L'hiver
Bonjour les étudiants,
"In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." - Albert Camu
This is one of my favorite quotes, and I chose it to be in my book, My Little French Village.
If you are struggling with the grayness, rainyness, and the melancholy of our Oregon winter, you might find this quote helpful.
As February is upon us, many people are planning spring, summer, and fall trips to France. If you might benefit from private French language lessons to prepare for a trip or just for fun, please note that I offer French lessons in my kitchen at home in Beaverton and on Zoom if necessary. Tuition is $60 per hour and can be shared with up to two friends.
French Conversation Class: A small but mighty group of students enjoyed meeting chez moi this fall to discuss different weekly topics. Homework consists of weekly short articles accompanied by an audio recording. Students are invited to bring up any topics they wish to discuss in French as well. French Conversation Class will begin another 5 week series starting in April.
French Related Blogs to Discover: Frenchly and Hip Paris
Some exciting news, our house in Monflanquin, France is getting an air condition and heating system which will give us much needed relief as the summers continue to grow hotter and hotter. I am also excited to be in the house in the winter which I have never done. Please note that the house is available for rental on VRBO and AirBnB. Here is a link to the rental listing posted on my web site, House Rental, if you would like to take a peek at the house and get further details.
In other news, we almost lost Maggy, our pet beagle,age 14, in December BUT WE DID NOT! She was lethargic, refusing to eat(very unbeagle-like), shedding like crazy,lost 7 lbs, and disappearing before our eyes. Finally after several unhelpful diagnoses of "picky old dog syndrome", our vet suggested that she get an abdominal scan. Losing hope, we drove to Dove Lewis in tears. Much to our surprise, Maggy was diagnosed with Addison's disease ( mal functioning adrenal glands) which is totally unexpected in a dog Maggy's age. Luckily, the disease is easily treated with steroids. I am so pleased and grateful to announce that our Maggy is back with an incredible appetite, glossy coat, and enough energy to jump on beds, and walk 3 miles a day. What did I learn? Trust your gut! I knew it was not "picky old dog syndrome" and persisted until we got a diagnosis that made sense.
Et voila, enjoy your pets if you share your life with one and do something French related or otherwise to discover your "invincible summer."
Thank you for your support. I would love to hear from you. Vous êtes formidable!
Giselle Bawnik
For recipes, fun insights and stories please visit my blog!
MY LITTLE FRENCH VILLAGE is now available on Amazon for $15 which includes shipping and handling.
Recommended Picks:
Cooking Programs
French Cooking at home on the Cooking Channel
Recreational Reading
We've always had Paris and Provence by Patricia and Walter Wells
All You Need To Be Impossibly French by Helena Firth Powell
How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton
Into a Paris Quartier by Diane Johnson
Un aller simple by Didier van Cauwelaert
L'elegance du herisson by Muriel Barbery
Malaussene Saga by Daniel Pennac
• Au bonheur des ogres
• La fée carabine
• La Petite Marchande de Prose
• Monsieur Malaussène
• Aux Fruits de la Passion
Cooking
Nuts in the Kitchen by Susan Hermann Loomis
Gorgeously written new cook book by one of our favorite cooks living in France. How to add nuts and nut oils to your cooking in delicious creative ways.
The Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo
Grammar
Practice Makes Perfect Series includes books on French Vocabulary, French Pronouns and Prepositions, and French Grammar
Dictionaries
The Firefly Mini French/English Visual Dictionary
French Films
Romantics Anonymous
Paris, Je t'aime
Mon Meilleur Ami
Apres vous
Monsieur Ibrahim
Les Choristes
Please send us your favorites and your recommendations and we will include them!