Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 47
July 8, 2017
Décontracté at Chateau de Pibarnon: a visual report
Yesterday we spent a relaxing day at one of the most prestigious vineyards in Provence: Chateau de Pibarnon. Listen to the previous sentence in French, just below, and don't miss the entire post and photos. First, today's word:
"décontracté"
relaxed, calm, serene
Click the following link to listen to the French sentence (English version above)
A DAY IN A FRE...
July 5, 2017
Meetup at our home + French Sloppy Joes (A Sicilian-inspired recipe)
Ignore the veggies for a moment and listen up: we're having a wine-tasting here at home on July 11th at 5 pm. Email jm.espinasse@gmail.com to reserve your seat. Hope to see you!
Yesterday, Jean-Marc and I quietly celebrated 23 years of marriage (our civil union was in Marseilles, on July 4, 1994. Read the story and see the steamy picture.)
If I had to do it over again, I would only change one thing: my cooking. I would have spent more time learning how to make soups, multipurpose pestos,...
July 3, 2017
Les transats (something you can rent on French beaches)...
Transats and parasols along the sandy beach in Cassis, France. That's Jean-Marc, in his Brazil maillot, to the left. Don't miss this entire post, with photos--click the link below.
"un transat"
deckchair, lounge chair, chaise longue, recliner
Today's word also appears in the story "Gaver (What, The French Pig Out?)"
Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following French words including transat aloud
Un transat. Hier, nous avons loué les transats sur la grande plage de sable de...
June 30, 2017
Vocabulary Roundup - Listen to all the French words we learned in June
Did you miss a post this month? Pas de souci. No worries! Here are all the words and stories from June, accompanied by recent photos from our area (St Cyr-sur-Mer). Click on the title links to access the posts and even more photos. This is a good post to share with a friend, who would like to learn French, as they will get a good taste of this language journal.
Ready to begin? Prepare to scroll down the following list, then...
CLICK HERE TO BEGIN LISTENING TO JEAN-MARC PRONOUNCE ALL THE WOR...
June 26, 2017
You'll love this term for "family reunion"!
This weekend there were more than 30 of us seated at the table for our family reunion in Fuveau. Listen to the previous sentence, in French, below.
"une cousinade"
: family reunion
Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the next sentence in French
Ce week-end nous étions une trentaine de personnes à table, lors de notre cousinade à Fuveau
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE...
by Kristi Espinasse
On our way to our family reunion (which, I just learned, the French call charmingly enough une c...
June 22, 2017
Bilingual post: Le Coton-tige + a French doctor's thoughts on cleaning your ears
Spectacular views from every window, a charming, private courtyard, comfortable spacious rooms, and air-conditioned bedrooms make Maison des Pèlerins very inviting all year round. View this rental property.
Don't put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. Ne mettez jamais rien de plus petit que votre coude dans votre oreille. Don't miss the rest of this post...and thanks for sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning French.
"le coton-tige"
- cotton swab
- cotton bud...
June 20, 2017
Oh, pétard! The things you hear (and see) when eavesdropping
On Sunday, we took the long way to the beach, enjoying one of the many sentiers, or walking paths--this one fragrant with sweet-scented Scotch Broom! What with the perfumed air and feel of the sea's breeze, it was a sensual Father's Day morning--especially when my ears began to be tickled by a funny Southern French exclamation soon after we arrived at the beach. With that I introduce today's southern expression:
"Oh pétard!"
: Oh my gosh!, wow!, #$@!&
June 17, 2017
Racines: My father's "cousins germains" or "first cousins"
The fishing village of Porticello, Sicily, where we had a memorable meal and celebration.
"RACINES"
: roots
Hear Jean-Marc pronounce the following sentence. Click here RACINE
La famille - Comme les branches d'un arbre, nous grandissons tous dans de différentes directions, mais nos racines ne font qu'un. Family - like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, but our roots are one.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
I was going to title this post: Family Reunion...
Racines: My father's "cousins germains"
The fishing village of Porticello, Sicily, where we had a memorable meal and celebration. A brief post for you today, the regular edition will be back next week.
"RACINES"
: roots
Hear Jean-Marc pronounce the following sentence. Click here RACINE
La famille - Comme les branches d'un arbre, nous grandissons tous dans de différentes directions, mais nos racines ne font qu'un.
Family - like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, but our roots are one.
A DAY IN A FRENCH L...
June 14, 2017
Ça passe ou ça casse + Doggy bags in France
In the 5 years we've lived here, I have posted photos of our home here and here and here. This one, of Jean-Marc's DIY waterfall (a garden hose secured by a few rocks) shows the boulders on the side of our farmhouse and the almond trees that shade them in summertime. You can also see the giant agave succulent. The flowering vine is a bougainvillea.
Ça passe ou ça casse. As we wait for news on whether or not the sale of our vineyard will go through, we are going to take a few days off and jo...
