Music Monday: De temps en temps

Joséphine Baker (1906-1975), the American-born French superstar, recorded this song in 1939

Music Monday: Non, je ne regrette rien

The legendary French chanteuse, Édith Piaf recorded this song in 1960. She dedicated it to the French Foreign Legion during the Algerian War, also known as the War of 1 November. It lasted for over seven years from 1954 until March 19, 1962, when Algeria gained its independence from France

My Daughter Left Home for College and I’m a Wreck

It’s been several weeks since I dropped off my daughter at college and I’m still a weepy wreck

Corn Picking at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, California

Ardenwood is one of few farms in the San Francisco Bay Area where you can pick your own popcorn and flint corn 🌾

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 10

Bonjour! It’s Day 10 – Challenge completed! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 9

Bonjour! I’ve accepted the challenge to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 8

Bonjour! I’ve accepted the challenge to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Look Up! The Blue Angels Practice in Oakland for San Francisco Fleet Week

I caught a glimpse of the Blue Angels during one of their practice sessions at Oakland International Airport

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 7

Bonjour! I’ve accepted the challenge to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 6

Bonjour! I’ve accepted the challenge to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 5

Bonjour! I’ve accepted the challenge to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 4

Bonjour! I’ve accepted the challenge to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 3

Bonjour! I’ve accepted the challenge to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 2

Bonjour! I’ve accepted the challenge to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Travel Photo Challenge: Day 1

Bonjour! I’ve accepted the challenge to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation! Now, can you guess… where in the world was this photo taken?

Wednesday Postcard: Nouméa, New Caledonia

This week’s carte postale features Moselle Bay and the Cathedral in Nouméa, New Caledonia, the French overseas territory located in the South Pacific

Wednesday Postcard: Bordeaux, France

This week’s carte postale features four popular attractions in Bordeaux, the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region located in southwest France

“Demystifying the French: A Panel Discussion”

The Federation of Alliances Françaises USA invited American authors, Mark Greenside, Janet Hulstrand, Adrian Leeds, and Harriet Welty Rochefort, to share their insights, perspectives, and experiences gathered over the course of many years of living, traveling, and/or working in France 🇫🇷

Music Monday: Je te promets

Johnny Hallyday, the beloved French icon, singer, and actor, recorded this song in 1986

Wednesday Postcard: San Francisco’s Chinatown

This week’s postcard features the Dragon Gate, the south entrance to Chinatown. I’ve also included a few pictures I took during a stroll there in July 2021

San Francisco’s Wayfare Tavern is for (Organic Fried Chicken) Lovers

They don’t serve just any ordinary chicken at Wayfare Tavern! Enticed by the idea of trying this special chicken on a special occasion, my husband booked a lunch reservation at the Financial District restaurant to celebrate our anniversary 💕

Music Monday: J’imagine

Bonjour! In keeping with the spirit of the Olympic Games this summer, I’ve got the theme song from the 2010 Winter Olympics on repeat. What could be better than Nikki Yanofsky’s original English version and Annie Villeneuve’s French translation, you ask? Well, “I believe” it’s the bilingual English/French cover by the delightful One Voice Children’s Choir 🎶

Wednesday Postcard: Tokyo’s 23 Special Wards

In honor of the 2020 Summer Olympics, this week’s postcard features the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan

Mixed Emotions About the 2020 Olympics

The 2020 Olympics will be held from July 23 through August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵 Is it a good idea to have the Olympics in the midst of a pandemic? Probably not, but I’ll watch anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

Throwback to 2018: Bastille Day SF

[Originally published July 2018] Wishing “Joyeux 14 juillet” to our friends in France who are celebrating their Fête Nationale! In 2021, the one-day Bastille Day San Francisco event is a week-long celebration and photo contest 🇫🇷

Who Won Le Village Préféré des Français 2021?

Sancerre won and Fresnay-sur-Sarthe came in second, followed by Hérisson (*my* favorite French village)

Wednesday Postcard: Sea Otter in Monterey Bay

Now that the state has reopened, my family and I decided to take a short road trip to Monterey

I Took BART to San Francisco for the First Time in Over a Year

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, I haven’t been on a bus, plane, train, or ferry! So after 15+ months, I was thrilled to take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) again

Wednesday Postcard: Chéticamp, Nova Scotia, Canada

This week’s carte postale features St. Peter’s Church, located on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada

I Promise You an Herb Garden

If my herb garden doesn’t grow, at least I can say my French vocabulary grew by five words