Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 33
January 11, 2019
Cussing, swear word: You've heard of gros mot, but what's a juron?
Today's crime story (or tale of your choice...) takes place here, at our local park in La Ciotat....
French Word of the Day: un juron
: swearword, curse word, cuss
lâcher des jurons = to use strong language
un chapelet de jurons = a string of expletives
U.S. Taxes for Worldly Americans--A fascinating topic if you're an expat or wish to become one. Click here for additional info i.e. ever heard about the unlucky Accidental American? Find out more in the book!)
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE...
January 8, 2019
Compunction and cacahuètes + a handful of vocabulary...
See those cacahuètes above the mushrooms and beside the lychees? More in the following story and lunch with Max and friends.
Today's Word: la cacahuète
: peanut
Peanuts also go by the name arachide, though Jean-Marc tells me cacahuètes (also spelled cacahouètes, which means cacao de terre) are the more popular term.
This cookbook, on my wishlist, is available in hardcover or on ebook or Kindle
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE, by Kristi Espinasse
The upside of three generations living under...
January 6, 2019
Amour-Propre: Breakfast, Boundaries & A Blow to the Ego
Félicitations to our son Max! After working in Reims he will continue his internship with Lanson (champagne) in Paris, as part of his work-study year with Montpellier Business School. Before heading to the capital, he's having a big barbeque today with his friends. I'm in charge of salad and homemade oven fries... so, here's a story from a few years ago....
amour-propre (ah-more-prohpr)
: self-esteem, self-love, self-worth; pride
blesser quelqu'un dans son amour-propre = to be a blow...
Amour-Propre: Breakfast, Bounderies & A Blow to the Ego
Félicitations to our son Max! After working in Reims he will continue his internship with Lanson (champagne) in Paris, as part of his work-study year with Montpellier Business School. Before heading to the capital, he's having a big barbeque today with his friends. I'm in charge of salad and homemade oven fries... so, here's a story from a few years ago....
amour-propre (ah-more-prohpr)
: self-esteem, self-love, self-worth; pride
blesser quelqu'un dans son amour-propre = to be a blow...
January 3, 2019
Marquer le coup (A hike, swim at Parc du Mugel) + Do what you want to do
A favorite day planner. Get a copy of French Country Diary and fill it with all the meaningful and exciting things you will do this year.
Today's phrase: marquer le coup
: to mark the occasion, to celebrate
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
New Year's Day began with blue skies, birdsong (les gazouillis, as JM calls it), and an urge to get outside. There were some things I wanted to do before le premier janvier slipped by, and with Mom's suggestion still strumming in my mind I...
December 30, 2018
Bon bout d'an! + What is an adult? (Surprising answer by one of France's most famous philosophers)
For this last post of the year, my mind is a scramble--une bousculade. As with the beginning of any essay, there are so many possible directions in which to set out. This is when a writer must hone in on a subject or, at the very least, un thème.
Because everything is bubbling up inside of me in a good and sunny way, it can't help but overflow onto this page. Whether this positive energy will last until lunchtime--or carry on through the end of the year--peu importe. What's essential is to...
December 27, 2018
51 ans comme le pastis! + Come paint in Provence!
The flyer above is for my dear friend Tess's art getaways here in France. Click on the banner above and put this experience on your bucket list for 2019!
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
Eh bien, I didn't mean to take a week off of writing this journal. I had planned to touch base with you on Christmas Eve, with a meaningful story, when the word intrusive popped into my mind. Call it intuition...or maturing in age...but the fact is je ne voulais pas vous gonfler avec trop de cho...
December 20, 2018
Entertain friends with this delicious French synonym + Mieux vaut tard que jamais!
The crust or trottoir on my favorite pizza at Chez Henri.
TODAY'S WORD: le trottoir
: sidewalk, pavement, curb
: slang for the outer crust (or le rebord) on a pizza, tart, or quiche
Listen to Jean-Marc Download Trottoir
En France et en Suisse, par métaphore, le trottoir est aussi le nom communément donné au bord d'une tarte ou d'une pizza.
In France and Switzerland, as a metaphor, the sidewalk is also the name given for the crust of a tart or a pizza.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kr...
December 18, 2018
Ces bottes sont faites pour marcher (These boots are made for...)
Village home in Saint-Chaffrey, Southern French Alps
Today's word: la botte
: boot
: bundle (sticks)
: bunch (radishes)
Click here to listen to the following sentence in French
Eh bien, ces bottes sont faites pour marcher et c'est exactement ce qu'elles vont faire. --Nancy Sinatra
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE...by Kristi Espinasse
Our drive up to the Alps was getting off to a bleak start. Not five minutes into ou...
December 13, 2018
Fastoche Loaf--you must make this savory bread (via this cool hack for the favorite French yogurt cake!)
You must make a cake salé! It is everything from a casual main course to a late-night snack in bed (extra good warmed--just like the sheets this time of year)....
Today's word: le cake salé
: loaf, savory cake
Audio File & Example Sentence: click here
Le mot « cake » s'est étendu à un gâteau salé... fait avec des légumes, des olives, du jambon, etc. On parle alors de « cake salé ». The word "cake" has been extended to a salty cake ... made with vegetables, olives, ham, etc. This is call...
