A village home near the medieval quarter of Les Arcs-sur-Argens. remonter (ruh-mohn-tay) verb to go, take up again; to climb up again * * *Pour remonter à la source, il faut nager à contre-courant.To reach the source, one has to swim upstream. –Stanislaw Jerzy Lec Along the main drag in Les Arcs-sur-Argens, prude iron fences … Continue reading remonter
A cat in the china closet (the bowls think it absurd). Shop window in Brittany. Sosieso-see noun, masculinelook alike The man approaching me said, "In Hollywood, women pay good money to learn to walk like that!" I remember being a little confused by my neighbor's greeting, as we crossed each other while out for a Sunday walk. Was I to take that as a compliment? It … Continue reading sosie
Shelter for a cart on its last leg. un abri (ah-bree) noun, masculine shelter, cover; screen Je répète…celui qui aime et qui est aimé est à l’abri des coups du sort!I repeat…he who loves and who is loved is sheltered from fateful blows! –Alfred de Musset. At the end of a swaying line of yellow irises, their green feet tickled by a slow moving rivulet, … Continue reading abri
A little lifetime ago: my daughter when she was two. Taken in Morhiban, Brittany. sur-le-champ (sur-luh-shom) adverbial phrase immediately, right away, without delay, directly Si le soleil et la lune se mettaient à douter, ils s’éteindraient sur-le-champ.If the Sun and Moon should ever doubt, they’d immediately go out. … Continue reading sur-le-champ
On Sunday the French voted in mairies/town halls across the Héxagone. un isoloir (eezo-lwahr) noun, masculine curtained voting, polling booth A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse (April 24, 2007) I am in Sainte Cécile for the week visiting my husband who has been holding down the French fort—a fragmented one at that, what with with ceilings coming uncemented and doors dropping … Continue reading isoloir
At the end of today’s story, I landed here in Paris. In addition to my writing voice, I am working on my reading voice which, I realize, is a bit formal (read: stiff as a day-old baguette). I hope to slow the voice down, relax a bit. Even so, I’m afraid I’ll never talk like Nancy Sinatra (or how I imagine she might talk after … Continue reading échapper
Without a modicum of foi, life can be a three-ring circus. Foi (fwa) noun, feminine faith My daughter says that books are like cigarettes, une mauvaise habitude, and would I please put the reading aside for one night? "Of course, Sweetheart," I promise, returning the book to its shelf. Is that a tremble in my arm? Sweat on my brow? "And the cahiers and the … Continue reading foi
A recipe for scaring crows, French and otherwise. la recette (reuh-set) noun, feminine 1. recipe, formula 2. receipts, returns Ils avaient des goûts communs et des métiers différents: …la recette même de l’amitié. They had common tastes and different professions: …the very recipe for friendship. –André Maurois. … Continue reading recette
Soignez-vous up high on a hilltop. Photo of my daughter, Jackie, wishing she could fly. Taken at the top of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Fleur de Sel (French Sea Salt): Gathered from the salt beds of Camargue by a Master Salter (Maitre Salier), this subtly flavored salt will add burst of flavor to your food. Fleur de Sel is truly an addictive taste! soigner (swan-yay) verb to treat, … Continue reading soigner
For the purposes of this edition, and so as to remain neatly "in theme," we'll call the little guy in the lower left "Frank." franc, franche (frawn, frawnsh) adjective frank, true, free, exempt …and the verb "franchir" : to cross, step over (out), overcome Sans franchir sa porte, on peut connaître le monde.Without stepping out his door, one can know the world. –Lao-Tseu. … Continue reading franc
