"Take a new road each day," Mom says. Like that, I discovered this quaint, unfamiliar rue on my way to our little Baptist church here in La Ciotat. The vine-flanked ruelle was as peaceful as the photo, with neighbors chatting at a window sill and laundry fluttering in the breeze.
TODAY'S WORD: un défaut (day-fo)
: fault, flaw, shortcoming, vice
la curiosité est un vilain défaut = curiosity killed the cat
AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-Marc read the French vocabulary in today's post:
Vocabulary List, click here to listen to the French
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
Coucou! I love this two-syllable, cozy French greeting for "hello, hiya, hey there, salut"–all very warm ways to reconnect after a brief absence. How did your summer go? Did you thrive or just survive? (Or a combination of the two?)
Ah, c'est la vie!
That is life indeed and, if you are new here, life or la vie quotidienne is the subject of these posts. Life and all of its joys and absurdities. Because family life is the heart of this journal, now is a good time to reintroduce you to our lovable (mostly–on a tous nos défauts!) cast of characters:
JULES: the matriarch of the family and my mom. Jules came to live with us here in La Ciotat 3 years ago. Time flies and so do her trusty friends: all the neighborhood birds who she feeds.
JEAN-MARC: a.k.a. "Chief Grape", my French husband, who began two vineyards in Provence. He currently runs a wine shop ("Le Vin Sobre") when he is not plotting his next sport adventure, like a triathlon in Spain
MAX: our 26-year-old son, who had the nerve to choose a career in wine after we made the difficult decision to sell our vineyard! (Now he dreams of having vines of his own!) Meantime, he works near Aix-en-Provence and loves the wine business.
JACKIE: our 23-year-old daughter, born and raised in France and who felt the need to discover her American roots. She currently lives in Miami where she is trying to decide whether to return to Fashion design school, learn finance, move to a new state or return to France….
SMOKEY: our 12-year-old golden retriever who survived a two-dog attack as a puppy. Scars and all, he keeps on trucking–and caring for my Mom (a job he assumed 3 years ago) keeps him going.
MR. SACKS: Jean-Marc's loveable 22-year-old sidekick (see a bunch of pictures of him here)
KRISTI: founder of French Word-A-Day.com, I grew up in Arizona, moved to France in 1992, and began this French word journal ten years later, as a way to carve out a place in my dream profession: writing. Thank you for reading and for keeping me employed!
YOU. Saperlipopette! I nearly left out a most important member of our French Word-a-Day family. YOU. It would mean a lot to all of us here if you would introduce yourself in the comments section below. What city do you call home? What's your favorite past-time? Are you old enough to remember WWII? Thank you. I look forward to reading your words and I thank you for reading mine as I gear up for a new year of postings. Bonne rentrée!
Kristi
FRENCH VOCABULARY
la rue = street, road
la ruelle = lane, narrow street, back alley
la curiosité est un vilain défaut = curiosity killed the cat
coucou = hey, hi there
salut = hi
c'est la vie = that's life
la vie quotidienne = daily life
on a tous nos défauts! = we all have our faults!
saperlipopette = goodness me! good heavens!
bonne rentrée = have a good fall (happy back-to-school, return from summer)
amicalement = yours (way to sign off a French email or letter)
LA RECETTE DU JOUR: La Tarte Tomate
Visit the tasty recipe archives and discover this most delicious way to use some still-in-season tomatoes. Click here.
Click the recipe link above this photo for easy instructions on how to make a tomato tart.
I leave you with a homey scene from La Ciotat, France. Prenez soin de vous et à bientôt!
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Salut, so happy to get your post in my email this morning; I have missed them! I am Leslie from Columbia, South Carolina, a former French teacher. We are currently building a home on 22 acres that has two barns. Looking forward to learn how to farm!
Welcome back! So nice to see your note today in my email, a nice surprise and great way to start the day. Elaine
Bonne rentrée !
I have missed your views, in photos and in words this summer.
I am Sarah from Chicago, who once long ago spent a month’s vacation in France, riding the trains before TGV, from Paris to Bretagne to Avignon, ending with a weekend in Monte Carlo with the parents of a friend.
Bonjour Kristi! It was such a pleasant treat to have your email in my my inbox this morning. I live just outside Richmond VA (I work in downtown Richmond, but have been teleworking for 18 months now). My family is my husband of many decades and my Sheltie named Toby. Glad to hear the update on your family and it sounds like all is well!
Nice to have you back in our lives, Kristi. I am David. Born in the UK just after WW II, raised in Canada, living in the US near Austin, TX. Love languages (although cannot speak any of them well) and love to travel. We have spent many vacations in Paris and Chamonix.
Been reading this for a few years, sent originally by friend, Annette, since 5th grade. I am 83, retired physical therapist, after 55 years. Live now in Boerne, Texas. Am a Christian. I send your post to my granddaughter in Austin. I have 3 children, Sara, John, Rachel, 11 grandchildren.. I a bookclub here at the library – Mary’s Potpourri, an eclectic bookclub.
You are very dear in your presentations, upbeat, aesthetically well done. I, too have decreased the wine intake, one glass now and then, miss it.
I pray the Lord’s blessing on you and your family. We “can do all things in Christ who strengthens us.
I can’t contribute money wise but will pray for you, love, in Christ, Mary
Bonjour Kristi!
It was lovely to read your post this morning while I ate a quiet breakfast at home in Philadelphia (our two children left for the first day of 7th and 11th grade, respectively, just minutes ago:) I’m imagining myself on the ruelle in your pretty picture – such a nice way to start the day! Merci! You are appreciated.
Amicalement,
Catherine
I’m Janie and I live in New Hampshire, but I’m about to move to Aix-en-Provence with my husband for a year. I’m looking forward to walking the St Jacques de Compostelle next week, then getting settled into Aix and exploring towns in your neck of the woods, Kristi. It’s so nice to see your post this morning. Bonne journée à tous.
I am from Cleveland, Ohio. I remember John Glenn orbiting the Earth, but was not alive during WWII. I have been to Paris 7 times and plan on going back in May. Je parle français un peu.
Hi Kristi, So glad to have you back in my email! I am Geraldine from Valparaiso, IN. My husband Lawrence and I are now 88 years young and miss our trips to Provence. We took our first trip in 1999, and every other year after until Covid. This time Covid regulations permitting, we are planning a month in Portugal, but I know I will miss being in Provence..Looking forward to reading your new book.
Salut Kristi!
I’m a French major from just outside Kansas City, Missouri. There’s not much call for French here, but I have tutored a bit. I love writing too! I’m so happy to receive your blog. Thank you for sharing your life in France!
Bonjour, Kristi!
What a welcome surprise to see a post from you this morning! I am a huge Francohpile and your blog was the first one that I found many years ago (I can’t even remember how many), and I’ve loved it ever since. My husband and I were lucky enough to meet you and Jean-Marc at your home when you were doing a book signing. It was a lovely day and a wonderful memory I adore. Of course Smokey was a highlight of our visit as well. We are HUGE golden retriever fans as they are my favorite. We lost our last golden last year. I’ve always wanted a Bernese Mountain Dog, so we thought we’d give them a try. Bellamie is almost 6 months old and boy is she wonderful!!! We love her so much! I do see a Golden in our future though. I just can’t go too long without one. <3
My husband and I live in the small mid-western town of Pendleton, Indiana. We have 20 acres that we share with a German Shepherd, a Bernese Mountain Dog, 2 Maine Coon cats (named Merlot and Bordeaux), 2 outside cats, 7 ducks, 9 hens and roosters and 2 miniature Highland cows! :) We adore all of our babies and it sure makes life fun (and exhausting at the same time)!
I’m An. Born and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA, I’ve been living in SW Florida since 2004 and here in Naples, since 2015, when I met & married my husband Jeff.Next move will be to the south of France, fulfilling my lifelong dream to grow old in the south of France. We’re heading to France this Friday night, starting our trip in Paris for a few days,then renting andn car and on to Saint-Emilion for some wine & a stay at a big chateau nearby.We’ll be driving along the south of France, starting west of Marseille, with some days in Provence, Saint Tropez and finally Nice. We’ve got a list of little towns and villages, we’ve heard are ideal for “future expat wannabes”, like ourselves, to check out and see if they will fill the bill for our future move to France, when my husband finally retires in just 2 1/2 years. If time allows, we even hope to drop in at that lovely wine shop in La Ciotat to say hello to your “Chief Grape”, Jean-Marc!Looking forward to our adventure. Perhaps we’ll even run into you. Hope you enjoyed your summer! Glad to see your email this morning!
Hi Kristi
Bonjour !
I first went to France in 1972 as a 20 year old Hippie backpacker hitch hiking, sleeping in fields and trying to live on $5 a day. Since then I have returned countless times and now earn my living as a European Travel Specialist who has sent thousands of Travellers to France and getting ready to go back myself September 16. I’d love to see you. Does Jean-Marc have his store in Ciotat ?
Mark Anderson
Hello Mark, Yes, Jean-Marcos store is located in La Ciotat. Here is a link to the Facebook page, or Google le vin sobre la Ciotat and it should pop up on the map. See you soon:
https://www.facebook.com/LeVinSobreLaCiotatCaveAVinEpicerieFine/
Coucou! Je suis Jennifer. Moitié française, moitié Américaine. Je suis née au Mans, mais nous avons déménagé aux Etats-Unis quand j’avais 3 ans! Je suis ravi que votre blog est retourné. A francophile friend introduced me to your blog years ago and I have enjoyed it for the glimpses of French everyday life and vocabulary building. It is a journey and we are constantly learning and growing! I was the tutrice for my aunt who lived in La Flèche for several years, hence many trips back and forth to take care of her medical, banking, home maintenance, etc. Unfortunately, most of those trips were super short and filled with meetings with bankers, social workers, care givers, etc. I am longing for a trip where I can enjoy the beauty of my native land!
Good to hear from you again! I am Marcia, from Battle Ground, Indiana, near the home of Purdue University. I live in a historical town in what was once the blacksmith’s home. I have an elderly Papillon dog named Jasper and a new kitten named Sophie. I also have an expat daughter who is living her dream in Munich, Germany near the Alps and am soon going to fly over to see her. And I have a son who is an Army vet. Welcome back!
Ça fait plaisir de vous voir Kristi (dans mes e-mails biensûr).
Moi, j’ai vécue two ans en France il y a 15 ans (déjà!). Maintenant j’ai trois enfants avec les quelles je parle français (même avec les fautes).
J’aime de lire (et rêver) de la vie en France. J’ai hâte de retourner là-bas, mais il faut attendre (après Covid).
Melynie (à New Hampshire)
Bonjour! I’ve missed my French family. I can’t remember how many years I’ve been “related” to y’all (yes, I’m from Texas😊), but the kids were very small. I’m retired and spend each morning trying to learn French…all I can say is “A” for effort. I was so glad to see your post and to catch up with the family. Bonne journée!
Today I woke up to your email—always a treat. One year ago today—it snowed! Crazy Denver weather! Take care and stay well.
Missed you.
I was just thinking about you two days ago and hoping you hadn’t closed the laptop. I have been to France 3 times, mostly in the Provence area. Am around you mother’s age, and want to go back one more time. And hope to spend 4 months between France, Italy and Switzerland . Turns out I have family in the Basque region of France, Sare. They look forward to meeting any American relative, so here is hoping next spring. Bienvenue retour. Joie from Carmel
Hi Kristi,
I am so happy you are back because I so enjoy your posts. I live in Frisco Texas and I am a retired ESL teacher. I have followed your blog since the beginning and it’s so wonderful to see how your family has grown and I especially love when you write about your mom. She is such a delight!
Hi, Kristi.
I have been following you probably for as long as you’ve written this blog. If you recall, I brought a group of physicians to visit your vineyard in 2013. And I saw Jean-Marc in New York City when he exhibited there at a wine show.
I was born in Detroit and have been a Francophile for most of my life having a French-Canadian mother. Three years ago I finally bought my own house in France and moved to the village of Montréal, just west of Carcassonne in the Languedoc. The roots of the house go back to the 14th century though it has had a couple of renovations over the years. I’m putting my own touch on it and have lovely views of the Pyrenees to which I wake up every morning. I am very happy to be here.
In the meantime, while taking French classes in Carcassonne to improve my fluency, I saw a need amongst my classmates for grammar lessons. So I created a class I called Practical French and actually have three different groups at this point through the auspices of Acceuil Ville France, all voluntary work. During the pandemic we have met via videoconference so Covid is not stopping us.
If you ever get this way, I would love to see you and Jean-Marc. I will even make you dinner! All the best to you both.
Coucou! I am Carmen de Vallois. I live in Miami with my French husband and we spend 4-5 months of the year in France. In Ardentes – close to Chateauroux. There is a very large French community in Miami. We are very involved with the Consulate and French expat life. I love your posts! If you need anything re: your daughter in Miami, please do not hesitate to reach out. Carmen
Coucou!
You have been missed! So happy to see you here again. I’m Gail from Arizona. Started following you ten or eleven years ago. Hiked with you and Heidi here in AZ when a small group of followers met up with you. Hope Heidi is doing well! I enjoyed visiting France 🇫🇷 in 2012 and hope to visit again one day. In the meantime I soak up photos and stories. Welcome back! 💕
I am Sue from Scottsdale, Az where Kristi and Jules spent some time in the past. I am a retired nurse. During my second marriage, we spent some years in Malaysia and Toulouse as expats. We traveled to as many spots on the globe as we could until my husband passed. I have four grown children with families of their own and yes, I remember the celebration at the end of WWII!
Good morning – such a treat to open my emails and discover you have returned! My name is Del Lancaster, and I was born and raised in New Orleans. We have a French loving community here and certainly a wine loving one as well. Visiting Paris is always a dream come true but I love Montpellier and Avignon also. Thanks for posting your stories. Une bonne journée.
Welcome back!
What a pleasure this post and the photos are. I love the man standing at the window chatting.
I am Leslie in NYC. I am an unemployed chef who worked for caterers and an appliance showroom before covid.
I have been rediscovering the joy of cooking at home again. Recently was given several chicken carcasses, made stock, then took the very bland meat off the bones and added enough stuff to give it some oomph and turn it into chicken tarragon salad. I had a good pint. I come from a line of people and restaurant chefs who take pride in not wasting anything. The herb stems and peels go into stock. The tops of the celery root can sub for parsley in my broth. Other scraps go into compost as do flower stems, egg shells, coffee grounds.
I garden here, at a community garden on the Lower East Side. I grow old rose varieties, many kinds of narcissus, phlox, hydrangea, asters.
I also spend time in Virginia, where my mother had a house near D.C. and a farm in the Shenandoah Valley. I am trying to clear out both since she died four years ago. Not sure where I will end up, but hope to limit it to at most two places.
I may move from cooking to writing now that the world has shifted and I am in my sixties.
For ten years I cooked during the harvest at my friends’ vineyard in Burgundy. That was a delight. After the harvest I spent time in Bandol or Saint Raphaël with other friends, then Paris.
I have been reading this blog for close to 15 years or more! It is always transporting.
Un grand merci.
Life is beautiful here in Windermere, Florida, but even more so today opening your mail. I am an artist/poet/writer about to be featured on the cover of Butler Chain Living magazine in November… and an incurable Francophile, having been all over France many times, swooning my way through all the gorgeousness offered, from the mountains, to the beaches, and the picturesque towns inbetween. ❤️
Hi Kristi!
Hello from Columbus, Ohio. So happy to see you in my inbox this morning!
Bon jour and glad to see you back! I am a native Californian who retired to Taos, New Mexico 5 years ago with my French husband, whom I met in San Francisco. France has been my love since 1973, my 1st trip, and more than 40 trips since. In 3 weeks we head to France for Paris and Provence. My franglais gets me through France, but in Paris everyone wants to speak back in English!. Then my husband wants to speak English there!!
It has been too long since I have been back to Provence, so I look forward to our car rental & taking back roads to end up in Antibes. Covid precautions will not stop us, and hopefully we can get our 3rd Covid shot before departing.
Now, I will try the tomato tart, since our plants are full of ripe tomatoes!
Bonjour Kristi,
Welcome back. We are still living in the Virgin Islands but will be in France in October and November. We bought an apartment in L’Isle sur la Sorgue and will be staying there for the first two weeks. Frank and I are also going to see a friend with a vineyard in Bordeaux, and you are next on our list to come to visit again during this time in France. We loved La Ciotat and our visits with you.
Welcome back, Kristi! I have been following French Word-a-Day for a long time and love it. You have a gift of humility and transparency that touches my heart. I’m a former teacher of French, now 75 and living in Brunswick, Georgia with my husband of 53 years. I love languages, crossword puzzles, reading, volunteering–and someday traveling again. Wishing you continued success and a COVID-free life.
Encore une fois, bienvenu de L’Afrique Du Sud
Hello my name is Rouge Bleu…and you know the rest of the story! Miss you! XOXOXXO Love to all of your family members………near and far.
SO glad you’re back! My name is Shirley Babineaux and I visited France in 2007 and I’ve never been the same! Been reading your journal since ‘07 also. I’ve been a Dental Hygienist for 50 years, and decided to retire when COVID showed up. Really enjoy my grandchildren and travel!💋
Bonjour Kristi!
I missed your posts! Nice to have you back!
I am a retired hairdresser from Los Angeles and I now live in sunny San Diego!
I studied French in high school and I always try to speak a bit when I go to France. I just started private tutoring lessons in French with my neighbor, who is a retired French teacher. My husband and I have traveled all through France and we plan to go back and spend more time after he retires.
Yay! So happy to get your new post in my inbox! I missed you and your family! I am Claudine. I am from New Orleans but a Californian now for 30 years. I have a son who is 6 in a French DLIP program, and I am learning French alongside, for the day we get to move there too! I have a husband too who agrees, mostly!
Happy Autumn!
Hi Kristi Mark here from high school in Scottsdale. I have lived in Atlanta for 28 years and have missed your posts this summer. Hope you are well, and I am looking forward to another trip to South of France next spring.May your September be a safe and healthy one
Chère Kristi! C’est merveilleux
to see your post on this dreary
morning in south Louisiana,
post Ida. Je suis Cindy, a widow
of a certain age who lived in France
for a brief time 20 years ago…
proficient in ‘franglais’… instructed
many times to please speak English
not French! lol Bisous for your delightful
Jules xoxo
Salut! I have enjoyed your posts for years and am so happy to have them to read again. My name is Linda and I am from Knoxville, TN. My favorite past-time is traveling and learning french. Always the student!
Bonjour and welcome back to my inbox! You have been missed!❤️ I’m Alanna who lives in far Northwest Montana. American by birth but my childhood was all mixed up with French (North Africa) Spanish (Argentina) and English (California). Like you, I love to experiment in the garden and am particularly thankful for the reminder of your tarte tomate recipe. In retirement I ski, hike, read and weave. Before COVID, La Croix Valmer was the site of many family vacations with my French MIL and family. I’m counting on 2022 being the year of the return to my happy place. I hope you’ve had a healthy, restful and peaceful summer break.
Hello, dear Kristi! I have missed you greatly! Happy late summertime! Fall is in the air here. Hugs to you and Jules.
Welcome back, Kristi! I hope you enjoyed vos vacances.
I am Cyndy, with my hustand Ron, American in Florida with a little house (Le Shackteau) in Monpazier, SW France. We go back and forth, although we haven’t been back in 1.5 years due to the covid lockdown and our own golden retriever, Crosby, being too old to fly anymore. He’s 14. So we will hang out here in FL with this sweet boy and try to return all the love and devotion he has given us down through the years.
♥♥♥
Lordy, you’ll probably get hundreds of these. I live in France, I’m from Texas but have nothing to do with that dispicable place, for women especially, but had a great childhood there. Before Republicans screwed up the whole system. I drew spot art for The New Yorker, illustrated Gourmet’s restaurant reviews for 10 years, started a bakery in LA, all breads made by hand, wrote No Need To Knead, then Rome, At Home about Italian cooking, taught cooking for 11 years in LA, love to garden, love to paint, LOVE to cook, love to write prose and poetry, love to sing, love to play the piano, love your writing, Kristi, and we have the tomato tarte often with my yellow tomatos from seeds from Burpee in the US. I’ve used Dijon mustard, egg white to seal the pastry, various kinds of cheese, including goat, and I slice the tomatoes very thin, salt them, and then drain them and the tarte is not soggy. The drained juice is great for sauces or gazpacho and more…
Still in Collioure but about to go to Rome. Carefully.
I desperately need a website person who is GOOD and not too expensive to rework my site. Any suggestions?
Hi. Jan from downtown Chicago. Great to see your post today. I am a francophile and visited France many times. I started studying French in 6th grade. I got a French penpal in 8th grade and I am still writing to Monique today after 60 years! So I had to keep up with French or risk losing a long-time friend. 💕
Good morning Kristi! My husband Bruce and I spent the afternoon with you, Jean Marc and Jules when Tom Berry arranged a trip for us in 2013. Your picture this morning made us miss France and we hope to be able to safely travel again soon. We live in the Kansas City area and have been to France 4 times with Tom. Thank you for your conversations and beautiful pictures. Anne
Coucou Kristi, this is Joanne from Santa Fe, NM. I have been following your wonderful stories since the beginning. And I still have a bottle of Jean-Marc’s Lunatique in the wine chiller. Have been hoping that he would come drink it with us someday! You are an inspiration!