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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Thanks for the link, just what I’ve been needing.
Congrats and Best Wishes!
Wishing you every happiness in your new (1960’s) home! Older homes have more character by far than a newly built home. I loved that you went to the beach right away and had some delicious fish for dinner. My very best wishes as you settle into your new home and neighborhood.
To kristin and Jean-Marc
I envy you guys so much! Your lives in France seem to be on a continuously upward arc!!
Be well always,
Ron MacFarlane
Hi Kristi & Jean-Marc,
Your new home looks lovely, especially the terrace. 1500 sf – a perfect size for 2+1+1 I am sure you will find lots of projects there to keep you busy!
I first tasted remoulade in New Orleans many years ago, and never had such a good one since. I will definitely be trying to make the remoulade sauce you referenced. I see that someone else had a question about quantities so appreciate any clarification you can provide.
Bon Chance!
Welcome home!
What a delicious lunch.
Enjoy exploring your new neighborhood.
xoxo
Thanks for posting this. I’ve been wondering how you are all doing.
Je suis bien contente pour toi!Like a breath of fresh air it seems!
How funny that I had names in my head for your new nest at 2 AM one night..well two AM one morning..
I look forward to reading about your life there..
Chapter Two~
x
Felicitations, Kristi and Jean-Marc!
Wishing you all the fun of conquest as you sort out how to thrive in your new place.
You always bloom where you are planted. God bless your new home.
Settling into your new nest at last, dear Kristi and Jean-Marc! (How well I remember landing here in our downscaled little home with its postage-stamp back garden just four years ago, feeling as if this very different house welcomed us and shared our relieved élan. The tiny kitchen was designed for a woman even shorter than I, and it did take a few meals to get the heck of it all!)
May you both ‘find your feet’ with much daily pleasure and happy discovery in your own in-town setting. We so look forward to hearing all about it as you do!
With warm hugs from Canada, and special saluts and fond strokes to our beloved Smokey and to La Doyenne Lili … she is the essence of the new abode for now, and they will soon be contented companions. I hope Lili will come to love her new pet humans, too.
Dear Kristi & Jean-Marc,
We wish you much happiness in your new home! The adventure continues… Thanks for letting us come along with you!
Bisous,
Linda & Lance
(PS for Kristi — your new house is 3x larger than ours — the main floor here: only 43 sq metres; a partially finished basement down the stairs. Cosy is the word!)
Dear Kristi and Jean-Marc, It is so good that all of you are at peace now. God bless you and your new home dearly in His joy! C-Marie
Your new home sounds lovely . We are also downsizing and it can be stressful on its own what to let go and what to keep . In the end it’s who you move with that is important human and furry alike. Happy days ahead for you and yours.
Thank you, Kitty, as always for this lovely note. I am counting my lucky stars all over again for this endearing online extended family. Thanks again to all who take the time to write in, and sweetly so.
Our dear Kristi,
Answered prayers! Prayers filled with grace and happiness for you,Jean Marc and your dear family in such a beautiful new home!
In the coming days you will find so many wonderful ways to truly “make it yours”
and let yourselves sink into fulfillment and contentment as your life’s journey continues in all the best possible ways!
Smokey and Lilli will soon learn to adapt to each other.Animals seem so much more willing than many humans to simply accept each other and live in harmony.
And! With all those awesome vegetables there’s no doubt that sometime soon you will be making your delicious ratatouille!(YUM!)
Blessings always,dear Kristi.Please know all of us in your extended FWAD family are sharing your joy.
Love
Natalia XO
American standard counter height is 36″ & table tops 30″ (perfect for rolling dough).
Chere Kristi,
I am thinking of you as you and JM start this next chapter of your life.
My new home is a little larger than yours but not much. Love a challenge! Looking forward to all the new adventures! Santé à vous deux.
xoxo
Cindy
It looks like you did just the right thing.I am really happy for
you both.
Dearest Kristi,
Everyone has said and wished and envisioned so beautifully for you 3 everything I possibly could. Just multiply all the love and warmth times Godzillion!!!
Deep love,
Ahulani
140 square meters = 1,507 square feet and 995 square meters = 10,710 square feet. In the suburb where I live, a lot of 10,000 square feet leaves space for a good garden, vegetable & flowers. Not like the hectares of the place you leave behind, Mas des Brun.
Bienvenue chez vous, Kristi et Jean-Marc. Bonne installation! A new door opens!
Bisous
P
Felicitations, Kristi and Jean-Marc! I’m so glad to read that the move went smoothly! It sounds like everyone is getting settled into a relaxed new lifestyle. I’m looking forward to reading your stories and enjoying photos of your beautiful new town.
Best wishes, Kristi and Jean-Marc.
May you all find great happiness in your new home.
Salut Kristi, Your new home looks charming. Smokey will get a taste of village life also. Génial! Could you please tell me how to pronounce the name of your new village? What is the meaning and origin of the name? If I have missed this explanation in a previous post, I apologise.
Thinking of you and all the changes you have made with such grace. You are amazing… Wishing you and all happiness and peace and an easy transition. Love that you are near the sea.
Wishing you much love and happiness in your new home.
Did you know you would have so many friends waiting to welcome you to your new house?
You are friends to many and we are friends to you.
Thanks for sharing your lives and adventures.
Best wishes from me too.
Congrats on the move. You haven’t talked up this house so much (60’s built, busy street, parking meters outside), but the terrace view with Smokey shows a beautiful setting. I am sure it will turn out beautiful once everything is put away, ( or discarded like we just did), & art work placed! We all await photos . Have fun-one day at a time!
Smokey and Lili could teach my fellow Americans a thing or two about getting along! Your charming account (can one eat at the restaurant in one’s underwear,too, after swimming?: ) photos and remoulade were much appreciated here in Manhattan!
More time for bonne cuisine, swimming and enjoying the beaches at La Ciotat… so happy to hear you decided to stay in France! Let the beautiful adventures continue…
🌸
Happy homing!
Happy exploring!
Life is really fascinating.
Bonne installation!
Bonjour Kristi, Jean-Mark & of course, Smoky,
So very happy for the decision you made to move in with Mademoiselle Lili in what sounds like the perfect spot. You must be tired, a bit weary and tinged with excitement. Maybe I’m projecting my probable expectations but I hope there are excellent rest times and play times and times to congratulate one another for your decision to make there. Selfish is the perfect description of me right now and can’t wait for pictures and descriptions. Be happy there as I feel you all will be. Wish I could give you hugs and do a happy dance with you. So excited for you and Jean-Marc. So many new and happy memories to be made in La Ciotat and those new friends patiently waiting in the wings to greet you. Enjoy, embrace and know all of us would be there to help if you need us. The boxes can keep to themselves awhile…go visit la plage. It is waiting for you.
And when is Jules coming?
Much love and blessings and happiness and peace in your new home and may you never regret your decision.
Dear Kristi,
My thoughts were overcome by all the wonderful expressions of support offered by others. I especially loved what Kathi from Iowa had to say. As you settle in everything will become familiar and feel like home. And you will have a whole new set of experiences to share with your readers. Much courage to you and Jean-Marc as you work through the newness of this change …
What a beautiful terrace. I know life will be completely different, but you will find your way quickly. I cried when my husband said he wanted to move rather than renovate. It broke my heart leaving behind my large gardens that stopped people in their tracks as they passed the house. Our new yard is about one third the size of the old. However, after a year I have a million ideas how to make this small space fabulous. I know your transition will be just as great.
Dear Kristin ~ remember your cooking shows in the kitchen with Smokey ? ~ Could you please do another one ~ Smokey was such a good cook and help to you …… Love You and all your family & critters du jour ~
your happenings and stories and adventures were the greatest life experiences and thank you forever for sharing all these pictures and stories of your life ~ Many Cheers and xoxo’s, Ciao Bella, Vada.
Thanks Mary. Looking again at the photo I see Smokey’s head which gives me a good reference height!
Wishing you all only happiness in your new home! New beginnings can be so invigorating ( after the exhaustion of the move;) hope this one is for you.
Good luck in your home. Scary as it can be, I’m sure it will end up being more wonderful than you imagined. As you can see by all these comments, you have lots of positive thoughts going your way!
Thank you, Vada. I am just now waking up to this lovely chorus of friends, as Sue says, and counting my blessings. I will keep the cooking with Smokey video in mind. (Thank you for remembering!) So far we have made another batch of ratatouille in the bright yellow kitchen. Perhaps we could make some remoulade, next. Jean-Marc barbecued some tuna, last night, and the remoulade sauce would have been delicious with it.
To borrow Chriss words, my thoughts are overcome by so many expressions if support! Jacqueline, your words about friends waiting in the wings are encouraging, as we will soon knock on our neighbors doors and invite them over for un apéro !
Thank you, Gordon,
These dear messages are the best house-warming gift!
Your new home sounds and looks wonderful! I am paying close attention to everything you post about the move and the process of making this home your home, for my husband and I will be doing the same thing someday soon with our beloved longhaired Dachshund, Bob. (Henry, our magnificent Golden Retriever, Travelled Onward on May 30, after giving us, and I trust experiencing himself, 14 years, 3 months and 8 days of joy! We miss him mightily.) Congratulations and well done on all that you two have accomplished since you decided to move. May you make it a practice to pause each day (or at least most days) for a swim with Smokey and lunch at the plage, Leslie P.S. Do you speak to Smokey in French rather than English most or all of the time? I have always taken great pleasure in speaking to my dogs in French (or, for an urgent command, Russian). That’s the one way I can speak in those languages without feeling self-conscious. Please give Smokey a hug, and Lily a stroke (as soon as she will allow it), from me.
Bonjour Kristi!
Best wishes to you and Jean Marc on your new home! What a great life .. Once the movers leave off to the beach for lunch. That’s unheard of. It all sounds wonderful. And Smokey has a lovely new friend. Best wishes to you all in your new home.
Susan
Hurray!!
Wishes for an exciting and happy adventure!
Bonjour Kristi et Jean-Marc!
Here’s wishing you the best of time in La Ciotat! I still cannot believe I was visiting that town last May and was looking for …Bandol!
Je suis bien heureuse pour vous!
It looks lovely! I’m so happy for you!
Cate
Best of luck on your new adventure! Can’t wait for more information on the move and your new life!!!
Cathy
Welcome home Kristen …it already sounds wonderful …especially the beach so close to you .
You are home sweet home ..a new adventure ….and we get to join you in your stories ..
Enjoy and best wishes to you all
In 1987, we discovered La Ciotat because of dear French friends living in Fontsainte, and have visited there many, many times. It’s such a lovely, sweet town – you will be so happy there.
Congratulations on the sale, the purchase, and the move. Suggested name: chien et chat!