chut!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Sicilian photos coming soon. For now, here's our twelve-headed tournesol (around twelve flowertêtes per plant)! And never miss a photo or French word: Sign up for FREE email delivery and receive this edition in your email box.
chut (shoot)
: shhh!
Sound file and Example Sentence:
Listen to my mother-in-law pronounce today's word:
or Wav
Chut! Elle dort. Il ne faut pas la réveiller. Quiet! She's sleeping. We musn't wake her.
.
A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse
Chut! My belle-mère is sleeping and I'd like to finish this letter before she wakes up. Only a thin wall separates us, so slight that the rattling of the keys on this clavier is enough to tickle her esgourdes to a start: the start of a new day.
Ça y est. Elle est reveillée. It is time to go and play. I would hate to leave my mother-in-law alone while I pass the morning fussing and fretting over each and every word, like some kind of writer nerd.
Ça baille! There's a lot of yawning coming through the wall. It seems Michèle-France is not sold on starting the day. Maybe the sound of Vauclusian church bells in the distance will sweeten the chore? Or the peppermint breeze coming through the open window? ...or the plate of Moroccan cookies left over from last night's festin (we celebrated my brother-in-law Jacques' 40th. Chut! chut! Don't tell him I told you....)
Un troisième bâillement.... A third yawn... and a forth and now a fifth! Quelle marmotte! She must be exhausted after yesterday's train ride from Marseilles to Orange. Comme d'habitude, she travelled with two chocolate cakes and two pots of homemade tapenade. The only other item in her bag was a nightgown and a dog-eared copy of Télé Loisirs. She's got our number: just a couple of busybodies out here in the country. She's prepared to watch TV while her son and her daughter-in-law work like bees.
But each day presents a new chance for turning the tables, for shaking up the still waters of rigidity. I'm going to surprise my belle-mère today—with a more playful spirit, tee-hee!—just you wait and see!
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Le Coin Commentaires
Questions, corrections, and stories of your own are welcome in the comments box. Click here to leave a message and merci d'avance!
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French Vocabulary
chut! = shhh! shush!
la belle-mère = mother-in-law
le clavier = keyboard
les esgourdes* = ears *argot (the term may no longer be current. Any thoughts?)
ça y est = that's it
elle est réveillée = she's awake
ça baille! = there's yawning!
quelle marmotte! = what a marmot! (what a sleepy one!)
comme d'habitude = as always
la tapenade = olive spread
Télé Loisirs = Television Leisure (magazine)
A Day in a Dog's Life... by Smokey "R" Dokey
The "Alpha" giving me a warm welcome home. Tummy pats sure beat bubble baths (see below!)
With my flying nun ears or esgourdes.
Real Dogs don't take baths... or so I tried to convince them! By the way... I turned ONE yesterday (in case you are so inclined—you might send me a line. Click here :-)
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***
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Happy Birthday Smokey. What a year you have had. And congratulations to your Mom Braise since she was very, very busy on this day a year ago.
Margaret in hot and humed Durham, NC. Enought of this, we are ready for some rain or an early fall!
Posted by: Margaret Dennis | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Sorry, "Humed" should read "humid." That is what months of heat and humidity do to the brain.
Posted by: Margaret Dennis | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Bonne Anniversaire Mr Smokey.Lots of biscuits for you today.
Angelain Sussex.England.A cloudy day - not what I ordered for tonight's BBQ!
Posted by: Angela Sargent | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:25 PM
Tough first year, Smokey, but with Mom's and Grandma Kristi's help you made it!
Two chocolate cakes and two pots of homemade tapenade - how did your belle-mère manage that on the train?! Can't wait to see the pictures of Sicily.
Posted by: Bill in St. Paul | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:25 PM
Dear Writer Nerd -- NOT! I love todays little story. It got me yawning, not out of boredom though. Once again I felt like I was in your house with you! All but the peppermint breeze is felt through your words as I write to you in my bathrobe and tell myself, too that today I too will "shake up the still waters of rigidity". (THOSE are lovely, non-nerdy words. Your baaaa-aaack!)
Hope you had a happy day, Smokey!! The bath doesn't look like a highlight.
Posted by: Karen W (Towson, Maryland) | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:26 PM
Sorry,that should read "Angela in Sussex" not "Angelain"(a fancy name) - errors are catching today.
Posted by: Angela Sargent | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:27 PM
Bon Anniversaire Smokey! Thanks Kristin for making me feel each morning as if I'M waking up in France instead of NYC. I fly to Tours to study French in two weeks! I'm so excited. Your emails have been great preparation.
Posted by: Wylie | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:32 PM
Bonjour Kristin--another adorable little tale for us--you do have a wonderful way of putting your vignettes together and I thank you for it.
Yes--it has been North Carolina's hottest muggiest summer ever here--have a wonderful trip to Sicily--first year in 20 we haven't been to France but we are enjoying it thru your wonderful stories. (Moving will do that to you).
Posted by: Robyn France | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:49 PM
Love the picture of the golden ears flying! So cute! Happy birthday! And hope you have a wonderful day with your mother-in-law! :-)
Posted by: Heidi | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Happy Birthday, Smokey!
Posted by: Susan | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:00 PM
Happy Birthday Little Man, also greetings to your brothers and sisters though you weren't able to have a party together.
Posted by: Shauneen in the Sud Ouest | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:13 PM
Happy B-day to you, Smokey! Woof, woof and cheers from Washington, DC
Love the flying ears photograph.....
Posted by: JR Cook | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:22 PM
Happy Birthday to Smokey from hot south Texas. It's been a pleasure to watch you grow and I wish you a long healthy life in your great home with your great family.
Posted by: Donna | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:23 PM
Yes, you are baack and in fine form w/today's offering. Wonderful photos of Braise and Smokey - happy birthday, Smokey. A year already?! Your first was quite the adventure. The flying-ears show that you know a thing or two about birthday party fun. Let the good times roll. (And did you find some grass/dirt to roll in apres le bain?)
TWO chocolate cakes, tapenade...drool, drool. Quite the feat to carry on train. But I like Belle-Mere's style - priorities def'ly in order. Have nightgown and chocolate will travel.
Posted by: Pat Cargill | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:28 PM
Un bon anniversaire à Smokey, une caresse à braise et de gros bisous à toute la famille!
Posted by: Geneviève radel | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:33 PM
Happy Birthday Smokey!!! This year passed in a whirl & my have you grown into a fine young lad. I hope you have a great year celebrating and growing and making everyone proud of you & you look marvalous for ONE!!! :-) Keep on having great adventures in your life with your mom and your human family.
Happy Birthday belated to Jean Marc. I hope you had celebrated in grand frech style and hope this is as good as last year's.
I pray that you have a great harvest this year. I raise a glass to you and your family.
May God bless you and your vinyard always,
Karen Woodward in Sunrise, FL
Posted by: Karen Woodward | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:47 PM
Happy Birthday, Smokey guy! Have a great day and be sure they give you lots of snacks today. Tell everyone hello from Charles and me.
Posted by: Martha | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:47 PM
Happy Birthday Smokey! We always love hearing from you. Many happy returns of the day!!
Glad you're back too, Kristin!
Patricia in rainy VA. Thankful for the relief from the heat!
Posted by: Patricia Anzalone | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:02 PM
Happy Birthday. One is a wonderful age for a dog and I do hope that you enjoy every moment of it--the running, swimming, eating, squirrel chasing and so sorry about the bath issue--Jones hates his bath, too. Especially when it takes all day to cut his hair/fur.
Posted by: mary | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:12 PM
Salut Smokey - Happy Birthday or Bonne Fête à toi (if I may use the informal form with you - I just turned 5 on August 3 and I detest baths too)!
My name is Shadow and I'm a black and white Papillon. I hope you received lots of tummy rubs and treats...that's what I love too.
My owner loves reading about all things French and she hopes to bring me to the south of France to live someday - we don't like the hot humid summers and long cold winters here in southern Ontario Canada. Maybe I will get to meet you.
Posted by: Debbie and Shadow | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:21 PM
Bonne Anniversaire Smokey. I hope that you get a special birthday treat today - one is a special year and it has been an adventurous one for you. Did you invite any of your brothers and sisters to celebrate your common birthdays? If not, then you'll have to enjoy it with your mom and human family. At least the bath was yesterday and today you can just play. ENJOY!
It was hot and humid for the month of July and August (so far) in Connecticut, but today is cooler and less humid and some of our trees are already changing color. Quelle horreur! Does that mean an early fall and winter?
Posted by: Kathleen | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:42 PM
HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, SMOKEY,
We hope you celebrate your special day with lots of treats and fun with your Mom, Braise, and your loving family.
We wish you a long and healthy life filled with all the good things you enjoy doing.
It's been our GREAT pleasure watching you grow.
Love,
Louise and Holly
Posted by: Louise | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 04:26 PM
So glas Smokey survived his first year - and wish him many more.
I have never heard the word "esgourdes" for ears or anything else. Maybe it is both slang and archaic, although I kind of like it.
Would Marie-France consider sharing her recipe for tapenade?
Posted by: Marianne Rankin | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 04:30 PM
Hello, Kristin. I very much enjoy your postings. I am a newly unemployed French teacher in North Carolina, and I wondered if you or anyone else out there would know anything about how to get involved with being a reader for audio books in French.
Also, I got a new MacBook, and there must be an easier way than I know to make French accents. On a PC you could use the number pad. I would have preferred to write this note in French, but I can't stand writing without using accents !
Thanks for your help and for your dedication.
Posted by: Leslie Bradshaw | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 04:30 PM
Happy Birthday Smokey! The first year is the hardest but it is easy sailing now.
Are you bilingual Smokey?
Anne in Pittsburgh
Posted by: Anne Wirth | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 04:32 PM
Kristen, I live in San Francisco and study French madly. After two days of French classes and a night in a French hotel downtown, I dreamed that your whole family came to visit me including the dogs. I was so excited! I kept saying, "I can't believe it. Smokey R. Dokey is here at my house."
Jennie Quinn
Posted by: Jennie Quinn | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 04:35 PM
Bonne Anniversaire Smokey! Tu es adorable! Ca me fait sourire -ta jolie frimousse - même si cette frimousse est mouillé. Comme Marianne, je voudrai aussi la recette de tapenade.
Posted by: Lee Ann and Bailey (la chienne) | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 04:51 PM
Happy Birthday, Smokey, dear. Say thanks to your mom, and have a special day. We're so glad you made it through your first very eventful year. Many happy returns and a big kiss on the nose.
Linda in hot and humid Arizona Yes, humid. And you thought it was a dry heat!
Posted by: Linda C. | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 05:10 PM
Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Dearest Smokey, that is the sound of my own four dogs wishing you a Happy Birthday. Lily, Siobhan, Stanley, Blossom and I all adore you and Braise, and we love love love love French Word a Day!
Posted by: Julianna P. | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 05:18 PM
Bon anniversaire, Smokey! Tu es beau comme tout, même mouillé!
Posted by: Marianne Gooding | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 05:24 PM
According to my Collins Robert unabridged dictionary, esgourdes is still listed as a colloquial term for ears, as in "Ouvre bien tes esgourdes!"
Posted by: Jim Steffens | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 05:35 PM
Leslie -
Diacriticals are very simple on a Mac.
For an accent aigu, hold down the Option key and hit the E key. Then release the Option key and type E again.
For an accent grave, hold down the Option key and press the key on the top left of the keyboard that has a tilde and an accent grave on it. Then release the Option key and type whatever letter you want to appear under the accent.
For a circumflex, hold down the Option key and hit the I key (that is, the "i" key), Then release the Option key and type whatever letter you want to appear under the circumflex.
For a C with a thingie under it (cedilla? I forget), Hold down the Option key and type a C.
Sorry to hear about your employment situation. I've been there for a while now myself. Stay strong; it has to get better sometime.
Posted by: Bruce T. Paddock | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 05:36 PM
Smokey, Many happy, happy returns! Your posts light up our days.
Love, Sandy, Abby and Kerbey
Posted by: Sandy, Abby and Kirbey | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 05:39 PM
Bonne Anniversaire, M. Smokey...hope your dreams are filled with lots rabbit chases tonight! (especially after eating all the birthday cake that I assume your other "mom" will make for you!).
Wishing you and your 4-legged mom a happy day and many happy days ahead.
You brighten my day!
Posted by: Marge Illich | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 06:06 PM
Lovely to see you all...gorgeous photos of the sunflower and those cute dogs : ) And what a lucky mother-in-law to have you as daughter! Enjoy the rest of the week!
xoxo
Posted by: Mona | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 06:17 PM
Smokey - A big high-5 on your first b'day! You've had quite the year and deserve all those tummy rubs you can get.
And a special hug to your Mom, she should be very proud of the handsome guy you've grown to be.
Posted by: Sherryl Wickens | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 06:21 PM
Smokey, it strikes me as odd sometimes that I am so fond of a young dog who lives thousands of miles away, with people I have never met. With hundreds of others, I suffered with you through your awful injury and recovery.
Through the miracle of the internet and by virtue of a clever, intuitive writer, I feel like I am friends with all these little French winemakers.
Take very good care of your wonderful French family!
Posted by: Karen Hadley | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 06:27 PM
How do you pronounce your last name?
ESS pee nahss
or
A pee nahss
???
Posted by: David | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 06:40 PM
Happy B'day Smokey....I know the year started out a little shakey, but things look pretty good right now. But, is that all they gave you for your birthday....a bubble bath? No glace or at least a nice marrow bone....
Posted by: joie carmel,ca | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 07:09 PM
Bon anniversaire, Smokey Dokey!
Posted by: Laurie | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 07:36 PM
Just returned from Nyons with my belle-mère... a nice tête-à-tête during the drive over and back, and an arm-in-arm stroll along the polished stone paths that wind through town.
Thank you for your birthday wishes to Smokey. He enjoyed a reasonable helping of mousse de campagne mixed in with his normal croquettes. He also liked the tarte de pommes and the Tropezienne (sp?)cream pie.
David: ESS PEE NAHSS is correct.
Bruce, thanks for the keyboard tips! And best wishes to you and to Leslie.
Jennie, funny you mention the dream. I dream about the people in this comments box too!
Jim, thanks for the confirmation on esgourdes. So happy we can use it!
Marianne, I need to get the recipe from her! One tip that I personally witnessed: once she combines all the ingredients (olives, capers, anchovy, bay leaf, garlic....) she lets them marinate overnight!)
Anne,I think Smokey understands a the tone of any language :-) Although he doesn't yet get "pee pee dehors!"
Posted by: Kristin | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 07:52 PM
Happy 1st birthday to you Smokey! I'm new to this site so I haven't "met" you until recently but you are certainly a handsome lad. Many more happy and fun-filled days to you. From all the birthday wishes to you, you must be a very special doggy. And evidently you have gone through some hard times during your first year. My best to you and your family.
Posted by: Beverly | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 08:29 PM
Bon Anniversaire Smokey from Jennifer in Toronto who looks forward to your Mum's musings and a little piece of France to brighten her days.
Posted by: Jennifer | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 08:34 PM
So the "Smokester" has grown into a handsome Lad with his Family who loves him, and coddles him, and facilitates a beautiful existence. The ultimate survival story .. and I still hope and pray those mongrels who attacked him so long ago miraculously managed to get lucky and find a great humanoid to care for them and shower them with love .. just like you, Smokey. What a wonderful gift all you four legged creatures are to us ignorant bi-peds. Happy Birthday and Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for blessing us with your perfect love. Aloha from Kauai Everyone! Bill Facker
Posted by: Bill Facker | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 08:36 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Smokey!!! You are the cutest thing EVER!!! I simply love that little bit of your tongue that hangs out the side of your mouth. I know it was a terrible event that brought that on, but you're so darned cute! You have the loveliest face.
Big hugs and kisses! To your momma Braise also.
Erin in Alanta~~SCORCHING HOT here!
Posted by: Erin in Atlanta | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 08:36 PM
Smokey, you are such a twin (though a couple months younger) to my daughter's dog Murphy (photos viewable at lifespentwagging at blogspot)! I cannot help but feel that you are kindred souls! He would love to visit you and play together....
Posted by: Susan Strick | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 08:59 PM
Happy Birthday, Smokey, from Jeannie, a gorgeous California Golden girl. Why don't they understand that water is fine for swimming and digging out rocks, but baths are a whole different story? Mille félicitations!
Posted by: Francine Gair | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 09:55 PM
Bonne Anniversaire, Smokey Dokey! You've live a lifetime in this single year. But you won the puppy lottery when you were born into that family. I hope the rest of your years won't all be so dramatic.
And I have to say, Kristin, that one can never have enough tournesol pictures. The ones I planted before taking off for France shot up to be 10 or 15 feet tall by the time I got back to St. Louis (I'm not kidding -- Russian Mammoth Sunflowers). We've had a good break in the weather this week in the Midwest. The 100 degree days are gone for good, I hope.
Posted by: Julie F | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 10:08 PM
Bonne Anniversaire Mr Smokey! Glad you have made it thru your first year with such Joie De Vivre!
And Happy Birth-Day to your Mother and Grandmother! ;-)
Posted by: Kristine, Dallas (hot, hot, dry and ready for Autumn) | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 12:05 AM
Hey, Smokey, is that mark on your left cheek from the original surgery or from a reconstructive recent procedure?
Love to all! Fred
Posted by: Fred Caswell | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 01:26 AM
Bonne Anniversaire Smokey from Southern California where summer just finally arrived! You are such a handsome fellow.
Posted by: Susan Carter | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 04:59 AM
Baiement se lirait bément. Mais Baillement est correct puisque le verbe est Bailler.
où est donc Ms. Forest ???
Bonnes vacances / Bonne rentrée à tous,
nadine de californie
Posted by: nadine goodban | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 06:00 AM
Happy Birthday Smokey-R-Dokey! Congrats and Bonne Fete a toi.
Posted by: Dawn | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 06:02 AM
Hey Smokey, if you tell your mom you're actually a chihuahua you might not have to take any more baths. We're almost five years old and haven't had to have a bath yet -- and we still smell sweet like puppies should -- but of course we don't play outside in the dirt! Happy birthday big bro!
Lulu et Noëlle
Posted by: Bob and Angela | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 06:36 AM
Great to have you back. I'm glad you had a sweet visit with your belle-mere. Love the tournesol photo, and so happy to have Bruce's French accents for the Mac keyboard tips!
Posted by: Jennifer in OR | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 06:54 AM
happy birthday, Smokey. i truly look forward to reading your emails and sharing la vie de france from the chien's perspctive. kisses.
dianna in chicago
Posted by: d.l.m. | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 06:27 PM
Happy birthday, Smokey! I can't believe it's been a year since we first got to see pictures of you and your siblings tumbling around with pudgy puppy bodies and sleepy squashed faces. Now you are all grown up (sniff! tears!).
Posted by: Kirsten | Friday, August 20, 2010 at 02:51 AM
Happy birthday, Smokey! What a beautiful boy you are!
Kristin, I believe that "Quelle marmotte!" would be saying "What a marmot!". A marmot is like a fat ground squirrel that hibernates all winter and sleeps all day. This link has a great photo of a marmot so you can see what they look like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmot. BTW, any resemblance to your mother-in-law is purely coincidental, I'm sure!
Love the blog. What a practical and fun way to expand my vocabulary and learn about French culture. We live in northern Spain near the border and go to France quite often, so I can almost immediately begin to use the new words. Thanks!
Posted by: Jan Romeu | Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Merci, Nadine, pour baillement. I need to fix this. Ill check and see if Newforest has left a message, too :-)
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 03:33 PM
Happy Birthday Sweet Smokey!!! You are so adorable and so is your Mom, well both of your Mom's (canine and human). Every time I see a photo of you or Braise, I smile! */:-) Thank you for being so dear!!
I love you~
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy | Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 11:28 PM