Category: Family Life

Family Life, Le Vin Sobre wine shop

“Conciliabule” or how to say Pow Wow in French + Family dynamics: living with adult kids and Grandma

A new window, or "vitrine", at Jean-Marc's wine shop. It depicts the local coastline, including Cassis! Zut! There's a blooper, une gaffe, at the end of today's sound file. Listen for Jean-Marc, who tells me I've made two mistakes. Hear all the French vocabulary in today's story when you click on the link, below: Audio file, click here Conciliabule(kohn-see-lya-bewl): conventicle Conciliabule–what a cool word in … Continue reading “Conciliabule” or how to say Pow Wow in French + Family dynamics: living with adult kids and Grandma

Kristin Espinasse31 Comments
Family Life

The Members of our Family + recipe reminder: “La Tarte Tomate”

"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 … Continue reading The Members of our Family + recipe reminder: “La Tarte Tomate”

Kristin Espinasse125 Comments
Driving, Family Life, Jules

en panne

Never stop receiving these words and photos (this one, with flax flowers, taken in the back yard) Today's word reminds me we need a Plan B! Recently I've learned that French Word-A-Day is not delivering to all subscribers. Rather than panic (changing mail carriers), I'll continue sending out these posts via Feedburner. But before we lose each other, please take a moment to connect with me here, via Twitter where … Continue reading en panne

Kristin Espinasse78 Comments
Family Life, Jules

How to share “share” in French + Roussillon Book Fair with Mom

Mom and I at the Roussillon Book Fair last September. I didn't have many books to sell… so I dragged Mom to the event to fill up some space..Today's French Word: partager(par-tuh-zhay)        : to share; to divide Audio clip (Note: the sound file will be away for a while…). A Day in a French Life…by Kristin Espinasse Ever since mom arrived for a two-month stay … Continue reading How to share “share” in French + Roussillon Book Fair with Mom

Kristin Espinasse43 Comments
Christmas, Family Life, French Christmas

Le Réveillon: Christmas Eve Dinner in France and What We are Eating

Christmas decorations for Noël in the town of Valbonne. réveillon (ray-veh-ohn) noun, masculine   1. Christmas Eve Dinner, New Year's Eve Dinner, midnight supper      (réveillon de Noël, reveillon du Nouvel An)  2. Christmas / New Year's Eve party Great French-themed books for children, by Catherine Stock:"A Spree in Paree" and "A Porc in New York". The illustrations are delightful!               … Continue reading Le Réveillon: Christmas Eve Dinner in France and What We are Eating

Kristin Espinasse
Family Life, Housewifery

Everyday French: From Comforters to Pigtails

………………………………………………………………………………………..Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France"…a heart-winning collection from an American woman raising two very French children with her French husband in Provence, carrying on a lifelong love affair with the language."……………………………………………………………………………………….. la couette (kwet) noun, feminine  1. duvet, comforter  2. a (gathered) lock of hair Proverb: Etendez vos pieds selon la couverture. Stretch out your … Continue reading Everyday French: From Comforters to Pigtails

Kristin Espinasse
Family Life, Psychology

cueillir

photo: Olive trees and grapes vines in Taradeau cueillir (kuuh-yeer) verb  1. to pick, to gather  2. to catch, to snatch Hear my son Max pronounce the French word "cueillir": Download cueillir2.wav…………………Expression:cueillir à froid = to catch off guard ………………………..Citation du Jour:Le bonheur est une fleur qu'il ne faut pas cueillir.Happiness is a flower one must not pick. –André Maurois …………………………………A Day in a French … Continue reading cueillir

Kristin EspinasseLeave a comment
Family Life

un arbre

un arbre (ar-bruh) noun, masculine 1. a tree Also: l’arbre généalogique = the family tree un arbre fruitier = a fruit tree l’arbre de Judée = Judas tree l’arbre moteur = the driving shaft l’arbre de Noël = the Christmas tree l’arbre de vie = the tree of life ……………………. Expressions: faire grimper quelqu’un à l’arbre = to pull someone’s leg, to kid someone couper … Continue reading un arbre

Kristin Espinasse