une tribune
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Another cat picture... because we all need a bit of color and a little fur in wintertime (for those of you experiencing summer, here is a refreshing photo for you, too!) Photo taken in the town of Villedieu.
une tribune (tree bewn)
1. platform (for speaker)
monter à la tribune = to stand up to speak
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Audio File: listen to the following letter, read by Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wav file
Cher Lecteur de French Word-A-Day,
A bientôt.
Dear French Word-A-Day Reader,
I am "Chief Grape" and the happy husband of Kristi. She has kindly given me a platform to announce to you that I will be in the US next month for the promotion of our Domaine Rouge-Bleu wines. I sincerely hope you will be able to attend one of the numerous events organised in the 12 cities I will visit. Unfortunately, Kristi won't be able to come with me but I will bring her with me in my heart.
See you soon.
.
A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse
After a season spent indoors, hiding from the sun, I ventured back outside yesterday to toss handfuls of wildflower seeds about (thanks, Dirt Diva Doreen, for all the packets of graines!). It is a new goal of mine to spend 15 minutes each day in the garden.
Wearing a big chapeau de soleil and sunblock even on cloudy journées, I am reuniting with the plants that were abandoned when that skin cancer scare sent me scampering... out of the flower bed and into a darkened mas.
I was sad to discover that this artichoke plant, which was doing so well up until a month ago (purple flowers from last summer) had been fatally bitten by le gel. Luckily, I had saved many of its seeds. I will be tossing some of those out along with the fleurs sauvages... and crossing fingers that all of the lovely flowers will return, with these handfuls of hope and scatterings of trust.
French Vocabulary
une graine = seed
le chapeau de soleil = sun hat
une journée = day
le mas = house or farm in Provence
le gel = the freeze
la fleur sauvage = wild flower
Things to love about French life: "modesty curtains", or "les brise-bises". How could you not love a term that has "kisses" or "bises" in its name? Share another thing to love about French life, here in the comments box.
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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
Thank you Kristin for all your wonderful stories! You mentioned French terms with "bises" - I know the following one does not fall into that categorie but I thought I'd share it anyway (I hope this is ok) because it is so onomatopéique: pomponner! A friend mentioned yesterday that her husband is taking more time in the bathroom in the morning than she does. "Il se pomponne toujours", she said, while she was waiting endlessly (poiretauer). I love the sound of the verb pomponner !
Posted by: Laura | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 11:32 AM
I will need to look for this wine. :) Good to see Chief Grape is a U2 fan also. :)
Posted by: Mechelle | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 11:34 AM
I love flower pots in the windows, especially with red geraniums!
Posted by: Dottie Bennett, Pell City, Alabama | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 12:20 PM
I love fresh bread every day!
Posted by: Ellen Perry, East Granby, CT | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 01:16 PM
we have rearranged our travel schedule so we can see Jean-Marc and taste his wonderful wines at both our favorite wine store Thomas Liquors and our favorite restaurant 128 Cafe. See you on the 15th, J-M!
Posted by: Bill in St. Paul | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 01:37 PM
The purple flower is fantastic! A gorgeous picture. We will be in Houston with Charles and Martha and are looking forward very much to meeting Jean-Marc. Hoping to bring lots of lovely Rouge-Bleu home with us. Peace from Nan in boring Florida
Posted by: Nan Morrissette | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 01:42 PM
OF COURSE MY VERY FAVORITE COULD ONLY BE THE PROUD GRANDMA JULES OF TWO FRENCH GRANDCHILDREN...!!!
AND TO HAVE A REAL FRENCH 'SON' - YOU HAVE TO KNOW ALL OF MY WILDEST DREAMS OF FRANCE WERE ANSWERED WHEN KRISTI WAS OUT DANCING AWAY THE NIGHT IN A 'CLUB' IN AIX-EN-PROVENCE AND THIS HANDSOME STRANGER CROSSED THE DANCE FLOOR AND TOOK KRISTI'S HAND SAYING, 'I MUST HAVE THIS DANCE.'
I'M SURE YOU HAVE ALL READ THE STORY IN HER BOOK.
A FEW YEARS AGO JEAN-MARC SENT ME A LITTLE CLIP OF AN AUDIO. WHEN I HIT THE GO BUTTON ON MY COMPUTER MY ENTIRE PRESENCE WAS SURROUNDED WITH HIS VOICE AS HE SANG OVER AND OVER THE FRENCH SONG FOR 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JULES.'
YES, I AM LIVING ALL OF MY FAVORITE FRENCH THINGS THROUGH MY KIDS - WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO PASS THE TIME AS I RIDE INTO MY SUNSET YEARS.
XOXO
JULES
I'LL BE BACK LATER WITH MORE THOUGHTS ON WHY I LOVE FRANCE.
Posted by: JULES GREER - PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 01:50 PM
Merci beaucoup pour les fleurs aujourd'hui. I especially love the green pot (I didn't even notice le chat!). The thing that always tells me I'm in France is the color green -- green doors, gates, shutters, etc. That, and red geraniums. And the family behind FWAD.
Posted by: Julie F in St. Louis, MO | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 02:14 PM
Question for the French speakers out there: I'm confused regarding Jean-Marc's phrase «Kristin ne pourra venir avec moi...» I would have expected a «pas» after «pourra» to complete the negation. Is this simply a typo or is there yet another rule governing «ne» usage that I'm clueless about (explétif omitted) ?
Posted by: Glenn from St. Paul | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 02:52 PM
To Laura above, you made a typo mistake, c'est POIREAUTER, for waiting long time. Bonjour Kristin, your photos today are gorgeous, including celle de ton beau mari Jean-Marc. j'ai loupé tes quelques anecdotes, car j'ai trop de travail dans mon cours de poterie. Mais je vais tout rattraper plus tard quand j'aurai plus de temps libre.
Juste un petit coucou pour te dire que je reste toujours ta fidèle lectrice.
Posted by: Millie | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 03:08 PM
Ah, now I understand why some newspapers are called "The Tribune". Merci!
The first thing I had to do when we moved to New Mexico many years ago was to start wearing a hat and sunglasses from February through July because the sun is so intense here. It has something to do with the altitude and living more than a mile above sea level. Our hottest month is June. By August, the weather starts to cool down. That is life in the High Desert!
Blessings, Mary in NM
Posted by: mhwebb in NM, USA | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 03:19 PM
I forgot to put in the place and weather for Kip: St. Paul, Minnesota "finally" got a winter storm, it rained most of the night then snowed. We have 2" of very wet, very heavy snow that we hope will be gone by the time we drive to Massachusetts tomorrow, arriving back in time to see J-M on March 15!
Posted by: Bill in St. Paul | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 03:27 PM
I love the respect for the old, whether it's people or buildings, and the way the French unite the past and the present. Here in New York, we destroyed our heritage before we could appreciate what we'd lost; so little survives of our early architectural history. (Thanks to Jackie Kennedy and Brendan Gill, we do have some of it--they were going to tear down Grand Central Station, as if the appalling new Penn Station, replacing a glorious Beaux-Arts building, hadn't taught them a lesson!) Anyway, I love the way the French blend the old and les choses les plus tendance in a singularly gracious and enticing way. And I too love the geraniums un peu partout.
Merci for the little things that sprinkle your columns--I'd never heard the phrase brise-bise, but it's lovely and perfect.
Posted by: Jeri | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 04:32 PM
I, too, have to wear hats and sunblock whenever outside. Not a skin cancer scare, but my skin has decided to get blotchy instead of tan in sunlight recently. And because it's smart to do so, really.
Let's make hats fashionable again, ok? Big, tightly woven ones!
Posted by: Amy Kortuem - Mankato, Minnesota | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 06:44 PM
P.S. - I just ordered "Blossoming in Provence"! Can't wait to read it.
Posted by: Amy Kortuem - Mankato, Minnesota | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 06:45 PM
One of the things I love about the French life is their "joie de vivre." They can take hours to linger over a good meal while conversing with family or friends, playing afternoon games of pétanque, taking walks or bike riding instead of jumping in the car. We Californians should learn from you, our life is too fast paced.
I will look forward to hearing the destination for Jean-Marc's San Francisco visit on March 21; hope to be there. Loved hearing his voice this morning. Thank you, Jean-Marc, for talking slowly so I could understand every beautiful word!
Posted by: Vicki, San Francisco Bay area | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 06:52 PM
When I listened to Jean-Marc say his piece, he said " ne pourra pas " even if it was not in the script.
In casual conversation, pas of ne ... pas is sometimes dropped, is that right?
So Glenn, what do you hear when you listen to him speak? Perhaps a typo in the text?
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah LaBelle near Chicago | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 07:33 PM
What do I love French? The whimsical, the joie de vivre, the beautiful simplicity of life that becomes grand. And I love the old shutters on the windows, the green valleys, the fields of sunflowers and lavendula. And a good bottle of wine with a baguette and some Pont L'Eveque brie. And, and, and......
Posted by: joie/carmel-by-the-sea, ca. | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 07:54 PM
Thanks Sarah. I listened more closely to the audio and there certainly is a "pas" there. Whew, a typo and not a new rule.
Posted by: Glenn from St. Paul | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 09:07 PM
When I opened your post this morning I couldn't believe that Jean-Marc added Boston to his tour, it was as if family had announced a visit! Even though it was probably too early to be calling the Wine Bottega I didn't want to miss my chance. I left a message making a reservation and leaving my contact info. All day I have been calling to confirm with them, but I keep getting the recording. Maybe this means that they have tons of customers with requests. That would be awesome for J-M... I am sure that you have many friends in Boston... I just want to be in that number. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Blessings and love to your family, human and animal, Mary
(Belle's mom) Remember Belle, the Bouvier, who sent Smokey a get well card? Belle went on to Doggie Heaven last February and we are just now starting to think about a Bouvie puppy!!!
p.s. Getting a little snow here a bit north of Boston...really the first white stuff since October... very strange winter!
Posted by: mary rossi | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 09:13 PM
To Sarah Labelle and Glenn, I just listened to JM's voice. Il a bien prononcé "Kristi ne" pourra PAS venir...". Kristi, tu as omis le PAS" dans ton texte.
Posted by: Millie | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 09:33 PM
So, Jean-Marc has not yet nailed down just where in Seattle. I'm so excited that he's coming here! Have take a look at Bin 41 in West Seattle; website - http://bin41wine.com/Site/bin_41_intro.html
Great place with very loyal, very local following.
Posted by: SeattleJanet | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Your opening photo was like a breath of spring air this morning as my little farm lay quietly tucked under a thick blanket of snow. I love your goal and this short, but-oh-so sweet story. Then to close with “handfuls of hope and scatterings of trust”? I picture you twirling in the garden, seeds flying from your hands as you let go your grasp and open to more of life’s beauty.
Thank you for brightening my day! Your cheery photo of the shutters and the lace curtain cinched the deal on this heart-winning, perfect post.
Posted by: Stacy ~ Sweet Life Farm ~ Applegate, Oregon | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Your opening photo was like a breath of spring air this morning as my little farm lay quietly tucked under a thick blanket of snow. I love your goal and this short, but-oh-so sweet story. Then to close with “handfuls of hope and scatterings of trust”? I picture you twirling in the garden, seeds flying from your hands as you let go your grasp and open to more of life’s beauty.
Thank you for brightening my day! Your cheery photo of the shutters and the lace curtain cinched the deal on this heart-winning, perfect post.
Posted by: Stacy ~ Sweet Life Farm ~ Applegate, Oregon | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 11:46 PM
NE...PAS : There was NO typo, friends! And it's not a new rule, just an old one... But in literary French it is not only accepted but suggested to delete the "pas" for elegance. When talking about France and the French, you all may have forgotten about their elegance !!!
Be well tout le monde !
nadine, Napa, Californie
Posted by: nadine goodban | Thursday, March 01, 2012 at 03:24 AM
Hoping to get to one of the events in Washington! Even my daughter and friend want to attend, isn't that cool? Yay
Thank you for the picture - I am fascinated by French shutters, something about them passes for rustic, romantic and so casual. Curtains and flowers makes me want to say... C'est la vie which I hope means ... it is the good life :)
Posted by: Patty in Bethesda today | Thursday, March 01, 2012 at 03:59 PM
To add to the pas or no pas commentary: pouvoir is one of a handful of verbs which are sometimes used without pas, I believe. So it is correct either way.
Posted by: leslie | Thursday, March 01, 2012 at 04:22 PM
Like Stacy, I also loved "handfuls of hope and scatterings of trust." Such a beautiful phrase.
Posted by: Jennifer in OR | Thursday, March 01, 2012 at 07:24 PM
I've only been to France twice (going again this year to make it three!!), but being married to le francais means I get to live a little bit of France everyday! The biggest things I have taken away from my experiences are to put your whole heart into what you do, to do things because you enjoy them, and to be mindful.
Lori in sunny...wait...it's snowing...wait...it's raining...wait...it's sunny...Southern Oregon!
Posted by: Lori Di Betta, Medford, OR | Thursday, March 01, 2012 at 11:18 PM
My favorite part of your post today was hearing that you feel well enough to get out in the garden again! Sunshine is good for you when you are careful - that good ol' vitamin D! Living at almost 7,000 ft it is a necessity that I wear SPF all year every day. And don't forget the back of your hands as well! I guess the ladies of Victorian days had it right with their hats, parasols and gloves :) Oh! and I love your cat photos - but I miss Braise and Smokey and hope they are well. Praying for safe travels for J-M. Bises a tous!
Posted by: Candy in CO | Friday, March 02, 2012 at 03:28 AM
What a lovely opening photo, un petit chat and des fleurs. We're still shivering here in southern NV, even though the calendar says we should be near 70 degrees. The flowers are just so cheery and there is a delicious joy in having my own petite chatte purr away on my lap while we wait for the sun to remember it's time to warm us up. Bonne journee a tous!!
Posted by: Luci | Friday, March 02, 2012 at 07:12 PM
I love everything about France! I sprinkle some herbes de Provence on almost every meal so that delicious fragrance can take me there. I also love lace curtains, flowers in the windows and those beautifully bright shutters and doors. Driving around Bourgogne with my husband a few Septembers ago and seeing each vineyard ripe with row upon row of grapevines was breathtaking. Kristin and Jean Marc-you must love seeing that same sight everytime you go up your drive.
Thanks for this uplifting post and reminder that spring is on its way even if we've just had a few inches of snow overnight here just south of Boston.
I wish Jean Marc safe travels and hope to be able to see him in Boston!
Posted by: Carolyn Dahm, Sharon, MA | Friday, March 02, 2012 at 11:13 PM
Do you still have the photos on the weekends like you used to?
Posted by: Annie | Saturday, March 03, 2012 at 08:47 PM