Reader Gary McClelland shares another speedy French adventure with you today… read on and discover something fun to do in Provence (or maybe chez vous?) Also, an extra sound file for you today: Jean-Marc has recorded the vocab section following Gary's story. Don't miss it! Occasionally I receive an e-mail asking me to tell the story of meeting my French husband, Jean-Marc (affectionately … Continue reading sortie
Our son, Max, harvesting at Châteauneuf-du-Pape some seven years ago. Yesterday, he and his 16-year-old buddies helped out with our rosé vendange. By the way… The rosé harvest is finished! … As we recover from the field and the four (behind which I've been roasting poivrons and sauteing courgettes….), let's take the time to enjoy another's story. Read with me now the account of volunteer harvester, Thomas … Continue reading cueillette
Pro riders in the stage race Le Dauphine. Gary, who sent me the photo & wrote today's story, notes: You can't pick him out in the photo, but this year's Tour de France winner, Cadel Evans is in this peloton, along with Alberto Contador, who won the previous three Tour de France races. Paris apartment for rent. St Sulpice. 215 euros per night (min. 3-nights rental) … Continue reading peloton
How many, like this little gal, dream of riding a scooter through France? Photo of "Ephie" (effy) taken last week in Colmar. Never miss a word or photo, receive word-a-day via email or by RSS updates (for Yahoo, AOL, Google and more). un rêve (rev) : a dream One way I learned French was by listening to the classics (check out songs by Charles Trenet). Share with us, … Continue reading reve
Quelle chance! We have a story and a recipe and photos–including the still life, above–for you today by guest blogger Lynn McBride.
chance (shons) noun, feminine
: luck
une chance = a stroke of luck
avoir de la chance = to be lucky
Bonne chance! = Good luck!
French Tartes or Southern Pies? Oh, the dilemma…
by Lynne McBride
Here’s a favorite quote from Michelle Obama. When asked what it was like to suddenly live in the White House with an army of staff, she admitted it was great, then said, with wonder: “If you want pie, there’s pie!” Hey Michelle, that’s my idea of paradise too.
OK, so what about French pies? Well, the French do things a little differently, no surprise there. Bye-bye American pie. The difference? In addition to the sloping shape of the edge of the dish, an American pie is plump and indulgent, and can be piled exuberantly high with whipped cream or meringue, or topped with a decadent crust or crumbs. Is that American or what? A French tarte, alternativement, is in a dish that’s shallow with straight, fluted sides. It’s thin and refined, understated and elegant, most often just a divine crust topped with beautiful fruits. Oh so French.
Must we choose between the two? Oh let’s not. I’m proposing two recipes this week, the best of both worlds.
As you may know…
Continue reading “How to say “luck” in French + recipe for Lucky New Year Pie with Grand Marnier”
Some romantic curtains (spotted in Nyons) to go along with our "Romancier" story, by guest blogger Janet Skeslien Charles. romancier (ro man see ay) noun : a novelist Keep up your French with Bien Dire (magazine subscription). A 52-page magazine to improve your French that you'll enjoy reading! Full of interesting articles on France and French culture, Bien-dire helps you understand what it is to be … Continue reading romancier
A convivial game of boules in the town of La Ciotat. All photos courtesy of Lou McClelland. pétanque (peh-tank) noun, feminine : a game similar to boules (bowles), originating from the Mediterranean and played in the South of France (and elsewhere!) Audio File & Example SentenceDownload MP3 fileSouvent, le jeu de pétanque est accompagné d'un verre de rosé.Often, the game of petanque is accompanied … Continue reading Petanque
Today's story, by guest author Arnold Hogarth, takes place in Paris, on the charming Ile Saint-Louis…. Speaking of Paris, mille mercis for the fun and inspiring Paris suggestions that you sent my friend, Greg– who sends you his remerciements. * * * Today's word from French Word-A-Day. (…sign up if you haven't already!): colis (ko-lee) noun, masculine : parcel, package Audio File & Expressions:Download … Continue reading colis
Photo taken in Visan, land of a million cats! Whether slightly color-blind, like this black-and-white cat, or completely non-voyant, Louis Braille believed that the gift of literacy belonged to everyone. Read more about this remarkable Frenchman who, as a child, would change the world. non-voyant (nohn-voy-ahn) noun, masculine* : visually handicapped person * the feminine is “non-voyante” (nohn-voy-ahnt) French definition: “une personne qui ne voit … Continue reading The Legacy of Louis Braille: Empowering the Blind: Non-Voyant
Marseilles is the setting for today's story. (Photo taken in the fishing village of Callelongue). Who hasn't had the fantasy of leaving his or her old life behind to start over? What would happen if you gave up your job, city, state, and routine to move to another part of the world? Critically acclaimed writer and aspiring painter James Morgan does just that. Risking everything, … Continue reading gober
