empreinte de pied
Monday, December 22, 2008
The closest thing to a sleigh that I could find in my photo album. Photo taken in the Piedmont.
Bestseller in French language instruction:
SmartFrench
empreinte de pas (soundfile follows...) noun, feminine
: footprint
Audio File: Listen to my daughter, Jackie, pronounce the French word for footprint: Download Une empreinte de pas . Download Une empreinte de pas
A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse
Good morning, good day, hello and happy holidays! If I am up and chirping (in English...), it is because the sun is shining and the extended French family is arriving and I am about to fire up a new household appliance, one that my husband and children presented me with, just this morning: une yaourtière!
Our family goes through a lot of yogurt (it's a French thing, not a hippy-granola thing—and even if it were a baba cool thing: qu'est-ce que ça vous fait? What's it to you?). It finally occurred to me that we are throwing out over a 1000 plastic yogurt containers each year. With a yogurt maker (which comes with 8 reusable glass jars) we won't have to do that anymore. (Though, one day, we will have to dump the machine itself).
Strange things have been happening this past week and now, this side of forty-one-years-old, I am trying to make up for lost time. I find myself sewing odd garments (using "holey items" from the give-away clothes pile), making home-made notebooks from my children's old cahiers (a chichi store-bought notebook will never again have the same charm!), and trying to erase... erase... erase! the years of "hard living". Only, this time around, not with age-defying creams...
I am trying, finally, to erase my environmental footprint. On second thought, it may be too late to erase it—but it is never too late to lighten it.
Just as I begin to question my sanity (having ripped apart yet another old t-shirt and refashioned it into a new "alternative garment") I stop for a reality check.
"Jackie," I say to my daughter, having had a light and friendly mother-daughter chat about what the age of twelve has in store for her (...), a chat in which I explained all of the options, environmental and not, available to her... "Jackie," I say, "tu dois croire que je suis complètement cinglée!" I look down, at all of the scraps I've stitched together, and realize that I cannot tell my daughter what to do, but I can be an example—however poorly-stitched!
"Of course, you don't have to wear these things. It's just an experiment... perhaps even a foucade. I don't know!"
My daughter picks up one of the items. "This one is well sewn," she says of the odd-shaped "experiment". Her encouragement continues.
"Maman, ce que tu fais--c'est bon. Ce n'est pas "crazy"! Même la femme la plus riche au monde aimerait bien faire ça."
And there, amidst piles of rags, I feel like the richest woman in the world.
* * *
This week, it's back to the bercail for us. We'll be taking time away from email and paperwork (apart from the notebook-making kind) to spend time with family and friends.
Thank you for reading this French word journal, whether via email or online. "See you" in 2009. Until then, may we dance forward into the future together... leaving feather-light footprints in our wake.
If you would like to respond to today's story, or share a story of your own, please send your words via the comments box. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~French Vocabulary~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
une yaourtière (f) = yogurt maker; un baba cool = hippie; le cahier (m) = notebook; chichi = fussy, formal; tu dois croire que je suis complètement cinglé = you must think I'm completely nuts; une foucade (f) = a passing fancy, whim; Maman, ce que tu fais--c'est bon. Ce n'est pas 'crazy'! Même la femme la plus riche au monde aimerait bien faire ça = Mom, what you're doing is good. It isn't crazy. Even the richest woman in the world would like to do that; le bercail (m) = fold (sheep), home
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shopping~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (French Edition) (Audio CD)
Check out the Salton YM9 1-Quart Yogurt Maker
Learn French in a Hurry: Grasp the Basics of Français Tout De Suite
In Music: Edith Piaf: 30th Anniversaire
Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language
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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
Rejoice! With the season! With life! With a soft footprint!
Greetings to my sister in chirping. The song of life embraces us all. Enjoy your holidays with your extended family and an eternal warm hug to those who can't join you this year.
Thank you for spreading the joy we can be to one another.
a/k/a Chirpy
Posted by: beta | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Guess why my lovely wife is getting a "yaourtière" whereas it is not still Christmas ?
Happy Birthday to my favourite writer.
Jean-Marc
Posted by: Jean-Marc | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Dear Kristin,
Happy Birthday - and enjoy the holiday season.
Jens
Posted by: Jens | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 02:01 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DARLING KRISTI,
Forty-one years ago as I lay on the "rack" in the hospital in the Phillippines, just after I punched the poor nurse in the nose, I had no idea that God was sending me one of the greatest joys of my life for Christmas.
Thank you Kristi for always sharing your life with me - the greatest gift a mother could ever hope for - I LOVE YOU.
XOXO
MOM
Posted by: Jules Greer | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Kristin,
My children are grown and I am 47. I totally get the gathering of the pieces together and saving and reusing what you can use. I have family staying with me at the moment sharing love and memories. In essence...renewing and reusing our traditions and memories of years past. It is a good thing to treasure and take care of things and people , and renew those things which were important and receive new honor by your care now.
There is a definite blessing in renewing resources that would have been discarded. With that in mind as I move into a new year, I am encouraged to renew natural resources as well as, forgiveness, a kind word, an encouragement, help where I can and a pattern of love in the hearts and lives of those I may encounter.
May God bless you and your family as you move forward into the new year.
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Kristin,
My children are grown and I am 47. I totally get the gathering of the pieces together and saving and reusing what you can use. I have family staying with me at the moment sharing love and memories. In essence...renewing and reusing our traditions and memories of years past. It is a good thing to treasure and take care of things and people , and renew those things which were important and receive new honor by your care now.
There is a definite blessing in renewing resources that would have been discarded. With that in mind as I move into a new year, I am encouraged to renew natural resources as well as, forgiveness, a kind word, an encouragement, help where I can and a pattern of love in the hearts and lives of those I may encounter.
May God bless you and your family as you move forward into the new year.
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 02:27 PM
...and a happy, happy birthday!
Posted by: beta | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Dear Kristin, Many many thanks for the glimpse of "French Life". I read every word, I've bought & read many of the books you list. I wish you a wonderful Birthday! And a Christmas filled with Love, Laughter, & Joy, and many many more. God Bless you and yours.
Love Your Work
Vickie in Indiana
Posted by: Vickie Kent | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Happy Birthday! and Merry Christmas!
I've enjoyed reading your French Word-A-Days, they always make me smile!
Vicki
Posted by: Vicki | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 02:41 PM
My thought and post sent after midnight were right then! Have a great birthday, Kristin! Excellent cadeau d'anniversaire!
When my children were at home, we had a yogurt maker. It was a sort of large flask with a dome-shaped red top and a 1litre glass jar inside. I had a spare glass container. As soon as the yogurt was made, I removed the jar, let it cool down, placed it in the fridge and got the next batch going in my other glass container slid inside the yogurt maker. Simple! I had to replace the glass jar a couple of times. The 25 yr old yogurt maker never let us down and is still working! I gave it away a couple of years ago.
I must say the yogurt consumption dropped significantly since our children left home. I switched to soya milk 4 years ago, my husband joined me and we eat soya milk yogurt. I recycle the tetra packs, but soya milk yogurt does come in little plastic pots ... and they are thrown away!
Your "yaourtière" has not only stirred up happy memories of yogurt making, but pushed me to look a bit further into yogurt makers coping with soya milk! I want to investigate a bit further. Many thanks for the idea. I think something will eventually materialise in 2009.
Happy yogurt making Kristin, and many many thanks for your wonderful FWAD.
Joyeuses fêtes de fin d'année et
A l'année prochaine!
Posted by: Newforest24 | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Bon Anniversaire!!! The 40s really are "fabulous."
"Mom," I love the story of your punching the nurse in the nose. Did you mean to? I certainly remember feeling like I might want to do that!
A très, très bonne année to all.
Ophelia
Posted by: Ophelia | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Buon compleanno - Bonne anniversaire!
Posted by: Passante | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Bonne Anniversaire et Joyeux Noel! :-)
Posted by: corey | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Hi Ophelia,
Yes, I really punched the nurse in the nose, it was pure kaos (sp) on the delivery table. I had made the Doctor promise to knock me out for the delivery, and all of the meds he had given me didn't work, I was in a rage, swearing like a sailor, not wanting to experience the same nightmare I had with Kristi's sister Heidi when she was born. In all of the confusion they forgot to strap my arms down, biggest mistake that nurse ever made. Just after I gave her my best punch (my Grandpa was 'Lightweight Champion of the World' in 1929) the nurse slammed the gas mask on me, which leaked into my eyes. I woke up later with beautiful Kristi, two black eyes, and two of the biggest breasts I have ever seen. They also forgot to give me the shot to stop the milk, I didn't want to nurse. I was home in time for Christmas, 104 lbs, in my bekini, two black eyes and in awe of the little bundle of love I brought home with me.
Posted by: Jules Greer | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Happy, happy birthday, Kristin!!! Celebrate YOU until the very last second. You are a blessing to us all!!!
Love, Pear et moi!
Posted by: Diane | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Just wanted to wish you and your family Joyeux Noel.Looking forward to 2009.Carol,Cape Cod,MA
Posted by: Carol Folino | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Bonne Anniversaire et Joyeux Noel!
There is the electricity to consider with Yogurt makers. One step forward,one step back.
There is also the black box at the end of so many items we own,it is sucking electricity all the time but is hardly ever discussed.
Posted by: Susan Anne | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Happy birthday and holiday greetings from an old fan, enjoy your family news and pics, hope to get over one of these days and meet you all, My best to you and yours. lou
Posted by: louis bogue | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas Kristin, to you and your family.
You have brightened my year by your postings and helped me live vicariously through your adventures.
Enjoy this special season with your family!
Merry Christmas from Tucson!
Posted by: Michelle | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Bon Anniversaire Chère Kristin!
Hearing from you is like experiencing marvelous Provence sunshine. Your book and a bottle of Jean-Marc's wine ... un peu de paradis. Merci et Meilleurs Voeux.
Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Katiusca | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Bon anniversaire, Kristin et bonnes fêtes à tous!
Posted by: Mike Armstrong | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Joyeux anniversaire, dear Kristi!
Another "coincidence"??? -- probably within 24 hours of your birth, on the 23rd of December, our Christmas Carol was born! Her mother was tearful because "I won't be home for Christmas." Our doctor was ahead of his era and discharged le deux 2 days later.
A babe arriving home on Christmas Day was an unforgettable experience! Carol will be 50 tomorrow and has filled her mother's (my 1st wife) and my life with wonder, trials, and joys with her independence, intelligence, strong will, and loyalty to her family.
On that Christmas day 50 years ago, our new family (now numbering 5) plus my then wife's family (8 more) crowded around a table, leaving very little room to move; no one wished to. Carol was sleeping in the adjacent room in a bassinet where all could keep watch . Her Uncle Sam, only a few years older, sat with the rest of us with his mouth on a level with the edge of his plate allowing him to eat by shoveling food straight over his lower lip placed under the rim of his dish! Will never forget that either. Sam also provided the best comic line of the day, delivered with complete seriousness as he glanced at his new niece -- "Ain't that other kid gonna have any turkey?"
Kristi, you have already left your empreinte de pas in the hearts and minds of your readers, family, and friends.
Blessings & love to all -- Fred
Posted by: Fred Caswell | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Thank you for a wonderful year! I've enjoyed your blog so much-- it really enriches my life (and keeps my brain remembering a little French, too!) Have a wonderful time off with the family!!!
Your virtual friend and a super baba-cool,
Sasha at Violet Folklore
Posted by: Sasha | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 07:25 PM
Chere Kristin,
Bon Anniversaire et Bonnee Annee 2009 !
Amities de Roslyn, New York uSA-
Madelyn E.
Posted by: Madelyn | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Meilleurs Voeux pour une Bonne Année 2009.Santé, Chance, et Amour. and Happy Birthday.
Thank you for your blog. It has enriched my life and the lives of those of all who read it. Une vieille dame à NY :-)
Posted by: Carol | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Joyeux noel et Bonne Annee. I'm in agreeement with all of the above! Merci.
Are you a fellow Capricorn or a Sagitarian??
Dorothy, Abbotsford BC
Posted by: dorothy dufour | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 09:00 PM
For someone who treads lightly all over the world weaving wonderful tales from everyday life you have certainly made an impact! Enjoy a happy birthday and have a wonderful Christmas!
Posted by: gretel | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 10:44 PM
At the "One of A KInd" show in the Merchandise Mart. (Chicago) Women are making new sweaters from the old ones, washing the wool and resewing the new garment. I bought one last year. D. Nadler
Love seeing you life in France. Merry Christmas
Posted by: d.nadler | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Happy Birthday Kristi: Merry Christmas and I hope to read another great year about yogurt and children and vines... I bought a yogurt maker at our island garage sale (even more eco-groovy!) and use it a lot. Here is the best recipe: Make an extra jar of yogurt, put it in some cheese cloth - two layers, and drain it over night in the fridge into a pot, suspending the bag of yogurt over a pot. Give the milky whey that has drained out of the cheese cloth to the dog and take the yogurt-cheese from the cloth and either mold it on a plate and drizzle with honey and sit down and eat it or if you are more restrained, mix up some scallions and garlic and any herbs and salt and blend it together and let it sit for a bit and serve it with crackers. Yum.
Posted by: robin | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Happy Birthday Kristi: Merry Christmas and I hope to read another great year about yogurt and children and vines... I bought a yogurt maker at our island garage sale (even more eco-groovy!) and use it a lot. Here is the best recipe: Make an extra jar of yogurt, put it in some cheese cloth - two layers, and drain it over night in the fridge into a pot, suspending the bag of yogurt over a pot. Give the milky whey that has drained out of the cheese cloth to the dog and take the yogurt-cheese from the cloth and either mold it on a plate and drizzle with honey and sit down and eat it or if you are more restrained, mix up some scallions and garlic and any herbs and salt and blend it together and let it sit for a bit and serve it with crackers. Yum.
Posted by: robin | Monday, December 22, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Joeux Anniversaire Kristi!
Robin's cheese recipe is called "labne".
A totally environment-friendly way of fermenting milk is to get hold of some kefir, commonly known as plante à youghourt (in Belgium at least). It is a very ancient way of fermenting milk originating from the Caucasus (I think). There is a worldwide movement of sharing the "plant", which grows as it ferments your milk into the yummiest "youghourt".
Cinglé should be cinglée, au féminin. :)
A l'année prochaine.
Posted by: JacquelineBrisbane (Oz) | Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 12:46 AM
Hi Kristin,
Happy 41st Birthday!!
I hope you and your family have a happy holiday and a wonderful new year!!
-Shandy in Nashville, TN
Posted by: Shandy | Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 04:21 AM
Kristin: Joyeuses Fêtes - tu verras que les années quarante vont trop vite - comme toutes les autres. Amusez-vous bien pendant ces moments précieux. Joyeux Noël!!!
Avec de l'admiration toujours,
Janet Konig
Posted by: Janet | Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 04:23 AM
Merci. Your daughter has a lovely clear and strong voice without it being overbearing. Best Wishes for a Happy New Year to you and your family.
Posted by: John Christopher Hall | Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 07:29 AM
Hi Kristin,
Happy Birthday to you and Happy Christmas to you and yours!! Have a lovely break, enjoy the season, and may 2009 bring joy, health and happiness, (and more 'French words' of course). Thank you for so many fun, interesting and wonderful installments from a country I love almost as much as my own.
all the best
Chris
Posted by: Christine Dashper | Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday Kristin
Happy Birthday to you
Have a great day and a wonderful Christmas.
Posted by: Karen from Phoenix, AZ | Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 03:53 PM
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS KRISTIN!!!
Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo 2009!!!
Besitos,
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea | Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 04:37 PM
Happy Birthday, Kristin, from another Arizona friend! May your lives continue in Happiness, Health, and Good Humor..always important in facing the issues of motherhood, wifehood (is that a word?), and enterprise. As to recycling, I have long been a donor of items we no longer use to thrift shops who have worthy causes..the Arizona Humane Society and F.A.C.E.S. (also animal protection) for example. There they resell clothing and household items. I am a customer as well, and find much of my wardrobe in such shops..and I don't have to bother sewing together old clothes to help recycle! Saves a bunch of money, too!
(PS My French friends love to shop there with me when they are here!)
Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday, and a Wonderful 2009 !
Fondly, Cerelle in Phoenix
Posted by: Cerelle | Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 06:08 PM
Joyeux Noel, Bonne Annee et Bonne Anniversaire. Yesterday my Christmas tree tilted a bit to the side but was still secure so I left it with while reflecting on your posts with a satified sigh and smile. Thank you.
Posted by: Christie | Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Bonne Anniversaire et Joyeux Noel!! I think I want a yogurt maker now...we go through an enormous amount ourselves.
Posted by: Jennifer in OR | Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 09:39 PM
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas! Love you from; Uncle Rusty and Aunt Betty
Posted by: Rusty and Betty | Thursday, December 25, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Hi Rusty and Betty,
MERRY CHRISTMAS - WHY DON'T YOU EMAIL ME
[email protected]
XOXO
JULES
Posted by: Jules Greer | Thursday, December 25, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Bravo! Joyeux Anniversaire et Meilleurs Voeux pour 2009!!
Posted by: Carmen | Monday, December 29, 2008 at 01:03 AM
Happy New Year first, I am learning the french rensently, but I found that it's difficult to find a good book and good web sit to make progress.SO I want you to give me some advise. Thank you.
Posted by: ALEX | Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 10:53 PM
I really wish I liked yogurt. My first exposure to homemade yogurt was when I stayed with a French lady in Morocco. This was before I had ever been to France. The yogurt looked dreamy. Perfectly set in the glasses. I tried it. yuck. a few days later, i imagined I was wrong in my memory, so I gave it another try. .... I wish I like yogurt.
Posted by: Renee | Friday, January 02, 2009 at 01:23 AM
I LOVE FRANCE ,I AM FROM BELGIUM BRUGGE AND I WOULD LIKE THAT YOU COME TO VISIT ME LOOK AT THE WEB www.huysepralinee.com THIS IS MY HOUSE IN BELGIUM.KIND REGARDS MARIANNE
Posted by: MARIANA | Monday, December 20, 2010 at 07:55 AM