The French art of well wishing in today's edition. Enjoy and thanks for sharing this post with a friend! bon (boh(n) silent "n")      good; right, correctAUDIO FILE: Listen to our daughter, Jackie, read the following example sentence: Download MP3 or Wav file Bonne fête, bonne journée, bonne promenade… bon appétit… les francais ont la manie de souhaiter les bonnes choses! Happy holiday, have a good day, enjoy your … Continue reading BON this and BONNE that: The fine art of well wishing in France!

While my computer was in the shop being repaired, Jean-Marc and I rearranged our bedroom, and now I've got a desk with a view–and a working ordinateur, just in time to announce our latest winner (scroll to end of post)!   la choucroute (shoo-kroot)     : sauerkraut la choucroute garni = sauerkraut with meat (smoked pork, frankfurters) and potatoes Beautifully renovated and decorated home … Continue reading Choucroute + Winner announced

Today's Word: coucou! (koo-koo)     : hi there. AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's expression. The first words in the example sentence are: "Coucou c'est nous…" Can you make out the rest of the sentence? http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/files/coucou.mp3 A DaY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristin Espinasse"Lost in the Shuffle" Coucou les amis et amies! If today's format looks slightly off, you should see the … Continue reading French Word-a-day: Coucou & Catastrophes!

The sign in the lower left reads:  A VENDRE (For Sale). After I posted a question on Friday ("Should I post once-  or twice-weekly"), one reader commented that this blog might as well close up shop! The suggestion got me all riled up–which isn't such a bad place to be, when you're sitting on the fence over where you need to be….  TODAY'S WORD"faire bisquer"   … Continue reading Faire bisquer + Should this blog close-up shop?

Today's snapshot was taken during our mother-daughter trip to Milan. The modern sculpture wonderfully illustrates today's verb! Also, help me answer the question "Should this journal go out once or twice per week?" Comment here, and enter to win today's giveaway, details below. Beautifully renovated and decorated home in the Luberon. 4 bedrooms and a study with a sofa bed, each with ensuite (full) bath. This villa … Continue reading Tordre + Favorite words and win this book!

Photo taken in Aix-en-Provence yesterday, by my son Max. Thank you for your help, the other day. Your notes led to three good housing possibilities! se battre    : to fight Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following quoteDownload MP3 or wav Je ne suis pas d'accord avec ce que vous dites, mais je me battrai jusqu'à la mort pour que vous ayez le droit de … Continue reading Se battre, Freedom of Speech and Je suis Charlie

Housed, fed, and bleached. Our son, Max, is looking for two of those things in Portland, Oregon. For the third, let's see if he can find a better translation  in today's story, which he wrote in French and in English. (Photo taken 10 years ago, when Max was 9… and already helping us care for our vines.) TODAY'S EXPRESSION"logé, nourri, blanchi"     : housed, … Continue reading logé, nourri, blanchi & Max is coming to Portland!

Lots of new vocabulary today, and part two of our story from the fashion capital of the world! TODAY'S WORDfaire du lèche-vitrines     : to go window shopping AUDIO FILE: listen to Jean-Marc read the following example sentenceDownload MP3 or Wav file Dans la luxueuse Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Jackie et Kristi ont fait du lèche-vitrines.In the luxurious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Jackie and Kristi window-shopped. A DAY … Continue reading faire du leche-vitrines

Jackie in Milan, at the spectacular Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.   TODAY'S WORD: bluffer  (bluh-fay)     : to surprise, impress, astound someone    : to lie, pretend, fake something être bluffé = to be bowled over, to be impressed, to be stunned AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-Marc:Download MP3 or wav Pensant qu'elle irait à Paris,  Kristi a été bluffé en voyant un billet de train qui l'amène … Continue reading bluffer + mother-daughter trip