One of my favorite French expressions? It's mettre toutes les chances de son côte. (photo: "We are what we are taught," taken when Smokey was a babe). Mettre toutes les chances de son côte : to put all chances on one's side, to stack all the odds in your favor Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the sentence below Mon enregistrement #100 Une … Continue reading The Metaphysics of French & how it connects us all
I am busy looking up the term bénéfice du doute–all the while doubting this is the way to begin today's letter. I am numbed, saddened, and shaken by the carnage in Las Vegas, as well as by the hurricaines and earthquakes, and by more local terrorism. Two girls, cousins my daughter's age, were stabbed to death Sunday–at the Gare St Charles in Marseille. Only a … Continue reading Will the sun still rise tomorrow? + Le bénéfice du doute
In the novel DRAWING LESSONS, set in Arles, Arianna will learn to embrace life. Hear the previous sentence in French and discover Patricia Sand's novel set also in the breathtaking Camargue! apprendre à profiter de la vie : learn to embrace life Listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentence, profiter de la vie Dans le roman Drawing Lessons, qui se déroule en Arles, … Continue reading apprendre à profiter de la vie + Patricia Sands novel set in Arles and Camargue
Along with most of the rest of France, j'ai chopé la crève. I wonder how? Did I catch a cold while crammed into a stairwell with other ferry passengers on our way home from The Island of Beauty? Or, as my dentist suggested during a three-part "crowning" series (ma première couronne! I've got one more appointment to go…), did I catch a draft during mi-saison–when … Continue reading La Crève and Chili Basta! Fast and Easy Chili recipe with a Provençal twist
For our 23rd wedding anniversary, we went to Corsica–to a hotel that looked very tempting as it was recently renovated… Unfortunately, it was not ready to welcome us in the best conditions. At the end of our stay, we can truly say we "wiped the plaster" with our very own clothes! Find out the meaning of today's expression essuyer les plâtres–and read about our trip … Continue reading France’s “Island of Beauty” and the expression “essuyer les platres”
Our son, Max, and my Mom are safe in Mexico after yesterday's earthquake. We are saddened by the news and our thoughts and prayers go out to Mexico. Before hearing the news, I had planned on sharing the story of my 90-year-old reader from Florida who is traveling solo in France…looking to start a new chapter in Antibes, considering a job, and maybe a French girlfriend. Inspiring story below. EN … Continue reading Family Safe in Mexico + Secret to traveling/working in France at the age of 90!
The word brugnon is used when the pit sticks to the flesh, whereas the word nectarine is used when the pit is free. In English and in other languages, only the word nectarine exists, whether or not the pit sticks. Listen to the sentence in French, below. (photo: A brugnonier, or nectarine tree, at our former vineyard.) un brugnon : nectarine Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc read the French … Continue reading Brugnon…or nectarine? (A two word hint: sticky pits) + bee or wasp? And an easy recipe for fruit crumble
Our retro yellow kitchen here in lively La Ciotat makes a catching backdrop for JM's catch: a Mediterranean sar ("saar" in English. Not that that's any help for most of us trying to figure out just what kind of poisson this is!). They do, however serve sar in many seaside restaurants here along the south coast. la canne à pêche fishing pole, fishing rod Listen to the … Continue reading Another way to get French strangers to talk to you + Canne à pêche
Woke up this morning to a heartwarming story in the online journal France Bleu. A baby dolphin was helped back out to sea after getting lost in the the old port of La Ciotat (dolphins in La Ciotat!!). What a sight he was among the colorful wooden fishing boats, or "les pointus" (sorry the little dauphin is not seen here, in this file photo. But you can see … Continue reading A Happy Ending in La Ciotat + Donner du fil à retordre
A native of Arizona I never imaged I'd one day live at the beach. Walking down the promenade, I saw this beautiful scene. Farther down, there was a shop selling bathing suits, beach towels, and giant rafts–one of them, bright green in the shape of a saguaro cactus, caught my eye…. I had an urge to drag it home and lie on it in the … Continue reading How Egg rolls are Eaten in France & L’appétit vient en mangeant
