Tag: Christmas

Christmas, Entertaining, French Christmas

La Canne à Pêche: A Highly Amusing (Economic & Time-Saving) Gift Exchange!

The moss on these rocks is "Christmas tree green" and the sea, dazzling at sunrise. TODAY'S WORD: LA CANNE à PÊCHE     : fishing pole A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse The first gift on Christmas morning came in the form of sunrays. Clear blue skies and warm temperatures meant our extended family would be able to enjoy a festive meal … Continue reading La Canne à Pêche: A Highly Amusing (Economic & Time-Saving) Gift Exchange!

Kristin Espinasse12 Comments
Christmas

Mangeoire: a most meaningful French word

One year ago, looking in the window at my French family who joined us here for le repas de Noël. TODAY'S WORD: une mangeoire         : feeding trough, manger EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Là, dans la saleté et entre les animaux, elle mit son bébé au monde. Puis elle l'enveloppa chaudement et, comme il n'y avait pas de berceau, elle le déposa dans *une mangeoire* pour qu'il puisse … Continue reading Mangeoire: a most meaningful French word

Kristin Espinasse37 Comments
Christmas, French Christmas

French Word for pine tree

The other day while Smokey and I waited in the school parking lot for Jackie, kids filed past our car, occasionally stopping to point and to laugh: "Mais regarde sa langue! Just look at his funny tongue! Ahahahaha!" "Laisse tomber! Don't worry about it, Smokey. They don't know your story." So many stories out there… how little we know of the "strange" looking people we … Continue reading French Word for pine tree

Kristin Espinasse81 Comments
Christmas, French Christmas

How to say “party animal” in French?

Do you feel like this Santa, during the holiday rush. Just hanging on? Waiting for it all to pass? Read on. fêtard(e) (feh-tar, feh-tard)     : party animal, someone who likes to party Audio File: Listen to the following sentence in French Download MP3 or Wave file Dans ma jeunesse, j'étais une fêtarde.In my youth, I was a party animal. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by … Continue reading How to say “party animal” in French?

Kristin Espinasse58 Comments
Christmas, French Christmas

How to say Christmas Tree in French?

I'm getting ready to film the first in a series of videos about our home renovation. Don't miss a clip! - subscribe to our YouTube channel. Forward this and tell a design savvy architecturally-minded friend about the channel. They might have fun following us on this project in the sunny South of France (…meantime we are freezing in this heat-challenged home). Photo taken in Serre Chevalier, near … Continue reading How to say Christmas Tree in French?

Kristin Espinasse51 Comments
Grignan, Marriage

sang-froid

The Christmas decorations are still up in the town of Grignan. Have you taken down your holiday decor? Click here to comment.  le sang-froid     : calm, equanimity, imperturbability Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc (I am told my husband has a beautiful voice! Don't miss it): Download MP3 or Wav file Lors de situations conflictuelles, çela aide pas mal de garder son sang-froid!During situations which involve conflict, it … Continue reading sang-froid

Kristin Espinasse66 Comments
Christmas, Jackie

Cadeau: My Daughter’s Christmas “Liste de Voeux”

Does the Christmas rush "kill" the joy of the holidays? And re gift-giving, how much is too much and how little, too little? or is it all just over the top? Are we remembering the reason for the season? Read on in today's story column.   tuer (too-ay)     : to kill tuer le temps = to kill time Reverse Dictionary killjoy (spoilsport) = un(e) … Continue reading Cadeau: My Daughter’s Christmas “Liste de Voeux”

Kristin Espinasse40 Comments
Christmas, Family Life, French Christmas

Le Réveillon: Christmas Eve Dinner in France and What We are Eating

Christmas decorations for Noël in the town of Valbonne. réveillon (ray-veh-ohn) noun, masculine   1. Christmas Eve Dinner, New Year's Eve Dinner, midnight supper      (réveillon de Noël, reveillon du Nouvel An)  2. Christmas / New Year's Eve party Great French-themed books for children, by Catherine Stock:"A Spree in Paree" and "A Porc in New York". The illustrations are delightful!               … Continue reading Le Réveillon: Christmas Eve Dinner in France and What We are Eating

Kristin Espinasse