Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 76
May 27, 2014
French for "to start from scratch"
Taken from The Wine Spectator magazine, the line just above, inspired today's expression...
to start from scratch
: àpartir de rien, de zéro
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentenceDownload MP3orWav file
Créer un vignoble à partir de rien, c'est pas commun aujourd'hui.
Starting an estate from scratch has become rare around here.
France and Monaco Rentals:short-term holiday rental properties throughout France.Click here for pictures.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE... by Kristin Espinasse...
May 26, 2014
We will never forget
I will never forget watching this American speak to the lost soldiers on the beaches of Normandy. Today we honor those who lost their lives, au champs d'honneur.
Memorial Day
: jourdes soldats morts au champ d'honneur
(day of commemoration of soldiers who were killed in action)
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the French definitions, recording today's sound file from his field of vines where he's paused to remember soldiers:Download MP3orWav file
Le Memorial Day est un jour de congé offici...
May 23, 2014
brindille and a fun and sustainable activity + Winner of book giveaway!
Notice the flower bed to the right--filled with hand-picked brindilles! Twigs = free mulch, and they're fun to gather, too! (Had I to redo this picture, I'd put bright fluffy pillows in the garden chair, and hang beaded curtains across the cabanon's entry. Can you picture it?)
Beautifully renovated and decorated home in the Luberon.4 bedrooms and a study with a sofa bed, each with ensuite (full) bath. This villa comfortably sleeps 7-9 adults.
une brindille (brein-dee)
: twig, stalk, sprig
ramas...
May 21, 2014
French? No, Jane Goodall speaks Chimpanzee!
How serendipitous to write about Jane Goodall--on the 215 anniversary of British paleontologist Mary Anning! Cheers to all the dirt-beneath-their fingernails women who help us understand, appreciate and consciously care for the world we live in.
Mas la Monaque-Rent this beautifully restored 17-century farmhouse. Click here for more pictures.
une place (plass)
: seat
réserver une place = to book a seat
Audio File: Listen to Jean-MarcDownload MP3orWav file
On arrivera un peu en retard : tu nous gar...
May 19, 2014
faire amende honorable
Another leafy front porch, not far from the lieu du crime... read on in today's French-vocabulary infused story column. Thanks to French reader, Brigitte, who offered today's vocabulary word.
Exclusive French made clothesnow available to purchase on-line.Thomas Hulston Collections.
faire amende honorable (fer-ah-mahnd-oh-no-rahbl)
: to apologize, to make amends
AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-MarcDownload MP3orwav file
...le coupable doit donc faire amende honorable et dédommager les intéressés.
...th...
May 15, 2014
To humble oneself + what to give someone you've unintentionally hurt
Russian comfrey and letter of sympathy (with misspellings), reads Sir/Mam, I offer all my regrets for the loss of your chickens. I am sincerely and deeply sorry for the pain this has caused you..." (Read on, in today's story column.)
Style & comfort in the beauty of the Provencal countryside.4 bedrooms & a study with a sofa bed, each with ensuite (full) bath. Villa comfortably sleeps 7-9 adults.
se rebaisser (seuh reuh bay say)
: to humble oneself, to show humility or respect
Audio File: listen...
May 13, 2014
A lively French expression + a creative use for an old T.V.!
Manigances is not the word of the day, but if it were I'd tell you all about our dogs shenanigans. Instead, read about my prized neighbor, in today's column.
Mas la Monaque-Rent this beautifully restored 17-century farmhouse. Click here for more pictures.
une ortie (or-tee)
: stinging nettle, white nettle
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc:
Download MP3orWav file
Faut pas pousser mémé dans les orties!
Don't push it (don't test grandma's patience!)
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE... by Kristin Espinasse
Once ou...
May 9, 2014
To ask for guidance or advice in French
Today's metaphor involves a bowling ball. With no such picture in my photo archives, I offer a not-so-close second: la balle de golf. (In the photo--taken in 2005, near Bandol--our daughter, then 8 years-old, seems to be imitating me. In reality, she's getting ready to roll down the grassy hill. Don't worry about the ball, it won't reach her. I won't even be able to hit it off the tee).
Beautifully renovated and decorated home in the Luberon.4 bedrooms and a study with a sofa bed, each with en...
May 7, 2014
An Elephant in the Room? Chez moi?
These elephants were spotted on a French door--and in the window--of a home in Pernes-les-Fontaines. As for elephants in the room, read on in today's missive.
Exclusive French made clothesnow available to purchase on-line.Thomas Hulston Collections.
l'éléphant dans la pièce
The English expression "elephant in the room", which literally signifies [in French] "éléphant dans la pièce" but which mustn't be translated as such in French, designates "something very important and very obvious, that we s...
May 5, 2014
Quelle idée! = What a crazy idea! Or was it?
Normally, when panhandling for website donations, I post an attractive picture (a window decked with geraniums, a field of poppies, a stone cabanon). Looking at today's photo, I notice the pan is smudged with fingerprints and should have been polished before the snapshot was taken, haphazardly.
Before the last-minute photo was shot, I could be found at my desk, cancelling all of the automatically scheduled donations to my blog....
Well now how dumb is that? The thought did cross my mind, but I...
