illico

"La Réunion": Daughter Jackie and Smokey "R" Dokey. So sweet to "re-meet".

illico presto (ee lee ko press toh)

right away

French synonyms: immédiatement, aussitôt, sur-le-champ (immediately), tout de suite = all at once

Example Sentence:

Il faut partir illico presto! We need to leave right away!

.

A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse

To the tune of  a spinning machine à laver, I try for the n^ième fois to write a suitable opening phrase. It looks as though it may take a while to ease back into the rhythm of writing after a three week "wandering off." (My family and I have been on vacation à la sicilienne.)

Meantime, I will try not to let so many false starts and rapid stops lead to writer's block. If there is one thing I have learned from writing it is to just keep on "applying," to plod on past the snares, hiccups, slips, and blips. Sooner or later a story will form, never mind how many times you trip.

Meantime, our dogs are having no difficulty at all reinserting themselves into daily life here at the grape farm. The first thing Braise and Smokey did on arrival (home now from the Chambre de Chiens) was to plunge into this reinvigorating ruisseau, only it took some coaxing to get them there (one or two tossed sticks eventually lured them into the water's chilly midst).

And with an electric blue libellule looking on, the goldens swam whilst an endeared daughter became the picture of fond.

After the "bain de brook" Jackie and I scrubbed the dogs with bubble-gum-scented shampoo. (Smokey got the double dose, Braise, the one over).


I leave you with a photo of Smokey showing off his new bubble gum scented fourrure before a sky of tournesol fleurs. Many thanks, by the way, to Uncle Jacques for watering all our plants while we were away. They look better now than when we left them....

Back now to easing into everyday life. I've got a second load of laundry to hang on the line and a dozen or so sunflowers to admire while there's still time.

Amicalement,

Kristin

French Vocabulary

la machine à laver = (clothes) washing machine
n^ième = umpteenth
à la sicilienne = Sicilian style
la chambre de chiens = (a play on chambre d'hôte: bed and breakfast, in this case for dogs)
le ruisseau = stream, brook
la libellule = dragonfly
le bain de "brook" (ruisseau) = a bath (swim) in the brook 
la fourrure = coat, fur
le tournesol = sunflower
une fleur = flower

Comments

[Candice]

Welcome home Kristin. I hope you all had a wonderful vacation!

xox

[Ninotchka]

Welcome back! I didn't know how much I missed your blog until this wonderful post. :)

[Bill in St. Paul]

Glad you're back - we missed you, but the dogs are looking great!

[aneyefordetail]

"Laundry to hang on the line": we just bought a house in North Carolina and you are (so they say) not allowed to hang clothes outside... Oh no! I never use a dryer; this will be a challenge, for sure.

Love all your pics of the doggies: they must have been SO glad to be home again!

[Barbara]

We missed you, ALL of you. Oh and more pictures of those wonderful Sunflowers and cypress please (at your convenience of course)...

[Sion @ paris (im)perfect]

Hi Kristin. First, welcome back - and what beautiful photos of your return! Your opening today really resonated with me. I'm trying to find my way back into writing a novel after almost 3 years away, much less 3 weeks! (And here I am, browsing your lovely blog instead). Thanks for the reminder - to just keep plugging away, past all the hiccups. Thank you! Hope you had a great time and I'm glad you're back.

[Roseann]

I'm so glad you're back!

I really missed visiting with you every day, Kristin.

Thank you

[Joyce Hoover]

I've missed you, also, guess I am afraid you will go away and not come back. I don't write often but I watch for you like the postman. Sincerely, Joyce Hoover, Hampton VA.

[Malia Bridwell]

Hi Kristin,

My cousin in Dallas had sent me another blog and at the bottom was yours and I clicked on it to see what it was about. I love it! I hope to be French someday as well. I'm a francophile myself (French teacher for 16 years) and I just resigned in hopes to become a missionary in France. I'm moving to Switzerland at the end of September to go to school for a year. I'm enjoying getting reacquainted with words I have forgotten and learning some new ones as well. Thanks for sharing your life with us.

Malia

[Herm in Phoenix, AZ]

Salut Kristin

It’s great that the Espinasse family plus pets are back.

In the “bain de” brook, Smokey and Braise seem to be saying:

We don’t want to be known as the “Hot-Dogs of Provence”!
We’d rather be called “Cool K-9ers”! That’s our response.

[Sandy Maberly]

Glad you had a wonderful vacation. You'll be wishing you were still there in another month's time when the activity at home goes into high gear! Loved the pic of Smokey with the backdrop of les tournesols. Looks like he was enjoying the scent of the farm once more!

[Debbie Chavers]

Welcome home, you were missed.

DTC in Tennessee

[Pat Cargill]

Welcome home and many thanks for the great pictures of the dogs (and lovely Jackie, too!) a la reunion. Beautiful, all! Love the picture of J-M on computer...sweet. Somehow ended up watching video of the 4,000 Plantings (March) and then over to see the U2/Mary J Blige "One" video. One can take many side trips down the FWAD lane!
A sunny, humid sticky August day in Roanoke, but I'll be working in the yard (my Briar Patch) and loving it! So nice to have you back.

[jan greene]

Welcome home! How boring was the usual e-mail sans you! Your photos are amazing and transport me to good smelling dogs and beautiful sunflowers! May your writing flow with ease and grace. Glad to have you back!
Jan Greene

[mary]

So glad to see see that you all are back and alive and well. Les Chiens look fantastic and happy. Have a wonderful week.

[Kristin]

Thank you for the warmest "welcome back"! Wonderful to read each message and to visit the corresponding blogs, too!

Sion, keep those fingers close to the keyboard. You will take up where you left off, and on an even fresher note. The break might have been just what you needed (re "break": not that you were resting much, what with other writing projects!)

Hi Herm, Thanks for Cool K-9ers! (Got it... second time around)

Sandy, yikes! the harvest! Glad I stuck to my promise and did not bring up the topic during vacation... Now we are gearing up for grape picking season. So happy you will be joining us out their in the picking fields (mwah haha hah!)

Hi Pat, seems you've been over to JM's blog. Is he wearing his "Crush on Etna" t-shirt? I'd better have a look....

Thank you all for these lovely messages. They really make "le retour" a hopeful one.

[Phyllis]

Hi Kristin wonderful photo of the dragon fly. Is the French word for dragonfly and damselfly the same? You ara most talented in word and deed!

[Candy from SW KS]

Quelle joie! You have returned! You were missed. And what a great "welcome back" for us - the photos of the dogs and Jackie with the beautiful backdrop of Provence. Merci for the addition of the French synonyms. (or have they been there all along and I never noticed?) I hope you were able to renew your spirit and revive your mind - and eat some great cuisine! :) Welcome home, Kristi (et famille)!

[Marie]

Your photos are such a treat and your tales of life a la francais beautiful! Thanks!

[Marianne Rankin]

Yes, welcome back. The photos truly capture this season of the year.

We aren't allowed to hang out laundry on the line here in Maryland (D.C. suburb), either. I do occasionally hang out my swimsuit and towel.

Kristin, you don't always have to have a "story." Just descriptions are often enough. They are always interesting.

How I envy you, having a brook run through your yard - and apparently deep enough for dogs to swim in, meaning people could take a dip, too, now and then. Even if one doesn't swim it in, just having flowing water around would be attractive and peaceful. I've often thought how idyllic your environment is.

[Suzanne White]

Kristin, Je pense que c'est plutôt "à la sicilienne"... something tells me that "Sicilian" is not feminine enough. On dit "à l'americaine" et "à la française" et "à litalienne" so it must be "à la sicilienne" as well.
Just nit picking. I love the photo of the dog with the splash. Thanks. Suzanne.

[Genie Gillette Brouillette]

Dear Kristin, Soooo glad you're back! Love your writing and fotos....thank you for putting France in our lives in such a special way! Genie

[Genie Gillette Brouillette]

PS This is from Madison, Alabama!!! Your fans are everywhere!! Genie

[Joan Linneman]

This blog makes la Rentree for this prof de francais a little easier to bear.
Joan L. Tomorrow is the big day...

[Christine]

Welcome back to your lovely corner of Provence! Having such a beautiful spot to come home to must make it a little easier when vacation is over...

[Christine in Salt Lake City]

Welcome back! I love seeing photos of your belle fille!

[Suzanne in Monroe Twp, NJ]

So glad the trip to Sicily was wonderful! Smokey and Blaize look so happy in that stream. Looking forward to reconnecting.

[Missy]

Clothes on the line, dogs for a swim and a bath, sunflower's to admire, what a wonderful way to come home!
Can't wait to see the pictures you brought back:)

[Stacy, Applegate, Oregon]

So delighted you have returned! Welcome home, you have been greatly missed, not only by Braise and Smokey-do, but all of us at FWAD too!

Such beautiful photos! My sunflowers are just coming into bloom. As are the whispers, those bitter-sweet reminders, that summer will soon slip away into autumn…admire while there’s still time. Happy August to all!

[Lee Isbell]

I think I have one of those bans on clotheslines where I live, too. Shouldn't we plead that solar drying uses renewable energy and it's the right thing to do?

Welcome back, Kristin and family. The photos are incredible.

[Kristin]

Dear Stacy and friends, back again, this time from the supermarché (time to refill the fridge (even if Uncle Jacques and his lovely girlfriend left many treats inside: homemade pizza and many Moroccan specialties!). Enjoying so much these latest messages. Thank you! Grazie mille! (sp?)

Suzanne, thank you for "Sicilienne" - just what was needed!

Marianne, thanks for the reminder that a story is not always needed. Nice to let go of the pressure - now to remember this!

Phyllis, thanks for "damselfly" - this may come in handy! That said, I am not sure about whether there is a difference.

Lee, just saw your message; great term "solar drying". Will hope to use it, too, along with Phyllis' "damselfly". (Still gearing up for writing!)

[Karen from Phoenix, AZ]

WELCOME BACK! Boy have I missed your posts. Glad to see everyone is happy and rested. The dogs look so happy!!

[MaryEllen Fort]

Vacatins are inspsiring and fun but is is ALWAYS comforting to get home again. Mary Ellen Fort

[Fred Caswell]

Went to send you a courriel and fell asleep at the computer before getting one started! Explain soon. Delightful photos; the one showing the symmetrical fountain-like splash of the stick hitting the ruisseau is amazing. Lost for words to tell how much your return means to this old man.

More photos of the handsome men in ta famille, if they will cooperate, as well as your tres belle fille (takes after her mom).

Comme toujours, Fred

[Pamela fr Los Angeles]

So wonderful to have you and your writing back! Brings a smile to my face..i especially love all the stories which include your goldens!

[buffy]

Do you ever get the feeling when you get back from a long trip that you were never there? It is a weird feeling my sons and I had when re returned home. The trip to Europe was a whirlwind...so much to see in those few weeks. I am glad you are home safe and sound. I am sure you have many new ideas to write about on the blog and in your book.

Have a wonderful week home!

Buffy

[Dianne]

I love the photo's of Smokey with the tournesols in the background- just gorgeous. I'm sure they were pleased to be home from le chambre de chien. lovely post!
~Dianne~

[Carol]

Welcome back. You were definitely missed. Thank you for the beautiful photos. My favorites are the libellule and Smokey smiling as he enjoys the sun on his face.

[Catherine Burnett]

I echo the sentiments of your followers--you and your beautiful photos and your lovely way with words were so missed! Three weeks without you felt much longer. Thank you for including photos of your chiens with this first post. There's nothing better than being greeted by a Golden, and there's nothing happier than a Golden in the water.

Welcome back, Kristin and family!

[Carole Buschmann]

I kept looking and looking where I keep you on my favorite blogs hoping for a little image to pop indicating you were back. Welcome . Vacations are the best!

[Eileen deCamp]

Welcome back Kristin! I hope you and your family enjoyed vacation time!

[MEL CURTIS]

Welcome back, We left home in Aups on Saturday and are now back at work in Dubai. I hope my flowers are ok as yours were when we pop back home mid September - ( Eid break here so at least we will get 3 days).The new words within the context are really helping my vocabulary- thanks. Will share this also with my students when they return from their international travels in September.

[Kristin]

Mel, thank you for sharing this word journal with your students. I have many new words to "partager," phrases jotted down in a little carnet which did not leave me during vacation! Hope your flowers offer you a colorful greeting!

Buffy, Oui, oui! (Re the feeling of never having been there or "was it all a dream?". Good thing we brought back proof via a box of local food and a few stowaways (!) (stay tuned...)

Merci à tous, thanks everyone for these comments! Great to see your cheers for the dog photos and stories.

[la voisine]

Comme elles sont belles tes filles ;o)

[Sharon Auckerman]

Welcome back Kristin, I was really happy to hear that you were going on vacation at the same time my husband and I were closing on our house in Florida and making the move to North Carolina, I didn't miss any of your posts. I love the pictures and the brook, creek, irrigation canal!??? It looks very refreshing to me. I am looking forward to the next few weeks and hoping to hear about Sicily. I hear it is lovely.

[Anne]

Kristen,
I am a French teacher "et bien sûr, j'adore French Word-a-Day!" It occurred to me today, as I was reading and enjoying your lovely photos of your daughter and your dogs, that I should require my students to read French Word-a-Day! I think they would love it, too.
Any chance, that before September, you could make one of your postings an introduction to you, your family, your occupation, your vineyards - for those who may just be joining? (I think us old-timers would enjoy it, also!)

[Kirsten]

What beautiful pictures of Smokey and Braise! They must have been so happy to see you!

My dog is actually named Sunflower. I was too lazy to look up the correct French word, so sometimes I called her "La fleur de sol" (with a complete disregard for the gender of nouns). Now I have no excuse not to call her "ma petite tournesol..." or something like that.

[Shirley]

I just love, love, love French Word-a-Day!

[MICHEL ET MARIE FIAT]

BONJOUR LES ESPINASSE....
NOUS SOMMES PASSES PAR LES ARCS HIER LE 17 AOUT.....NOUS ETIONS EN VACANCES AU LAVANDOU....NOUS SOMMES ARRETES SUR LA LPLACE DU VILLAGE AVANT DE CONTINUER SUR GRENOBLE PAR LES GORGES DU VERDON.....
KRISTIN AMUSANT A LIRE LE LIVRE WORDS IN FRENCH LIFE.......MARRANT DE VOIR TOUTE CES EXPRESSIONS.......JE VAIS BOIRE UN VERRE DE COTE DU RHONE A VOTRE SANTEE.......PAS EU DE PROBLEME AVEC LES INNONDATIONS......?
ALLEZ BISOUS..
MARIE MICHEL

[MICHEL ET MARIE FIAT]

BONJOUR LA FAMILLE ESPINASSE
HIER LE 17 AOUT NOUS SOMMES PASSES AUX ARCS ...EN REVENANT DU LAVANDOU OU NOUS ETIONS EN VACANCES VIA LES GORGES DU VERDON A DESTINATION DE GRENOBLE OU NOUS RESIDONS.
MARRANT CE LIVRES AVEC TOUTES EXPRESSIONS....
ET LES LES INNONDATIONS ...PAS DE PROBLEMES.
ALLEZ UN COUPDE ROSEE DE PROVENCE
MICHEL

[Karen W (Towson, Maryland)]

Looks like my post never went through. Oh well,it's worth saying again - WELCOME BACK!! It's god to know that you hiccup your mind back into writing too.

Re: feeling like you were never away - I don't get that feeling but I do get the feeling of total unfamiliarity of my home for about a week upon my return.

I love (what looks like a painting) the photo of Smokey with nose in the air!

And "Nieme"? Is that only something that can be written? I'd love to know since I'm always saying "umpteenth"

[jeananne]

Welcome "home". So glad you had some well deserved time away & how I have missed your words, photos & Goldens!
Most happy to have French words back in my in box...

[MICHEL ET MARIE FIAT]

i am new......so illico can be like they in lyon: allez zou......!

[Marianne Rankin]

The idea of an intro to the family, vineyard, etc. sounds interesting, even for long-time readers of the blog. We might learn something new.

Whether or not you have that, I request that someday, you post a picture with all four of you in one photo (and others, too, if you wish). Of all the pictures I've seen on FWAD, there have never been more than 3 of you at a time.

[elizabeth taza]

glad your back and that is one mighty book list, thanks Kristin