FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

Escaped parakeets, a boycott, and le rhume des foins in today's update. Don't miss a word!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: POSSIBLE BLOG MOVE
Due to technical issues with my current blog, I may be switching to a new platform in the coming months (this is not yet certain). 

Please consider following me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com so we can stay connected. I’ll share updates there about where to find my latest posts.

Thank you for your support and patience! --Kristi

TODAY'S WORD: lessivé : worn out, exhausted

PRONUNCIATION: [leh-see-vay]

In French, lessivé describes someone who is completely drained—whether physically, mentally, or even financially. The word comes from lessive (laundry), evoking the image of being washed out or wrung dry. After a whirlwind book launch, a boycott, and a storm of pollen in the air, I’m feeling completely lessivée…

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE...by Kristi Espinasse

ACHOUM! ACHOUM! Pardon me for sneezing, but all this pollen is getting to me. This second week of March it’s everywhere. Partout! You can even see clouds of yellow dust coming from the pine trees in our neighborhood, drifting off alongside those pesky caterpillars. My family is exhausted from les éternuements. Everyone thinks they have le rhume when hayfever is to blame.

“It’s allergies!” I inform Mom, delivering her a fresh bouquet of flowers. I set them down beside a copy of my new book, which is prominently on display on Jules’s desk (where I’ve all but nailed it to the table). She assures me she’s proud of me and has asked for copies for les infirmières whose names appear in the chapter “Reconnaissance.” Ever since they helped nurse Jules back from a severe eye condition, the trio has become a sweet presence in Mom’s life, offering gifts, câlins and I love yous in thick French accents.

Feeling lethargic, I wave goodbye to Mom. “See you for dinner. Jackie is making Spaghetti Bolognese!” Ricci hops off Mom’s bed to follow me home under this floating yellow cloud that’s settled over our town. I make my way back around the house, via the gravel path, taking extra precautions not to step on any lurking chenilles processionaires.

Inside, Jackie is conked out on the couch. “C’est le rhume des foins,” I explain to my daughter. On est tous lessivés! “Come on, let’s take Ricci for a walk…”

These aren’t ideal conditions for going outside, what with strong winds stirring up so many allergens (mimosa? cypress? les platanes?), but our energetic shepherd needs her daily walk—or she’ll be stirring all day long!

Bundled up, we head down to the beach, following the cobbled street lined with plane trees. A pair of rose-winged parakeets flutters above, their feathers catching the wind as they grip the branches. Years ago, like me, they escaped from the Paris airport—one bound for l’animalerie, the other for freezing cold Lille. But, given a window of opportunity, we both flew south. It’s warmer here along the littoral, but we get strong winds and a fair share of critters that slither, bite, and sting.

Jackie and I reach a colorful waterfront, where the sea is alive with movement. I’ve never seen so many windsurfers on the horizon! And higher up, in the sky—kitesurfers galore. We advance along the crowded boardwalk, past the cafés and The Neptune sailing club—all the way down to les roches plates, where I ask my daughter for a small favor—help with some book marketing.

“Can you sit on that rock over there?” I begin. “Here. Take Ricci and read this,” I say, reaching into mon sac à dos and handing Jackie a paperback. With the deep blue water, crashing waves, and that dreamy coastline, it’s the perfect setting for a little guerrilla marketing.

“That’s a wrap,” I say to two very patient models. Normally, we’d stay a while—unpack towels, goggles, put on non-slip plastic shoes, and walk to the edge of the flat rocks to enter the sea. But with this wind and chill, it’s too cold, and the shores are filling up with stinging méduses! Besides, we’ve got to hurry back. Jackie has a 5:15 appointment to teach a free Pilates class to Fiona, and I’m in the middle of a nerve-racking book launch…

Self-publishing is not for the faint-hearted. Just as I reached the final step in the process, my long-awaited publication day was bookended by a passionate consumer boycott!

Ding. Messages poured in from every direction—email, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp—all with the same request—'Can you ship me a copy directly?' I was deeply touched…but also paralyzed. How could I, one person, possibly fulfill a thousand personal orders? My mind raced: envelopes, postage, customs forms and the mounting pressure of deadlines…I hadn’t anticipated this logistical puzzle and wasn’t sure how I could manage it alongside more urgent needs at home—my mom’s health issues are acting up again, and I need to focus on that.

Je suis complètement lessivée. This week feels like walking through giant clouds of yellow powder, with my dog running circles around me—and all the local critters biting and stinging. Blindsided by the unexpected economic blackout, I just want to crawl under the covers until it all blows over.

But writing and publishing are all about perseverance. As this challenging week nears its end, I have a bold request: If you enjoy my stories, please buy my books.

Boycott the megastores for toothpaste and la lessive—but don’t inadvertently lessiver writers by boycotting books in the process. More than ever the world needs stories of love, hope, and joy, of families overcoming obstacles, putting aside their differences to aid and support one another. From here we can go out and help our friends and neighbors, our country, and, with peace in our hearts, le monde.

Take a Literary Escape to France! 🇫🇷📖

Wherever you are—at home, in a café, or curled up on the couch—let A Year in a French Life transport you to the heart of France.

📚 Order your copy today: https://www.amazon.com/dp/295989930X

Merci for reading and supporting my writing! 💙

Our dear friends Charles and Martha. It is so heartwarming to receive photos from readers holding my book. If you have a photo, too, let me know if I have permission to post it.

Reader Reviews: It’s so heartwarming to hear how A Year in a French Life is resonating with readers! Here’s a glimpse of what they’re saying:

• "A beautiful and inspiring book from cover to cover!" – Sweet Life Farm
• "A delight to read, and to look at!" – Lynn McBride
• "A lovely memoir from the South of France!" – RB

Thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts! Your kind words fuel my passion for writing.

Karen, who I had the chance to meet last summer, sent me this one 💕. To order your copy, click here.

FRENCH VOCABULARY

Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French terms

achoum = achoo

partout = everywhere

l’éternuement = sneeze

le rhume = cold

l’infirmière = nurse

la reconnaissance = gratitude, appreciation

le câlin = hug

la chenille processionnaire = pine processionary caterpillar

le rhume des foins = hay fever

on est tous lessivés = we are all worn out

le platane = plane tree

les roches plates = flat rocks

le sac à dos = backpack

la méduse = jellyfish

la lessive = laundry detergent

lessiver = wear out

le monde = the world 

REMERCIEMENTS
Sincere thanks for your donations in support of my French word journal! 

Mike P.
Betsy F.
Karen B.
Patricia N.
Michèle C.

For the many years reading/dreaming with FWAD. Merci. —Betsy 

Kristen Have just bought your new book. Really looking forward to reading it. Best wishes. —Patricia 

Bonne chance, Kristi! J'ai commande exemplaires et je le recommande a mes amies pour leurs clubs de lecture. —Mike 

The eBook came out nicely. Please check it out if you enjoy reading on your Kindle. Click here to order.


INTERVIEW WITH MARGARET from WRITING AND BREATHING
I was delighted to be interviewed by Margaret, a passionate writer and word enthusiast whose blog is a treasure trove of insights into language, storytelling, and the writing life. With three novels, a short story collection, and plays performed by professional actors, Margaret generously shares her experiences while spotlighting fellow writers. It was an honor to chat with her—here’s the link to our conversation!

Interview here: https://writingandbreathing.wordpress.com/2025/03/06/meet-author-kristin-espinasse/

I leave you with a colorful march captured here in La Ciotat on Saturday, International Women's Day.

SOUVENEZ-VOUS/REMEMBER TO:

➡️ Leave a rating or a review of A Year in a French Life, if you enjoy my book. 

➡️ Stay connected with me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com 

COMMENTS
Your edits help a lot and your messages are a joy to read!
To leave  a comment, click here

A YEAR IN A FRENCH LIFE – NOW AVAILABLE!

Dear Readers,

The day has arrived! My new book, A Year in a French Life, is officially live on Amazon. After years of sharing stories with you on the blog, I am thrilled to present this collection in book form—one you can hold in your hands, gift to a friend, or take along on your own travels.

📖 Order your copy here: Amazon Link

A Glimpse Inside the Book

Step into a charming French seaside town and experience a year of life, love, and laughter under the Mediterranean sun.

Tucked inside this beautifully illustrated book, you’ll find an intimate, year-long portrait of life in the South of France. Through a series of warm and engaging essays—many originally shared with my devoted readers—I capture the joys and challenges of daily life in a bustling seaside town.

From local marchés to family milestones, language mix-ups to unexpected friendships, this book is filled with humor, resilience, and the beauty of embracing life’s twists and turns in my adopted country. Alongside my husband, Jean-Marc, our grown children, and my spirited mother, Jules, I share a touching portrait of multigenerational family life under the Mediterranean sun.

Perfect for Francophiles, armchair travelers, and lovers of personal stories, A Year in a French Life is a heartwarming invitation to slow down, savor the moment, and find joy in the everyday.

📚 Available now: Get your copy today!

Why Today Matters

This is a crucial moment! Early sales play a key role in helping my book gain visibility on Amazon. Simply put, when many readers purchase the book on the same day, it helps move it from the bottom of the "shelf" to front and center, making it easier for others to discover.

If you’ve been planning to buy a copy, today is the best time to do it!

👉 Order here: A Year in a French Life

A Thoughtful Gift for Any Occasion

Looking for a meaningful gift? A Year in a French Life makes a wonderful present for:
🎁 Mother’s Day – Treat a mom who loves France and good storytelling.
🎂 Birthdays – A unique and inspiring read for a friend or loved one.
📖 Book Clubs – Share the charm of Provence with your reading group.
🌞 Summer Travel Reads – The perfect companion for your next getaway.

If you know someone who enjoys memoirs, travel, or simply escaping into a good book, I’d be honored if you considered gifting them a copy.

Can You Help Spread the Word?

It has been eleven years since my last book, and the publishing world has changed. With social media algorithms and a saturated book market, every bit of word-of-mouth support makes a difference.

Here are a few simple ways to help:
✔ Leave a review on Amazon – Even a short review helps more than you know!
✔ Share this post with friends who love France, travel, or memoirs.
✔ Post a photo of the book on social media and tag me—I’d love to see it!

Merci beaucoup for being part of this journey. I can’t wait for you to read A Year in a French Life!

Amicalement,
Kristi

📖 Get your copy today! Amazon Link

New York Times bestselling author Janet Skeslien Charles recommended my book! Be sure to check out all of Janet's French-themed books including Miss Morgan's Book Brigade--soon to be released....

I would also like to thank Lynn, at Southern Fried French, for writing about A Year in a French Life and helping to kick off ebook sales! Merci, Lynn.

Katherine, at Rue Dauphine Paris graciously offered to mention my book at her gorgeous Instagram. Merci!

Finally, sincere thanks to my lovely readers who have made this book possible 💗💗💗💗💗

A YEAR IN A FRENCH LIFE — VOLUME ONE

Dear Readers,

In just one week—on March 6th—my paperback memoir will officially launch! This full-color, 308-page labor of love is finally ready to meet the world. But will the world be able to find it? That’s where you come in!

I need your help. If you’ve been thinking about getting a copy for yourself—or for a friend—Thursday is the day to do it. A strong start is crucial, as early sales will not only help my book gain visibility online but also increase its chances of being stocked in libraries, local bookstores, and even considered for school reading lists, book clubs, and travel collections.

Here’s how you can make a big difference:

• Mark your calendar for March 6th
• Buy your copy on launch day
• Share this with a fellow book lover

Your support means everything to me, and I’m so grateful for your help in making this book a success.

One more thing: I’ll be back in one week, via my newsletter, with a special purchase link. 📖 Stay tuned for that important update!

Merci beaucoup! 🇫🇷
Kristi

TODAY’S WORD: CHENILLE

   : caterpillar

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse

La Ciotat has been invaded by an abominable creature—one that hangs menacingly from our historic pines or creeps along les sentiers in the hills above town. Covered in long silky hairs, these mutant caterpillars are armed with poils urticaires—tiny, airborne weapons that threaten to send our toutous to the vet and have locals running for cover lest they break out in painful rashes, suffer from severe allergic reactions, or, pire encore, experience intense itching and respiratory distress.

If you think this sounds like another one of my April Fools' pranks—how I wish it were! But it’s only February, and these so-called chenilles processionnaires are very real and super creepy. Ça m’horripile!

The first time we encountered them was on a hike. “Watch out!” I shouted, shoving my daughter aside just as she was about to step down on a moving string of them. The worms—if you can call them that—were camouflaged perfectly against the ground, distinguishable only by their eerie, head-to-tail procession. 

That same week, two more reports came in: Fiona, our friend and fée du logis, showed up covered in red bumps to her knees after stepping on one in a dressing room (apparently, the previous shopper had carried it in on her shoe). Then Ana and Max were walking their dog, Izzy, in the coastal calanques when the little Beagle began rubbing her nose against the rocks, desperately trying to stop the itching. She was lucky—most animals who come into contact with these stinging caterpillars end up foaming at the mouth and in the emergency room, or worse...

“My friend’s cat lost her tongue,” one neighbor confided. “It had to be cut out.”

Mon Dieu! Pourvu que ça n’arrive pas à Ricci!

As terrifying as these caterpillars are, and as much as they upset me, they also spark curiosity. After all, a long line of slow-moving Thaumetopoea pityocampa is a captivating sight. Just where are they going—and why? (Briefly: after breaking out of their cotton candy-like cocoons, they descend from the trees in a single-file march, searching for the perfect spot to burrow underground. There, they’ll transform into dark moths.) As freaky as they are, they’re fascinating!

French entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre thought so too. In an experiment (possibly involving long-armed tongs for safety), he arranged a group of processionary caterpillars in a circle around a flower pot. For an entire week, they marched in an endless loop, unable to break formation. Fabre saw them as mindless automatons, blindly following the path in front of them—an image later used as a metaphor for obedience and the illusion of progress.

It’s interesting how these caterpillars appeared just as I was circling my own metaphorical flower pot. This whole month I’ve been obsessing over bureaucratic paperwork—Mom’s healthcare renewal, my book’s registration and related administrative work: obtaining an ISBN in France, and something called le dépôt légal at la BnF. I spent hours rereading instructions, convinced I’d miss some critical detail here or there. The effort it took to process each step threw me back to school days, where it took me twice as long to read and understand a chapter (or test instructions) as my classmates. 

All this buildup—this endless circling—culminated in a near breakdown the morning I found our front yard invaded by giant furry worms! There, at the bottom of our front steps, was a horrifyingly perfect line of stinging caterpillars.

“Ricci! Ricci!” I shouted. Too late. She’d already charged through the caterpillar convoy—twice. A big no-no when it comes to these twelve-eyed avengers!

My daughter, an insect nerd from the time she learned to walk, remained calm, grabbing Ricci and bringing her inside for inspection. In a panic, I threw on a homemade hazmat suit: COVID mask, glasses, a long-sleeved coat, and a hat. Armed with a dustpan and chimney shovel, I stumbled toward the enemy (hard to see with my lunettes immediately steaming up).

"Mom, stop! I’ll call Max!" Jackie urged, having run back out to check on me.

But we couldn’t bother Max—not after all he and Ana had done this month. The dynamic duo had already rewired and changed the bathroom light fixture, purchased and installed a wall heater for Grandma, and were due to replace my ceiling fan. (They’re becoming bricolage experts after renovating their condo. They are moving in two weeks!)

And there was no way I was paying 500 euros for professional pest removal (especially from the same team that overcharged me weeks ago—only to show up again, hoping for more business during stinging caterpillar season). Besides, it was too late now—the caterpillar processions were everywhere. Laisse tomber—we could literally let them continue to fall!

Over 30 feet up in the branches, our pine trees were teeming with cotton candy-like nests, and hundreds of caterpillars had already crashed to the ground to begin their pulsing pèlerinage. Even after carefully scooping up the entire line of hairy invaders (and tying them up in an industrial sac à poubelle), I stepped outside moments later to find another ten-foot procession. Rebelote! Suiting back up, I removed those too—only to discover another undulating line near Mom’s place that evening, in the driveway.

“You ought to put them in a jar. One big science experiment!” Jules said, hunched over, studying a pile of them (apparently the furry little creeps huddle together at night, as if to stay warm). On closer look, our in-house animal advocate wondered if they were hungry: “Oh, bless their little hearts.”

“Mom, these aren’t kittens. And if they’re hungry they might eat you! Stay away from them!” I urged her. As for the rest of us, I think we’ll be camped out indoors for the next month—or for the time it takes until they turn into harmless moths. Sacré bleu! That could be months!

***

FRENCH VOCABULARY

AUDIO FILE: Click here to listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French words below

la chenille = caterpillar

les sentiers = the trails

les poils urticaires (m) = stinging hairs

le toutou = (slang) doggy

pire encore = worse yet

Ça m’horripile! = They horrify me! 

les chenilles processionnaires (f) = pine processionary caterpillars

la fée du logis = house fairy (a playful term for a housekeeper)

calanques = rocky inlets along the Mediterranean coast

Mon Dieu! Pourvu que ça n’arrive pas à Ricci! = My God! Hopefully that doesn’t happen to Ricci!

Thaumetopoea pityocampa = scientific name for pine processionary caterpillar

un dépôt légal = legal deposit (mandatory submission of a book to the national library)

la BnF = Bibliothèque nationale de France, the National Library of France

les lunettes (f) = glasses

le bricolage = DIY, home improvement 

laisse tomber = forget it, never mind (literally: let it fall)

le pèlerinage = pilgrimage 

le sac à poubelle = garbage sack

rebelote = here we go again

sacré bleu = old-fashioned exclamation of surprise or frustration

Pinch the screen to zoom in and see the caterpillars in the foreground

Notice two lines of caterpillars near the beach

REMERCIEMENTS 
Many thanks to the following readers who sent in a donation this week in support of my blog 💗!

Katjya
Judy L.
Betsy C.
Ginny B.
Midge and Dick F.

“Thanks for all your blogs. I started reading them after reading your first book. Kudos also for your column in France Today which I’ve read for years! I was especially touched by your testimony blog recently!! Merci! Betsy from Phoenix”

Do you see Mama Dove just above my own mama? These birds follow our family everywhere in the garden, and remain perched near the window when we're inside. They’ve just had babies and are hungry all the time. If only they’d eat those caterpillars!