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 Française
Remoulade sauce goes well with shellfish, fish, soft-boiled eggs, and celeri.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
"When Smokey Met Lili"
by Kristi Espinasse
We have landed! Jean-Marc drove us, just ahead of the moving truck, to La Ciotat early Monday morning. I had our coffee maker in my lap and Smokey in the back seat, surrounded by other essentials.
Our new (1960s) home is located on a busy corner, with one-way streets on both sides and parking meters up and down the road. The challenge would be for our moving truck to make the angle into our driveway. Deborah, who formerly lived here, agreed to block at least one of the public parking spaces beside our gate and, as luck would have it, another space opened up the moment we drove up!
I hurried out of the car to greet Deborah with a kiss of both cheeks and ask for her help with an important introduction (dubbed by Jean-Marc "When Smokey Met Lili"). You may recall our new home comes with an old cat. I attached Smokey to the front porch railing and sat on the steps beside our 8-year-old golden retriever, explaining to him the situation: "On est chez Lili. Elle habite ici..et nous aussi! Elle est gentille." As he sniffed and strained against his least, I repeated,"Doucement, Smokey…."
Still no photo of Lili. Here's one of Smokey on our front terrace.
Meanwhile, crouched beside Lili at the front gate, Deborah briefed Lili on the 3 strangers. Next, we traded places. "Bonjour Lili. On est très contente d'être ici, chez toi…."
Releasing Smokey, we watched as he wandered around what would now be his domain too. Lili kept her distance, retreating to her post at the front gate where, camouflaged by the leafy laurier she watches the world go by. Later that day when my Dad called, I was chatting away when I glanced out the window and saw the two would-be adversaires cautiously approaching one another. Only, when I opened the door for a closer look, they quickly retreated.
By last night, day two, Lili wandered into the house–right past a sleeping Smokey. She was surely looking for her cat food, which was displaced (to the window sill) after Smokey found it in the kitchen. That's no way to score brownie points with Lili!
After the animals settled so did our boxes and furniture, which fits nicely into this 140-meter-square home sweet home, on this 995 square meter lot. With less land to worry about we began our new life…by heading to the beach.
I leave you with a few highlights from our lunch at Mugel plage where you can swim in your underwear and where we ordered local fish (loup) with a delicious remoulade: a mayonnaise-based sauce with cornichons, capers, parsley, chives, tarragon, anchovy paste and more. The plat du jour also came with this versatile caponata, reminding me of our family reunion, or cousinade, in Sicily.
For dessert, there was a Fiadone – a Corsican lemon cheesecake made of ewe's or goat's milk (but you can use ricotta or even cottage cheese…). Voilà, new sights and flavors in a new environment. I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks. Thank you very much for reading.
Amicalement,
Kristi
The restaurant at Mugel beach, and that loup fish from Tamaris (near Toulon) with remoulade sauce. The people at the next table were from Italy. I had such an urge to ask them their thoughts about the caponata.
Jean-Marc, ordering a bottle of Domaine Pieracci rosé.
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So happy for you, Smokey and Jean Mark, Kristin!
Wishing you much happiness in you new abode and new life!
Will keep following you and your lovely family! Xo
Sounds wonderful. Pls talk about how you and Jean-Marc will occupy yourselves in La Ciotat
And so an exciting new chapter begins!
PS I couldn’t work out whether the kitchen counter reaching the top of your leg was high or low, so went to my bench and measured up. I’m still none the wiser!
Bon courage with this move, Kristin! I’m sure you two, three, four will be very happy…and settled in soon! The best of luck. Look forward to hearing more, Ellen Fetu
Pictures of the house and yard, please! I can’t figure out what 995 square meters would look like. Will you have a garden at all – is there room. Et le désir?
I feel a ridiculous sense of relief that you are “home and dry” – only ridiculous because I haven’t had to do the moving but my thoughts and heart were with you all the way. It sounds – and looks – as if you have made an excellent start, Smokey included. Well done all of you. Of course, we all long to hear more but this blog post was a very nice start thank you. I too have done the transition from – in my case – town to country and it is a shock in many ways. But you are good at making new friends and at counting your blessings and I feel sure there will be many (of both). Very best wishes.
Can’t wait to meet you there for lunch! Bisous!
Congratulations!! Wow move in the boxes and go to the beach. I love your new location already. Now you get to make it your home one box at a time. And that lovely terrace😃😃. Your back will tell you when to raise the counters. Have a wonderful day!
I am so happy for you ALL and wish you a very happy time while in LaCiotat. Your blog has been a tonic for me over the last several months as my disapointment has quickly grown to despair at the political situation in America. I could always count on you to give me a boost and a smile.
Many, many thanks.
Hi Kristi,
Enjoy your new home! It sounds wonderful!
Bonne installation dans votre nouvelle vie!! Comment se nomment les habitants de La Ciotat?? des Ciotadins, des Ciotalais ?? 😉 !!!
Plein de bons voeux pour votre nouvelle aventure.
Here’s wishing you and your family every happiness in your new home! The scenery is absolutely gorgeous. In my mind’s eye, I already see you enjoying that beautiful terrace. Bon Chance!
Beza says hello to Smoky and says not to worry, he is still is Le Roi de la Maison ! Kristi I hope this is a good move for you and JM, looking forward to many more letters from your new life—Stephen
I copied your rémoulade recipe and then questioned how much mayonnaise? The recipe said “une mayonnaise” which I’m thinking could be the whole jar of probably Dijon mustard (?), but not sure. I’d love to know the exact amount.
So happy for la famille Espinasse! I know you still have a lot to wade through in order to feel “bien installé” but think of ALL that is finally behind you! Bravi! You’ve all done well, and I know Smokey and Lilli will be fine together.
Kristin enjoy your new place and all that comes with it! I know you will adjust well.
Welcome to your new home…..it sounds just perfect!
Having followed your ‘ups & downs’ over the months I am so, so pleased that you have successfully made the move to La Ciotat. It looks and sounds wonderful and I hope you will all, including the new feline member of the family, be very happy together.Bon continuation d’été. x
Sounds as if you are on a wonderful holiday ……. what a great way to live!
It looks lovely. My thoughts have gone back and forth to you as we go through dismantling our last home (thanks to Madoff) of 35 years. Lost my 22 year-apt in Montmartre and our Greenwich Village Brownstone of 45 years, but we go on. Love the French and love you. Happiness in your new home.
Looks like a wonderful place, and perfect for the two of you and Smokey. Congratulations on making the move. If that yellow tile still bothers you in a couple of months, I believe you can actually buy a kind of tile paint now that you can cover it with – in whatever color you like. That might be a good interim solution until you have the energy to take on a whole kitchen remodel again. Enjoy yourselves!
Dear Kristi,
It seems to me that each of your moves has made your heart even larger and your insights on life even deeper.
Bravo to you & Jean-Marc!
Dear Kristi,
I somehow missed the explanation of why you are inheriting the old cat with the new house, but I think its very kind of you to agree to that. I’m so glad that the cat will continue to have his home and live with wonderful people…and Smokey! They will work it out!
Laura
All the very best to you and Jean-Marc in your new home! Enjoy!!😊
Welcome to your new home! May you spend many happy years there!
Your front terrace looks charming!
Best,
Chris
Fabulosa!! I so have an image in mind of your location. I am dying to see more. Welcome home! Of course I think your second home is going to be the beach! How wonderful!! Congratulations!!
Welcome to your new home! It looks like a lovely place to explore and with the beach so close by it’s almost heaven. Do enjoy it and have fun making new friends and writing new stories!
AH! What fun. An old cat and Smokey. You do realize it is Smokey who will be the submissive one? I just love the name Lili for a French cat. What a perfect new challenge. Your location is so desirable. I wish you many years of happiness in La Ciotat and can’t wait to hear the next adventures of Smokey and Lili.
Congratulations, Kristi! I envision many happy, relaxed times under the awning on the front terrace, watching the world go by with Smokey at your feet. It looks delightful. And to be so close to the beach. Our golden still misses being a few blocks away from a dog beach on Lake Michigan. I’m sure we will be seeing pictures of Smokey in the water–in his underwear, peut-être?
Just tuning in after not following for quite a while….now I must go back to read why the lead up to this change….I mapped your new location and it seems idea. Bon Chance en La Ciotat
Well done, Kristi & Jean-Marc! Your adventurous life continues to unfold “juste comme il faut!” You inspire all of us with your honesty, good humor, courage & faith. Plein de bisous de Seattle, Anne et Mike
What a fabulous new adventure! Can’t wait to hear/see more. Have fun! Xxoo
Welcome to the next chapter of your remarkable life (lives)! Each one has oui’s and non’s but this one, in town, sounds a lot more restful for you two mid-lifers. Sending pets to Lili and Smokey and warm bisous to you and Jean-Marc from Scottsdale.
Lovely photo of Smokey and your new terrace….can’t wait to see more photos of your new home and your new life there….new beginnings!!! I wish you.a good life w/ much happiness!
Welcome home! Sitting down might be the best way to make the low countertops work. I have done this and with the right chair became quite adept at food prep while sitting. So glad you have arrived and Smokey is learning to accept Lili. Profite bien de la plage. Bisous
The terrace looks wonderful to sit on at any time of the day….and that wall of windows is very nice. It gives the feel of being outside. So you are within walking distance of most everything? That is nice. All will be good.
Kristi,
Like my mother, an Air Force spouse, you make an adventure of each new move and a home of each new house!
Many of us would love to live near a beach in southern France!
All the best!
No matter where you live – I have confidence you will live well. I wish you and Mark interesting opportunities and fulfilling challenges. This goes for your children as well. Ever travel to the south coast of Turkey we’d be happy to have a room ready for you.
Gule, gule
Ken Curtis
http://www.brspecial.com
Wishing you so much happiness in your new home, Kristi and Jean Marc……. My goodness that terrace is half the picnic, isn’t it?? Wonderful! Hope Smokey and Lili find a truce and then friendship…… Can’t wait for more photos and more info…… much love, Maureen
So happy for you and Jean-Marc!
140 sq meters is ~1500 sq ft. A sq m is ~ 10 sq ft give or take. A lot less to maintain!!
Hi, Barbara. The following link will help. And thanks to all who have left a message. Much appreciated!
http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/2016/10/is-jean-marc-single-can-i-buy-your-home.html
You have a great joie de vivre!!! Love Smokey looking into his new home with the lovely sunshine,blue skies, striped awning.and beautiful trees.
So happy to hear you are settling in your new home! I’m excited for the adventures that await. Thank you for allowing us to come along in your journey. 😀
Welcome home, Kristi and Jean-Marc! Here’s hoping you’ll live happily ever after in your new digs.
Congratulations on the move. It looks lovely. I have low counters and I put a big thick block of wood on the counter so I do not kill my back chopping my veggies. Save your back. Your front patio is lush!
We need pics please!!!! 😉 😉
Bienvenue a Ciotat! Enfin vpus etes dans une maison pres de la mer encore. Un chat et un chien serait les bons amis je pense.
Wow! Sounds absolutely wonderful.
Bon chance. I am salivating for it all.
Have enjoyed following along since our family ended up in La Ciotat on a rainy October night about 20 years ago looking for a good meal….and we still have great memories of the meal on the waterfront surrounded by locals. We all want to know how you will spend your time with less home and land to maintain! HEIDI