Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 59

"Unfit mother" in French + A Celebration

The following is a curious choice for word-of-the-day on the eve of our son's 21st birthday, but the term mère indigne popped up in today's story. I then found an old word-a-day soundfile from when Max was 11 years old. So there you have it. An almost ready-made post! Here we go:

UNE MERE INDIGNE

: an unfit mother

ECOUTEZ: Listen to a then 11-year-old Max pronounce the example sentence for indigne:
Download Wav

Qui ne continue pas à apprendre est indigne d'enseigner.
He who ceases to l...

Accidental Cassoulet -- an update

The regular edition, with bells and whistles, will be back next week. Photo from our 20th wedding anniversary, in 2014. Truly A Good Year for Jean-Marc.


Dear Readers,

If I ever wrote a cookbook or a memoir I would call it Accidental Cassoulet. And if I have one regret in my life it is this: not to have cooked from scratch from the age of 12 (when I was a wiz at grating cheddar cheese on a flour tortilla and grilling it in the oven. But one day I started a kitchen fire in our trailer, putt...

A Ray of Sunshine in French: A message from Jean-Marc

For those who've never seen us before, I thought to include this photo of Jean-Marc and me, pictured under this pink chinese umbrella. We've lost a bit of hair which is understandable in these cloudy times! At first I thought this quote (to our left) was an unfinished sentence. But on rereading it, I now see it in a new light:

"No relationship is only sunbeams--but two people sharing an umbrella and surviving the storms together."

And here is the original quote in English, following the Fren...

Let's talk about Depression : broyer du noir

Happy Days then and now. Photo taken in 1991

Today's Word: broyer du noir

: to feel defeated, demoralized, depressed


AUDIO FILE - Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's word and sentence:

Download MP3orWav file

broyer du noir. Quand quelqu'un est déprimé il voit tout en noir.
To feel dejected. When someone's depressed, the see everything in black.

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE...

I am discombobulated lately. Ce dernier temps, je chamboule... This happens when a series of things happen all at...

Common sense in French

Bonjour from sunny St Cyr-sur-Mer. I am unable to post photos today (more about that, below), and so will get right to today's useful French word: le bon sens. I'll use the definition as the title to the following story...
COMMON SENSE
I am typing this post on my tablet, which is propped up on a stack of bright checkered dish towels here on our dining room table. My desk is unavailable, there being a painter in my office, aka, our bedroom. For an office-bedroom the space is surprisingly ze...

Can you drink tap water in France? A very short report....

France boasts an abundant supply of water. But can you drink from the tap? Is itpotable, or drinkable? Just where does tap water come from and, more importantly, What is in it?

TODAY'S WORD: eau de robinet

: tap water


ECOUTEZ/Listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentence:
Download MP3orDownload Wav

Eau de robinet. Peut-on boire l'eau du robinet en France?
Tap water. Can we drink tap water in France?


Two home-rental sites in France. Check out each one:
SABLET HOME - for high quality...

This Morning's Flood, Jean-Marc in the Buff, French Cussing and Visit our Winery April 15th

How many beach towels does it take to dry a floor? Read about our latest inundation and meet the culprit!

SEE YOU SOON? WINETASTING - APRIL 15th
A few times a year we open our home sweet-flooded-home to visitors. To reserve your seat for our Friday, April 15th meetup at3 pm email me at kristin.espinasse@gmail.com

TODAY'S WORD: Bouffer

: to eat, to gobble up, to stuff oneself, to pig out on

Careful! This is a slang term. Better to use "manger" for "to eat"


FRENCH PRONUNCIATION
Listen to...

Back--With Exciting News From France! The Jetaiau Spectrum

My article in Paris'sJournal of Applied Physics. You are viewing the April 1st edition. I stood in line for 8 hours at our local newsstand to obtain copies of this historical printing of yesterday's pivotal discovery ofThe Jetaieu Spectrum.

Bonjour! It is a pleasure to be back! During my two-week absense, I have had the privilege,in connection with France News Media, and physicists from Grenoble and Marseilles, to be able to report on the March 31st discovery that has all of us glued to our...

Pronunication Blooper & Spring Fever in French

Printemps here at our vineyard.

"It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want — oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!" -Mark Twain. Don't miss hearing the French version, below.

TODAY'S WORD

: fièvre de printemps = spring fever


MAS DE LA PERDRIX
The perfect home to rent in France. Celebrate special occasions with family, friends.Click here.


FRENCH BLOOPER - ECOUTEZ!
I'm not...

Onion & Shamed by the married man's mistress!

My permaculture garden (photo taken in August 2014). A cat fight almost happened here....


TODAY'S EXPRESSION Occupe-toi de tes oignons

: mind your own business

Literally: take care of your own onions!

MAS DE LA PERDRIX
The perfect home to rent in France. Celebrate special occasions with family, friends.Click here.

FRENCH PRONUNCIATION
Improve your spoken French with Exercises in French Phonetics
Listen to Kristi pronounce today's phrase:Occupe

Occupe-toi de tes oignons:Download MP3o...