contrarier

Recently, while editing photos in Picasa (Google's free photo-editing software), I noticed they offered a newer version. After hitting the update button... I tried out a tool called "effet lomo" (lomo effect?). The result is seen above (I snapped the photo while driving to the dermatos the other day). Which photo editing software do you use? Thanks for sharing your answers here, in the comments box.

Come see our family vineyard! Visits are by appointment only... but don't let that formality scare you away! We would love to see you for one of our convivial wine tastings! If you plan to be in Provence, leave us a message here, in today's comments box, and we'll add you to one of our upcoming April, May, June, (...) get-togethers. Jean-Marc and I hope to see you one of these days!

contrarier (see sound file, below...)

1: to annoy
2. to frustrate, to thwart
3. to alternate
4. to force to write with one's right hand
. 

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Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc read these French words: Download MP3 or Wav file

Quand j'ai vu que les chiens avaient creusé des trous dans le jardin, j'étais bien contrariée!
When I saw that the dogs had dug holes in the garden, I was very annoyed!


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

Everything's Coming Up Choses!

I think it was one of the plantes grasses--you know, those low-maintenance types, the kind you see on every mémé's window sill?--yes, I believe it was one of those that flowered first, sending out little yellow blossoms, fine as baby's breath, sassy as firecrackers!

Next, I discovered periwinkle-color coureurs beside the garden steps. The vinca had bloomed! and for the first time in the two years since Malou passed me the cuttings!

I knelt down beside the small scattering of flowers (there were one... two... trois!), appreciating the exact shade of blue, and giggling "Pervenche! Now I have pervenche, too!"

Buoyed by success, I waltzed over to one of the messy, unmade flower beds, where I discovered that Doreen's what's-her-names had flowered too! It now seemed safe to give that plant a name.... Madame Quelque Chose! Not only had Madame flowered, she had become fertile--in time to send out offspring! One of the "little springs" must have landed in the tiny crack beside the cellar door, where the seedling was now blossoming!

High on hope, feeling as invincible as the irises which were budding right alongside the rest, I might have floated blindly past the first bêtise... bêtise, to say the least--for the dogs had dug up 'The Eye's Feast'! (well, that's what we might have called them, those curly-leafed blossoming things for which the Latin name escapes me).

Speaking of escaping... there go the guilty ones! Smokey and Braise are now running like blazes to hide behind the Whaddayacallits (just what is the name of that bush? Oh, never mind. I've got work to do in the garden, beginning with a couple of very big holes to fill!). Quelle bêtise!

***
Post note: (or "turning trous into treasures"") I didn't stay ruffled for very long... but soon had an inspiration! One of those holes was the perfect size in which to plant the grand courge plant... it had been such a little courge plant when my friend Caroline carefully uprooted the seedling from her flower pot and gave it to me. And now a bright yellow flower has appeared! Beneath the blossom an olive-size pumpkin is growing! Off to tuck that one into the newly-dug you-know-what.


The Comments Corner

 To respond to anything in this post, click here. Hint: the comments corner is a great place to ask questions about French and life/travel in France. Your collective knowledge and helpful answers to each others' questions are appreciated!

 

French Vocabulary

la plante grasse = succulent

la mémé = grandmother

le coureur = runner

trois = three

la pervenche = periwinkle

la bêtise = bit of mischief

le trou = hole

la courge = squash

 

Smokey in the window...

 

 

In case you're feeling inspired to add a caption to this photo... please share it with us here, in the comments corner!

 

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.

At Corkscrew in Portland- Nancy, left, and Kelly on the right

David Wolff, JoAnn Calfee, Jean-Marc and Cindylee Giammona. Cindylee writes: 

Here at the wine bar, Corkscrew, miles from our home in Hawaii, my dose of France converged over clinking glasses of wine, tabled with two other women readers of your blog. We enjoyed the wine and atmosphere immensely. My disappointment to lose out on a bottle of the, sold out Lunatique, was replaced by my prize bottle of Mistral, as you can see by the smile on my face. Aloha and all the best, Cindylee

 

Do you have a photo from Chief Grape's wine tour? Or maybe you have a photo from your visit here at the family vineyard? Send it to me with a "permission to post" and I will share it here. Merci!

***

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• Learn French in context: read Kristin's vocabulary-rich memoirs: Words in a French Life or Blossoming in Provence 

Thanks for forwarding this edition to a friend. 'See you' next time and have a great weekend!

Comments

[Kathy Shearer]

My husband, son, and I will be in Provence May 7-10. We're staying near Vaison. We would enjoy meeting you via a wine-tasting!

[Mia Van Ransbeek]

Dear Kristin, We 're leaving for Gordes tomorrow, where we are going to spend some days. Is that far away from your place? And do you have a wine"chose":) now, I mean the first week of April?
Thanks a lot for your blog, I'm a rather "new" reader and happy about having discovered your texts. I'm teaching both French and English at a school in Germany, I really enjoy your language mixture.
By the way , my mother tongue is Dutch (I'm Belgian and married a German...)so I'm mixing up four languages every day! I wish you and your family a wonderful Easter-break.
Mia

[Anita Mires]

hi - I plan to be in Provence June 17 - 23 and would love to visit if you are having a tasting.

[DL]

I use, and love, Picasa. The new features come courtesy of Picnik, which is closing in April. I guess this is due to Google buying it?

[Cynthia Kiefer]

Bonjour Kristin, My husband, son, and I are in Roussillon now through April 5th. Is there a wine tasting or vineyard tour we can attend? Please let me know as soon as possible. We are talking about doing one soon. Look forward to hearing from you.

[DL]

BTW, love your blog too!

I am trying to learn to read and speak French (at the age of 48!), and I sure appreciate the time and effort you put into this.

One of my favorite things to do is to translate Le Monde, using Google Translate. Hope some of it sticks!

[Kristin Espinasse]

Kathy, my Dad will be in town that week. I'll see if we can set something up for Tuesday (May 8th). Maybe Dad and his lovely wife, Marsha, can be honorary guests :-) I'll be in touch.

Mia, yes, Tuesday, April 3rd and 11:30. Let me know if this works and Ill add you to our party! Anyone else free then?

Anita, That should be possible for June 19th. I'll post details, soon!

Cynthia, yes, April 3rd (see info, just above). Would love to see you. Confirm here and I'll send along the info.

Thanks for your interest. I look forward to seeing some of you soon (and those who cannot make it this time... there will hopefully be another time!)

[Ophelia Paine]

I love your gardening posts as I am attempting as a woman of a certain age to grow herbs and flowers in our back yard for the first time in 36 years. Remembering the names is really a challenge for me, but even pulling weeds has become a pleasure. Wish I had started much earlier!

Wish I could join all of you to see Kristin's garden and sip a little wine, too.

[Corinne Thomas]

Caption for your dog picture "Enjoying the best of both my worlds!"

Cheers,
Corinne (my mother is French and I've lived in the states since I was 5, many years ago!)

[Cindy]

Hi Kristin,
I use Picasa and love the new features. Although I already use it for resizing and changing the resolution, next week I will start a 4 week class on learning more about Adobe Photoshop. My favorite however is 'Picture It 7' on Windows XP, but, of course, discontinued. Because it offers so much and is simple I still use it on an another older computer. Kristin you have an artist's eye and take wonderful pictures. Bon Journée!

[Amanda Frost]

Please add us to your list for a wine tasting too. Thanks. Amanda Frost

[Julie S.]

Salut Kristin,
Happy Friday and happy Spring! Just checking out the post for today before I leave for school. I noticed an error with the imparfait. "Quand j'ai vu que les chiens avaient..." The plural form of the verb avoir in the imperfect is needed.
Thanks for the beautiful pictures and updates. I hope your family had a wonderful time celebrating Jean-Marc's return home and birthday!
Happy weekend to everyone!
Julie

[Pamela]

Caption...'Mama, I'm stuck...won't you let me in...pleeeeeaaassssee.'

[Bill in St. Paul]

Caption for the second picture of Smokey: " I almost made my curfew!"

[fm]

Like DL, I used Picnik which is sadly closing on April 19th - however until then, you can use all the premium features free of charge. I love the panography-ish feature, and puzzle, and vignette . . .

Still enjoying unseasonably glorious weather here in Scotland.

[Cassie Alexandrou in Dallas, TX]

Possible caption for the sweet Smokey photo: "Okay, I definitely start that diet next week."

Just joking, of course. Smokey is perfect!

[Martine NYC]

"Me? I've been inside the whole time!"

[marjorie w.]

J'adore vos chiens!!!

[Lisa DeNunzio]

The only photo editing I have is I Photo with the Mac. I recently heard the name Picassa, but today (in your post) was the first time I knew what it was. Bonus, it's FREE. Will give it a try.

Don't think (know) my skills are up to a real photoshop program.

[Kathleen Hurder]

Cher Kristin,
We are such big fans!!! We would love to come ourselves in May ...to stock up!! We would love to come back at end of June and July to show off the domaine and YOU TWO to our visiting American friends!!!

[Steve & Maxine]

Hi Kristin, We will be near Provence the first week of May and would love to visit you.

We used to use Picassa but albums started disappearing. Transitioned to Photoshop Elements and have been very happy with it.

[Jeri]

Kristin,

My husband and I will be in Sablet from May 26 through June 16. We would absolutely love to come to a wine tasting (hopefully early enough in our stay that we can buy some wine and drink it chez nous before we must leave for home--can't take it on the plane). Many thanks,
Jeri Famighetti

[Rosemary Deshaies]

Kristin, could you please comment on the stone building in the first photo? I have seen other photos of such buildings in Provence, and am wondering what their historical background is--no windows, stone roof--where they some sort of storage building????

thank you!

[Passante]

I use Photoshop CS5 with various plugins, the most useful of which is OnOne's Resize 7 (used to be called Genuine Fractals). I've used Photoshop for almost 20 years.

Photoshop is the absolute best but it's expensive ($700 without any of the plugins) and the learning curve is very steep. The "light" alternative is Adobe Photoshop Elements, which has a lot of the functionality of the big program and even a couple of features the big program doesn't have and costs under $200.

Photoshop also has an online product called Photoshop Express that I think is free. It's on the www.photoshop.com site. I've not used it, but given the Photoshop brand, I am sure it is superior to the other online freebies.

[Kathy, Cleveland, TN]

Kristin,

Caption for Braise photo:

1. Home at last!

2. I lay down and I didn't want to get up!

The flowers are coming up in my yard also but why did they have to bring the weeds with them? So glad it's Spring! Enjoy a wonderful day.
Kathy

[Abby Zanarini]

Kristin, we will be in the South of France this July...do you know approximately how far a drive it is from Valbonne to the vineyard incroyable of Rouge-Bleu? Love the Blog!

[Diane, San Diego]

Hi Kristin,

I must agree with Passante's comments above about Photoshop. We use Photoshop Elements - it has more than enough features and we were able to buy it years ago for $99 - on both our web sites about France. It has so many features that I am still learning new ones as I go along. It's amazing software!

[Deborah]

Bonjour Chere Kristin,

I do so enjoy your photos, and stories! It was you who inspired me to start posting my photos on a blog 592 blog entries ago!

It's helped me grow both as photographer, and a writer. Although, I ask myself very often, "What were you thinking starting a blog!?!"

Now, to answer your question re: which Photo editing software do I use?
I use Picasa as my Picture viewer rarely use it as an editing tool though. My main tools are Photoshop CS5,Lightroom 4, and Adobe Camera Raw.

I'm just getting into using my iphone's camera and went a bit overboard uploading 6 apps recently. Each does something a little bit different.

Thank you for your stories, sharing your life, and your inspiration.
HugsX
Deborah

[aneyefordetail]

I found Picnik from the Blogging Your Way course a year ago. But, of course, it is closing. The FB group for the course is very active, and through them, I have found and used both BeFunky and PIcMonkey. PicMonkey is almost like Picnik! I love it. I do use Photoshop and have for many many years, but as another reader wrote above, it is expensive and a very sharp learning curve...not worth it nowadays as there are so many good alternatives. Definitely try PicMonkey everyone!

[Liza in Ann Arbor]

Bonjour Kristin! I would love to schedule a visit to taste your wine. I am renting a gite with some friends in Sablet from July 14-July 25. Judging from your posts, I am guessing you are not too far away. How do we make an appointment? It would be so much better than just picking a random winery that we know nothing about!

[Laurie]

"Please be careful not to step on my tongue while I am napping."

Smokey is the best!

[Dennis De Naut]

Bonjour Kristin,

I use Photoshop CS5 at the moment but will upgrade to CS6 as soon as it is available beyound the free beta verion. For plug ins - I use Phototools 2.6 and Photomatix. I believe that Phototools and Picasa have similar features. Regardless of the processing tools used, it is most important to get a good image off the camera in the first place. It is still all about compostion, lighting and moment. Then don't go overboard with the manipulations.

Courage,

Dennis

[Debra Karimzad]

I would love set an appointment to meet you or visit for a wine tasting. My trip will be sometime in Sept-Oct. I am also looking for volunteer work for 1 or 2 weeks in Sept-Oct and my schedule is flexible at this time. I am wondering, "When is your harvest time?" Last year I volunteered at La Sabranenque in Saint Victor La Coste.

[Julie F in St. Louis, MO]

"Please, Mom. Can I come in? Je suis desolée I dug up your whatchamacallit."

I've used iPhoto all along but am painfully aware of its limitations. Perhaps I'll try Photoshop Elements. There's just not enough time in the day to wrestle with the full-blown Photoshop. I don't think I'll try Picasa because I'm mad at google for always messing with the google features I already use.

Brad and I might make it south this summer. I'll send a note when we have a better sense of when we might head in your direction for a couple of days.

[Karen Stoeckley]

Kristin, We will be in Alleins from the 11th to the 24th, and in other areas from the7th to the 28th. We still are hoping you can join us for "The Feast" on the 18th, but we would love to visit you also for a wine tasting. Karen

[Chateau Oie]

Caption:
Perhaps I had a bit too much of the Lunatique?

[Sarah LaBelle near Chicago]

I use Picasa to organize photos, make albums. This lomo effect is new to me, so I just did a mini research on it. One source said
The features which distinguish a lomo photo is the colors which are a bit unbalanced with a blue tint and also quite heavy vignetting.

It makes the effect of Lomo cameras made in St Petersburg a few decades ago, using film. Not true to color, and sometimes not focussed over the whole rectangular image (vignetting).

Now I am curious as to how your original photo looks -- côte à côte avec l'effet lomo.

If I did that effect, maybe use it on one of a person, taken outdoors with a blue sky?

Where did you plant the bloom the dogs dug up? I am amazed you have squash blossoms already. Seasons in Provence, so different from seasons where I live.
Too early to plant here, even with our stunningly warm spring -- July in March, as to temperatures, for nearly two weeks. Still we have last frost (gelée) de 15 mai. Fruit trees have bloomed early, same for all the bulb plants (daffodils, tuplips, crocus, etc)

[Faye Stampe, Gleneden Beach, OR]

Bonjour,

I love the photos of your adorable Smokey!

I will be in France Oct 1 to 15 -- will you have any wine tasting during that time frame?

Be well & enjoy Spring!

[Madelynne Andrews]

Smoky- MOM!Help I'm stuck!

[Charlene, Banks, Oregon]

Bonjour, Kristin! We have a big "galumphy" yellow lab. His sire & brother live next door & visit every day. Your photos of your two dogs are SO heartwarming!! Dogs are the same in any language! 2 friends & myself will be staying a week near Uzes June 23-29. We all adore your blog & are starting to feel like we know you. We would love to visit you that week if possible.
A bientot!

[Gary & Diane Widdison]

Hi
We have been following your page for some time now (and have both of your books ;-)) and would love the chance to visit your vineyard if possible, we will be in provence for a few days in early June.

[Katherine]

Photo caption (j'aime bien les histoires de vos chiens!):

Ma tete a l'interieure. Ma queue au dehors. Comme ca, on peut en avoir la meilleure de tous les deux endroits! La vie est bonne!

[Ronni Lester Ebbers]

Kristin

Would be enchanted to visit your vineyard.
We hope to be in Paris in late April, but only for a short time. Usually our late August through early September visit is quite a bit longer.

How might I change to my new email address?

Sincerely,

Ronni

[Kitty Wilson]

Like others, I love Adobe Photoshops Elements -- does all kinds of fun stuff, lending itself beautifully to creative play. These days, I mostly I use it for simple editing. I think you'd fall in love with its versatility! And there are online courses, many free, in how to make the most of it, if you so wish.

Smokey: "Hey, this is PERFECT puppy paradise -- my nose in the kitchen (handy to have a tongue that catches everything), and my derriere in the sunny breeze!"

[Susie Wampler]

Kristin,
My husband and I are coming from San Juan Island in Washington and will be visiting Sauve (where I lived for 7 months) and then over to Provence visiting friends outside of Vaison. We would love to come and buy some wine the first week in May. Any events then?
Bizous, Susie

[Edie Kilgour]

Hi Kristin,
David and I and another couple will arrive in Provence Sept.27 and leave Oct.2. I'll be in touch again when the time is closer. Just want to give you a very early heads up as I know it's a busy time for you.
Thanks,
Edie in Brunswick, Maine

[Stephen Mehay]

Kristin,
We will be in Provence the week of 21-26 May. Would love to have a degustation de vin at your vineyard.
A bientot (j'espere)

[Lynell]

Kristin - the photos of Smokey are over the top precious. I cant stop looking back at them.
"Best of Both Worlds" is my quote!
"In" so I can hear whats happening and smell if somethings cooking and "out" so I dont miss a beat in the yard!

[Susan Carter, Westminster, CA]

I also thought of the caption, "The Best of Both Worlds". Our dog loves to lie inside with his head out the door.

[Cynthia Lewis in Salisbury, Eastern Shore of Maryland]

Wow, looks like you are going to have lots of fun visitors this Summer! How I would like to be one of them.

I love the way that you welcome the first blossoms of Spring and that Smokey dug the hole for the bush which you plan to move to your garden. Maybe he is thinking, "I only wanted to help".

Thanks for today's FWAD. It always adds a lot of interest to my day while teaching me new words. Bon weekend to all, Cynthia

[Dawn Anderson]

Dear Kristin,

I've been a long time reader of your blog. Seeing French Word A Day in my inbox is always a highlight. My husband and I are staying in Eygaliéres, and would love to come to your wine tasting on Tuesday if possible.

Thank you!

Dawn Anderson, usually in rather chilly Michigan.

[Mia Van Ransbeek]

I would like to confirm for April the 3rd 11h30. There are two of us, looking forward to meeting you. Mia

[Andrea Hughes]

Caption for the photo: "Can't a dog get some water around here!"

[Julie Mautner]

Hi Kristin,
Please add me...would love a chance to meet you when schedules allow!
Thanks,
Julie

[GUS ELISON]

DEAR KRISTIN,

PAULETTE AND GUS ELISON WILL BE IN PROVENCE FROM 24 THROUGH 27 APRIL. WE ARE STAYING AT VILLENEUVE LES AVIGNONS

[Pat Cargill]

Caption: "Excusez-moi," I believe there are treats in here for me...??

[Connie Blackmon]

My husband and I are traveling to Provence with a friend to visit a mutual, long-time friend who has lived in Avignon for many years. By September when we visit he will be in a new home in Isle sur la Sorgue. We hope to visit you then if possible.

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thank you very much for your replies! I will update the blog this week, with more dates and information regarding meet-ups. For those who are able to make it to the April 3rd tasting, this Tuesday, please look for a confirmation email from me. If you havent received one--send me another message and Ill get back with you as soon as I can! 

[Carolyn Dahm, Sharon, MA]

Kristin,

Happy Friday! Hope you have a lovely weekend planned with your family. Love that cute-as-a-button picture of Smokey saying, "Okay, Mom, I'm gonna get some sun AND keep an eye on things inside just in case anything edible happens to fall to the floor".

Like you, I watch in wonder as more things bloom each week. I'm a little anxious though as we may be getting a snow storm here in the Boston area tomorrow which might damage things. I pray our flowers will somehow escape....I'll let you know.

All my best, Carolyn Dahm

[Kent Swisher]

Hello Kristin,

We are from the wine growing region of Northern Californi....Sonoma County....we would love to participate in a wine tasting at your vinyard.....we will be in the area July 11 - 20....any ideas around those dates? Thanks much and bon chance !!

Kent

[Kristin Espinasse]

Hi Rosemary, the stone building is a cabanon, where workers could store their farm supplies and, perhaps, take refuge from the cold Mistral. Would anyone else like to add to this answer? Thanks!

[Kristin Espinasse]

Hi Abby,

We are about 3 hours from Valbonne. Ill be posting the dates for July meet-ups soon. Please check back, and let me know if you can make it to one (there are many lovely postcard villages in the area. You might make see some of those as well and make it a day!)

[nancy v]

I love your blog, your stories, the dogs. THE DOGS!!! What cuties they are. I think the quotes from your other visitors about cover my thoughts. Particularly like the one about "digging up your whatchmacallit. Wish I was going to Provence this year - but I still have not made it up to Houston to visit French Country Wine store. We are having daffodils, tulips etc. now. From Port Townsend, Wa.

[Elly Menosky]

Kristin,
I'm leaving for France April 19. Will be in Reims & Alsace until the 26th, but I believe you are in Provence, non? I am going to be in Avignon from the 26th of April until May 5. How far are you from Avignon & do you have degustations daily or only by appointment?
Thanks,
Elly

[Lucy]

Photo caption: If I inch in slowly, they'll never know I've been outside!

[Peggy S. Baker]

Not a mouse will get by this nose!

[joie/carmel-by-the-sea, ca.]

I use Picasa also. I want to be true to the original as possible unlike all the things one can do in Adobe Photoshop. I will check out the new version. I took a class in Photoshop and OMG it would take a couple of years to learn how to use everything. And I just am not interested in putting my head on Raquel Welch's body! And it goes unsaid that she would want hers on mine!
As for a caption: "If I lose just 5 more lbs I will be able to get through!"

[Brian Harwin]

Hi Kristin,

I've used GIMP since 2004. Being Open Source, it's totally free and can do 90% of what Photoshop can. On the downside it is very unconvivial and has a learning curve as steep as PS. It also has the advantage of being multi-platform. There are many books available in english and several in french. I unconditionally recommend it. The €700 they save by not buying PS would be better spent on a good pocketcam!

[nadine goodban]

..... C'est moi le gardien officiel, personne ne passe sans mon autorisation, pas même ces chipotes de souris" .....
Domaine Blaise,

[Kristin Espinasse]

Julie, thank you for that helpful correction (avaient and not avait).

Elly, visits to our home vineyard are by appointment only. We will try to organize two visits each week, hopefully on a Tuesday or Thursday, depending. We are located 45 minutes north of Avignon and would love to see you. How about making it to the May 1st tasting at 4pm.

Can anyone else make it to the May 1st tasting. Let me know :-)

[Sue Campbell]

Just wanted to add my hopes for a chance to visit. My husband and I, along with another couple, will be in Sablet Sept 9-15 for our first visit to Provence. Are you too busy then?
I always look forward to French-Word-A-Day!

[Catherine M. Plocki (Cathy)]

Dear Kristin,

I feel very remiss because I have enjoyed and loved and gained from your wonderful blog for at least a couple of years. Everyone of my friends as well tunes in to you and your life. My daughter and I have it set onto our computers to come up as soon as the computers are turned on. I've long known that I should write to you to thank you very much for some many lovely moments with your family. Now, though, I must write because I told your husband that I would say hello to you.

I am the rather strange lady who blasted into the Punchdown wine bar in Oakland with my daughter and cried out, "Oh, Jean-Marc, I know you so well, but you don't know me." He was very gracious, much to his credit. Joanna (my daughter) and I drove from the lovely town of Larkspur, an hour and a bridge away to meet him. He was pretty exhausted - just wanted you to know that it's not all fun - and very dear. He managed to talk with everyone in that bar and came back to us several times, when we discussed your dogs, your loss of temper - kids do need to see that (I had five), and your basal cell surgery. I've had seventeen hours of surgery (Mohs) on my face, including a cast they once sewed to my nose, but I've now moved from infiltrative basal cells to squamous cell surgery. Cool. Keeps us humble, n'est-ce pas?

Jean-Marc invited us to join you. I would love to more than I can say. Some day I'd love to rent a French farmhouse and treat all 22 of our immediate family to a lovely stay. However, the lottery tickets I bought yesterday did not produce the money I fully expected that they would.

Thank you for the wonderful glimpses into your life, for the gorgeous photos, for your wonderful spirit, and for your deep generosity in sharing a life well lived with many whose days are so much better for having read your writings.

Sincerely,
Cathy Plocki

[Lisa A.,Los Angeles, CA]

Hi Kristin,

I too use Photoshop for my photos. I love your photos on this post! Just perfect for my bithday...your dogs are so cute!

I might be in France in July too and would love to know what days you may have wine tasting then. It would be lovely to meet you all. Take care, Lisa

[Barbara (Lake City, FL)]

Hi Kristin,

I'll be back in Provence at our favorite apartment in St. Didier, this time with two francophile friends, from 23 May to 13 June. Would love to see you again and join a wine tasting if you schedule any during that time.

Thanks so much for your posts which provide such a wonderful insight into daily life in a part of France we have come to love.

Barbara

[Vicki Shaver]

Hello,
We will be in Provence from July 10-17th. We're staying in Cheval-Blanc and will be touring the markets and vineyards. What town are you near. Will you have any events that week?
Kind regards, Vicki

[Betsy Ritzel]

Bonjour,
Friends and daughters will be in Provence (Murs) for a week, 16 June to 22 June. If you
have tastings, would love to plan.
Merci en avance,
Betsy

[Passante]

Interesting to read that many people like the special effects of the tools like Picasa. Photoshop doesn't have those to my knowledge, though I suppose one could replicate the effects. But I use Photoshop to do things like correct keystoning (the way buildings lean back when you tilt the camera if you are not using a perspective correcting lens or a view camera); to correct imperfections in exposure; sometimes to remove things I don't like -- for example, a trash can that couldn't be physically moved when I took the picture; and to sharpen if I am going to print, of course. All digital images need some sharpening.

Just about anything I could do in the traditional wet darkroom I can do more easily in Photoshop and the results can be exactly repeated. And I'm not breathing in chemicals!

[Martin Heavner]

Bonjour Kristin,

My wife and I and another couple are staying at Bello Visto -- one of your advertisers -- the week of May 19-26. I met Jean-Marc at one of his DC-area wine tastings last month and he said he would probably be in London that week and that you might be hosting your father that week also. At your convenience, we would love to come by for a wine tasting -- and a book signing! But only if it works for you and your schedule.

I do a lot of photography and very much enjoy seeing your work on this blog. I don't think anyone here has mentioned Lightroom yet as a photo editor. It has tremendous capabilities, is easier to learn than Photoshop, and allows you to catalog your photos as well. But overall, for people who are just starting and/or don't want to spend much, I recommend Photoshop Elements. They're all fun to play with!

[Timotha Rainey]

Bonjour Kristin et Jean-Marc,

My husband and I attended Jean-Marc's winetasting in Alexandria, VA last month and I mentioned to him that we (along with our 2 kids, ages 11 and 13) will be in France from June 21st-July 22nd (actually, my husband will only be with us until July 8th), with plans to be in the Provence region sometime between July 1st-5th or so. Would you be available for a visit of your lovely vineyard & dégustation sometime during this timeframe? I am a high school French teacher located in the suburbs northwest of Washington, DC and I LOVE your blog and your books! I always tell my students that they should subscribe to your blog, as it is a fun way to increase their vocabulary and learn un peu de la vie française!

Alors, dès que vous aurez du temps, veuillez me faire savoir si ces dates vous conviennent ou pas pour une visite. Merci mille fois!

p.s. Une autre chose...où précisement êtes-vous situés en Provence?

[Liz Garcia]

Hi Kristin,
Enjoy your blog and your books! My husband and I are San Diegans who spend part of the year in Sernhac, halfway between Nimes and Avignon. We will be here during April, May and June, and would love to come to one of your wine-tastings! We are pretty unscheduled, so let me know which date(s) would work for you!
Thank you so much for all you do!

[PIERRE]

Bonjour aux ESPINASSE
POURRAITON AVOIR DES NOUVELLES DE KRISTIN ?

DEPUIS MARS 2 ,AUCUNE BLOGERIE ...

merci

PIERRE