Renovation, Typography

pagaille + typography photos

Typography is the theme tying today's photos together. Enjoy and, if you know someone who appreciates lettering, please send this on!(Picture taken in Salernes, pottery-making village and more!) pagaille (pah-geye)     : shambles, chaos, havoc, mayhem, disarray; mess, disorder Audio File: Listen to the next four lines: Download MP3 or Wav file quelle pagaille! = what a mess!mettre la pagaille = to mess upsemer la pagaille = … Continue reading pagaille + typography photos

Kristin Espinasse70 Comments
Teddy Bears

le nounours + teddy bears spotted in France (photos)

Pooh Bear, you've got competition in France. Share today's "extra" edition with a Teddy Bear lover. le nounours (noo-noorce)     : teddy bear  Word origin: Nounours–from un ours (en peluche), or a "stuffed bear," is French baby talk. See a list of French Baby Talk here. Audio File:  Download MP3 or  Wav file Un nounours c'est un câlin à quatre pattes.A teddy is a cuddle with paws … Continue reading le nounours + teddy bears spotted in France (photos)

Kristin Espinasse104 Comments
Renovation

How to say “to fall for it” in French? + the charming “door curtain” (photos)

If you thought the previous story was a bit fishy… it was! (Photo of the fishmonger’s taken in Brignoles.) Today’s word, an expression, really, comes from a comment following Monday’s post. Claudette Kunsay writes: Oh! Kristin, je suis tombée dans le panneau comme bcp d’autres !!! Et j’étais si fâchée contre ces hommes de loi!!! Je trouvais la situation ridicule mais, tout est possible. Oh, Kristin, … Continue reading How to say “to fall for it” in French? + the charming “door curtain” (photos)

Kristin Espinasse48 Comments
Uncategorized

French word for catacombs + photos of French locks

In case you ever wondered just who gets stuck cleaning the catacombs of Paris… (Photograph taken by Michael Reeve) Very sorry for the hasty letter today (the sound file and "word of the day" will return–along with the regular edition–on Wednesday). I'm in a hurry as I need to be in Paris by 9 a.m. for three days of community service. The local authorities contacted … Continue reading French word for catacombs + photos of French locks

Kristin Espinasse282 Comments
Easter

Happy Easter in French

Joyeuses Pâques! (Smokey se trompe de déguisement… et de fête aussi…)(Smokey mixes up the costumes… and the holiday, too…)  Braise (left): Mon fils… My son…. Smokey (right): C'est moi-même. That's me. Braise: Quand je t'ai demandé d'aller chercher les déguisements… When I asked you to go and get the costumes…. …Je voulais dire LES OREILLES DE LAPIN. I meant the BUNNY EARS. Braise: "Hula Girls," c'est … Continue reading Happy Easter in French

Kristin Espinasse62 Comments
Birthdays, Jean-Marc, Video

il parait + video interview on French TV

Out of the rubble a wine is born!  Jean-Marc gave more than heart and soul when he made his first wine: he gave his blood, his tears, and an alarming number of kilos. I talk about this, and more, in an interview about the organic winemaker on French TV.  il paraît (eel-pah-ray)     : it seems, it appears synonyms: on dit (they say) or … Continue reading il parait + video interview on French TV

Kristin Espinasse110 Comments
Birthdays, Heidi, Mailboxes

mailbox in French + mailbox photos!

One of the dumbest things about moving to France is leaving your sister behind. Today, mine celebrates a birthday and I won't be there to take her picture as she blows out her candles. But with any luck she'll have received the funny postcard I sent which brings me to the theme of today's missive: mailboxes! la boîte à lettres (bwat-ah-letr)     : mailbox, … Continue reading mailbox in French + mailbox photos!

Kristin Espinasse138 Comments
Fashion, Jackie

How to say snack in French?

The faded painted sign above reads “Cafe de la Mairie”. (photo taken in Visan) I am pairing today’s story–which takes place at fashion school–with window fashion. Enjoy the colorful scenes that decorate this edition and please consider forwarding it to a friend. un en-cas (or encas, pronounced “on-kah”)     : snack French definition: Repas léger en cas de besoin. Light meal in case of need. … Continue reading How to say snack in French?

Kristin Espinasse88 Comments
Fashion, Jean-Marc, Mr Sacks

Sacoche – how to say satchel or briefcase (or “man purse”) in French

A scooter in St. Tropez. Look closely at the sagging object my husband is carrying. Meet Mr. Sacks, Jean-Marc's lovable sidekick. The photos in the following story were taken over the years…. Today's Word: la sacoche (sah-kohsh)     : handbag, saddlebag, purse, bag from the Italian saccoccia, or "little pocket" la sacoche en cuir = leather bagla sacoche d'écolier = school bagla sacoche à … Continue reading Sacoche – how to say satchel or briefcase (or “man purse”) in French

Kristin Espinasse230 Comments
inspiration, Jackie

c’est déjà pas mal

"A path of one's own." Our daughter Jackie in 2005, in Queyras. Keep marching toward your dream, My Girl, and don't forget to enjoy the sights along the way! More about our recent pep talk in today's story column. Forward it to a struggling student. (Note: the sign reads "block party".) A few seats are still available at the Washington DC wine dinner with Jean-Marc … Continue reading c’est déjà pas mal

Kristin Espinasse66 Comments