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 them!
Click here to listen to the following sentence
Voilà neuf jours que nous habitons à La Ciotat. Les habitants de La Ciotat sont appelés les Ciotadins ou Ciotadines.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
With a new life comes new habits. Instead of typing this post indoors on a desktop computer in a quiet room, I am borrowing Jean-Marc's laptop which I've set up outside on our front terrasse. This change came when my old ordinateur slowed to a turtle's pace last week. Bear with me as we adapt to more change–and many new surprises!
Friendly collared doves, or tourterelles, strut past Smokey here on the front terrace. More photos here.
Seated outside with an awkward keyboard and our golden retriever, Smokey, something else is smoking: a spiral mosquito disk which I have placed on the ground as a further deterrent (after covering my arms and legs with long sleeves and pants and lots and lots of oily lemon balm). We have been battling mosquitoes since moving in last Monday. We didn't notice the blood-suckers last March, when we signed the promise to buy this bungalow. And though we have no regrets for this property, we do regret our unwanted roommates and are arming ourselves and our home with a barrage of defense: plug-in units of mosquito repellent, essential oil candles, essence of eucalyptus…and we are searching for any sources of standing water (such as the potholders, or saucers, beneath our plants or the puddle that forms beside the garden hose or the leak beneath the kitchen sink. I hadn't thought of Smokey's water bowl. Does that count as a humid, welcoming environment for les moustiques?).
Biting pests are enough to put anybody on edge, so to help us relax and settle in we invited our first guests: our next neighbors to the west and to the north (we live on a corner). Neither of our voisins knew each other, though their families had owned these homes since the 50s. Slathered in lemon oil we toasted, raising our glass, as well, to the previous owner, Deborah, who joined us on that fourth night.
Two days later while sitting on the front porch I noticed a man peering into our front gate. On closer look it was one of our guests from our meet-the-neighbors night. I waved my hands and hurried over and opened the gate. Our neighbor to the west was a little embarrassed, explaining he was just out on his morning walk when he glanced over our gate. Little did he know my thoughts: nosy neighbors are a good thing! Here's to your morning walk and don't hesitate to check on us whenever you are out and about!
But the next day when I noticed an ominous figure staring past our front gate it wasn't our neighbor! As I looked up, the man startled and darted off….
A lot of people walk past our front gate on the way to the beach. And as they walk back to their cars we overhear a lot of meltdowns–young children who are not happy to return home and they are keen to let the world know of the injustice by their high-pitched screams which rattle my bedroom window behind which I am trying to nap. With so many meltdowns each day, during tourist season, we are putting double-vitrage windows high on our list of priorities.
Other than the tantrums, or crises de colère, we hear a lot from our quiet perch on the other side of the leafy fence. Because the tourists can't see us, they freely express themselves, with the help of a lot of cussing, fighting, and otherwise private conversations. My daughter Jackie and I shared notes as well as other observations about the neighborhood: You know that now that we live in the city we could be cambrioler…
Burgled? The thought brings me back to the mystery man at our front gate. Was he casing our property? Or was he peeping? Jean-Marc had another, more reassuring scenario:
He is probably another curious neighbor. In that case, take a good look at us! And if you see somebody else here please call les flics! We'll look out for you, too. In France, that's called Voisins Vigilants! Now if only someone could look out for these blood-suckers, the abominable moustiques!
On the front terrasse, waiting for our guests.
la terrasse = patio, terrace
un ordinateur = computer
un moustique = mosquito
un voisin = neighbor
double-vitrage = double-paned
la crise de colère = tantrum, angry outburst
les flics = cops
My sister-in-law Cécile, welder, woodworker, superhero writes about her latest creation:
Jean-Marc had the olive trees pruned at Mas des Brun and offered me the wood;
it dried for two and a half years…
un clin d´œil…une douceur , l´olivier a tellement de symboles: paix, réconciliation,victoire, force….
a twinkling…a gentleness, the olive tree has so many symboles: peace, reconciliation, victory, strength
http://www.courbesetdiagonales.com/contact/
Thank you for the suggestions you have sent in, regarding what to name our home in La Ciotat. So far we have not picked a name. Jean-Marc likes Dolce Vita and, lately, Shalom, which means "peace" and is used as a Jewish greeting and farewell (Merriam-Webster). He picked up the term in this helpful devotional, which we began reading every morning during last year's storm.
BON COURAGE HOUSTON
This brings us to our readers and friends in Houston. Our thoughts are with you. I can't find the hearts on this foreign keyboard, so we are releasing a virtual sky full of coeurs from here in La Ciotat. Bon courage, Houston.
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We used to sing a song at the campfire at summer camp called “Shalom Chavarim” which I believe means “Peace friends til we meet again” . (I am Episcopalian but we sure love that Hebrew song!) You can look it up on Youtube. It’s a nice name for a house 🙂
❤️
So thrilled to get all these ideas for fighting mosquitos! They love me! Looks like a lovely place to live and being close to the beach is heaven in my book.
I had no luck at all with the Avon but have had practically no mosquitos this year – and I’m a person who gets attention from insects of all kinds. You look so great in your party outfit I bet the neighbors will be drawn to you and Mr. Dreamy quite often. Bonne chance!
Kristi, I love your first photo, and you look beautiful in the second. Best of luck in your new home. I know you will make it cozy & wonderful. I’m a moustique magnet, so I sympathize with you! Fortunately, not too many in AZ.
Sorry about the annoying mosquitos. Are Smokey and “The Cat who Came with the House” (good title for a book) getting along o.k.?
Our dear Kristi,
You both have welcomed this wonderful new step with open arms,heart,and (always!) joie de vivre!!
Please know we are all sharing your happiness!
When we first were married the term they advised newly married couples to expect was called ” a period of adjustment”.
We found this to be true,too,with each new place we moved;no matter how much you love it,there is always some getting used to in different surroundings.
All it takes is patience and time.(and as my dear Mama used to laugh:”And please God give it to me right now!”)
Inviting your neighbors was just a wonderful thing to do,for as we all know,good neighbors can be nothing short of a blessing!
I don’t have any suggestions(alas) for mosquitoes; we have been inundated with pesky little flies which can also drive you nuts(!)
Some annoyance or another never fails to pop up but makes me humbly remember (and be grateful for NOT) things certainly could be worse.
Special prayers now for all the flood victims.
LoveNatalia XOC
Better fix that leak under the sink, Kristi–plumbing leaks can add up to a lot of money in your bill.
Hi Kristi & JM – as one person stated in their comment, please be sure to take Smokey to the vet for heartworm medication ASAP. If you have so many mosquitos, he is definitely at risk.
Thank you for sharing your adventures – I have been reading your blog for many years. Are the new owners of Mas de Brun going to continue with wine, olive oil and honey production?
And please provide us all with an update on Max – how is he getting on in Mexico? Is he anywhere close to your beloved mother?
Hi Kristi and Jean-Marc, I just read that a little brown bat can eat 600 mosquitos in no time at all, but then, how to keep him around when the mosquitos are gone, in case they come back!! You are young….you will conquer these little pests. God bless you, C-Marie
Your story about your new home reminds me of when we had a sweet cottage in Carmel, Ca (Lilacs and Laughter)
which seemed to draw people both morning and night! When I look back (we now live in Malibu, Ca) I remember
meeting many of these lovely people – visitors just curious about the Carmel architecture and eager to share
their own stories. I so enjoy your stories, Kristi and appreciate your sharing them throughout the years.
Best wishes on this new adventure – think of those wonderful evening walks along the beach you will take with your family –
they are best after the visitors have left for the season and you feel the sea is all yours!
Blessings on your new home! Thank you for the devotional suggestion – I will pursue that. A powerful one which has made a major difference in my life is Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson. It offers a prayer challenge with great rewards. May the mosquitos abate as you thrive! Amicalement, Janet
You look lovely in your new patio.
From spending time in a Central American jungle….. we used the super toxic but effective DEET during the evening hour of mosquito buzzing. The morning mosquitos were less annoying, and we wore loose long silky pajamas and thick fuzzy socks with a hoodie pulled around our faces…so we did not have to put on the DEET. At night, for the beds, mosquito nets, purchased with the smaller, no-see-um, holes per square inch. Also at night we wore baseball caps with a no-see-um bee-keeper style net over. The tennis racket bug zapper is great. They make rechargable ones. Very smug feeling while zapping the mosquitoes. For the day we had to wear long sleeved pants and shirts. The mosquitoes there are carriers of diseases and you are lucky to not have to deal with that aspect. Small smokey fires of anything kept them away as well. We found that not being sweaty made a difference too so we would take a shower before sitting outside in the evening. It sounds like your bugs are seasonal. Hurrah for that.
If you fill your fountain there are specific fish called mosquito fish that your local mosquito abatement office can either get for you or tell you how to obtain them. Super effective for the larvae.
Good luck!
How about: “Paix-Sage” c’est à dire…Peace-Wisdom …also a jeux-de-mot —Paysage…landscape. Your “landscape” of peace and wisdom!
You look radiant in your new home, Kristi. It sounds like it’s certainly a very different new home for you, and I hope you and Jean-Marc are enjoying it. Good neighbours are not always easy to find, and it sounds like you are very fortunate to have landed in such a perfect spot, street noises and pesky peeping toms aside.
It is Schinus molle, from Chile, but in California it is known as California pepper. It is not frost hardy, and we do not see it in the Vaucluse where I live. It was brought to California by the missionaries in the 1700s-1800s, the oldest known ones being on the property of the old missions in CA. It can get *huge* and is very picturesque and beautiful. I love them.
bonnie in Carpentras
Yes, I too encourage bats and have several bat houses up. They are not eating enough mosquitoes however. I’m in Provence but not near Kristi. We have bats but need more. They are wonderful animals. In my old house in the Herault they would come in and fly about for a bit after I went to bed.
bonnie in Carpentras/Mazan
If you move the water every day it should be okay. Dog’s dish also as you change it every day, I presume. The culprit is standing water, even a very small amount. It could be on your neighbor’s property also.
bonnie
Wonderful jeu-de-mot!
I guess perhaps having the town spray for mosquitoes is not a possibility?
I am not fond of dealing with whatever they use to spray via the planes and helicopters from above to get rid of the mosquito population, but here in Naples, FL, I am thankful that we were able to get some relief.
I know what you’re going through. Back in June, the mosquitoes here in SW Florida were so bad that you could not walk outside day or night without being bombarded with the nasty critters. You could easily find a dozen of them on each of your legs and arms. And our little Yorkie, as well as all of the dogs and cats in Naples were all suffering from the mosquito invasion as well. My puppy refused to go out sometimes because the mosquitoes wouldn’t leave her alone.
We tried every mosquito repellent we could find. Finally I ordered Skin-So-Soft, thinking it was going to be our “savior”….but alas, no luck. Our mosquitoes didn’t seem to be bothered by it. They kept on biting. It was like something you’d find in an old Alfred Hitchcock movie “The Mosquitoes”…
Finally someone in the neighborhood told me to call our county mosquito control department and file a report and request spraying. We learned they responded to areas in order of the number of requests they received, so our neighbors and I got a bunch of other neighbors to file a reports and requests as well, and within a couple of days, the county sprayed and voila…nothing. Not one mosquito. A beautiful day in the neighborhood! It was one time, I was thrilled to have the spray rid our area of the pesky mosquitos.
Is there a county or village department that assists with mosquitoes in La Ciotat?
Thank you, Bonnie, for the wonderful info on the Schinus molle. Waving at you over there in Carpentras 🙂
Hi Kristi,
My dad used to raise tropical fish during the summer in an old washing machine tub buried in a hole up to ground level in the garden. He didn’t install a pump, but just put in some little floating pond plants. There were never any mosquito larvae as the fish ate them all and grew fat and healthy in the summer. Any type of pond fish would no doubt eat mosquito larvae.
Congratulations on your new home.
Salut Kristi,
Nice photo of you!
Yes, mosquitoes can be a pain! Those who think little things don’t matter have never had to sleep in a room with a mosquito!
Herm
Love this story and your Dads ingenuity. Thanks, Bette. We are looking into repairing a fountain in our yard, and would like to welcome some fish. Perhaps we dont need a pump, after all (what with the floating plants). Will check it out!
Hi There … We have learned a thing or two about mosquitoes at our own property in Connecticut. First, we put up bat houses that attract bats who consume the pesky bugs like candy! Dragonflies love them as well. Swallows and other birds of that family consume mass quantities. Secondly, look on Amazon for Barley cubes or rings to float in dishes or ponds etc. They are all natural and prevent the bugs from laying eggs. Very effective. Mosquito netting on beds is great and I like to dye the white netting different colors sometimes too. A great deterrent is a ceiling fan here and there. A tip we picked up in the Caribbean … The mosquitos do not like breezes!
Love the photo! I’m so glad that your move has been going smoothly. That’s a big step – to leave a chunk of lifetime behind. How is Jean-Marc doing in ‘retirement’?
Hi Kristi – Maybe you wouldn’t need a pump in your renovated fish pond,but I love the sound of a fountain on a hot day. It makes me feel cooler just to listen to it.
Thanks for triggering that fun childhood memory of my dad’s washer tub summer time aquarium. It was always exciting to watch him empty the tub to bring the fish in for the winter. There were always many more fish than he put out there. They were mostly live bearing guppies who reproduced well during the summer on their diet of mosquito larvae.
Bette
Thank you Jill and Jeff! I can relate to being curious about the architecture and will look forward to the chance to talk to a passer by. Hopefully we can learn more about the neighborhood history and, if lucky, meet a new friend.
Bravo for taking the proverbial bull by the horns and reaching out to your neighbors! As you get to know them and your local merchants you’ll feel more and more chez vous.
Dear Kristine,
Welcome to your new home, a suggestion to blow away your pesky mosquitoes – put a fan on your terrace and turn it up – no chemicals required!
Please know that your blog brings me lots of smiles and happiness as do your books!! My family and friends all love your taste de tomatoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you.
Cheers,
Heidi
Hello Kristin
Delighted to hear you received my messages(2) and Thank you for reply.to one….
I haven’t had any posts from you since Sept.5, do hope I’m not missing anydaily bulletins…
Have you sent out more lately?
If it’s possible, I should be glad to know name of Store where mother bought
those lovely shirts in Porto Vallarta please? Maybe she could act as agent for me,for only two shirts? I would show appreciation. Would be lovely to meet you all one day..nearly 90, mobile, painting and writing…Former National newspaper
writer.. Wishing you all Happy, Healthy and Long Years in your new home.
Regards to Mom too.
A wonderful way to keep mosquitoes away while sitting outside is to set up an electric fan, especially the oscillating type. They can’t compete with the fast moving air.