Get your copy of Blossoming in Provence!

Please excuse this extra email in your inbox today… but I could not wait to tell you that Blossoming in Provence is now available for purchase. To order a copy please click here! Update: the book is now available at Amazon.com, via this link. Also, please support your local bookseller by ordering Blossoming in Provence at the nearest bookstore.  Thank you all for your help … Continue reading Get your copy of Blossoming in Provence!

Adieu George Whitman, owner of Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris

  George Whitman's famous bookshop, on the Left Bank. Today, we remember this incorrigable angel. Read on, and prepare to share your own tributes and stories.  ange (ahnzh)         : angel Some expressions:  mon ange = darling beau/belle comme un(e) ange = beautiful as an angelêtre aux anges = to be in seventh heavenun ange passe = an angel is passingêtre le bon ange (or ange … Continue reading Adieu George Whitman, owner of Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris

Motherhood & Max goes to driver’s school

The little cabanon, the one that makes a cameo in today's story… .habitude (ah-bee-tood) noun, feminine     : habit   Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce these words: Download MP3 or Wave file prendre de mauvaises habitudes = to pick up bad habitsj'ai l'habitude = I'm used to itd'habitude = as a rulecomme d'habitude = as usual French Christmas Music: "Mon Beau Sapin", "Sainte Nuit", "La Marche … Continue reading Motherhood & Max goes to driver’s school

patate

I used to dream of having a writer's room in Paris. Lately, I would rather live life (the stuff of books) rather than dream of writing about it. Writing isn't, after all, a romantic life. Life is a romantic life! Book update: If all goes well, I will upload my book to Amazon.com tonight! Tamara and Erin, at TLC Graphics, are putting on the finishing … Continue reading patate

sortie

  Reader Gary McClelland shares another speedy French adventure with you today… read on and discover something fun to do in Provence (or maybe chez vous?) Also, an extra sound file for you today: Jean-Marc has recorded the vocab section following Gary's story. Don't miss it!   Occasionally I receive an e-mail asking me to tell the story of meeting my French husband, Jean-Marc (affectionately … Continue reading sortie

se tromper

A woman's work is never done. Personally, I'll take the job of hanging out laundry… and let my husband patch up the concrete! (Photo taken in Croatia, a few summers ago…) se tromper (seuh-trom-pay)     : to be mistaken, to be wrong tout le monde peut se tromper = anyone can make a mistakesi je ne me trompe = if I'm not mistakense tromper d'heure … Continue reading se tromper

Cadeau: My Daughter’s Christmas “Liste de Voeux”

Does the Christmas rush "kill" the joy of the holidays? And re gift-giving, how much is too much and how little, too little? or is it all just over the top? Are we remembering the reason for the season? Read on in today's story column.   tuer (too-ay)     : to kill tuer le temps = to kill time Reverse Dictionary killjoy (spoilsport) = un(e) … Continue reading Cadeau: My Daughter’s Christmas “Liste de Voeux”

avoir des oursins dans les poches

A sea urchin, or oursin, is very prickly. You wouldn't want to step on one while wading out to sea! Today's popular French expression has a funny take on these underwater creatures… avoir des oursins dans les poches     : to be stingy ("to have sea urchins in one's pockets") A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse The other day, while allowing … Continue reading avoir des oursins dans les poches

si

Part of this photo will appear in the book "Blossoming in Provence". Note: all book pictures will be in black and white (I want to keep down the purchase price of the book. To fill it with color photos would greatly increase the cost for readers). si (see) : if *Note: "si" means "yes" when used to answer a negative question.ex. Tu n'as pas encore … Continue reading si