Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 16
May 13, 2022
Terroir, French for "somewhereness" & that magnetic pull we feel towards France
Those wildflower seeds loved the terroir in Sainte Cécile, where we lived for a time.
TODAY'S WORD: "terroir"
: soil, region; "somewhereness"
FRENCH SOUND FILE: Click the link to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in today's post. Then scroll down to the vocabulary section to check your French comprehension.
Listen closely to the vocabulary list
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
You have probably stumbled across the word terroir (especially if you are a wine lover) and h...
May 6, 2022
Dépanner & How a safety pin can outwit pickpockets
Pictured: a muguet stand here in La Ciotat. I hope you all had a relaxing premier mai, or Labor Day, and that the month is going well. On May 12th, at 6 p.m., Jean-Marc and our son Max are having a special wine-tasting for organic and natural wines. If you are in the area of La Ciotat they would love to see you. Click here for more info about this free winetasting event
TODAY'S FRENCH WORD: “dépanner”
: to help out, to lend someone money, to help someone out of a jam, to come to the rescu...
April 28, 2022
A Happy Ending + "To Fly Away" in French
One dove, Betty (pictured beside Mama), remained in our care until Sunday...when she successfully took flight. Read on for an update on her brother, Rusty, and his trick on local tourists :-) Your edits to this post are helpful, appreciated, and incorporated as soon as possible. Merci.
TODAY'S FRENCH WORD: "s'envoler"
: to take flight, to fly away, to fly off
SOUND FILE: Click the link to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in today's post. Then scroll down to the vocabulary sectio...
April 21, 2022
Les oisillons: baby birds fall into our yard + caring for injured and baby chicks
These baby doves were discovered in our garden one week ago. Don't miss the story, below. See any mistakes in today's post? Your edits are helpful and appreciated. Merci d'avance.
TODAY’S FRENCH WORD: un oisillon
: baby bird, chick
SOUND FILE: Click the link to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in today's post. Then scroll down to the vocabulary section to check your French comprehension.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE
Vous POUVEZ remettre un oisillon dans son nid. Con...
April 14, 2022
Slang in French for "to have a bite to eat" & La Loco (a delicious Italian restaurant in Cassis)
A sympathique place to eat in Cassis. That's Max's pal, Antoine, and a couple of furry customers trying to get into "La Loco"--an Italian Restaurant facing the train station 1.9 miles above the Cassidian Port.
FRENCH EXPRESSION: “casser la dalle”
: to have a bite to eat (slang)
SOUND FILE: Click the link to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in today's post. Then scroll down to the vocabulary section to check your French comprehension.
Click here to access the sound file
A DAY IN...
April 8, 2022
What are "les patins à roulettes"? + Embarrassment is the Thief of Joy
Colorful, vintage "quad" roller skates. Je les adore! How about you? And do you rollerskate? Also, if today's word doesn't interest you, there are a dozen more useful terms to discover in the story below.
FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: les patins à roulettes
: roller skates
FRENCH AUDIO: Click the link below to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in today's post. Then scroll down to the vocabulary section to check your French comprehension.
Click here to open the audio file
A DAY IN...
April 1, 2022
La Cotisation: How much money I earn blogging $$ + a retirement pension for Americans in France?
“La Boucherie” in Pélissanne—Notice the lettering on this shopfront (can you translate the French?). I love typography and have always loved language even if I am still capable of butchering French. In today’s story, you’ll understand why... 
For our True Crime readers: The Butcher of Paris I've not read the book (read at your own risk) but the title goes along with today's story :-)
Today's Word: la cotisation
: subscriptions, dues; contributions (social security)
French Audio: Click ...
March 24, 2022
The French Word "Renifler" & Getting my Husband and My Dog to Speak the Same Language
This post begins and ends with pictures of (or around) our city's historic Cinéma Lumière. Corrections to this journal are helpful and appreciated.
Today's Word: renifler
: to sniff, smell, snuffle
French Audio/Listening: Click the link below to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in today's story. Then scroll down to the vocabulary list to check your French comprehension.
Improve your French and lose yourself in the local countryside with this clas...
March 18, 2022
Un Coup de Pouce: a helping hand from our daughter
Jean-Marc, in Briançon. The words on the wall read: L'alpiniste est un homme qui conduit son corps là où, un jour, ses yeux ont regardé... " The mountaineer is a man who leads his body to where, one day, his eyes have looked. --Gaston Rébuffat
Today's Expression: Un Coup de Pouce
: a helping hand, a boost, a leg up
French Audio/Listening: Click the following link to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in today's story. Then scroll down to the vocabulary list to check your French comp...
March 10, 2022
French for "fighter, warrior, survivor" + Fate, Love, and Dogs: Our golden retriever is “un battant”
These are our dog’s parents. That’s “Sam” on the left and Breizh, right. They lived life to the fullest and are over the rainbow bridge now. We hope to keep their son, Smokey, on this side of that colorful arc-en-ciel for as long as possible. Read on, in today’s post.
Today's Word: un battant
: fighter, warrior, survivor
French Audio/Listening: Click the following link to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in the following story. Then scroll down to the vocabulary list to check yo...
