Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 60
March 11, 2016
Poem + The French word that looks like Hate, but has a totally different meaning
Sunny photo taken in the port of Cassis.
Hâte-toi de bien vivre... Make haste to live and consider each day a life... Seneca
TODAY'S WORD: Hâte
: haste
Also:avoir hâte de faire quelque chose =
to be eager or anxious to do something:J'ai hâte de te voir! I can't wait to see you!
ECOUTER
Listen to my daughter, Jackie, pronounce today's quote: Download hate.wavor
Terms & Expressions: sans hâte = without has...
March 9, 2016
Back in France and a Writing Tip
My darling niece and nephew, in Puerto Vallarta.
If I were to give one tip to an aspiring writer, it might be this: keep it simple! I will try to exercise this astucenow, having returned from Mexico to share about the rich and multifaceted visit with my family!
TODAY'S WORD :RESTER SIMPLE
: keep it simple
FRENCH PRONUNCIATION
Improve your spoken French with Exercises in French Phonetics
Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's word & example sentence:
Download MP3orWav file
Rester simp...
March 2, 2016
Farewell: How To Say Goodbye in French
In case I did not say a proper goodbye, before leaving to see my family in Mexico, I offer you now dozens of au revoirsto make up for it! The next post will go out around March 10th. Miss you already!
TODAY'S WORD
quitter (kee-tay) verb
1. to leave, to quit
2. to give up, vacate, forsake
3. to exit
MAS DE LA PERDRIX
The perfect home to rent in France. Celebrate special occasions with family, friends.Click here.
Hear Jean-Marc pronounce today's quote:Download wav
Il...
February 24, 2016
What does Journées Portes Ouvertes mean? And How To Succeed in College.
Just back from Aix-en-Provence, where Jackie and I visited a potential faculté, or college... and it has nothing to do with fashion studies!
Domaine Rouge-Bleu will soon embark on another USA tour. Meet Thomas! Click here for cities and schedules.
TODAY'S WORD: les portes-ouvertes
: open house (U.S.), open day (U.K.)
Thanks to Nancy, Katia, and Audrey and all who helped with the English translations when I posed the question earlier on Facebook! My mind was drawing a blank. Does this h...
February 19, 2016
Marianne's Easy Lasagna & favorite French phrase
We returned home last night from our family ski vacation to find poppies blossoming along the railroad tracks in our village. Bonjour Printemps! Are you here to stay?
TODAY'S EXPRESSION
"Ça ne mange pas de pain" = it doesn't cost a thing
* literally, "It doesn't eat bread". I heard Jean-Marc say this while we were on our family vacation this week. Since, I've been saying it everyday!, ie:
"Jackie, send your fashion article to France Today or French Provencal magazine"- ça ne mange pas...
February 11, 2016
Cheez Whiz + The 3-ingredient dessert my French guests raved about
Make this easy chestnut cream cake and your guests, like mine, will be dipping their spoons into the pan for more! (Cuillères, because the French do not eat cake withfourchettes, as we do back home in Arizona.)
TODAY'S WORD: le marron
1. brown or chestnut (color)
2. chestnut
3. black-eye (slang)
Mas de la Perdrix-the perfect home to celebrate special occasions with family and friends…click here.
ECOUTERListen to Jean-Marc and improve your French pronunciation:Download MP3
C’est e...
February 5, 2016
My Life Philosophy (A Love Story)
Today's story is from the book Blossoming in Provence--a good gift for Valentine's day!
TODAY'S FRENCH WORD... is all the French words in the following love story, because that is what love is: le tout--everything! Happy Valentine's day in advance. (Don't miss Jean-Marc's pronunciation of the entire vocabulary list, following the story.)
Mas de la Perdrix-the perfect home to celebrate special occasions with family and friends…click here.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristin Espinasse
W...
February 3, 2016
Sobriety does not equal Foolproof entertaining
I wish you cheerfulness. That is what we all need to offer and to receive. That is true courtesy which enriches everyone, beginning with the one who gives it. This is the treasure that multiplies in the exchange. We can sow it along the roads, in the tramways, in the newsstands; it won't lose one atom of itself. It will grow and flourish wherever you toss it. (French translation and credit below)
TODAY'S WORD: Recevoir
: to receive
: to entertain
ECOUTEZ/LISTEN to Jean-Marc pronounce...
January 26, 2016
Why The French Won't Give You The (Entire) Recipe
Delicious sorrel soup - with a swirl of Pesto in Bed. Recipe follows.
TODAY'S WORD: oseille (f)
: sorrel (a plant)
Oseille is also slang for "cash", or "dough". To comment on this word, go here.
ECOUTER/LISTEN to Jean-Marc read these French words:
Download MP3orWav
Frotter une feuille de Rumex (l'oseille) sur une peau piquée par les orties ou les insectes supprime les démangeaisons.
To stop itching, rub Rumex (sorrel, dock) leaf on skin stung by nettle or insects.
Mas de la Perdrix-th...
January 22, 2016
Gratin & Traditional French zucchini casserole
My slowcooker has been on nonstop these past two weeks, as I've made a daily lunch for Jean-Marc and his stagiaire, or intern. For today's recipe, however, you'll need an oven.....
TODAY'S WORD: le gratin
: a cheese-topped dish (also a dish topped with breadcrumbs)
In addition to being a dish topped with a browned crust, le gratin also refers to theupper crust of society. Another definition has it as "anybody who's anybody." Wikipedia adds:
The etymology of gratin is from the French l...
