quand le jour viendra

Break free, break through, break-the-rules...  in fashion, in writing, in gardening, in cuisine, in living. Pictured: the latest "escapee" in our garden: allium (representing unity, patience, and humility).

quand le jour viendra

    : when the day comes

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Example Sentence, from today's letter written by Newforest:

Vous lirez tout ça demain ..., bientôt ...., un jour ..., quand le jour viendra... You will read all that tomorrow..., soon..., one day..., when the day comes...

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Practice Makes Perfect: Complete French Grammar makes mastering grammar easy. Check out the book's reviews and order here.

 

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

An Unexpected Tribute

The following French words were written by Newforest, who regularly enriches us, from a quiet perch in the comments box, with French words and their meanings.  Thank you, Newforest, for sharing these gems of the French language via your responses in the "coin commentaires". The following response sent via email, is a follow-up to the April 26th newsletter and I thank Newforest for letting me share this unexpected tribute.
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Note: In the following letter, Newforest responds to a story I wrote, one taking place in a French home-improvements store, where I am killing time when a customer with a hell-on-wheels heart captures my eye in time  to calm a condemning mind and reignite an old dream...

 

Newforest writes:

Pour passer le temps,
to pass the time,
. 

ou plus précisément:
or, more precisely:
..
pour TUER le temps,
to KILL time,

on attend, on attend...
we wait, we wait...
.
On peut parfois attendre bien longtemps,

Sometimes we can wait a very long time,
. 

paisiblement,

peacefully,

nonchalamment,
cooly,

anxieusement,

anxiously,

désespérément.
desperately.

Quel désagrément!
How unpleasant!

Efforcez-vous de prendre votre mal en patience,  
Try hard to grin and bear it,

en faisant le poireau, s'il le faut ...
by waiting a long time, without moving, if necessary...

Encore faut-il être joliment patient,

You might have to be pretty patient,

évidemment...
Clearly...

Quand on en a assez de poireauter, qu'est-ce qu'on fait?
When we've had enough waiting, what do we do?

On fait les cent pas dans la rue, ou devant un bâtiment...
We pace back and forth in the street, or before a building...

On marche de long en large (sans liaison entre "g" et "en"!)
We walk to and fro (no joining the "g" and "en"!)

On arpente solitairement les avenues...
We stride alone along the avenues... 

On prétend s'intéresser aux vitrines des marchands.
We pretend to be interested in the shop windows.

Un jour, pour tuer le temps, un écrivain entra dans un supermarché,
One day, to kill time, a writer entered into a supermarket,
. 

genre grand bazar équipé pour ceux qui adorent bricoler!
a kind a great bazaar for those who love DIY!

et là... !? ... Choc! Attraction! Eblouissement! Miracle?
and there...! Shock! Attraction! Amazement! Miracle?

Les yeux de l'écrivain en question se sont accrochés
The eyes of the writer-in-question cling
. 

à une personne dont les traits et qualités
to a person whose features and qualities

frappèrent son imagination et sa sensibilité.
would strike her imagination and feelings.

Elle reconnut la présence et l'âme d'une héroïne,
She recognised the presence and the soul of a heroine,

l'héroïne d'un conte pour les petits et les grands.
the heroine of a story for children and adults.

Savez-vous que cette femme écrivain au grand coeur,
Did you know that this woman writer with a big heart,

pleine d'idées, d'imagination et de bonne humeur,
full of ideas, imagination, and high spirits,

donnera vie à toute une série d'aventures,
will give life to a series of adventures,

à de la poésie en action, à ...  Chut!... Vous lirez tout ça
from poetry in action, to... Shhhh!... You'll read all of that

demain ..., bientôt ...., un jour ..., quand le jour viendra...
tomorrow..., soon... one day... when the day comes...

Encore faut-il que l'auteur en question se libère des liens du confort quotidien,
But it is still necessary that the author-in-question free herself from ties of daily comfort,

évitant les mille et une excuses plantées le long de son chemin,
avoiding the thousand-and-one excuses planted along the way,

et soit finalement seule, face aux paysages, menant les personnages
to be finally alone, facing the scenery, leading along the characters
. 

dans des aventures qui en-chan-te-ront
in adventures that will enchant

(mais oui, j'en suis sûre)
(yes, of course! I am sure)

les lecteurs de 'sept à soixante dix-sept ans'.

readers from "seven to 77" years old.

***

Thank you, Newforest, for your touching words and for remembering my dream of novels-writing! I continue keep this goal simmering on the back burner...  Meantime, your words offer heaps of encouragement. Merci beaucoup!

Le Coin Commentaires

To comment on Newforest's letter -- or to correct my English translation -- please click here. Many thanks again for sharing your responses to this post in the comments box.

French Vocabulary by Newforest

* nonchalamment = lazily, cooly
* un désagrément = unpleasant feeling
* s'efforcer de = to try hard
* prendre son mal en patience = to grin and bear it

* faire le poireau / poireauter (click here for a word-a-day entry on this term...) = to wait for a long time, without moving, without walking,
Careful... * faire le poirier = to do a headstand!
(le poireau = a leek   and  *le poirier = a pear tree)

* être joliment patient = to be pretty patient / to have loads of patience
* en avoir assez de poireauter =  to be fed up with waiting and waiting
* faire les cent pas / marcher de long en large
= to pace to and fro, to walk to and fro, to pace up and down
* arpenter (la rue) = to pace up and down (the street), to stride along
* bricoler = to DIY (Do It Yourself, to work indepenently, without professional help)
* faire semblant / prétendre = to pretend
* s'accrocher  = to cling
s'accrocher à quelqu'un = to get emotionally attached to somebody
*les traits = here, the features
* quand le jour viendra = when the day comes

* un éblouissement = glare, dazzle (by very strong light)
- Here: amazement, dazzling experience
- and it also means dizzy spell

* se libérer = to free oneself
* évitant = avoiding
* les lecteurs 'de 7 à 77 ans' = readers of all ages and conditions

NAME THIS FLOWER (click here)... it's for Newforest, in thanks for today's words, and so much more!

 

With special thanks to the Dirt Divas... for this and the other blooms bursting in the garden.

Upcoming events: Taste Chief Grape's Dentelle wine on May 16th from 6 to 10 PM (note that Jean-Marc and Kristin won't be able to attend this time!)  at restaurant l'Office in Paris.

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A Feast at the Beach. Travel back in time and immerse yourself in the Provence of the late 60s. Sensitively told, filled with humor, tenderness and a beautifully descriptive narrative regaling the reader with the tastes and smells of Southern France, A Feast at the Beach deftly blends the foods of Provence with stories that will touch your heart - and just may inspire you to rediscover your own joie de vivre. See the reviews, here.

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Eiffel Tower Cookie Cutter -  handcrafted by artisans to last for generations. Order here.

 

Some of you asked about this flower, which goes by the common name: Love in a Mist. Now read about Amour en Cage, or Love in a Cage

Comments

[Newforest]

demain ..., bientôt ..., un jour ..., quand le jour viendra...
We've all expressed dreams and aspirations, and each one of us could add on something very personal to these words.

Kristin,
your translation under the lines brillantly completed my text and Vocab List. Excellent!

Un grand merci for another delightful photo of the annual 'love-in-a-mist' (Nigella damascena). Blue and pink ones are pretty too, but I must admit the white ones are my favourite!
As you didn't give their French name, here it is:
-> "La Nigelle de Damas"
also called "les cheveux de Vénus"...

By the end of August, the black seeds will eventually snuggle inside rustic looking 'capsules' (can't think of a better word) and you'll be able to make some beautiful "bouquets secs" (bunches of dried flowers). When the day comes..., you might mix them with some delightful 'Chinese lanterns'. Woow! I can guess some more gorgeous photos to come.

Physalis turn into dried 'lanterns' ('Chinese Lanterns') so romantically called in French "Amour-en-cage". When they've reached that dried form, open up a 'lantern', and you will indeed find the round shape of 'love' hidden inside it.
Physalis ("amour-en-cage") are exceptionally attractive in their dried form, but Nigellas / 'Love-in-a-mist' ("cheveux de Vénus") are attractive all the way along, in their fresh -and dried- form.
How is your wild plant whisperer getting on these days?
All my love and respect to you, cher Monsieur Farjon!

I will let other readers name the white flowers you kindly dedicated to me. I am very touched by the dedication. Mille mercis, Kristin.

[Caroline]

A name for Newforest's flower - INSPIRATION...to all of us that want a little french language in our life x

[Marianne Rankin]

Newforest, thanks for the poem. What does "
farjon" mean at the end of you comment?

Kristin, your photos are magnificent! I think you could create a book of photos, with or without French to go along with them. I'm glad you have such lovely blooms in your garden.

[Pat Cargill]

I am thinking cette fleur is a Rose of Sharon - at any rate, Newforest has once again showered us (Spring showers?!) with a bounty of beautiful bon mots and expressions. Thank you Kristen for sharing this - you and Newforest are an inspiration to us.

[Kristin Espinasse]

Newforest, good to see your response to the translations. I thought about putting the English text at the end of the post... or in the comments box. Finally, it was easier for me to work this way :-) Will look forward to making one of those dry bouquets. Also, re Amour-en-Cage: the fruit inside (which resembles a tiny yellow plum) is delicious.

Caroline, Inspiration is a fitting name! Still wondering what the real name is...

Pat, I don't think these are Rose of Sharon... but they do have the same 5 petals and look very similar.

Marianne, Newforest is referring to Mr Farjon, aka "The Plant Whisperer". I linked to a story about him called "L'Amour-en-Cage" or "Love in a Cage". You can read it here: http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/2008/09/amour-en-cage.html

[Jeanne of Maumee, OH]

Newforest is perfect!

[Nancy L.]

A beautiful tribute! I am going to copy it to my Facebook page. Kepp on "keeping on" Kristi

[Carol]

What a lovely way to start a day, reading NewForest's poem. Thanks to both of you. I have no clue about the flower, but "Belle" came to my mind when I saw it. The name morning glory has already been taken!

[Julie F in St. Louis, MO]

Thanks to Newforest for constantly expanding our knowledge of French in both poetic and pedestrian ways.

And Kristin, we await your first novel. Some just take longer to be born.

As for that delicate pink flower that dances in the spring winds -- from the angle you shot the photo it looks like an evening primrose. I have a small bed of them that always announces our Midwest winters are over and summer will finally come.

[Lee]

Familiar flower, my guess: clarkia, syn. godetia, eucharidium.

Described in AHS's A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants as having:

"oval or linear to elliptic, sometimes toothed leaves. Spreading, funnel-shaped, paper-thin flowers, with a satin-like texture, are borne in upright, leafy racemes in summer. Grow in annual border."

[Sharon]

I think Julie is right, the flower looks like Evening Primrose, but the leaves look more like Hibiscus, but the stamens don't look quite right for Hibiscus. Will we find out next post?

[Lisa Emily]

My guess would be Oneothera speciosa- pink evening primrose.

Thanks for posting the poem and the translation.

[Tiffany Farrell]

Yes, Lisa! I think it is evening primrose as well. They are blooming in my garden now.

[Tiffany]

Kristin, I meant to tell you how beautiful your flower photos are today. Thank you!

[Julianna]

Thank you Newforest, for a poem that spoke to my own heart and touched my today -- and hopefully my tomorrows... And thank you Kristin, for sharing such a lovely piece of poetry with your readers.

[Lisa A., CA]

Merci beaucoup Newforest for sharing your poem! Reading your poem was a beautiful way to start my day.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

[Julie]

I'm thinking it's a mallow. but I might be wrong. Julie

[Jules Greer]

BUENOS DAIS!!

What a great travel day this is for me, only to be made better by our amazing NEWFOREST. I agree with everything Julianna just said, NEWFOREST always sends little secret messages to all of us. With her wonderful sense of delight in our world we have all grown. As I have said many times before and I will keep on - NEWFOREST arrived on the scene and brought a dimension to FWAD that has blessed all of Kristi's friends.

I laughed my head off today when NEWFOREST called Kristi's B.S. 'essence'. Only one as brilliant as our NEWFOREST could raise our standards as she does...with love and grace.

I LOVE YOU NEWFOREST!!!

Thanks for all you have given us to enhance our journey.

John is out taking care of all my errands and then we are off for a good-bye lunch. He brought me two red roses (silk, he bought from a blind Mexican on a corner) today to place in my hat-band to represent his love for Kristi and I. I'm all packed, one little carry-on draped with a blue Mexican beach blanket to keep me warm on the plane.

Kristi I'll see you in 28 hours.

XOXO

MOM

[[email protected]]

Dearest Newcastle,

You are a joy to share such lovely words with us all. Thank you so much.... Now if I could just USE them when appropriate!!

Hugs, Ali

[Newforest]

Jules,

Did I use the word 'essence' today? As for BS... I'm a bit lost here, but never mind.

Woow! John is a charming and devoted husband, isn't he? His help and care before your departure, and the two red roses he bought for you and Kristin, reveal a lot about him!

I thought you were landing in Marseille today... and I was hoping Kristin wouldn't have to "faire le poireau" or, "faire les cent pas" in the arrival hall!...
"Demain" (tomorrow) will be THE big day!

Sharing the excitement of the travel, and of the arrival in France,
and wishing you an excellent time with Kristin and family!

[Newforest]

Kristin,

I said I'd let others name the flowers you dedicated to me. I am 99.9% sure one of the readers got the exact name...
These whitish flowers are in fact very pale pink, and will get pinker. Here in England (at least, in the South) we more often see the pale yellow ones.
As for the common name, add an adjective in front of it ... and... "le tour est joué"!
"et le tour est joué" = there you go, all done!

BTW -> this adjective is indirectly associated with your Mum...

I was very pleased to hear you're keeping your 'dream of novels-writing' ... 'simmering on the back burner...' ! Witty visualisation!

[Newforest]

Dear Ali,

I am absolutely sure you could make good use of some of the words in the Vocab List, in everyday situations.

On a geographical point of view, I don't live as far North as Newcastle. My county is Dorset, and, as it is more precisely East Dorset, I am on the border of Hampshire ... a few miles away for that big "région forestière" called the New Forest.

All the best!

[Kristin Espinasse]

Newforest, after Lisa correctly named the flower (thank you! and to Tiffany for the confirmation!) I eagerly looked it up and read up on it. I might need to find another flower for you... though I do think this one is lovely! Maybe you'll share with us your favorite flower (one of these times, when you have the chance!)

Carol, I hope Newforest had a good smile when she read your "Belle" suggestion. If you only knew the deeper meaning that this name has for us! In fact, Newforest gave me a special Belle, one in which I found inspiration for one of the characters in a childrens book I "wrote" with my daughter, Jackie (we wrote it aloud, during a series of nighttime stories we shared)... One of the characters was called "Belle".

Julianna's comment reminds me that Newforest's poem is truly for every artist -- for anyone who plugs away day after day at their art. It is, truly, a tribute to everyone who nurtures a dream.... MERCI NEWFOREST!

P.S., Newforest, Mom was referring to the letter (not published here) that prefaced the poem. You had mentioned "throwing incense", that this is something you would not do. (Mom really liked the visual... though she mis-typed it here as "essence"! Now I will try to interpret Mom's comment... on second thought, I'll leave that up to her!!!

[Jim]

We have lots of very similar pink flowers like this here in Southern California ... we call them Mexican evening primrose. But a flower by any other name is still a flower! Thanks very much for my weekly French Fix, Kristin.

[Cindy]

Newforest I loved your poem, brings to mind, Jacques Prevert. Kristin your photos today are so lovely. Thank you, and Jules, tenga un buen viaje !

[Millie]

That's what I call, a "great collaboration work" today. New forest thought of everything, ce que faire pour tuer le temps. And Kristin, you did a great job translating. Merci bien mesdames :0)
Et ces fleurs pour Newforest sont si belles. Elle les merite bien.

[Jacqueline Brisbane]

Newforest
In my mind’s ear I heard Léo Ferré reading your wonderful poème to me.
The last line was the Tintin slogan for its young readers (you probably know that?)
As Tintin et Milou are Belgians, I have to tell you... this slogan sounds even better in Belgian French: “de sept (7) à septante sept (77) ans.... But as people live much longer now we should extend it to “de sept à nonante sept (97) ans!
:)
PS: try to speak the literal translation of “soixante dix sept”.
:)
Jacq
Brrrr it's only 8 degrés Celsius in Brizzi this morning.... (my giant garlic is poking through the ground!

[Christine Cormack]

I'm pretty sure it's an Evening Primrose. A staple of the cottage garden. Well done, Kristin.
Christine, Brisbane

[nadine goodban]

Oui, c'est bien ça Mexican Primrose (mais pas "evening"), car celle-ci s'ouvre après le coucher du soleil et se fane le lendemain matin.
Ici, en Californie, les mexican primroses nous enchantent dès le printemps et durant tout l'été.
Par contre, elles ne tiennent guère dans un bouquet de fleurs...

Bonne continuation à toutes et à tous!
nadine

[Newforest]

Hello Cindy and Jacqueline,

Jacques Prévert? Léo Ferré?

You know, for me, it all started with a few French words I wanted to add, following Kristin's newsletter about "faire passer le temps". Two expressions were jumping in my mind: "faire le poireau" / "poireauter" and "faire les cent pas"...
then, I thought I would rather incorporate those words and a few others into ... 'a text'
and finally, I couldn't help carrying on retracing what happened in the most unlikely place a writer would choose to kill time and to re-connect with her old dream.
So, the simple 'text' got a bit longer and ended up in a vision opening to the future.

[Newforest]

Hi Jacqueline,
I did listen to my own pronunciation of "77" (soixante-dix-sept), in French, and then, in Belgian French, as you mentioned (septante-sept) and it was fun!
Now, when you say:
"les lecteurs de sept à septante -sept ans",
the whole block of sounds is quite picturesque!

Thew words in my last line were taken from the slogan for:
"Les aventures de Tintin et Milou"!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Tintin
These adventures were, according to the slogan: "pour les lecteurs de 7 à 77 ans"!

[Newforest]

about the link just above:
Jacqueline,
The link is for other readers, of course. I guessed you are from "La Belgique". I'm sure you must have read the whole series of adventures and know all about Tintin and his dog Milou...
It was fun to be reminded of the Belgian "septante" (70) and "nonante" (90). Thanks".
Is "octante" (80) still used nowadays?

[Cate Salenger]

I LOVE this! Merci!

[Alison Johnston]

About the flower, I planted this in one perennial garden I had and it quickly became invasive...it spreads by roots laterally and will quickly become the focus of your garden which is a good thing if you wish to cover the ground and all other neighboring flowers! Faite attention!

I love this site. My friend Susie passed it on to me. I own a tiny medieval apartment in Sauve in le Gard I renovated. C'est tres petit, mais tres charmant. I will be living there for five months this fall and winter to continue my painting career. My dream come true.

Alison

[Marianne Rankin]

Kristin, thanks for the link to the 2008 post, which I remembered when I saw it.

I would love to find a flower that would cover my side yard. It's a slope that dries out quickly, and even grass struggles to grow on it. I'll think about this.

The numbers "septante, octante, nonante" are also used in Switzerland. I've gotten used to the French version of numbers, more or less, but numbers and dates will always be harder for me than anything else. I really do think in French, and have dreamed in French, but at times, I almost have to translate numbers (97 would be quatre vingt dix-sept). How do young children who don't know much math do it? Maybe they just don't use numbers they haven't learned to add?

[michele]

evening primrose? better late than never. finally reading this post in my email box!