Peeping Toms, street-side meltdowns, and this new city life in La Ciotat

So far it's been nine days that we've lived in La Ciotat. The residents of La Ciotat are called les Ciotadins or Ciotadines. Listen to the previous sentence in French via the link below. Today's Word: LA CIOTAT     : French town located in the Bouches-du-Rhône from the Occitan "ciutat" — ciutat is also a variety of grape. It seems Jean-Marc cannot get away from … Continue reading Peeping Toms, street-side meltdowns, and this new city life in La Ciotat

Bonjour de La Ciotat + La Remoulade

Our bright yellow 1960s kitchen. The counter-top reaches the top of my leg. It will take some getting-used-to, as will this new life in La Ciotat.  So far so good! la remoulade     : a kind of sauce Click here to listen to Jean-Marc pronounce these French words:La sauce rémoulade s’accommode avec les crustacés, poissons, œufs mollets et le céleri. – Cuisine à la … Continue reading Bonjour de La Ciotat + La Remoulade

Adieu Mas des Brun: Last dispatch from the vineyard & Ratatouille recipe!

Goodbye Mas des Brun. Thank you for 5 wonderful years! FARNIENTE–from the Italian fare (to do) and niente (nothing). Farniente is a new word for me, and an old one when it comes to naming a home (Jean-Marc tells me many French people name their homes farniente). Help us find a name for our new place, submit your suggestion in the comments at the end … Continue reading Adieu Mas des Brun: Last dispatch from the vineyard & Ratatouille recipe!

Finally, Some News: We are now squatters…

These are now the good old days. Yesterday we drove 2 hours north, to the notary's office, to meet 9 people involved in our complicated, 4-hour transfer of property. Ça y est! We've sold our home and vineyard! We move on August 21st… (Photo by the previous previous owners of this stone mas, the Fraser and Moss family. Thank you, Maggie and Michael, for selling … Continue reading Finally, Some News: We are now squatters…

Superhero in French & What SDF stands for

If there were sharks near our Mediterranean beach, I'd want to swim with my sister-in-law. She's a superhero–Batwoman and Wonder Woman combined! Read on…. SDF (Sans Domicile Fixe)     : "without permanent home", homeless Sans Domicile Fixe–Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following French: Les personnes sans-abri, sans domicile fixe, sans logis ou itinérants, anciennement qualifiées de clochards ou vagabonds, à ne pas … Continue reading Superhero in French & What SDF stands for

New Month, New Life? We’re Packing! On Fait des Cartons!

"Let every belonging see the light" — an epiphany I had while packing up my Mom's paintings. (photo of my Mom taken in Roussillon, around 2010) "faire des cartons"      : to pack boxes Click here for today's soundfile:On fait des cartons mais, surtout, on se débarrasse de tout ce qui ne sert plus.We are packing boxes but, especially, we are getting rid of what … Continue reading New Month, New Life? We’re Packing! On Fait des Cartons!