FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

One of my favorite photo subjects: Faces spitting water. I've shot rolls and rolls of them. Humans, cherubs, dolphins, swans, fish, gargoyles... I could spend days taking pictures of fountains. (In fact, I already may have done that.)

There is a broken window, a broken fountain, and, uh . . ., broken plaster?? I was never very good at finding all of the hidden pictures in the "Highlife" (or was it "Highlite"?) magazine!! However, there is nothing "broken" about the beautiful colors in that photo; they are in perfect tonal order with each other. I wish I had had those colors in my Crayola box:)

trois choses - hmmm
I love the beauty of the tree contrasting with the building.

Are the fountain faces spouting water those of "prominent locals" or just an artist's fancy? - they are serendipitous and wonderful

the broken window but also the "bricked in" (not brick but ..)window. I was told one time that in Italy it is necessary to brick in any windows or doors because one cannot later decide to add a door or window at whim.

The different textures of the same wall. The way the window is built... to shield the sun, shed rain and snow and always be able to have the window open. And I wonder what the niche was for...

The window that appears to be broken, as I looked closer, it looks like lace curtains on the inside. The walls remind me somewhat of the adobe walls that I saw when I visited General Cepede, Mexico, the old with the new. The Fountain is great! What a serene picture.

OMIGOSH, Kristin! Where can you find your peanut butter?? Or do you have it sent over??? The only place we could ever find it was at a special import shop in Les Halles! The french seem to think of it as culinary sacrilege.....at least my 'french' do....

Four heads in the fountain -- two "speaking" with a forked tongue spewing their offerings from the side of their mouth, one perhaps rendered silent by life numbing experiences, with the fourth boldly giving forth his contribution to le monde in a confident and straightforward manner -- concrete heads reflecting humanity!

Very interesting to "see" what others see as we scrutinize the same spectacle! Last night we were watching a documentary on the mysteries surrounding the not yet fully understood tragic occurrences in both the Bermuda Triangle (SE of Florida) and the Dragon Triangle (off the coast of Japan). I was enthralled as a male (important) commentator spoke of possible connections and causes, turned to ma femme to ask what she thought of the program -- Nancy's reply was simply "I like his pants". Vive la difference!!!!

You know, the treat didn't faze her . . . must be a phase she's in!

So your snow is melting? Here in the Northeast, we're having a big storm (une tempête de neige) with some ice rain thrown in (du verglas). Not fun. On the other hand, it's a good to be inside at the computer.
Last April when I was in France, my friend Michèle gave me a book called L'Élégance du Hérisson, by Muriel Barbery. I started it over the weekend and I just finished. It's really a wonderful and well-written book. I understand it's available in translation too for those who need the English. The Elegance of the Hedgehog is the English title and please don't be put off by the title. The main characters are endearing and I couldn't stop reading once I started because I wanted to find out what happened to them. There are many good messages in the book too. But of course, you should read and find those for yourself.

Merci mille fois - votre exemple d'humilité me donne toujours beaucoup de courage.

I went back to school at the tender age of 40 (with four kids at home) for a few semestres to earn a degree in French, fulfilled that life long dream to teach French -- did research in West Africa to practice!! I right away landed a job teaching high school in Tucson (where everyone speaks Spanish). Culture shock after culture shock, I assure you. Of course, I'm still learning this "belle langue" and often screw it right up. I try always to use any mistakes I make to teach my students, 'we're in this together'...it's never too late to keep learning. And this year I have a native Belgique in the class, very interesting scenarios.

It's so hard for me, sometimes, though, perfectioniste extraordinaire, to stand corrected - It's such a treasure to read you, learning, living in France.

1) The fountain - three are doing their job, the fourth is just hanging around smoking. (That's what it looks like) Kinda like any office anywhere.

2) I always wonder when I see an empty niche like this in a wall, who were the saints that were once there? What were the events that made that person go to the trouble of building that niche? Why isn't the statue there any more?

3) The passage of time in this wall -- the rough opening for the window, the long crack, the sharp corners of the niche, and the smooth plaster along the bottom...this wall has been here a very, very long time, and will likely outlive all of us. What stories could it tell?

Forget the photo, however charming..I loved the way Jackie shared one of her special brioches with you! Hugs and cheers to a good mother!

My good wife corrected my post above. Her first words were "I like his office (not pants)".

Perhaps I can humbly claim that her accurate reply still illustrates that we never "see" the same thing when we look at the same thing. For this guy, it seems that I don"t always hear what is said -- just maybe she added liking his pants, too. She denies it and is probably correct but I still have reservations!!!

pardon my second use of the comment box in one day...., but I am glad Patti asked where you get your peanut butter. With all due respect to peanut butter, I am thrilled to find the link for French Country Wines. I live in Houston and will go there tomorrow to get a bottle for my uncle. I had been trying to think of a way to get a bottle of your wine. Perfect. Oh, and I'll take a peek at their peanut butter, too.....

kristin, you are going to think I am really nitpicking, but I believe your daughter probably said "a ras bord", talking about the full bowl of cereals.
Et moi, j'en ai "ras le bol " que les gens ici make comments on my weird accent
and ask if I am German... Amicalement, Odile.
(a French American).

Kristin--I love it all, but I'm especially taken with that little window. And I want to touch that wall. merci, eve

I see a gorgeous fountain, with three spouts watering and a broken glass window above.

Great site.