Agapanthus flowers on the Island of Bréhat. POSTCARD FROM BRITTANY When we received an invitation for un mariage in Brittany, Jean-Marc planned a romantic escapade around this joyous event. We only had three days to vacation together, not counting travel time, but it was enough to mark the occasion of our 30th wedding anniversary. After careful research, my former fiancé put together an itinerary including … Continue reading Postcard from Brittany
Thirty years ago today, this snapshot from our mariage civil at La Bagatelle Town Hall in Marseille. TODAY’S WORD: LA ROBE DE MARIÉE : wedding dress "I chose my wife as she chose her wedding dress; not for its shiny and delicate appearance but because it would withstand the test of time." J'ai choisi ma femme comme elle a choisi sa robe de mariée ; … Continue reading La Robe de Mariée: My Wedding Dress Conundrum
Look who's back! Jean-Marc has returned from New Zealand. Today, read about the sweet reunion while learning several new French words and phrases. Photo taken on Tongariro. TODAY’S WORD: " LA BANDEROLE" : banner Are you an expat and need to file your US tax return? I am using Expatfile again this year to complete all tax forms quickly and easily and I highly … Continue reading Banderole & A Warm Welcome Home to Jean-Marc
Today, learn a tummy tuck trick my husband and I use on our morning walks. Passing by historic sites, such as the Eden Theatre–the oldest cinema in the world–is a helpful distraction as we do our "standing situps." Are you an Expat who needs to file your tax return? Don't sweat it! Get $20 off when you use Expatfile software to begin the simplified process. … Continue reading “Bidou”: A Do-It-Yourself Tummy Tuck in French (Bilingual Story)
Twilight in Agadir, Morocco, in Northwest Africa. Jean-Marc snaps a photo of le coucher du soleil. Do you want to continue receiving these emails? Each week my overzealous, automated listserver sweeps several subscribers into the "inactive" bin, eventually deleting them! Here are two ways to ensure you receive this journal in your inbox from here on out: 1. Regularly click on the links in my … Continue reading Bonjour from North Africa + A Gift from Strangers!
The expression "manger son chapeau" comes from "avaler son chapeau" which is from the English "I'll eat my hat if…" Have you ever said this, dear reader? Ever had to eat humble pie? Enjoy today's story, and please help get the word out about this journal by sharing it with a friend. Merci! Today's Expression: Manger son chapeau : to eat humble pie … Continue reading Manger son Chapeau + Change a habit not a spouse 🙂
Today's Word: une éclosion : blossoming, burgeoning Audio/Listening: Click the link below to hear the French words in the following story. Then scroll down to the vocabulary list to check your French comprehension. Sound File here A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse There were a handful of letters I meant to include in our vineyard memoir, colorful cartes postales from … Continue reading “Eclosion”: Old love letters, a lifetime commitment, and “rien n’est acquis”…
Flying rice at our noces de mariage Today, Jean-Marc and I celebrate 27 years of marriage. Help us mark the occasion by sharing your best tip for relationships in the comments below. DOUX(doo)soft, sweet, gentle, pleasant, mellow Practice your French Listening Skills. Click to hear Jean-Marc read in French and English: Le mariage est comme le vin : doux, amer, intense, moelleux, acide ou plat. … Continue reading Celebrating today! + French for gentle, pleasant, sweet & Reader tips for a good relationship
For this special edition, all the French vocabulary is featured in the story (the sound file returns next week). Picture taken last month at Ecrins National Park in the Alps. Today Jean-Marc and I celebrate 26 years of marriage. I had not planned to write un hommage (and was due to update you on a mother-daughter périple)… when I realized il ne faut pas manquer … Continue reading A Marriage Secret? + A Tribute to Mon Epoux
If you have followed this blog a while, you've seen this photo a million times. Jean-Marc and I were both scared to death about an imminent "for life" decision! Soon after this picture was taken, we got some very good marriage advice from Jean-Marc's grandmother. Twenty-three years later, it is still one of the best tips for a healthy relationship I've come across — even … Continue reading Faire la tête + A French grandmother’s advice for a happy marriage
