Do you own a dreamcatcher? We kept seeing these attrape-rêves last week–in the most unexpected places: La Ciotat, near Cannes, and again in Villefranche-sur-Mer. Coincidence? (photo of our daughter) un attrape-rêve (also un capteur de rêves)     : dreamcatcher Selon la croyance populaire, le capteur de rêve empêche les mauvais rêves d'envahir le sommeil de son détenteur. Agissant comme un filtre, il capte les songes … Continue reading It began with tattoos… (our mother-daughter escapade to Cap Ferrat) + un attrape-rêve

Me and my Dad at the old port in La Ciotat Today's phrase: prendre les choses comme elles viennent     : to go with the flow Audio file:  Click here to listen to "go with the flow" in French  A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE    "Call Me Flo"   by Kristi Espinasse At 3:30 this morning, au milieu de la nuit, we sat around the coffee table eating … Continue reading It’s good to be back! How to say “go with the flow” in French + La Ciotat recommendations

A vocabulary-packed Sunday letter for you today. The regular edition will return in a fortnight or less. Bonjour, For the second time in four weeks, I'm breaking my "no working on Sunday" rule. My Dad and Marsha arrive Tuesday and I'm in a flurry of last-minute To-Do's–including keeping up this blog–which is silly because, really, a year from now who will even remember whether or not … Continue reading Relâcher: A day to fly a kite (or fly like a kite!)

"The Spiderman of the 18th" speaks with the President. Mamoudou Gassama's selfless act awarded him more than citizenship, a job, and a bravo from the President, it has given him–and all of us–l'éspoir in humankind. Let's hope that after the media invasion, this former refugee will be left in peace–to grow and to find happiness, and, finally, a bit of rest, in France. Read about … Continue reading Escalader: the story of Mamoudou Gassama, “The Spiderman of the 18th”

Halfway in? or halfway out (like Smokey here)? To continue receiving these updates via email simply click on this link for your subscription to be automatically validated (the link takes you to the latest post). Today's phrase: avoir la dalle  : to be hungry Click here to listen to the following sentence: J'ai la dalle. J'ai la dalle. Maman, j'ai très très faim…il n'y a … Continue reading French Mothers Day + J’ai la dalle – my son keeps saying this. What does it mean?

Continue reading Sunrise in La Ciotat

A wasabi plant beside our fountain… Dear Reader, please note, as of today: Inactive subscribers must be removed from my French Word-A-Day email list in order to conform to the latest GDPR internet privacy laws. =>To be counted as an active subscriber: click on any link in today's post (this one, par exemple!)  Today's word: dacodac     : Okie dokie (OK)  Click here to listen to the … Continue reading Darling reader, I need your “dacodac”! If you want to continue receiving this homespun letter from France, action is required

An all-French edition, comme ceci, caused a few of you to head for the hills last time. Relax! Even if you don't read French, tell yourself, "of the 1000 most frequently used English words, some 50 percent come from French." Well, maybe this is an exaggeration (as was that sudden exodus to the hills, or collines… speaking of which, look at the beautiful scene, above). Thanks to my … Continue reading Escapade en Lozère + A hike and a surprise encounter in Cevennes National Park