Which family member moved to the historic grounds of La Bastide Marin? Read on, in today's chronique and learn a dozen more useful French terms. Today's Word: à contrecoeur (or contre-coeur)     : regretfully, reluctantly, grudgingly Audio/Listening: Click the link below to hear today's word + a dozen more vocabulary words. Next, scroll down to the vocabulary list to check your comprehension. Click here … Continue reading “Regretfully” in French + to spin out of control + One of us moves out…

A scene from Cousine Sabine's, where we enjoyed Sunday's "cousinade" or family reunion. The horse is an Irish cob. Today's Word: un abreuvoir : watering hole, drinking bowl, trough, birdbath, fountain Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read in French and in English Study the sentence below, then click on the following sound file to hear the French and EnglishOn peut conduire un cheval à … Continue reading Arsenic in my omelette? Animal instincts + French vocabulary you won’t find in a textbook (like the slang word for concierge…)

I am going to bookend this edition with beautiful photos, to help balance a sad topic today. Here is a picture of our beautiful shoreline in La Ciotat, the city we live in–with Grandma, our our golden retriever, Smokey, and our chickens. You will learn many new French words at the end of today's story, so please read to the finish. A DAY IN A … Continue reading New French words, including “chamaillerie” and A Dieu to one of our chickens…

If you take one thing away from today's post (about letting go…), let it be this: Control Juice is for wet chickens, or scaredy-cats. (Le jus de contrôle c'est pour les poules mouillés). Let go of your fear–and your controlling nature will disappear.  Faire bon ménage     : to get along Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentence Faire bon ménage signifie bien … Continue reading Faire bon ménage? Golden retriever and chickens & CONTROL JUICE (is it fueling you, too?)