Birds

From huppes to rapaces–birds in our French garden, les oiseaux dans le sud de la France

Un gabian strutting across the table on our front porch. Read to the end for all the useful French words and expressions. Today's Word: s'envoler    : to fly away, to take flight; to take off, to be blown away Hear Jean-Marc read the following in French and in English.Si tu te sers de la liberté en échange d'autre chose, comme l'oiseau, elle s'envolera. If … Continue reading From huppes to rapaces–birds in our French garden, les oiseaux dans le sud de la France

Kristin Espinasse29 Comments
Hens/Les Poules

Arsenic in my omelette? Animal instincts + French vocabulary you won’t find in a textbook (like the slang word for concierge…)

A scene from Cousine Sabine's, where we enjoyed Sunday's "cousinade" or family reunion. The horse is an Irish cob. Today's Word: un abreuvoir : watering hole, drinking bowl, trough, birdbath, fountain Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read in French and in English Study the sentence below, then click on the following sound file to hear the French and EnglishOn peut conduire un cheval à … Continue reading Arsenic in my omelette? Animal instincts + French vocabulary you won’t find in a textbook (like the slang word for concierge…)

Kristin Espinasse24 Comments
Uncategorized

What does “Féerique” mean in French? + compare translations of our bilingual book synopsis

Photo of me and Jean-Marc in 1991. Today, enjoy an extended sound file in French as Jean-Marc summarizes our story. Now that our vineyard memoir is written, we have arrived at a critical step: finding an agent and then a publisher for the hardcopy edition. Your help is vital! Please study the following synopsis in English and in French, and help answer the questions that … Continue reading What does “Féerique” mean in French? + compare translations of our bilingual book synopsis

Kristin Espinasse67 Comments
Uncategorized

Wish us luck (Souhaitez-nous bonne chance)! + Putting the cart before the horse (la charrue avant les boeufs)…

“Do not send a letter… we don’t live there any more.” This beautiful calligraphy by Joy Fairclough, captures the beauty and romance of what many imagine to be life on a French vineyard. Jean-Marc and I share the true blood, sweat, and tears reality in our memoir, The Lost Gardens which we have just finished writing. Fêtons çela! Today's word: un ouvrage     : … Continue reading Wish us luck (Souhaitez-nous bonne chance)! + Putting the cart before the horse (la charrue avant les boeufs)…

Kristin Espinasse42 Comments
Escapade, Porquerolles, Travel

Demain il fera jour: A reminder not to take work (life, everything) too seriously + Escapade to Porquerolles Island

If today's word is too easy for you, détrompez-vous. Think again. This letter has a lot more to offer when you read to the end. Today's Word: la plage1. beach2. track of music3. time span, range Listen to Jean-Marc read the following in French and English Porquerolles, ses plages de sable fin, ses eaux turquoise et transparentes. C’est un véritable paradis à quelques minutes de … Continue reading Demain il fera jour: A reminder not to take work (life, everything) too seriously + Escapade to Porquerolles Island

Kristin Espinasse34 Comments
April Fool's Day

France’s “Cité de L’Espace” and SpaceX “dearMoon” + Jules is ready to fly the coop.

Our little wooden boat, an authentic French “pointu” left the old port Monday for a special mission…to accompany my Mom beyond the limits of La Ciotat. Find out what this floating craft has in common with spacecraft in today's intergalactic missive. Today’s word: une fusée      : rocket, space rocket  Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc read the following French and English:Un milliardaire japonais offre huit … Continue reading France’s “Cité de L’Espace” and SpaceX “dearMoon” + Jules is ready to fly the coop.

Kristin Espinasse49 Comments
Max

Update on Max + Mortgage is a creepy word! Use this French expression instead! + bien immobilier, hypothéque, piaule, licitation judiciaire

The colorful port de plaisance in La Ciotat. Apartment sales in our town are exploding at the moment. THE FRENCH WORD FOR MORTGAGE?Did you ever stop to think about the word "mortgage"? The first four letters are a clue-in: "mort" in French means death and gage = pledge. Mortgage = death pledge. If the term is too creepy for you, then use one of these … Continue reading Update on Max + Mortgage is a creepy word! Use this French expression instead! + bien immobilier, hypothéque, piaule, licitation judiciaire

Kristin Espinasse26 Comments
Jean-Marc

Un avion de chasse: after “canon” another French word for “hottie” or “babe” + French vocabulary: prendre sa revanche, taquin, rebonjour, phare, pantoufle

Learn a host of new French words as I poke fun at my husband in today’s billet. Don't miss the sound file, where Jean-Marc pronounces all the vocabulary in French and in English. Photo taken in the magnificent Parc du Mugel, here in La Ciotat. Today's Word: Taquiner     : to tease, to kid, to joke, annoy, poke fun at What is Taquiner? Having fun … Continue reading Un avion de chasse: after “canon” another French word for “hottie” or “babe” + French vocabulary: prendre sa revanche, taquin, rebonjour, phare, pantoufle

Kristin Espinasse18 Comments
Jackie

Following a hunch from Paris to Miami + know these useful French words?: débrouillard, fonceuse, farfelu, embaucher, boulot, bagnole

Today's lesson: Be a smart cookie and follow your dreams! Learn the French, below, and read about a fashion student who "sows" an unusual seed, and is hired to mix designer drinks. Today's Word: un débrouillard, une débrouillarde      : resourceful, clever, self-starter    : a smart cookie, self-reliant, street-smart Listen to Jean-Marc read the following FrenchSois débrouillarde. Suis ton rêve!Be a smart cookie. Follow … Continue reading Following a hunch from Paris to Miami + know these useful French words?: débrouillard, fonceuse, farfelu, embaucher, boulot, bagnole

Kristin Espinasse57 Comments
Jules

Jules update + Which of these French words is new to you?: guet-apens, tuyau, épuisette, taule, couvre feu, comme si de rien n’était, arroser, pantoufle…

My son, Max, spearfishing here in La Ciotat. In today's story, his grandmother Jules goes fishing in the garden, while I reel in a boatful of new French words for you. Enjoy, and please share this post with somebody who loves France or the French language. Merci! Today’s French expressions: avoir la pêche (vs) aller à la pêche   : avoir la pêche = to … Continue reading Jules update + Which of these French words is new to you?: guet-apens, tuyau, épuisette, taule, couvre feu, comme si de rien n’était, arroser, pantoufle…

Kristin Espinasse33 Comments