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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Good on you for finding the positive in the new and best of luck with the continued settling in. You’ve made a great start by inviting the neighbours in straight up.
So happy for all that is happening in your new home and way of life…looking forward to more!
Appreciate your good wishes sent to Texas!!
Have been following for 5 years now, have your books and so enjoy your blog!
Ah me! Les moustiques of summer–and fall and spring. Since they consider me their ‘favorite dessert’ I have resorted to a large ‘moustiquaire’ over my bed which works most of the time. When one of the varmints gets inside I detach the bottom and wring the netting, then watch the tiny body fall on the bed with great relish. Enjoy your interesting change of scenery and life. It’s always fun to read ‘what’s next!’
Hi Kristi,
Nice to meet your neighbors right away! I was admiring the tree behind you in the photo…is it some type of willow? I love its graceful curving trunk and willowy type branches! Have fun in your new town! Is your yard fenced in? I was wondering how you keep Smokey from wandering off on his own adventures in the city or maybe he wants to tag along with some of the tourists on their way to the beach!
This summer seems to be particularly loaded with pesky mosquitoes… some very small that you don’t hear them buzzing or even see them… just feel the itching and swelling of their bites. It does make me wonder again why screens aren’t used much here although I’ve seen a few screened windows more recently in walks around our village. I’ve come to appreciate why windows/doors here have “sheers”… lets in air, keeps out some bugs. I’ll have to try to lemon oil as I, too, feel as though I’ve become the daily feast of mosquitoes.
If I have my cultures straight, inviting folks on the 4th night in your new home is so wonderfully American. That they had not met each other seems quite French. Brava to you for hosting an evening on the patio to get to know your neighbors.
♥You look lovely!
I can imagine the conversations you hear..always adaptations and surprises in new homes..
Very sweet of you to INVITE the neighbors so soon after moving in.
Basil and other aromatic herbie plants annoy mosquitos no end evidently. I have one in Paris, Max. This year he’s more subdued because of the Franprix basil plants. Worth a try non?
Look on Google for mosquito fan trap videos. You can kill thousands of mosquitoes, no poison
Best of luck to you in your new home.
Thank you for your words of encouragement to those in Texas!
Christine
Mint is also mentioned, along with basil. A good thing as both serve a double purpose…
Thank you, Sue, but it was Jean-Marcs idea to invite the neighbors over so soon. I am glad we met them early on, as we could all hear and perceive each other those first days–so it was good for everyone to put a face to the shadows beyond the fence. We are fortunate to have friendly–and now familiar–neighbors
Thank you, Patricia!
this sounds like a great move for you and I’m so happy for you and your family! About those annoying mosquitoes, we were tortured by them as well this year when we moved into a lake house so I desperately studied Consumer Reports about every repellent and discovered that the best rated one by far is Sawyer’s Picaridin. And it’s just a light spray so you don’t feel like you need to hop in the shower after your buggy evening. Good luck!
We love the tree, too! It is called. A faux-poivrier. I will write more about it soon. Yes, our property is fenced in, but it is a low fence and in need of repair. Smokey could easily get out but, without his mama, Breizh, he does not have the urge to venture out. Thank goodness!
Your terrace looks lovely and come autumn all those meltdowns will occur in classrooms leaving you in peace.
“Shalom” gets my vote! Am so enjoying hearing about your new place. Sorry to hear about the pesky mosquitoes.
Merci, Monique !
Will check it out. Thanks, Pierre!
I have just been exploring La Ciotat on Google Earth. It looks delightful. I wonder where your house is? Obviously close to the beach and to the east of the boat harbour ……. I will see if I can spot a bungalow with a front Terrace and lots of trees!
Are there bats who live in your part of France? A bat house will welcome these little flying mosquito catchers. They are incredibly efficient at eating mosquitos. Found on the web: A little brown bat can eat between 600 and 1000 mosquitos in a single hour.
Kristin,
Put some vinegar in the standing water you find. Just a few drops will do and it shouldn’t bother Smokey. It will make it acidic and unappealing to the mosquitos.
Avon Skin So Soft keeps them off your skin, although probably too she-she of a fragrance for J-M. I often burn citronella candles outside in Florida, though not everyone likes the smell of citronella. I like the smell better than I like the bites! I can understand why you have lots of ‘peeping-Toms’ what with a lovely home and terrace, people are curious to see what loveliness is behind the fence. You must feel a bit like those whose homes are often photographed for Instagram. Enjoy hearing your new stories.
PS You might also talk to other dog owners, or Smokey’s new vet, about the mosquitoes. Here in Florida most dogs that spend time outdoors are on medication to prevent heart worms that come from mosquito bites. Sad, but true.
I second the suggestion to put up some bat houses if you have bats in the region.
Also, Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil is a very, very effective mosquito repellent. (No financial interest.) Not sure of sourcing for you, but it does not have poisons in it and avoids terrible chemical odor of some. I water it down to reduce the oiliness and apply it to my skin before venturing outside after sunset all summer long.
All the best to you and Jean Marc as you start this adventure in your new home!
Hello Kristi, Lovely to have your news as ever and excellent idea to give us a direct link to the Instagram photos which are beautiful. I do so sympathise about the mosquitoes which in this corner of Yorkshire are (periodically) an absolute menace, maybe due to a large dam in the area. We’ve never found a very good solution in nearly 10 years of trying. We’ve tried the Avon stuff, planting lemon balm, spraying citronella and other more evil substances, and tried both to deter them and treat the awful bites they sometimes inflict. Some years and seasons are worse than others, and evenings are the worst time. Different things work for different people and different places. Do ask your neighbours how they tackle the problem, particularly any relative newcomers as others may just have acquired some immunity over time. Google and Amazon also have suggestions. Don’t get rid of the pond as I suspect it may not make much difference.
Kristin,
Sounds like everything is going well for you in your new home. Nice that you invited the neighbors for a get together! I would think Smokey’s water bowl would be okay, since he probably empties it quickly enough. I think it’s standing water that’s a breeding ground for mosquitos. Good luck, and enjoy your new home!
Sandy
Moises as we call then here in the Carabbean don’t like lavender oil which Pam heats in a little pot over a tea light candle. Clears a room out! The larvae take some 10 days to hatch out so need standing water for 10 days! Only females bite as they need blood to produce eggs. We have a couple of ‘zappers’ which look like tennis rackets but have an electric mesh which activates when you push a button on the handle. Very effective in swating that mosquito buzzing by your ear at night! Also vitamin B is suppose to be good in reducing the bite effects and keeping them off. Rum helps too!
It soundslike your new life has hit the floor running!
If you can wear,go to the pharmacie or order on Amazon,Les Boules Quies.Best ear plugs in the world.
They are made of soft cotton and beeswax.Just the thing for a long,silently blissfull nap.Found these in France years ago.
Last year , i put a mosquito plant in the front yard and back.It is a type of geranium.
It helps with the mosquitos,especially when sitting on the porch.The have been awful here this year So much rain. I thought it was annual,but it returned with a vengeance.I have to trim it often.
Good idea! Thanks, Laura.
Thank you for the encouragement. We do hope to keep the pond or wading pool, which is currently tiled and empty. We did wonder, though, about inviting more mosquitos. We would like to put both a fountain and fish there… both would keep the water moving!
Thank you, Janie. Will look it up. The second word seems French 🙂
Warm wishes to you and Jesn Marc as you start your new life as city dwellers! Life is a curious journey, isn’t it? About those pesky mosquitoes… Three years ago we rented a large home in the Vosges Mountains in Alsace for a month. The landlord asked that I water the many window boxes full of geraniums that adorned each window. She explained that mosquitos do not like geraniums, and thus, our place should remain mosquito free. I can’t remember having one mosquito, and we left the windows open day and night!
Thanks for inviting all of us (your faithful readers) into your new home, too! I’ve followed your moves from home to home for many years and always admire your positive attitude when faced with change.
Kristin… I am one of the lucky ones! never get bitten at all.. but my husband, Gerry is a
‘les mostiques’ magnet! We have learned from Facebook
to take dryer sheets and rub them on yourself and clothes you
have on! Stick them in your pockets or near your when you are outside. I have never
seen them sold in France, and I was there in 2016. Have your sister in the USA send you
several boxes of them.. they really work! I have a feeling your ‘voisins vigilantes’ is going
to be a good thing, since you are near ‘les gens’. All the best wishes for a long and very
happy life in your your home! “Heart & Soul”….a contribution to the many suggestions,
Bon Weekend coming up! Judi Dunn ,Tallahassee, Fl.
Oh my…bats! I think we will stick to mosquitos until we get very desperate.
How lovely to see you on your terrasse! It’s going to be a place you’ll love after you get those pesky mosquitoes under control. I’m lucky because they don’t find me too appealing. But bat houses are an excellent idea if you have bats in Provence. We use a citronella candle when we want to eat on our deck. And we do have a fish pond with an aerator…no mosquitoes around it! Bon courage!
Good idea about talking to the vet. Thanks, Trina.
A treasure chest of wise and wonderful suggestions here re the wretched mossies. Even my sweet-natured little grandson said tearfully this week, “What are mosquitoes FOR?” as I treated his bites. I’m going to try several of your readers’ new ideas and make a running list as the ideas come thick and fast – though here in Yorkshire bats didn’t work. Meanwhile, I’d been wracking my brains for a house-warming gift for you, one everyone can share if they want and with no strings. I’d like to start a fund to help restore the pond and the water feature. If for any reason that proves impractical, then you can use it to install any other calming and wished for feature in the garden.
Come check out San Miguel de Allende, MX…inexpensive, a healthy wine producing scene and very international..PLUS very few mosquitos!
ps, Closer to mum.
The link to donate seems to have disappeared. It may be my browser etc. but could you possibly put it back? Or next time please?
Kristin,
I have followed your blog for many years, at first with the intention of improving my French, but then I just got sucked into your lovely way of writing about life, the good and bad, ups and downs! I too just moved to a new town, from quiet Mercer Island, Washington, where we lived on a secluded, forested lot, to busy, bustling Berkeley, California. I am your age, an empty nester, and moving to a new town at this stage was definitely not in my life plan, but hey, here I am! So I am trying to enjoy my new surroundings. We too have dog walkers passing the front porch- on their way to get coffee, and kids ( and dads!) playing basketball after dinner down the street. I thought I would miss the solitude of my woodsy home, and I do at times, but it is also fun to hear the bouncing ball, laughter and chatter that comes from the players. We have moved from Portland, Oregon to Mercer Island to Berkeley within the last 6 years, so I’m with you in your moving house adjustments, it’s not easy, that’s for sure! Our new neighbors have been lovely, bringing us wine, muffins, even a bottle of olive oil. I think I will follow your example and see if I can round up some neighbors for a glass of wine this weekend. Best of luck to you in your new place, it certainly looks heavenly!
Fill the pond with water and get either some goldfish or koi….they eat the mosquito larvae. This kind of control is used in canals and other water areas . Planting the basil, mint and other plants (that you will use in cooking also) is a good idea to help keep them out. As for the peeping Toms….I think sometime people just want to see what is behind the gate or wall…and your garden does look so beautiful and inviting…..just curiosity. As for the noise…the windows will help and maybe a cute little sign just outside that says “shhh, sil vous plait, bebe dort.”. Wait on the name…..I like “Ceci et Cela” or “Nid d’Ecureuil”. There was a place in Lake Tahoe called the Squirrels Nest that had all imported French things….from sweaters, to dishes, children toys and a bistro outside under the trees decorated with broken plates lining the fence, wire baskets filled with booules, wire mannequins with hats and it was just delightful. I bought my first french dinnerware there…some Gien soup bowls. We had heard there was one in Paris also….but I think it has since closed.
Find anything with lavender in it. An inexpensive lavendar water or toner makes the perfect mist for sheers, and you can spray it lightly on your hair, your clothes, (ck ingreds first, use no oil), and on your bed clothes, (sheets), to ward off the pests. Also, I read that the nasty pests hate marigolds. You can make lavender water with real lavender. Lots of recipes on line. Put in water or in alcohol. Good luck. They’re so big here on the NC coast, and after the heavy rains, the sand fleas, (no-see-ums), are biting today. Inside, here, lavender-scented candles work very well.
Good luck. Robbie Lane Jackson
I predict that some of your best memories, adventures and blog stories will come from meeting people on your property or being inspired by conversations passing by. If they seem like “lemons” in your life, you always figure out how to turn things into lemonade.
Just wanted to say congratulations on your move. City life will take some getting used to, but it has its advantages. Maybe Maison Calme’perhaps? (Peaceful Place) I originally tried ‘A Place of Peace’ but the translation I got was unwieldy. Next I tried ‘Sweet Freedom’ which my browser translated into Douce Liberte’ among other possibilities. Whatever you call your new home I hope it will be a place of peace for you both and will give you the sweet freedom you crave.
Courteneay, Good to read about your similar move. Invite those neighbors over. You will be so happy you did!
Thank you, Margaret, for your thoughtful idea. I love it! I will put the link in the next letter and look forward to this serene project.
And thanks to all who have shared such helpful mosquito tips. We will be trying them out!
You are lovely in your “little black dress”. Good luck in dealing with the mosquitoes, chère Kristi. It is never good to be bothered by those pests. Bon courage!
Try this for your personal protection from mosquitos. Put a dryer sheet in each shoe that you are wearing with much of it sticking out. I hope dryer sheets are available in France. I use dryer sheets with my grandchildren by pinning them to their clothing. I hope you will find relief.