OPEN SHUT

"Il faut qu'une porte soit ouverte ou fermée."

A door is necessarily either open or shut.

This French proverb is a line from a late 17th century three-act comedy, Le Grondeur (1691) by David-Augustin de Brueys and Jean de Palaprat. It's spoken by an exasperated valet to his cranky employeur who complains if the door is left open and complains if it is left shut. "Monsieur, je me ferais hacher; il faut qu'une porte soit ouverte ou fermée, choisissez; comment la voulez-vous? Choose, how do you want it?

Vocabulary
gronder:  to scold; to rumble; to growl
hacher:  to mince, to chop, to grind

Expression

se faire hacher:  to rather die than admit one is wrong; literally to cut oneself up into tiny pieces

©2012 P.B. Lecron

NO PLACE LIKE SOMME

A rainy summer afternoon on the bay walk at Saint-Valèry-sur-Somme, on the Baie de Somme. Rain or shine, we love France's exceptional estuary on its northern coast.

Expressions
Rien ne vaut son chez soi.
There's no place like home.

Où se trouve le coeur, là est la maison.
Home is where the heart is.

©2012 P.B. Lecron

LAVENDER: SWEET AND SAVORY

Lavender has started blooming in the south of France! Friend and smart-phone photographer Sylvia sends these powdery close-ups from her garden in the Gard.  

I see lavender and think dessert--especially one that is decorated and perfumed with fresh lavender buds: une feuilleté aux abricots à la crème anglaise. A perfect marriage.

Tip: If you have a hankering to dot a crème anglaise with lavender buds, then its best to grow your own to ensure that the flowers aren't contaminated by pesticides or animal urine. Otherwise, buy organically grown culinary lavender.

Vocabulary

la lavande:  lavender

un feuilleté:  a flaky puff pastry

une crème anglaise:  a classic dessert sauce made from a pourable vanilla custard

un bourgeon:  a bud

un abricot:  an apricot

Expression

En mûrissant, faites comme la lavande, adoucissez-vous.

Like lavender, grow sweeter as you grow older.

©2012 P.B. LECRON

NINE RUINS SEVEN'S PARTY

Sept forment un festin
Neuf engendrent querelle. -- proverbe romain


Seven makes a feast
Nine creates a fight. -- Roman proverb

Vocabulary
un festin:  a feast
engendrer:  to create; to beget
une querelle:  a quarrel





©2012 P.B. Lecron