Category: Plants

Eulogy, Plants, Smokey

Hommage: Adieu Mr. Farjon “The Plant Whisperer”

Robert Farjon leaving Domaine Rouge-Bleu, where my family once lived. The hollyhocks seem to be hugging his vintage Peugeot bicycle. Find out why plants love this dearly departed Frenchman in the following tribute.  TODAY'S WORD: amour-en-cage     : love in a cage Amour-en-cage is a synonym for Chinese lantern, or physalis. I loved the term the moment Robert Farjon shared it, and today it … Continue reading Hommage: Adieu Mr. Farjon “The Plant Whisperer”

Kristin Espinasse24 Comments
garden, gardening, Plants

To humble oneself + what to give someone you’ve unintentionally hurt

Russian comfrey and letter of sympathy (with misspellings), reads Sir/Mam, I offer all my regrets for the loss of your chickens. I am sincerely and deeply sorry for the pain this has caused you…" (Read on, in today's story column.) se rabaisser (seuh rah bay say)     : to humble oneself, to show humility or respect Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wav Je me … Continue reading To humble oneself + what to give someone you’ve unintentionally hurt

Kristin Espinasse206 Comments
Plants

Doux: mild, temperate, sweet in French

Jouer à cache-cache means to play hide-n-seek. This was a favorite game of Smokey's when he was one-years-old (pictured), though his hiding places were a bit obvious. Now, at 4, he likes the classics: a good ol' game of catch is fine by him.  doux (do)     : mild, temperate; sweet, pleasant; soft; lenient Doux also refers to a gentle person–or how about a … Continue reading Doux: mild, temperate, sweet in French

Kristin Espinasse88 Comments
French Destinations, Grignan, Plants

Pictures from Grignan + an emergency visit to the vet–and the French word “epillet”

 Sweet 16! Today, September 18th, is Jackie's birthday and we've had chocolate cake for breakfast and look forward to Chinese food for dinner. (Meantime she's begun another day at fashion school. But after our dog's recent drama, and Jackie's hands-on response, I think she'd make a great veterinarian! Read on, in today's French infused story column…. un épillet (ay-pee-leh)     : foxtail or grass … Continue reading Pictures from Grignan + an emergency visit to the vet–and the French word “epillet”

Kristin Espinasse128 Comments
Characters, Olive trees, Plants

chaparder

Still pinching images from Google image search (I promise I took these!) after my computer crashed one week ago (typing this post on my son's PC)…. This photo was snapped in St. Tropez. Its artist theme fits with today's story of the "tree artists" (or pirates, rather…). Read on, in today's column. chaparder (sha-par-day)      to pinch, to lift, to steal A DAY IN A … Continue reading chaparder

Kristin Espinasse76 Comments
Mr Farjon, Plants, Smokey

Epine: Mr Farjon, the plant man, returns

  Mr. Farjon came by to drop off this newspaper clipping (see our son, Max, posing with our town's mayor after a military march). Mr Farjon brought a few other things when he came to visit. Read today's story for more. une épine (ay-peen)     : thorn Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentence: Download MP3 file or Wav file Les épines, ça ne sert … Continue reading Epine: Mr Farjon, the plant man, returns

Kristin Espinasse60 Comments