Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 32
February 28, 2019
La Cuve: All About Jean-Marc's (American) Wine "Ephemera"
Thank you, Jackie Hamilton, for working with Jean-Marc's design and then doing this wonderful drawing for the Ephemera wine label. MEET-UP Jean-Marc and I hope to see many of you at our wine tasting/booksigning in Colorado--at The Bookworm of Edwards on March 10th, at 2pm. Also, Jean-Marc and Max will be attending a wine dinner in Houston at Bistro Provence on 03/21. Reservation needed at bistro_provence@sbcglobal.net or at 713 827 8008. He will also attend a wine tasting on March 23rd...
February 25, 2019
Séréndipité: Meet-up with Kristi and Jean-Marc in Colorado: winetasting, booksigning, French-talking...
Jean-Marc and I will be at The Bookworm of Edwards on March 10th, from 2-5 pm. We would be absolutely delighted to meet you. For more information, visit this page...
Today's Word: Sérendipité (A bilingual definition)
Capacité, aptitude à faire par hasard une découverte inattendue et à en saisir l'utilité.
Ability to accidentally make an unexpected discovery and to grasp its utility.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
My husband travels to the US every spring for his wine busines...
February 22, 2019
Bilingual post & hommage to four young men who left us too soon.
Stars over the Valley of Serre Chevalier. Jean-Marc took this photo on the way back from a quiet gathering to console our close friends who have lost their firstborn. Four young men lost their lives in the car accident early Saturday morning. The entire Alpine valley of Serre Chevalier is in mourning. The following bilingual post was written in the car on our way home from the funeral.
TOUTE NOTRE TENDRESSE
Une semaine après être revenus des Alpes, nous y sommes subitement retournés. Nous v...
February 18, 2019
Something 'Pink' about the French (and it's not rosé wine) + coûter la peau des fesses
The lavender fields of Valensole beckon, their heavenly scent entices, and the backdrop of the mountains make me yearn to paint them. Why not come and paint them with me? Trip/tour info at Tessa's site Paint Provence With Tess or email tessabakerart@gmail.com
PQ, immanquable, le coton-tige, peau des fesses...
(Today, all the new vocabulary words are in the story...so hup, hup, let's get going....)
Schaum's French Grammar--for those who want a daily workout for their French! Click here.
February 11, 2019
Petits Oublis: 'Forgetfulness', Etourderie, and verb conjugation (listen to it!)
Experience a Lavender & Vine painting tour. Join our small group with professional instruction at the peak of the lavender season! 10% discount if you sign up in February. Rates and tour info here.
Today's Word: l'oubli
: forgetfulness, oversight, memory lapse
*New: Don't miss the verb conjugation for oublier, just after today's vocabulary-packed story below...
Listen L'oubli n'est pas un ennemi de la mémoire. C'est un phénomène non seulement banal mais aussi indispensable, qui lui p...
February 1, 2019
French for peninsula + South of France Memories Tour
Join sixteen women for twelve unforgettable days exploring the beauty of the south of France. Deborah Bine aka Barefoot Blogger and best selling author Patricia Sands share their passion for their favorite places with you. Spend six days in Nice and six days in Arles ... only move once! September 15 to 27, 2019. Click here for details ... four places left!
Today's Word: la presqu'île
: peninsula
Audio: listen to Jean-Marc read the Wikipedia entry below, click here:
La Presqu'île de Gi...
January 25, 2019
La Poubelle (when your work goes POOF! into the galaxy's garbage can)
You've seen this one before...but does one ever get tired of the sunrise in La Ciotat? Besides, who wants to see a picture of a poubelle...
Today's Word: la poubelle
: garbage can, trash can, dust bin
Increase your vocabulary with 2000 French phrases. Click here to order the book
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
Sometime ago, when we lived at our first vineyard, Smokey and I started a YouTube channel. You may have seen us trying to make something with lentils...or viewed...
January 22, 2019
The Stranger, Part 2 (+ The Word the French say When Smiling for a Photo)
A series of empêchements might have kept us from bumping into a stranger. Read on for part 2 of our story...
Today's Word: ouistiti!
: Say cheese!
A ouistiti is also a small creature, this one.
A book on my nightstand, and a memoir I've had for a very long time that is even more meaningful to me now. I hope you will enjoy Emilie Carles A Life of Her Own. Click here to order.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
After smiling ouistiti for the photo, we left our accidental amie...
January 18, 2019
Haphazardly in French + Serendipitous Meeting with a Stranger, Part 1
Experience a Lavender & Vine painting tour! Discover the magical light of Van Gogh this summer (lavender season) or fall (wine harvest). Join our small group with professional instruction to paint in Provence. Rates and tour info here.
Today's Phrase: au petit bonheur
: haphazardly, randomly
Le bonheur, c'est de continuer à désirer ce qu'on possède. -Saint Augustin
Happiness is wanting what you already have.
January Book-A-Thon....
For two years now I have quietly read your blog, enjoy...
January 14, 2019
Tabouret, fouet, penderie, bonnes idées - and a glimpse into the writing life
It is not enough to have good ideas, you have to act. If you need milk, do not sit on a stool in the middle of a field in the hope that a cow will pass by. -Curtis Grant (don't miss the French translation below)
Today's word: un tabouret
: stool, footstool
un tabouret de bar = bar stool
un taboret de cuisine = kitchen stool
un tabouret de piano = piano bench
Il ne suffit pas d'avoir de bonnes idées, il faut agir. Si vous avez besoin de lait, ne vous installez pas sur un tabouret au mil...
