Mystery, intrigue… and a flower thief in Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes. Read on. photo © Jules Greer When my mom, Jules, steps off the plane in France she always feels like she has stepped back in time: into the very footsteps of French soldiers; their traces now obliterated: all that remains is the ghost of war. Regular old vines begin to look like calvary in Mom's artist's … Continue reading coupable
In the town of Violès (Vaucluse) rencontre (rahn kontr) noun, feminine : encounter, meeting (of persons); duel, skirmish.A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse (Note: The following post was written in 2009) Jules made it from Mexico to Marseilles yesterday! On the way out … Continue reading rencontre
A roof over one's head in the town of Monêtier les Bains (French Alps). photo © Kristin Espinasse Shopping:Chasing Matisse: A Year in France Living My DreamI'll Never Be French (no matter what I do): Living in a Small Village in BrittanySongs in French for Children including Alouette, Sur le Pont d'Avignon, Claire Fontaine, Prom'non Nous dans les Bois… In French music: Serge Lama Today's … Continue reading anodin
All photos © Kristin Espinasse Come harvest time, this old wagon is an important part of la routine for a certain Cécilién* farmer. (*Cécilien, Cécilienne: resident of the village of Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes) Jean-Marc's USA Wine Tour: If you are near Tampa on March 24th, you are very welcome to join Jean-Marc for one of his wine tastings. Have a look here for the list of cities … Continue reading la routine
A culprit of a cadran. More in today's story…. secourir (seuh-kor-reer) verb : to help, aid : to rescue Verb conjugation of secourir:je secours, tu secours, il secourt, nous secourons, vous secourez, ils secourent (past participle: secouru) Audio File: coming soon… We've featured the French word "secours" and learned many examples, in a past edition that was illustrated by a story. Today, we … Continue reading secourir
All photos © Kristin Espinasse crever (kreuh-vay) verb : to burst, split; to break Also: crevé(e) = exhausted. Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc read the following expressions and pronounce the verb conjugations to the French verb crever Download MP3 Download Wav crever un pneu = to flatten a tirecrever de faim = to be starvingcrever d'ennui = to be bored to death je crève, … Continue reading crever
A cadran solaire in Serre Chevalier. Thank you, "Newforest", for leaving a comment about this sundial: "The inscription in Latin stresses our human condition: VULNERANT OMNES ULTIMA NECAT, = Toutes (les heures) blessent, la dernière tue. = All hours wound, the last one kills." cadran (kah-drahn) noun, masculine : (clock) face, dial Audio File: Listen to the French word cadran, hear the following phrases: Download … Continue reading cadran
A shopfront in Le Panier–a quartier in Marseilles. Scroll down for a list of ways to sign off email correspondence. TODAY'S WORD: QUITTER 1. to leave, to quit 2. to give up, vacate, forsake, abandon 3. to exit LISTEN: Hear Jean-Marc pronounce today's quote: Download wav Il faut se quitter souvent pour s'aimer toujours. We must leave each other often in order to love each other … Continue reading Best way to sign off or end an email in French: How to say “goodbye” or “cheers” or “sincerely”?
If this Bollenoise* façade was jam-colored, what flavor would that be? What is your favorite jam or spread (Nutella, chestnut purée… or just plain ol' beurre?) for your morning toast? Leave your answers in the comments box. *from the southern French town of Bollène. la confiture (kohn-fee-tyur) noun, feminine 1. jam Audio File: Hear the French word confiture in the following example sentence: Download MP3 … Continue reading la confiture
Door curtains add to the charm of Provence (here, in Mirabel aux Baronnies)… more about doors in today's story column. All photos & text © Kristin Espinasse Next Meet-up! If you are near Houston on 03/25 and 03/26, you are very welcome to join Jean-Marc for one of his wine tastings frapper (frah-pay) verb 1. to knock, to slap, to hit, strike; to make an impression … Continue reading frapper
