Gravel is handy for a lot of things–including pétanque (boules)! Read on to learn about another benefit of rocks. (Pictured: family members, including André, who is measuring, at a picnic in Fuveau). Today's Word: ramasser     : to pick up, gather Audio file: Click to hear Jean-Marc read the following French sentence:Rockhounding, ou géologie amateur, est l'étude récréative et la collecte de roches, de … Continue reading Gaga for Galets! Rock collecting: caillou, roche, gravier, pierre and other stones in French

Putting the finishing touches on our new spinning composter…My excuse for not putting the finishing touches on today's post. But if you read through to the end you will pick up a lot of French vocabulary! Edits are always welcome in the comments section. Merci!  A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Our new composteur rotatif arrived! It's a spinning contraption that'll transform … Continue reading The French words are in the story (Some Assembly Required!)

This morning while out on a walk I took a tumble and slammed into the ground of uneven wooden planks. I gashed my knee (le genou), elbow (le coude), knuckles (les articulations des doigts), and the palm (la paume) of the opposite hand. Jean-Marc reached down to help and, after I recovered, I laughed and said, Pride comes before the fall! That'll teach me to walk … Continue reading A bilingual message from Jean-Marc + Un Petit Accident while preaching

The breathtaking Bay of La Ciotat. Left: L'Ile Verte (The Green Island). Right: Le Bec de L'Aigle (Eagle's Beak).  Even more beauty and grace dwell beneath the surface of the sea… Today's Word: s'émerveiller     : to be amazed    : to marvel at something Soundfile: Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following French: Le bonheur pour une abeille ou un dauphin … Continue reading S’Emerveiller: Dolphins in The Bay of La Ciotat

Smokey in the butterfly chair, or la chaise papillon. Papillon–it is a favorite French word but did you know there is a fluttery verb to go with it? Perfect for today's story, about Mom's favorite fauteuil…. Today's Word: Papillonner     : to flit around, flutter about Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentence:​Ne te laisse pas distraire par les événements extérieurs … Continue reading Papillonner: Mom’s butterfly chair + a fluttery French verb for you today

Ah…L'oubli! When is forgetfulness a good thing? In today's unusual edition all vocabulary is at the end. We'll restructure things next week! A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse While in the kitchen I noticed steam rising from the countertop. Approaching the messy comptoir for a closer look, I recognized the Starbucks souvenir mug (Vail edition) I'd purchased while visiting our daughter, Jackie, … Continue reading L’Oubli: Two accidental versions of the same story (on forgetfulness)

The sign near the beach reads "SOS Lost Jewelry in the water." Here in La Ciotat, there's another place where people lose things… and it also has to do with water! Learn a handy expression in today's vocabulary-packed story! Today's word: sur-le-champ       ​: at once, immediately, right away Audio: listen to Jean-Marc read the following definition: Une riposte c'est une réponse vive, instantanée, faite … Continue reading A funny French expression to help you respond “sur-le-champ”

Given Mothers Day is celebrated on different dates across the globe, I will take this moment to wish all caregivers a Joyeuse Fête! Photo: the tidy side of our garden. We'll talk about the weeds–and a mother's needs–in the following story. Today's Word: Langue de belle-mère (f)     : party blower  literal translation: "mother-in-law's tongue" (photo below)  Audio file: Click here and listen to … Continue reading Two celebrations + Langue de belle-mère (a funny word for a certain party favor)

Photo of our dear golden, Smokey Today's Word: respirer     : to breathe, inhale Click here to listen to the French quote below:Respirer Paris, cela conserve l'âme. Breathe in, Paris, it conserves the soul. –Victor Hugo A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse ​While preparing a plateau de fromages for today's lunch, I was surprised to see the refrigerated cheese now wore … Continue reading Cheese needs to breathe and so do we

Up till now, the best part of our cafoutche was the view. More about a few sweet and savory projects in today's missive. Thank you for reading and sharing this post with a friend! Today's Word: cafoutche   : storage room, cupboard AUDIO FILE: click here to listen to the following quote in French Cafoutche: De l’occitan cafoucho synonyme de cahute. A Marseille il désigne … Continue reading Our mystery guest + le cafoutche = The “everything room” in France