Meetup at our place + How to say "fair trade" in French?
Friday, September 05, 2014
A shop in the village of Le Castellet, near Bandol.
MEET-UP! Come to our home for a wine-tasting on September 13th or Sept 28th! To reserve your seat, email [email protected]
le commerce équitable (koh-mairce-ay-kee tahbl)
: fair trade
Example Sentence
Le commerce équitable est un commerce conçu pour assurer une juste rémunération à des producteurs des pays pauvres afin qu’ils puissent développer leur activité à long terme et améliorer leur niveau de vie. -LaToupie.org (Fair trade is a business designed to assure fair payment to producers in poor countries so that they might develop their activity for the long term and improve their standard of living.)
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE... by Kristin Espinasse
Anniversaries, deaths, and périménopause. Whew! I think another bullet post is in order...
- Happy 20th anniversary Dad & Marsha! Gros gros bisous.
- Can we talk? Adieu Joan Rivers.
- From Chief Grape to assistant caveau. Jean-Marc's gone back-to-school at Chateau Pibarnon!
- Monday = mother-in-law's shoulder surgery. Priez pour elle.
- Bleu? But my daughter asked for blonde!
- I love bells! jingle bells. Cow bells. sleigh bells. Everything but Hell's bells.
- Périménopause, vraiment?
- Took only two years to realize the local post office has a drive-thru.
- drive-thru = service au volant. ("service on the fly")
- When you return an empty pitcher to the frigo, you are giving your mom (or wife) a glass of air with which to quench her thirst on a sizzling hot day.
- Pickle juice is no substitute for vinegar when washing windows.
- Just because you signed up for my double opt-in email newsletter does not mean you can automatically add me to your mass mailing!
- Did the previous bullet sound arrogant or self-important?
- Walk a mile in another's souliers.
- Non spelled backwards is noN.
- Always end on a positive note.
- The cicadas are gone. Hello cricket song!
Comments
Anything to add? I'd love to read your random bullet list. Click here to comment.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
gros bisous = big big kisses
adieu = "until God" (goodbye)
assistant caveau = wine cellar helper
priez (prier) = pray
pour elle = for her
le frigo = fridge
vraiment? = really?
souliers (m) = shoes
Planted dozens of zinnia seeds. Only one took -- giving back a half-dozen flowers on a single plant! Sow generously. You never know who will reciprocate or how generously!
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
Doesn't volant mean steering wheel? Would Service au volant mean then service at the wheel?
Also wondering how la Rentrée went with your kids.
Posted by: Jacqueline Bucar | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 12:21 PM
*sometimes bullets strike just the right note
*welcome to perimenopause. Hope your ride doesn't last too long.
*wiil be praying for your mother-in-law
*love the meaning of "adieu"
*a bouquet of zinnias in a Ball jar make the best Fall gift
*Merci
Posted by: Alison at The Gracious Posse | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 01:14 PM
Good morning. Isn't perimenopause grand? Not!
Having a few symptoms myself. Have a wonderful weekend.
Posted by: Buffy | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 01:19 PM
Jacqueline is right. It may be a play on both meanings of volant, but if it were flying service it would be service (fem.noun) volante. But since it is volant used as a noun (au volant), it means service at the steering wheel. Perimenopause is sneaky and can make emotions overwhelming. People should talk about it more openly, because when it hits, you feel like you are going crazy! Prompt rétablissement to Michèle France.
Posted by: GretaMille | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 01:30 PM
*perimenopause- you get through it- and find yourself a stronger, feistier woman
*drive-through windows are the greatest inventions ever- though, a two-year old thinks every one of them should hand you French fries
*pickle-juice posts are side-splitting
*palindromes are fun! Hi, Mom, Dad, Bob & Madam!
*ALWAYS read French-Word-A-Day!!
Posted by: Alisa | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 01:36 PM
I was wrong about service being feminine! Le service! One of those words that seems like it should be, to me. Still, volant is used as a noun in that expression.
Posted by: GretaMille | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 01:52 PM
My bullet list: 1. Rain for the next 5 days? 2. Thanks, honey, for the new MAC . My old PC was gasping for breath. 3. I'll get a haircut today, alright? 4. Those brochures for the Literacy Committee won't write themselves, you know. 5. Bible study starts Wednesday! Kristin, thanks for the idea of a bullet list. My list shows a lazy streak. Or at least procrastination.
Posted by: Debbie Houston | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 02:34 PM
Perimenopause? No sweat. Hahahahaha !
I loved it in winter when I could cross country ski around Trillium Lake, Oregon on Mount Hood in a light thermal top & no need for a jacket or cap.
Bon Courage!
Posted by: Oregonian in Paris | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 03:11 PM
Pickle juice to wash windows?! too funny ... But it's good to add to the dressing for potato salad. Wedding tomorrow - potato salad tonight at a "welcome to Polson" barbecue. What a joyful occasion.
Posted by: Linda R. | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 03:30 PM
A couple of items for a bullet list:
• Enjoy life now . . . it has an expiration date
• It’s good to be on the green side of grass
• In France , it’s good NOT to eat dandelions by the root
• I wondered all night where the sun went. . . .then it dawned on me
Posted by: Herm in Phoenix, AZ | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 04:06 PM
•Has anyone else wished their favorite author would write faster?
•cell phones-16 year olds really like them. I chaperoned my daughter to purchase one from an online seller last night. I made her use some of her money so "she would have some sweat in the game."
•Non spelled backwards is non. but in English, no spelled backwards is on!
•2 cycle smoke from a boat motor starting up - This is my favorite smell because it means I am finally on the water. Weird I know.
•I have started writing a book. My first such effort.
Posted by: Barry | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 05:00 PM
Non spelled backwards is noN.
Posted by: Teri | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 05:42 PM
May God's presence be real for your mom-in-law. May her health providers be focused may you encourage her with gods truth. You have such a ministry Kristin! God is pleased with your faithful use of the gifts He has bestowed.
Posted by: Maria Cochrane | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 05:56 PM
Self-important? Hardly. Anyone and everyone gets upset when they start receiving unsolicited e-mails.
Posted by: Bruce in northwest Connecticut | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 06:59 PM
KRISTIN, HOW I LOVE YOUR BLOG/EMAIL WHATEVER. ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE PICTURES. CHARM OOZES FROM EVERY PICTURE YOU SEND. AS I LOOK OUT MY WINDOW, HERE BY THE COMPUTER, I SEE BLAZING SUN 100PLUS TEMPS, TAN GRASS , TAN CONCRETE, DEAD FLOWERS. OH FALL, HURRY, I AM SOOOO READY, COOLER WEATHER, MUMS AND PUMPKINS. I AM JUST RAMBLING TODAY, NEXT TIME I WILL ADDRESS SPECIFICS. HOW I WISH I COULD COME TO THE WINE TASTING. I THINK WE WOULD BE BESTEST FRIENDS. THEN AGAIN, I MIGHT HAVE TO FLIRT WITH YOUR HUSBAND, AND YOU WOULD NOT LIKE ME. ( I AM 81 YEARS OLD, OLD ENOUGH TO BE HIS GRANDMA) WELL, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL. LOVE YOU, PRETTY LADY,,,,,, JOY
Posted by: JOY WOOD | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 07:04 PM
Hi Kristin,
Robin here again in Las Vegas.
I guess my bullet list is sort of the same every day for right now. Food shop, keep track of doctor's appointments and take care of my wonderful husband. Whether he wants me to or not! Love the way the snow looks on the tops of the mountains here in the Southwest in the Wintertime, also, Sadie
s (our dog) little buck teeth type overbite. She's so cute. Je prie pour votre belle-mere. Love Robin
Posted by: Robin Lewin | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 08:15 PM
Hi Kristin, No bullet list, only wanted to say the flowers seeds I ordered because of your blog I THOUGHT didn't make it here in AZ BUT to my astonishment, I now have tons of zinnias -- who would have thought! I also say thanks for the vocab--I print off every vocab list you post. Stack a mile high--not that it does me much good!
Hope your day is wonderful. Jill (here in Cave Creek)
Posted by: Jill Switzenberg | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 09:42 PM
My bullet list.....get one accomplished....add three more! Today's was going to be to water what plants are still alive, however, it is Friday and we can only water on Wed and Sat. Does it count if I use a wine bottle and water just the pots?
Good use for pickle juice.....you know those expensive olives you like? The Greek or Spanish ones that are marinated in all those goodies....well, buy an inexpensive bottle or can of either black or green and marinate them in the pickle juice after you have eaten the pickles. I tend to add a bit more garlic, dill and tarragon to mine.
Posted by: joie in carmel-by-the-sea | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 10:39 PM
I LOVE palindromes; there are some awesome ones out there, starting with: "So Ida, adios!!" "No lemons, no melon"
Happy weekend, everyone! Joan L.
Posted by: Joan Linneman | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 10:44 PM
* repair man coming Tuesday to repair cooktop
* Hunter begins fencing lessons Tuesday evening
* mail deposit and application for yoga teacher training
* suggest Kristin and all perimenopausals read http://www.amazon.com/New-Menopausal-Years-Alternative-Approaches/dp/1888123036/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409951881&sr=8-1&keywords=susun+weed+menopause
* work in cover design for friends book
Posted by: Lanier Cordell | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 11:19 PM
Bullet list:
Eat..
Catch up on reading
Catch up with kids (phone)
Cook for Husband
Sit back and enjoy TV
Sleep...
Very lazy Saturday after a big night out.
Posted by: Anne | Friday, September 05, 2014 at 11:33 PM
Our dear Kristi,
What another wonderful and beautifully written post today!
So enjoyed reading about your bullet list(!) and also those from all of your readers!
Please know I am praying for dear Michele France,and for God to bless you both with (her)quickly recovering body and (your)always loving words of comfort.
May I add this,too?
Perimenopause passes just as menopause does.
A walk in the woods it is not,but like a lot of other stuff in life,the only way you can get to there is from finishing here first.Each age has its own particular beauty, with memories to enjoy now and those to look back on later.
Tuesday will be our 49th anniversary;when we got married(I was 18) it seemed an eternity away.Now 18 seems an eternity away and I can't believe how quickly all those years have passed!We thank God every day for such a gift!
Love
Natalia XO
Posted by: Natalia | Saturday, September 06, 2014 at 12:57 AM
Bonsoir Kristin
•I Love FWAD
•I love Herm’s bullets
•God hears our prayers
•Don’t wash the floor before your husband cuts a watermelon
•Thank God everyday
•Find something to be joyful about everyday
•Don’t sweat the small stuff
•I think I’ve escaped perimenopause, don’t tell where to find me
•There is a drive-thru liquor store in my hometown in GA
•I love the sound of crickets and cicadas but not the sound of the woodpecker on our drainpipe at 5am
•Did you know stressed spelled backwards is desserts
•I’m going to have a big piece of chocolate cake
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Saturday, September 06, 2014 at 03:21 AM
*You cannot eat pie and be unhappy at the same time.
*Piano, piano.
*Make time for fun people. Say yes when they suggest fun.
*The body requires more maintenance than we are told. Do physical therapy pre-emptively. It is cheaper and smarter.
*Get out into nature(or at least the garden). It is wondrous.
*It is rarely a mistake to be a generous tipper.
*Pet the cat.
*As they write at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco,
"Turn off your cell phone and BE HERE NOW."
*We are all we are, and all we need to be, already. Just release the neuroses and negativity we have acquired as we've gone along, as we find it--like so much dog hair or lint.
*We are all so lucky to be here.
Posted by: Leslie NYC | Saturday, September 06, 2014 at 06:24 PM
Amazing wisdom--and at the same time humor--in these posts, particularly Herm, Eileen and Leslie. Love the characterization of the stretching I don't get to often enough as preemptive physical therapy. Maybe that will help me make time for it!
Posted by: Mara in Wisconsin | Sunday, September 07, 2014 at 12:43 AM
- Y'a deux accents à périménopause... Strange when you write péri (perished) ménopause ... :)
- Non spelled backwards is noN.
- I love bullet lists.... saves me from writing awkward sentences; particularly when thinking in French but needing to write in English or vice-versa...
Posted by: Jacqueline | Monday, September 08, 2014 at 03:18 AM
Thank you for these absolutely delightful bucket lists! So creative and fun to read.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, September 08, 2014 at 07:20 PM
Your bullet list reads like a stream of consciousness rather than a to-do or things to remember; I have done the same when I am too spent for prose.
Bleu? We must hear that story. Ditto on pickle-juice escapade. Another time.
Your list, and readers', brightened my day.
Posted by: Trina, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA | Monday, September 08, 2014 at 09:46 PM