order to avoid swearing. (Google Translation)
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
Jean-Marc drove our 19-year-old, Jackie, to the clinic in La Ciotat. He checked her in and picked her up 6 hours later. I stayed home–but that does not make me une mère indigne. Non! Each parent uses their skills. Jean-Marc is best with French administrative work – whereas I do best near the home-front, making pots of homemade soupe à la tomate and double batches of purée de pommes de terre. Our daughter will need it–she's just had her dents de sagesse removed!
While Jackie was having her wisdom teeth cut out, I prepared a cozy place for her to recuperate. Our drab brown couch became brighter and more inviting with the following additions:
– un doudou
– une robe de chambre
– des marguerites
– une boisson
– lots of oreillers
– A picture of her brother and her when they were little
– her new green pouf (it's just a fuzzy key-chain, but she likes its softness!)
When Jackie arrived she was truly surprised. "Il y a même une cloche!" There's even a bell.
Yes, there was. And I hoped she would ring it non stop (still feeling guilty for not going to the hospital with her. Mère indigne!)
FRENCH VOCABULARY
une mère indigne = unfit mother
la dent = tooth
la sagesse = wisdom
les dents de sagesse = wisdom teeth
le doudou = security blanket or favorite stuffed animal
la robe de chambre = robe
les petits pois = peas
la marguerite = daisy
une boisson = drink
l'oreiller (m) = pillow
le creux = hollow
le congélo = freezer
bon rétablissement! = get well soon, swift recovery, hope you feel better right away!
A few useful posts you may have missed:
Where to find Jean-Marc's wine (scroll down this story for some addresses)
How to Sign Off an Email in French: Amicalement, A+, Bisous, and over a dozen other ways to say "Goodbye"
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Jackie, best wishes for a speedy recovery! Looks like your mama made a sweet little nest for
you to recuperate in!
Kristin, a little tender loving care is always appreciated! A cozy spot, some homemade soup,
flowers to brighten things up. Everything to promote as much comfort as possible. Good job!
How loving and sweet, her mom and her dad giving such signs of loving her so dearly!! Never too old for the comfort of soft stuffed animals and beau fleurs!! Speedy healing, Jackie!! God bless, C-Marie
Kristin:
Hope Jackie is felling better soon. I think all mothers feel like une mere indigne
at some time in our lives!
I loved the tableau of the fuzzy friends and flowers and the photo of the kids in their
bathing suits.
Edie from Savannah
Super sweet! Best wishes for a rapid recovery to Miss Jackie!
Jo
You are the perfect mother, so thoughtful, kind, and clever, especially in engineering the perfect ice packs!
There’s no reason to go to the clinic with your daughter for this. I had my wisdom teeth out, and my mom just spent hours sitting in the waiting room before driving me home. It’s a chauffeur role. In my case, she had to stop at the hospital to drop off a cyst they found during the surgery. The oral surgeon was extremely confident it was benign, and it was, but how hair-raising for my poor mom.
The oral surgeon gave me some kind of gas for the surgery and I started talk-talk-talking out of control. It was kind of funny. Then I woke up in the middle of it and they were saying, “Oh!” like they had found something, which I later learned was the cyst. It made the operation longer, which is why the gas ran out and they had to give me more.
They said to use tea bags on my gums–the tannic acid helps. I did, along with ice and pain pills. So give Jackie tea bags.
Bonne rétablissement!
Poor Jackie-I hope she is better now-I only got one wisdom tooth that just poked through, and my dentist and I decided it wasn’t worth going in after it. I do hope Jackie feels better, though-I know from my brothers how awful the whole wisdom tooth thing can be!
On another subject, are you officially in La Ciotat, now?
If all goes through, we will move to La Ciotat by the end of July.
You are never to old for your cherished stuffed animals! Love the flowers. Love the icepack!
I don’t think there is a sweeter time than precious quiet mother/daughter moments during a recovery.
Blessings for a speedy recovery!
Dear Jackie. I have never heard anyone say anything good about wisdom teeth or having them out. Such a misery. But good that you have such loving parents. Kristi’s comforts look and sound wonderful. I hope they help and that you feel better very soon.
Our dear Kristi,
Today’s post just wraps itself around our hearts.I know you would much rather it be you in that dentist’s chair than sweet Jackie,but very definitely,all your love,caring and TLC will let her know how much she is cherished and wished a speedy return to feeling good again.We join in those wishes ,with prayers always.
What a beautiful family and what a wonderful bond you share!
Love
Natalia XO
Awww… you such a good mama! I know she appreciates you…! ha…really…she does am sure of it!
What a sweet man you are, setting up such a nice space for Jackie! Love that ice pack idea!
Jackie – wishing you a very fast recovery! You are never too old for your special stuffed animals. The picture of them that your Mom took is very sweet.
Autocorrect!! Sweet maman not man!! Although Jean-Marc is also very sweet to take Jackie. My husband did the same for our daughter-I was a wimp! But did the ‘after care’ like you!
What a great Maman you are! All that love! I am sure it made her return home to recuperate a little less painful!
It’s the middle of the night for you, Jackie, and I hope that you are sleeping and will have a better day tomorrow. Wisdom teeth are “for the birds” as I would have said when I was your age! You are such a wonderful daughter and so loved that I’m certain you will be feeling well again in just another day or two. My very best wishes to you and your family, Cynthia
Having wisdom teeth removed is almost a rite of passage into adulthood! It is much easier to actually go through it than to watch a daughter or son have to deal with it. I did that twice and each time was grateful for the able and gifted hands of the oral surgeons. Nio one is ever too old for a stuffed animal or the loving care of parents. And the ice pack…so creative…brilliant in design! Hope Jackie recovers quickly!
Ditto Cynthia. We are never to old for sweet nurturing when sick. The discomfort will pass. Not sure why they are called wisdom teeth. Hugs
….. For Jackie!: Feel better soon, and you will with all the wonderful love and TLC your parents will shower on you! for Kristin: We are never too old for stuffed animals,… why every night I squish my fave pillow into a shape that I can hug with my left arm and bring my right arm up to hold it as well… It is somewhat like hugging a loosely stuffed ‘Weiner Dog”! ..Daschound (sp?). At any rate, it is reminiscent of an ancient teddy bear who helped me recover from many scrapes, bruises, pulled teeth etc.. so , to my way of thinking, whether it is a favorite afghan, throw or coverlet ( blankey ) we all deserve and can relate to creature comforts when we need them! Extracted wisdom teeth certainly qualify for many kinds of loving gestures! Bon weekend a tous!! Judi, Tallahassee, Fl.
Such tendresse from you and Jean-Marc towards your Jackie.
It is so moving.
Heal well!
Good mothering and fathering. Confident that Smokey is also on side to aid the healing path! Warmly recommend homeopathic pillules, Arnica to minimise bruising and shock.
Also Vit C boost in any form but ripe mango and papaya would slip down nicely. Sage or thyme home made mouthwash or very dilute propolis mouthwash would also be good.
Brewed strained and used just warm in the case of the herb ones. Propolis has excellent pedigree, used by the Pharaohs etc but to be avoided if at all allergic to bee products.
The tincture is very stainy stuff; do not drip on precious linens – impossible to remove in my experience
Gee, I had my wisdom teeth taken out a couple of years ago, and I wasn’t treated anywhere near as well as that. (Admittedly, I was 30 years older than she is now …)
Bonne rétablissement, Jackie. Permets Maman de tout faire pour toi. It will make her feel better.
Hey, Kristi —
A question about the Google translation up top. Doesn’t “putain” mean … umm … let’s just say “prostitute,” rather than “f@#!”?
Also, I wonder if “mais pas toujours je pense” doesn’t mean “not any more, I think,” at least in this instance.
Hi, Bruce, glad you brought this up. Yes, putain means that and more. Have you ever come across the demonstration for the f-word, and how it can mean so many different things? Putain is the same. Theres a funny video on YouTube about putain, too.
My uncle used to say “Nom d’un pipe!” instead of Nom de Dieu! Haven’t thought of that in years…….
You’re such a good Mom!! I’m sure all your little comfy touches helped Jackie’s discomfort!!
A wonderful mom and dad…wish Jackie a quick uneventful recovery! Thank U so much for all the French u ar making available to us….keeps me practicing so I don’t lose what I know!
C’est magnifique, tout cela…l’amour propre dans une famille…et j’espère que Mademoiselle J se soigne très vite…
Love & hugs to Jackie and feel better very soon. Great job Kristi & Jean-Marc.x
Kristi,
I wish you were there when I had my wisdom teeth out. I had roommates who cooked a most wonderful meal which I could not eat, therefore, I sat there with my tea bags in my mouth and the strings hanging out.C’est la vie.
Good Mom and Dad.
Kathleen
Jackie, you are blessed with a brilliant mere–FRENCH NAPKIN ICE PACKS? Martha Stewart, eat your heart out. The funny thing is that you will feel so much wiser without those bothersome teeth!!!
What wonderful parents you are! I never had any wisdom teeth but remember my best friend going through that ordeal and hope Jackie is feeling much better by now.
Bon rétablissement ( masc. sing.; not bonne)
Thank you, Pierre. So helpful. 👍
Best to Jackie – bon rétablissement!. What a way to recover with all that softness and love. I was born and raised in Asheville, but now live in St Pete, FL. I have told all my Asheville friends to visit Bouchon for Mas de Brun rosé and commanded that they buy an extra bottle for me to sample on my next visit. All the best on your move to La Ciotat. We know it well, as we lived on our boat for several years and cruised that area. We even cruised into your beloved calanques November 2015 as the only boat/people in sight. Pretty special. We know what it is to shift dreams and make life changes. We have put our beloved NOMADE on the market in Holland (it’s a Dutch steel yacht trawler) and have returned to the U.S. after the boat being our only home for 5 years. A time and a place for everything… Here’s to new adventures!
Mary Webb & Howard