avoir tort

The French name for poppy? "Le coquelicot" Smokey has his own term of endearment for this one. Read on!

The next wine-tasting here at the vineyard is tomorrow, May 1st! If you can make it to this meet-up, please leave a message in the comments box and I'll reserve your seat and send the details.

avoir tort (avwahr-tor)

    : to be wrong

 Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the sentence below:  Download MP3 or Wav file

Il a tort, Smokey. Le nom pour cette fleur c'est coquelicot, et non pas smokelicot! He's wrong, that Smokey. The name for this flower is "coquelicot" and not "Smokelicot"! 

 

Book Update: Your Edits Needed!

After reaching the one-fourth mark on Friday, we begin this week with two more chapters for the upcoming book (working title is "Vignettes from the Var"). 

Pinceau = How to Dress during a DIY project (take Jean-Marc's example...). Begin proofreading here.

Emplette = The kids return from the supérette with an illegal purchase ... Begin proofreading here.

 

A little field of coquelicots... and a story by Smokey.

Smokey says: Today, I share with you the name of my favorite flower!

Here it is, stick your nose in!

Isn't she pretty? The flower, not the beetle!

The name is even cooler: S-M-O-K-E-L-I-C-O-T.

Enjoy the field of smokelicots and have a nice week!

Love,

Smokey 

P.S. Thanks for forwarding this edition to a friend! Also:

• Follow French Word-A-Day on Twitter
• Read these vocabulary-enriching stories from France: Words in a French Life or Blossoming in Provence 

 

 Still reading? You might take a moment to read about Poppy Day and to learn about the coquelicots planted in remembrance for those who lost their lives in The Great War. Click here.

Comments

[DL]

What a sweet looking pup! I so miss having a dog.

[Kate Raftery]

I will be in St Remy de Provence from 23rd May till 15th June with three of my friends. Would it be possible for us to come to a wine tasting? Kate

[JULES GREER - PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO]

HI HONEY,

MY FAVORITE LITTLE SPOT TO HIDEAWAY FROM ALL THE ACTIVITY UP AT YOUR HOUSE. I REMEMBER SPENDING ENTIRE DAYS DOWN THERE PLAYING IN THE FLOWERS - GREAT LOUNGE CHAIR LOOKING OVER THE CREEK AND VINEYARD. I CAN JUST BARELY SEE YOUR OFFICE IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER.

I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE A LADDER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK - STAND UP ON THE TOP STEP IN THE VINEYARD AND GET A GREAT SHOT OF YOUR HOUSE.

WHOOP'S FORGOT TO TURN THE CAPS OFF - SORRY.

Yesterday Kristi called me - as she always does several times a week and we talk until each of us are exhausted. Kristi had found an old note I had written her back in August of 1997. I was visiting for three months when they lived in the village of St. Maximun (sp?). Kristi and Jean-Marc had gone away for the weekend and I was in charge of Max. I was 50 years old and Max was two that summer. Apparently Kristi had asked me if I would please work on the house while she was gone.

When she arrived home - she found what she always finds from me...a note. I was always big on writing notes to my girls as i was raising them as a single mom for 25 years.

As Kristi was reading my note to me over the phone I sensed there was a message between the lines now that she was in command of the note. I laugh right now as I realize she is still trying to squeeze me into the mold of her fictional mother.

Anyway I guess I went on for three pages in 'the note', relating to Kristi how wonderful my weekend was while there were away and then I proceeded to list all of the work I had done around her home.

1. I moved Jean-Marc's tie off the hook on the front door and put it up three flights of stairs into his closet.

2. I re-arranged the laundry room and stacked all of the shirts that you need to iron next to the ironing-board, the pile came up to my knees when i finished.

3. I found some papers downstairs that should have been in Jean-Marc's office so I put them in a darling tray on his desk.

4. & 5. I can't remember this morning - I'm still in bed waiting for my precious maid Adela to arrive and straighten me out this beautiful Monday morning here on the Mexican Rivera.

APPARENTLY THE MESSAGE BEHIND KRISTI'S READING OF THIS OLD NOTE OF MINE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SUTLE HINT THAT IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO RE-EVAULEATE (SP?) MY WAYS BEFORE I COME TO VISIT THIS SUMMER.

I remember that summer back in 1997 - I used to rise and shine early, put on my English riding pants, my Arizona cowboy boots, my straw had and push MAX in his little stroller down to the park in the middle of the village where they had the boules tournaments - I would find a nice cafe - by then I knew everyone in the village and I would have my 10:00 a.m. cold beer under the plane trees. I remember the shock on Kristi's face when two of MAX'S first words were 'beer' and motorcycle....

When Kristi get's on one of these tangents - obviously she must be tired and overwhelmed with her life at the moment - I always try to gently ask her what was she doing 21 years ago. I always hope that once she can get the perspective on the difference in our ages she will see the light.

As you can imagine we were both worn out from this conversation - but today I am going to make a note for Kristi outlining exactly what responsibilities I will sign off to when I come for a visit. As you all know my precious husband John does all of the shopping and cooking - but I'm sure if I put my mind to it I could whip up a weeks worth of meals in one day and freeze them and be done with my chores - then return to my true calling as an artist and a dreamer of beautiful dreams.

I guess Kristi didn't write about our conversation because she didn't think you would be interested in our silly memories - please forgive me for rattleing on this morning, I just thought our conversation was one of our funniest yet.

XOXO

JULES

[Kristin Espinasse]

Hello Kate, we may be having a wine-tasting on May 31st at 4pm -- but this is a little up in the air. I am asking those who might attend to check in a couple days before, to make sure the meetup is still on. Hope to see you. I will send more info in the next note.

[Michel]

We love all the colors of Provence, the lavender, the sunflowers but especially the coquelicots. I am sad we won't be there this year while they are out this year. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

[meredith]

Hi Kristin, I am confirming my presence tomorrow. I'll be with my husband and will possibly have two children tagging along (they won't taste any wine:) I hope the weather cooperates.

To Jules: I see where Kristin gets her writing skills!

[Anne Teichert]

Your readers might enjoy this lovely little song about coquelicots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q7vyChCnjE

[Jennifer in OR]

Salut mon amie! J'aime bien ces fleurs (et l'un avec l'abeille est le meilleur) et leurs couleurs brillantes. ;-)

J'espere que je visiterai quelques jours...

Bonne chance avec le nouveua livre!!!

{so inspired to see you seize the day}

[Carolyn Dahm, Sharon, MA]

Hi Kristin!

Smokey is sooooo adorable I can't take it! I want to kiss that face over and over and romp in those "Smokelicots" with him. What a love he is and a joy to have in your life. My 2 "puppies" are sleeping on their beds next to my desk at the moment and I wouldn't have it any other way.

By the way, Smokey, your teeth are so very beautiful and white. Someone must be brushing them, non?

What a great story from Jules about the note she wrote all those years ago. Thank you Jules for sharing as it was very funny!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

[anne wirth]

Love your stories about Smokey and Braise and the photos that accompany them. You are a wonderful writer - keep writing and making us happy.

[leslie a cannon]

Years ago I purchase a great tutorial, for beg. and intermedian students. It was all in English and brought you know the info whether alone or with my tuto. I began wilh a family,went through easy things on to body parts travelling, Ilunfortunatly lost it. I purchased it at the old Frence bookstore in Rockefeller Center, NY I'd love t get a copy but don't even know the name.
Please let me know if you have any ideas.
Leslie Brown
716-984-7819
[email protected]

[Eileen deCamp, Charlottesville, VA]

Hi Kristin,
Love the photos of Smokey and loved listening to Jean Marc say "coquelicot". What a fun word!