ceci et cela
Monday, February 28, 2011
A floppy-eared Sunday here at the farm.
.
ceci et cela (seuh see ay seuh lah)
: this 'n that
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the following words
Download MP3 file or Wav file (MP3 not working? Try the Wav file and cross fingers!)
Ceci et cela... ou un peu de tout dans cette édition.
This 'n that... or a little of everything in today's edition.
A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse
It's just one of those mornings where, you know, one doesn't have a plan. It feels creative (anything could happen on this page) and cozy (probably nothing much will).
I had thought to write a long overdue QFD*, or FAQ page... or to repost a list of stories and let you take your pick:
=> an anecdote about a practical joke: one of the stinkiest things that ever happened to me...
=> or an essay about writer's block... with an excellent idea from Mom!
=> or the short-lived stint as a Girl Friday (after getting kicked out of France)
=> ... and did you all see the favorite recipe for Cake Aux Olives? It's here, just after the story about my neighbor's floor being so clean you could lécher flan off them.
As for news, I might share my son's satisfaction at advancing in the English language (via the little victories—or the silly ones):
In the car ride home yesterday I asked Max whether he was a country boy or a city boy. "Un campagnard," he concluded. We both looked at the citadine sitting in the back seat, agreeing Jackie is a city girl, to which Max added: "Yes, a SILLY girl!"
Silly aside, one more thing we might talk about today, is that so-called pronunciation mistake (the one I received so many emails about, Friday, after penning the pronunciation guide for "fuzzy dice".
When the complaints began streaming in, I hid under my computer mouse, mumbling "You've done it again!"
But, like an ostrich who's stuck her head into the sand, so is a writer who's hidden under her mouse: soon to be found out!
Thank goodness our (virtual) resident Francophone Newforest, arrived, in time to put any "elidic" assumptions aside. (Read the comments box to Friday's "fuzzy dice" entry -- for some interesting insights into "liaison"! Click here and scroll to the end of the comments, to Sunday's entries.)
But just for the record (and so I might safely come out from underneath this mouse...): fuzzy dice, or dés en peluche, is indeed pronounced sans liaison! To learn why, don't miss Newforest's handy guide (click that link, above).
Le Coin Commentaires (AKA Our Community Corner)
Corrections are always helpful and welcome -- and comments are the best reward for writing these posts. Won't some of you de-lurk (come forth from the shadows) today - in time to voice a simple "Hey!" Click here to leave a message.
USA meet-up with Jean-Marc!: Meet Chief Grape for a fun and delicious wine dinner in Los Angeles at AMMO on March 15th and in many other US cities
French Vocabulary
*QFD questions fréquemment demandées = FAQ, frequently asked questions
update: thanks, "Leslie in Massachusetts", for this French alternative: FAQ = Foire Aux Questions ("A Question Fair", or Frequently asked Questions)
lécher = to lick
un(e) campagnard(e) = a country (boy, girl)
un(e) citadin(e) = a city (boy, girl)
Marseilles 1994.
Those looks on the newlyweds faces: an explanation:
1) Victory! (I had just disentangled this "sticky" veil from the church façade... where I had been stuck several minutes, due to a gale wind that had gathered up the sheer material... and pasted it--along with the bride!--to the puckered church exterior!)
2) As for Jean-Marc's nervous look: he had waited.... and waited... and waited for his bride to arrive. And now it looked as if the full reality of martremony (sp? sp?) was hitting him.
I hope you will enjoy the entire story, in the memoir Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France.
You will also learn about:
=> how & where I met chief Grape
=> why (pourquoi indeed!) he bought me a one-way ticket home-ADIEU!--back to the States!
=> and you'll see a few example of reverse-culture shock, or what returning home to Phoenix used to look like to me.
Thank you for ordering a copy, here, for yourself or for a friend!
A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.
Ways to contribute:
1.Zelle®, The best way to donate and there are no transaction fees. Zelle to [email protected]
2.Paypal or credit card
Or purchase my book for a friend and so help them discover this free weekly journal.
For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
As ever it is a delight to get a breath of laughter from the south of France, especially as I am still stuck in London and have not been able to get to our French house since September, ('tho we are off in April for a fleeting week.
Our (ex-gypsy) Lurcher (abandoned because he has no killer instinct) says a fraternal Hi (or 'Allo) to M. Floppy Ears.
Posted by: Gus | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 11:57 AM
I just read the pratical joke anecdote and it reminded me that I still have a fake crotte de chien, aussi, that I haven't used in a while. My favorite practical joke, however, was when I put a disk in my brother-in-law's bedside lamp that caused the light to blink. After we left that day and he was attempting to read in bed, he got up and starting taking the wall switch apart, thinking there was a short in it. His wife, a bit more aware of life around them, said "Bob, check the lamp, remember Bill was here today".
(As an aside to those who were planning on the wine tasting at 128 Cafe when Jean-Marc is in the Twin Cities, it's unfortunately sold out. We were able to get a bottle of 2008 Mistral with our dinner.)
Posted by: Bill in St. Paul | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Salut Kristin,
My thanks also, to Newforest for her inputs to the Le Coin Commentaires. I learn so much from them.
Excellent wedding picture of a charming couple!
Possible description for your “Sunday Morning on the Farm” photo:
Floppy-eared attendant directs two-foot powered, mono-wheeled transport vehicle to its destination (des en nation - no liaison)
À bientôt
Posted by: Herm in Phoenix, AZ | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 01:05 PM
Dear Bill,
For your information, the venue at 128 Café is not a wine tasting but a winemaker's dinner. On the other hand, there is room for everybody on our wine tasting event at Solo Vino scheduled March 11 from 5 to 7 30 PM as mentionned here (http://a-la-recherche-du-vin.typepad.com/domaine_rougebleu/2011/01/spring-2011-us-visits.html)
I feel very sorry if you wanted to come at 128 Café but I don't handle reservations and I have been communicated this in my blog long time ago.
Hoping to see you in Saint Paul soon
Cheers,
Jean-Marc
Posted by: Jean-Marc Espinasse | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Quel plethora of amusements (I think I made that up) ce matin! Love the photo of M. Floppy Ears leading the way in Vineyard Maintenance and Care Patrol. What would J-M do sans "Assistant Chief Grape"?
As for "martremony" spelling, I'll offer "martyrmony" -- a silly play on words, yet no doubt how some men may feel as they stand at the alter. All evidence from years of following the life of Famille Espinasse of course indicates otherwise. I think bride and groom were well aware of the blessing that stood beside them and their good fortune to have found one another. Yes, they were at the alter of "twu wuv"...anyone remember what movie the hilarious Peter Cook made this declaration? One of my all-time favorites.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF9O6fne6nE
Posted by: Pat Cargill | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Wow, Kristin, what a handsome couple you made (and still do)! Do you have any other wedding pictures you might post?
Regards,
Paul
Posted by: Paul Heffron | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 02:11 PM
Pat -
I think it was 10, wasn't it?
"Martyrmony" is a marvelous joke, even if it isn't an accurate description (at least, not in this case).
Posted by: Bruce T. Paddock | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Thank you Kristin for your "mot du jour".
Here is a title that everybody can use again and again in a simple everyday conversation, while reporting little (or important) events, talking about anything, and punctuating the middle or the end of their sentences with..... "et ceci et cela" (such a good word filler and such a good excuse to lift up your right hand then your left one in the air...)
From one "ceci et cela", to the next one, you can freely jump to a totally different topic (what is called in French "sauter/passer du coq à l'âne" ... Mike, Mary and Bruce (and maybe others) might be pleased to know about the compulsory liaison here ("co-ka-lann").
I think I am going to adopt your "ceci et cela" style-of-the-day!..
***starting with pelouche (? Hmmm) end of newsletter
By the way, Kristin, have a look at one of my latest posts sent yesterday. You might enjoy reading about what happens to the meaning of "en peluche" when you pronounce "en" like "un" and "louche" instead of "luche". I could have even added a third "louche" (from the verb "loucher" = to have a squint)... just imagine dice with a squint.
I'm saying all this, because today, you typed "pelouche". I'm sure you'll quickly eliminate the extra "o".
***French Vocab list
It sometimes happens there is no French Vocab List, because there is no French word in the text or you haven't had the time to add it. What about the empty List today? You used the French verb "lécher ". To get the right sound, and spelling, it needs an essential acute accent on "e" - then it could be part of your French Vocab List-of -the-day. Why not?
--> "lécher" = to lick
lunchtime here,
so, more later
Posted by: Newforest | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 02:20 PM
Bruce, "10" is not the movie I am thinking about - ck out the link--which, btw, has led me to waste way too much time this a.m. watchling clips of Peter Cook!
Posted by: Pat Cargill | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Suite de mon premier commentaire
Kristin,
As you can't make up a French Vocab list with only one item ("lécher" = to lick), here is a suggestion:
Why not adding "campagnard" and "citadin", as you included these 2 words in English.
--> campagnard(e) adj & also noun/de la campagne
= from the country
-Mark pense qu'il est campagnard = Mark thinks he is a country lad
--> citatin(e) adj & also noun/de la ville
= from the town
-Mark dit que Jackie est citadine = Mark says Jackie is a town/city girl
--> un citadin campagnard = a person who lived most of his life in a town, and moved to a rural area. He keeps trying to fit in, but well, he is not a genuine "homme de la campagne".
*** Kristin, I hadn't quite (not yet, anyway) thought of you, 'hiding under your computer mouse'... but I am so happy to know you did come out from that uncomfortable position!
*** Oh!, the triumphant smile "sous le voile de la mariée".... nearly 17 years ago!... Today, right at the top of the page, here is the hard working man!
A happy 'matrimony'! Pat, I love your "jeu de mots".
"Martyrmony" made me laugh and I added the verb 'to moan'
.... moaning about his/her 'martyrmony'
Ok, this would not apply to Kristin & Jean-Marc!
*** "ceci et cela"...
"et patati et patata"...
The lovely onomatopoeia "et patati et patata"
= 'and so on and so forth'
Bye for now
Posted by: Newforest | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 02:50 PM
Just seen your wedding photo. What's your secret !!? You don't look a day older now Like the story too.
p.s Matrimony by the way
Posted by: Audrey Wilson | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 03:02 PM
Pat -
I got it! I got it! It's The Princess Bride! How could I have made such a mistake? It's inconceivable!
I didn't click, honest.
Posted by: Bruce T. Paddock | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 03:37 PM
I think that the French also use the acronym FAQ, or "foire aux questions". So festive! A question fair! I suspect that the phrase was chosen to match the English acronym FAQ, or was it the other way around? Did English speakers copy the French and make up the phrase to match the acronym?
Posted by: Leslie in Massachusetts | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 03:45 PM
I'll just add on a simple note that your stories, photos and chance to take a short trip far away, have saved me from Cape Cod madness. The weather has been so horrid, cold and rainy toujours, that a chance to romp in with dogs in the vineyard has been life saving. Fear not small mistakes, it's all a worthy project which we receive thankfully!
Posted by: jan greene | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Max's "silly" v. "city" is like my Italian husband who said he did not want SKUNK when I offered him a SCONE!!
How silly!!
Patricia
Posted by: Patricia | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 03:50 PM
Hi Gus, so glad you stopped by, and with message from Lurcher (Smokey returns the bonjour!)
Bill in St Paul - Jean-Marc was completely bewildered about the connection between the fake "crotte de chien" and his wine tasting. I had to explain, two or three times, that there was no connection (that's when he learned the phrase "as an aside"... :-) or how about, "as a side dish" to the fake crotte... (just kidding, just being silly, none of this comment of mine will make any sense).
Pat - that's exactly the word I was alluding to: "martyrdom (not that we ever feel that way here, in our perfect perfect "vie en rose" married life (!!!). (I think only Mom, who's literally been IN THE LINE OF FIRE, can appreciate this one....)
Herm, loved your Floppy-eared attendant directs two-foot powered, mono-wheeled transport vehicle. Wish I'd thought to add reins to that image, with Smokey pulling the transport vehicle
Paul, will see about those photos... thanks for your interest!
Newforest, thanks for the needed examples of et ceci et cela - - and for the wonderful vocabulary that I will be adding to this post :-) P.S.: I've fixed "peluche" (and am now MDR over un peuh loosh). K, also a big fan of "et patati et patata"! (I'll never forget the French priest saying it during Palm Sunday ceremony or "le Dimanche des
Rameaux"!)
Audrey, many thanks! And the spelling "martremony" was intentional (a further misspelling of "martyrmony"!)
Bruce - MDR, you sure you didn't click?
Leslie - "Le Foire Aux Questions" - brilliant! (just the French
equivalent I was looking for. Newforest, would you say this is a proper equivalent?)
Jan, hang in there (hmmm, how to say that in French? Tiens toi bien!)
Patricia, MDR!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 04:02 PM
I have a Kindle version of your book and am loving it! I shall spread the word about it.
Lovely photos in your post!
Bien cordialement,
Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 04:04 PM
Didn't bother to click in and read yesterday's comments - big mistake! :) I'm glad that you mentioned Newforest's lessons in French grammar in today's blog, as the observations are always done with a delightful wit and humor. Your photos and stories are wonderful as usual - it all makes for a great start to another beautiful day. Merci, Kristin.
Posted by: Linda R. | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 04:06 PM
Bruce...SCREECH, LOL, ROFL, at "inconceivable"!!!!! You show obvious twu wuv for "The Princess Bride." (And sure, I believe you.) To all who have by some errant ommiission*, or who have enjoyed interplanetary travel for too many years: run, don't walk, fly to the nearest opp to watch this movie.
*Hint: Not sure of spelling? Simply add a bunch of extra letters. Much less embarrassingg.
Posted by: Pat Cargill | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 04:08 PM
Hi Leslie and Kristin, (and others interested in FAQ in French)
As you know, 'FAQ' is an English acronym for 'Frequently Asked Questions'.
"QFD" seems to be a mirror image translation in French : "Questions Fréquemment Demandées". So far so good? Hmmm
I much prefer the French acronym "FAQ". Why?
It is a replica of the English acronym as it keeps the same initials, yes, but this is not really the reason why I prefer it. Let me explain -
In English, you ASK a question
to ask = "demander"
but in French the verb used when 'asking a question' is NOT "demander". It is: "POSER".
Sorry to say that "demander une question", hence, "Questions Fréquemment Demandées", cannot be considered as good French. It falls into the trap of "faux amis" and create a... mistake!
The French "FAQ" not only keeps the same initials as the English acronym, but at least, it contains a very French word -> "Foire". No word-for-word translation from the English. Same idea , but more lively way to express it.
Conclusion: the English 'FAQ' could be "QFP"
-> "Questions Fréquemment Posées".
Correct translation here. All clear and perfect French.
I would rather choose the more lively -> "Foire Aux Questions".
Posted by: Newforest | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 06:25 PM
PS
I wanted to check and see what Wikipedia said about "Foire Aux Questions".
La "FOIRE AUX QUESTIONS", ou F.A.Q mise en fonctionnement sur un site Web, est un endroit où l'on pose des questions dans un moteur de recherche et où les résultats s'affichent après avoir validé la question.
C'est une sorte d'aide ou de ressources, en cas de problèmes ou de non-compréhension.
Their definition makes me confirm my choice!
Posted by: Newforest | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 06:33 PM
Just my trivial little two cents worth....but...it makes my day when I can decode the day's mot before reading the post! Paris in 30 days!
Posted by: Frank | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 07:05 PM
ceci et cela,
Momma said there would be days like that!
Posted by: Joie Blair | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 07:10 PM
Just have to share one more r/w story.
At our wedding a dear (& for some reason very nervous) friend did the ceremony for us. After a brief & stunningly beautiful message to us, he arrived at the "alliance de mariage" portion..
"Repeat after me: "With this wing" "
My prince was game.."With this wing", he said.
At that point everyone burst into guffaws & dear Jack was mortified but soldiered on.
He managed to carefully enunciate my portion, but I decided to use "wing" too.
It seemed only fair.
Posted by: Zann | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 07:13 PM
Kristi Darling,
Your wish has been granted, all of your friends have come over to play.
XOXO
MOM
Posted by: Jules Greer | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 08:56 PM
HiKristin et tout le monde,
There's too much to go at today in one go (for me anyway) but I must say that I think the wedding photo is super, and as well as the faces of the happy couple I loved the expressive faces of the family (presumably Jean=Marc's family on that side of the church).
I must thank Newforest once again for her (I'm sure it must be her) humorous and enlightening lessons on the subtleties and the niceties of the French language.
I've have my own recipe for cake aux olives somewhere (very useful for apéritif dînatoire) but as I seem to have mislaid it, I've copied Madame Delhome's which seems very similar. My other favourite for like occasions is a similar cake made with Roquefort cheese, but as I can't find that recipe either and because I do want to give something back to the blog which gives me so much enjoyment, here is my recipe for Marmalade Muffins. They used to be a great favourite with my students in a former life.
Marmalade Muffins
250g (8oz) plain flour
15ml (1 tbsp) baking powder
2.5ml (1/2 tsp) salt
115g (4oz) caster sugar
115g (40z) California Raisins
75g (3oz) white vegetable fat
45ml (3 tbsp) thin cut orange marmalade
150ml (1/4 pt) plain yoghurt
115ml (4fl oz) milk
1 egg beaten
Makes 10 – 12 muffins
Preparation 15 minutes
Cooking time 20 minutes
Eating time variable.
Sift all the dry ingredients into a bowl, stir in the raisins.
Melt together the fat and the marmalade, beat in the yoghurt, milk and egg.
Lightly stir into the raisin mixture until a little flour can be seen, the mixture will be a slightly lumpy.
Fill oiled muffin tins ¾ full with the mixture and bake in a preheated oven 200C, (400F), Gas Mark 6 for 18 – 20 minutes, until well risen and golden brown.
You can eat them as they are, or:
Serve warm with butter or make them in advance and freeze for up to a month.
I hope those of you with the courage to try them enjoy them, they have a more sophisticated taste than chocolate or fruit muffins. But then I would say that wouldn't I.
Mike.
Posted by: Mike Hardcastle | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 09:00 PM
I enjoyed today’s wedding stories, as well as the practical joke tales, so let me tell mine:
While I was attending my bachelor party the night before my wedding 48+ years ago, some of my fraternity brothers went into my room and found my wedding day shoes. They put the letters H E on the heel of my left shoe and L P on the other heel so that when I knelt at the altar, the wedding guests would see HELP! Fortunately, while going into church, I was suspicious and checked my shoes. Barefoot on the church steps, I scraped the letters off with a pocket knife.
Posted by: Herm in Phoenix, AZ | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 09:03 PM
The WAV sound file worked today - Hooray!
A great picture of Jean-Marc and Kristin on their wedding day! I wish you continued joy in your marriage.
Mistakes in languages can be very funny. Be sure to tell us if there are more.
Yes, Newforest, we are always glad to have more French lessons from you. I was going to ask about "Questions Frequemment Demande," which sounded like "franglais," and you beat me to it by noting that en francais, on POSE des questions.
If Max would like to post to the blog once in a while, as he did a year or so ago, I'd be happy to read what he writes - in English or French. Same for Jackie.
Posted by: Marianne Rankin | Monday, February 28, 2011 at 09:30 PM
Herm, I loved that "HELP" joke!... What really puzzled me though was that on that day, on your way to church, you were carrying a knife!!! Hope the ring wasn't in the same pocket! (?)
Mike, I can guess my husband would love your marmalade muffins. If I have a go, I'll have to buy 'white vegetable fat' for the very first time! (most probably "Trex"). Do I have a muffin tin? don't think so... will see about that.
Now, could this following links replace the roquefort recipe you lost?
http://www.sofeminine.co.uk/w/recipe/r1604/roquefort-savoury-cake.html
or
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1138634/walnut-and-roquefort-cake
Zann, Oh! your wing/ring story!
so lovely to know you decided to use 'wing' too in perfect harmony! Very brave of you... or should I say, very uplifting?
00:07 says the clock. I think I've had my midnight stories!...
and lots of "ceci et cela" today!
PS
Kristin, looking again at the charming "photo des futurs mariés", I just noticed behind you and Jean-Marc the back of the chairs was covered with a beautiful "velours rouge à bordure cloutée". I bet you never saw such detail on that day!
Posted by: Newforest | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 01:11 AM
I visited Marseilles during both the summers of 2003 & 2004. I love your wedding picture. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: gail bingenheimer | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 01:40 AM
When I went to say my wedding vows (the priest was holding a microphone to my face), my voice was so loud I burst out laughing. Everyone thought I was crying. It took a few minutes to compose myself and carry on, but I did.
Beautiful picture of you and Jean-Marc
xoxo
Posted by: Karen from Phoenix, AZ | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 01:45 AM
I love saying un peu de tout!
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 03:16 AM
Thanks for posting your beautiful wedding photo! I always look forward to reading your stories and the photos are such a bonus!
Posted by: Erin | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 05:33 AM
Thank you Newforest for the Roquefort and walnut cake recife. It seems similar to the one I lost which I was given by a neighbour who has since returned to the Ardeche and I have lost touch. I suspect that it is hidden in the bowels of my wife's old PC. When I find my olive cake recipe I will post it if it is markedly different from Madame Delhome's,
Must return to work in my garden.
Mike.
Posted by: Mike Hardcastle | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 10:41 AM
My Dearest Friends and Kristi,
It is so comforting to wake up on Tuesday morning and know that some of my friends + my little Angel Kristi will be here to brighten my morning.
I can never thank NEWFOREST enough for blessing this 'space and moment in time' with her perfect choice of'Le Coin Commentaires'.
As all of you who have been around FWaD for a long time, it took Kristi almost seven years before she finally revealed herself in a photo.
Around that time she also summoned up the courage to open up the comments box to all of her freinds. Kristi (as you all know her pretty well by now) spent an inordinately amount of time worrying about all of the pitfalls ahead once she opened Pandora's box to the public. Kristi has weathered all of the storms that come along with a decision such as this, and now we are reaping the rewards of her courage to set us all free to express ourselves within her 'cherished baby' of a blog.
Posted by: Jules Greer | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 02:39 PM
Sorry about all of the mistakes etc. I went to hit the "edit button" and hit post by mistake. I am getting better at this, at least I am trying to correct, even if I failed once again. Who knows how advanced my comments will be in another few years. I have decided to study ENGLISH on the computer, so I can clean up my grammar and spelling. I received an 81% and a 51% on two tests I took yesterday. NEWFOREST AND a another friend has been throwing around the word 'conjunction' or some word that sounded like that. I had no idea what they were talking about - hence the English class. I am so elated about this new path in my life, as you all know I was literally KICKED OUT of High-school when I was 16 and have always carried the burden of shame regarding my education....that is why my two girls received from birth the mantra "When you begin college...."
Both Heidi and Kristi rewarded me with their diploma's - of course this was one of my happiest days. As always, I am so thankful that I have had Heidi and Kristi to give my life meaning.
Yes it's Tuesday in Mexico, looking forward to another 78 degree day plus an outing with my camera on the beach.
This is what you get now that I am drinking coffee again after a two year drought. Kristi has been admonishing my 'coffee high' as now when she calls me she can't get a word in edgewise. Ever since JM put in some kind of new phone system we are able to talk free...this has ended up in two-hour conversations for the past three days. Of course I am in heaven, we are both acting like best-friend teenagers on the phone. Our conversations cover alot of ground - Kristi's career (that's what Mom's call their daughter's passions) - raising two teenagers in todays world - the comments box - and how to tackle the task of finally decorating their house. I personally am appalled with the circumstances they live in - Kristi has no sense of 'real-time, real-life design of hard objects in her own life...she actually has just draped an ugly brown blanket over the couch Smokey ate this past year. I (in our phone conversations am still trying to "Mother" her with the planting of seeds regarding directions of her life."
How strange and connected you all are, because you have started sending in receipes (which coincides with exactly what I have been preaching to Kristi on the phone. I have been encouraging Kristi to lock up her office after 11:30 a.m. each morning (she arrives there promptly at 6:00 a.m. each morning to begin her
day). God only knows how many e-mails she answers, photo's she files, notes she enters to all of the different facets of this blog.
Back to what I am talking about - I had advised Kristi to lock her office door at 11:30 each day and retreat to her new command center "THE KITCHEN" where she will be more able to monitor
the two 'teenagers' and all of their friends.
O.K. now you all know what the coffee has done to me - I will stop this post right now. I am sure in another few weeks I will be more thoughtful about the effects this new drug is having with my blabbering. Kristi, you have my permission to DELETE my last two posts, even though no-one may be up reading this #$!@ so early in the morning.
XOXO
MOM
Posted by: Jules Greer | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 03:22 PM
Love your posts Jules, even with your coffee high! I am so glad to have "met" you through these posts.
xoxo
Posted by: Karen from Phoenix, AZ | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 04:30 PM
Dearest Mom,
I would not delete one word. But I might delete a few of those cups of coffee... speaking of notes and sections - howd you guess? Ive been busy this afternoon with a garden section. Because I am unwilling to hire out (self-sufficiency will eventually cost me!), Ive tried to rig a new section together. One day Ill learn to delegate (I might have contacted a programmer... who would then create a way to automatically update the new garden section). But no, I like to do things the hard (sabotaging) way!!!
And speaking about decorating... perhaps Ill rig together a home improvement section. Just like the garden page... it might put a little match under my feet:-)
Heres the garden page: http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/garden.html
P.S.: thanks to all of you who comment here and who share recipes, stories, and so much more!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 04:40 PM
Who is that precious lady behind you, first row on the end, white scarf (or shawl?) draped over her lavender dress? And the red velvet chairs? Love it! Did you sit at some point?
Posted by: Jennifer in OR | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 11:18 PM
Love your blog! I wish I could remember all the French words I've learned from you...as I was reading this post I came across "campagnard(e) - well, my maiden name is: Compagna (It was originally "campagna" but when my dad and some of his siblings were born they spelled it "Compagna" and thus, I am one. Everyone thinks I am Italian!!
Donna
Posted by: Donna | Wednesday, March 02, 2011 at 12:53 AM
Jules,
You are as delightful as your daugheter.
Posted by: Joie Blair | Thursday, March 03, 2011 at 02:29 AM
Jennifer,
Thanks for asking about the precious woman : she is Max and Jackies great-grandmother. I will link to a story about her... at the next chance :-)
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Saturday, March 05, 2011 at 09:01 AM
Kristin, I love your blog--but not so much the new format. It is not as attractive--appears to not always work. Sometimes puts me off.
Posted by: Debby Howell | Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 06:36 PM
I'm amazed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that's equally educative and entertaining, and let me tell
you, you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is something not enough folks are speaking intelligently about.
Now i'm very happy that I stumbled across this during my hunt for something relating to this.
Posted by: astuce htc one | Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 03:55 AM