Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 55
November 30, 2016
The Accidental Shoplifter & Happy Medium in French
THE BITTEREST WINE: a novelabout a family's conflicting roles in WWII Provence and famous writers of the Resistance who influenced them. Order the book.
TODAY'S WORD: le juste milieu
: happy medium
ECOUTEZ - Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word: Download Juste-milieu
La vertu est le juste milieu entre deux vices. -Aristote
Virtue is the happy medium between two extremes. -Aristotle
Improve your spoken French. Try Pronounce it Perfectly in French or Exercises in French...
November 28, 2016
French Etiquette: Did you know about this rule for cheese? I sure didn't!
"New Day". Smokey reminds us all to live simply, slowly, and not to make a cheese about things! Speaking of fromage, tell us your favorite kind here in the comments.
TODAY'S WORD: en faire tout un fromage
: to make a fuss about something
: to make a mountain out of a molehill
: to make a big deal out of something
ECOUTEZ - Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French expression:
Download En faire tout un fromage
Improve your spoken French: Pronounce it Perfectly in French or Exercise...
November 24, 2016
Before We Move... The Story of How We Came to Live at Mas des Brun
Picture of the balcony off our bedroom. It was my dream to live in a stone house and, in 2012, this rêve came true--with a view of the sea to boot! TODAY'S WORD: sourire
: (noun) smile
: (verb) to smile
One way to support this French word journal: shop for necessities or gifts using any of the following links to enter the store. Thank you!
GROCERIES - including French delicacies like herbs, mustard, cakes
FRENCH COUNTRY DIARY 2017 - the popular and beloved engagement calendar.
PARIS PE...
November 21, 2016
To be in limbo
It is raining this morning, here in St. Cyr-sur-Mer. Visibility is fuzzy--just like today's word (and our situation).
TODAY'S WORD: être dans le flou
: to be in limbo
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ECOUTEZ - Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word: Download soundfile
Depuis quelques temps, ne sachant pas là...
November 17, 2016
Gigot: a surprise from our neighbor
An arbousier we planted behind our farmhouse. I first noticed these "strawberry trees" while visiting Corsica, where they are plentiful in the wild--as are boars, which gobble up the fallen fruit. More about sangliers in today's post.
FRENCH COUNTRY DIARY 2017 - the most popular and beloved engagement calendar ever. Order it here.
TODAY'S WORD: un gigot
leg, thigh (of animal)
le gigot d'agneau = leg of lamb
ECOUTEZ - hear Jean-Marc pronounce today's word: Download MP3 file
Un gigot...
November 14, 2016
Fried Eggs in French, a Maman Poule, and a visit from Max
The French eat quail eggs (les oeufs de caille)... but do they eat fried eggs? Read on...
TODAY'S WORD: un oeuf au plat
: a fried egg, egg "sunny side up"
ECOUTEZ - Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word:
Download MP3 for "Oeuf-au-plat"
Un œuf au plat, œuf sur le plat, œuf à la poêle ou œuf miroir est un œuf... cuit à la poêle ou sur une plaque préalablement chauffée. Lorsque l'œuf est cassé dans le récipient, son contenu s'étale et le blanc forme une couronne autour du jaune...
November 11, 2016
La Paix de Choses Sauvages , Wendell Berry, and Thoughts on The US Election Results
Picture taken on Election Day morning. Is the sky half full or half empty? Depends on how you see things.
TODAY'S WORD: la paix de choses sauvages
: the peace of wild things
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
Have you missed me? Or have you been so absorbed in the election results that you didn't notice a post has not gone out this week, until now--and this by the skin of my teeth.
(If only The Skin of My Teeth could continue writing this post-election essay.)
I've been t...
November 4, 2016
Le Changement d'heure : do you like it or dread it?
Here in France, we set our clocks back one hour on Sunday. And you? Do you have a time change coming up? And how does it affect you, le changement d'heure? Share your thoughts in the comments at the end of this post.
TODAY'S WORD: le changement d'heure
: time change
heure d'été = daylight savings time, summer time
passer à l'heure d'hiver = to change to winter time
ECOUTEZ - Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word:Download Changement d'heure
Le changement d'heure. En France,...
October 31, 2016
Pumpkin in French - And "Plan C" (living in an RV?)
Une citrouille, in French, is a pumpkin (and a pumpkin is also a potiron). But in today's story, une citrouille is a mode of transportation...and we're not talking about a Citroën!
TODAY'S WORD: Une Citrouille
: pumpkin
: head (synonym, in French, for citrouille)
la citrouille d'Halloween = jack-o'-lantern
la tarte à la citrouille = pumpkin pie
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October 28, 2016
Rent Our French farmhouse? Your Year in Provence? + Faire des courses
French Country Diary - everyone's favorite calendar and it makes a great gift: Click here for the French Country Diary 2017
TODAY'S WORD: faire des courses
: to go shopping
: to run errands
SABLET HOME - for high quality vacation rentalsin the heart of Provence. Click here for pictures.
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ECOUTEZ - Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's phrase: Download Faire-des-cou...
