A gift from our guest: dried cyclamen, a ballet of expressive flowers! Today's Expression: Prenez soin de vous     : take care of yourself (plural: yourselves) Audio file: Click here to listen to today's phrase in French and English A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Someone close to us, someone young and strong, had an accident–une chute while alone at home– … Continue reading Prenez soin de vous + Take care of your French with a dozen more words

Mr. Fix-it is at it again! This time he's "mended" the hammock… Years ago I began a list to record the ways in which my husband shamelessly uses duct tape to fix things. I'm kicking myself for not keeping up that list. I'd best put my energy elsewhere, into today's post about resourcefulness…. Enjoy and please share it with a friend. Today's Word: débrouillard   … Continue reading Débrouillard: Share your thoughts, examples, and tips on resourcefulness

Are you confused about cleaning/disinfecting during the coronavirus pandemic? Me too. (Photo taken in the sweet town of Villedieu.) Today's word(s): Tout ira bien  : All will be well* *Famous words of Julian of Norwich A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse One week into confinement and I'm waving a white flag of surrender: this time over the obsession to control germs. As … Continue reading Tout ira bien. All will be well. + Confused about cleaning practices during the pandemic?

COVID-19, or Coronavirus disease 2019, is no laughing matter. The French (for the most part) are respecting les gestes barrières (wash hands, cough/sneeze into your coude, stand a meter apart, stay home #jerestechezmoi). Today, a light-hearted story from our family's confinement here in La Ciotat. Today's Word célibataire     : single person; bachelor, spinster A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Yesterday, … Continue reading Célibataire, Confinement, and Divorce after the coronavirus?

"THE END" – That's my 73-year-old Mom wearing a hand-me-down T-shirt. The ripped neck is her signature. I snapped the picture of Jules this morning, moments after she'd rescued our 5th hen (trapped in our absent neighbor's yard.). While I was pacing up and down the street, a piece of fish (bait) in my hand, and in distress, Mom had already jumped the barbed wire … Continue reading Let’s Talk About the Coronavirus: COVID-19 in France and Chez Vous

We are visiting our daughter in Miami, so I have prepared this re-run for you. I hope it makes you laugh! Photo taken at the beautiful Château de Pibarnon, where our story begins…. Today's Word: une bêtise     : a mistake, something stupid, something foolish Improve your French pronunciation with the book Exercises in French Phonics Audio File: click here to listen to the … Continue reading Une bêtise: You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.

Travel with award-winning author Gail Thorell Schilling as she jaunts alone to Paris and southern France to ransom her self-confidence and learn how to age in her engaging memoir, Do Not Go Gentle. Go to Paris: Travels of an Uncertain Woman of a Certain Age.  Rattled by fears that she is losing her keys, her job, her looks, this 62-year-old American with a little French … Continue reading Culotté: a cheeky word for you today

My dear friend Tessa is organizing more art escapades in France, discover the itinerary at Paint in Provence. Her colorful flyer, above, sets the tone for today's topic: art. Today's Word: MERCURIEL     : changing (mood), fluctuating, inconstant, variable… Audio file here, Translation at the end of post. Le monde est violent et mercuriel–il fera ce qu'il veut avec vous. Nous sommes seulement sauvés … Continue reading An art escape in France + a little more vocabulary for you…