Driving

Flic: A near-collision with the cops!

Thank you, Eileen DeCamp, for your photo vignette of Jean-Marc's wine & my First French Essais! Eileen titled her picture, "Two of my favorite things!!!" With any chance, Eileen's photo, taken on Seabrook Island, SC, will work better than my publicity stunt, filmed here near Bandol! le flic (fleek)     cop Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's word and example sentenceDownload Flic or Wav A Toulon, j'ai … Continue reading Flic: A near-collision with the cops!

Kristin Espinasse42 Comments
Video, Video: Kristin

No “tire-bouchon”? + How to open a bottle of wine with a BOOK! (video)

You don't have to drink wine to benefit from today's incredible tip! (I use the opened bottles for ice tea.) Don't miss today's lively, one minute demonstration on how to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew. le tire-bouchon (teer-boo-shohn)     : corkscrew Un tire-bouchon est un ustensile utilisé pour tirer le bouchon en liège naturel ou reconstitué d'une bouteille.  A corkscrew is … Continue reading No “tire-bouchon”? + How to open a bottle of wine with a BOOK! (video)

Kristin Espinasse190 Comments
Book Publishing

culotte de cheval + new “prix amical” for book!

Do my thighs look big? Some would be surprised French women ask themselves this question. But three months till summertime and, truth is, the French–men, women, and even children–are already dieting! They're talking about it at the picnic table, in the school yard, and in programs on T.V.  The other day I overhead the term "culotte de cheval" and guessed the subject was fashion (as in … Continue reading culotte de cheval + new “prix amical” for book!

Kristin Espinasse144 Comments
Uncategorized

Tips for entertaining + book update!!

Exciting book update at the end of this post! First, take note: Cousin Audrey, from Banneret, and Caroline, from Rouge-Bleu, will be pouring their wines in Portland at Pastaworks (Hawthorne, Saturday 03/15 from 3-5 PM & City Market, Sunday 03/16 from 3-5.PM) Don't miss this! sans façon(s) (sahn fah-sahn)     : no, thank you    : unceremoniously A guest at last night's dinner party taught me a new way to … Continue reading Tips for entertaining + book update!!

Kristin Espinasse70 Comments
Book Publishing, Books

My new book is available now! One reason to buy it today…

Ça y est… It's book launch day! First French Essais is now available here, on Amazon. A Very Special Day in a French Life…The morning sun is warming the countryside and still I'm trembling like a leaf–trying to write this crucial book launch page without a PR team, without a marketing director, without Mom. Like the two shots of coffee I've just downed, I trust Mom … Continue reading My new book is available now! One reason to buy it today…

Kristin Espinasse200 Comments
Meet-Ups

Meet up near Bandol!! + Manger la soupe sur la tête de quelqu’un

It's time to meet up at my place–or very near it! Since leaving Domaine Rouge-Bleu, where we welcomed visitors weekly, I have not organized a cozy get-together. How about an April rendez-vous? More details in the story column below… First, the expression of the day: Manger la soupe sur la tête de quelqu’un     : to be taller than someone else, so tall you … Continue reading Meet up near Bandol!! + Manger la soupe sur la tête de quelqu’un

Kristin Espinasse88 Comments
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Pictures of our yard

Kale blossoms! So many surprises outside. Last night my ears were tickled by the call of les grenouilles, or frogs. And then there were those poppies I told you about…. Springtime is here! Forgive me for not posting a word or a sound file today–but there will be vocabulary sprinkled throughout this post–like seeds scattered in the back yard potager!  La Guetteuse. Our, spotter (or watcher or guetteur) … Continue reading Pictures of our yard

Kristin Espinasse34 Comments
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loufoque meaning + first poppies + chapter translation!

If a poppy can bloom on the first of March, can a couple of errant cats appear after 6 days away? Photo taken in our field of olive trees. The flowers may have bloomed as early as the end of February! loufoque (loo-fohk) madcap, zany, nutty wild, bizarre Audio File: Listen to today's word and terms: Download MP3 or Wav une aventure loufoque = madcap adventureun chat loufoque … Continue reading loufoque meaning + first poppies + chapter translation!

Kristin Espinasse50 Comments
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Un Mot sur La Couverture du Livre

Here is the translation of the last chapter of my book “First French Essais: Venturing into Writing, Marriage, and France.” Questions for you: Are any of the ideas, in the text below, lost in translation? In the book version, would you rather see a stacked translation (the French paragraph directly below the English) or would you enjoy reading one French chapter (following the English chapter).  … Continue reading Un Mot sur La Couverture du Livre

Kristin Espinasse72 Comments
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Ways to say you are hurting (French expressions)

Photo of Jean-Marc with the kitties, who went missing. My son and his friend Anto helped come up with this list of Ways to say you are hurting, but often the look on one's face is enough to convey the message of tristesse, or sadness. Les differentes expressions pour exprimer la souffrance/Expressions to express suffering: je suis triste = I am sadça ne va pas du … Continue reading Ways to say you are hurting (French expressions)

Kristin Espinasse292 Comments