Photo of a French door and its hesitant greeting. saluer (sah-loo-ay) verb to greet, to wave to, to nod to; to salute Nobles et mystérieux triomphes qu'aucun regard ne voit, qu'aucune renommée ne paye, qu'aucune fanfare ne salue. Noble and mysterious triumphs which no eye beholds, which are requited with no renown, which are saluted with no trumpet blast. —Victor Hugo. … Continue reading saluer
Talk about an original gift…Jean-Marc got stairs for his birthday (not these pretty ones but some other pretty ones) and can now access his future office without having to climb a ladder! Photo taken at La Bastide de Magnans in Vidauban. anniversaire (a-nee-vair-sair) noun, masculine anniversary, birthday Un diplomate est un homme qui se rappelle l’anniversaire d’une femme et qui oublie son âge. A diplomat … Continue reading anniversaire
Church in Cairanne. In today's story: a tart, a church, and a twist in this tale…. Petite Amie (peuh-teet-ah-me) noun, feminine girlfriend On Friday, the lendemain of Jean-Marc's fortieth birthday, a florist's van pulled up to our front gate. I watched as the driver handed over a lipstick-red ceramic vase with a single orchid inside. Halfway up the exotic flower a hummingbird clung, its delicate wings … Continue reading petite amie
This image (taken in Trans-en-Provence) seemed a little more classy than the other one that was set to appear here. * * * Oh, no! you say, such a lot of potty talk lately! Believe me, I'd rather chat about French farm hens or even … Continue reading waters
Sainte Céciliens and the art of conviviality. convive (kon-veev) noun, masculine and feminine guest (at table), fellow diner * * * Rarement nous pouvons découvrir un homme qui dise avoir vécu heureux, et qui, son temps fini, quitte la vie content comme un convive … Continue reading convive
Le bercail / Home. (Picture of Uncle Jean-Claude installing the temporary "stairs" until we get the chance to build some…) le bercail (behr-kie ["kie" like "pie"]) noun, masculine 1. fold, sheepfold 2. home, the family fold Quand les bushman d'Afrique du Sud rentrent au bercail, ils s'enduisent la langue de boue pour exprimer leur attachement à leur sol. When South African San bushmen come home, … Continue reading bercail
Our dog, Braise, in all her French glory–and towering over her kingdom of Ste Cécile. saigner (say-nyay) verb to bleed Quand le lion saigne, les chacals reprennent courage.When the lion bleeds, the jackals regain courage. . After searching for weeks, I found the first clue smack in … Continue reading saigner
Where pigs and poules once roamed. The little barn before the bulldozers arrived. le chantier (shon-tee-yay) noun, masculine 1. building site (construction); workshop, ship-yard 2. a place where great disorder reigns ("lieu où règne un grand désordre") –Petite Larousse 2000 The famous words of Général Lyautey: Un chantier vaut un bataillon. A workshop is worth a battalion. "'A workshop is … Continue reading chantier
Independence Day: My son Max is headed to Italy! crapulerie (krap-ew-lair-ee) noun, feminine 1. villainy 2. a dishonest act [from "crapule" (scoundrel) and borrowed from the latin "crapula" (intoxication") — synonyms include "la canaillerie" (a low trick) and "la fripouillerie" (roguishness)] * * *Car on sent là…toute l’écume du monde, toute … Continue reading crapulerie
Sweet competition for that ol' classic menthe à l'eau. la menthe (mont) noun, feminine 1. mint Some accidental wisdom from a 19th century French distillery book:…on doit prendre la menthe au moment de sa floraison.…we must take the mint the moment it flowers. –from the "Nouveau Manuel Complet du Distillateur Liquoriste" by Lebeaud, de Fontenelle & Malepeyre. 1879.. … Continue reading menthe
