French Proverb

Deux ancres son bons au navire. It's good to have more than one anchor on the ship.

French Food

These look delicious! I may have to order a few. Click on the photo to be taken to the shop, Little Oven, on Etsy for this box of assorted French Macarons.

My French Find

French Bee Digital download for creating your own French inspired items. I love the look of this and think it would be great on a few throw pillows! Click on the image to be taken to them item in the Etsy Shop, OliveRue.

French Proverb

Chacun est artisan de sa fortune. Each one is a craftsman of his own fortune.

My French Find

I found this French shop recently on-line and loved the packaging and attitude of the site. The artist apparently works from a studio in Provence, France. I love lavender and could almost smell the lavender in this soap. Click on the photo to be taken to Oscar et Lila's website.

French Proverb

Il ne faut pas juger de l'arbre par l'écorce

(One should not judge the tree by the bark)

French Recipe Shortcut

Since I started working I am always looking for shortcuts to cooking tasty but fast meals. This product from Williams-Sonoma makes it easy to whip up Steak au Poivre in no time. This all natural, perfectly blended seasoning paste makes preparation easy. Simply rub the paste into your meat, then pan-fry or grill as usual. The result is a tender, juicy steak with authentic French flavor. Click on the photo to be taken to their website.

French Find

I seem to have a thing for totes, like shoes. I love this vintage French ticking fabric and the simplicity of the design. I found the shop on Etsy. Click on the photo above to be taken to Jill Bent Bags.

French Opera

The Aria from Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns's opera Samson and Delilah, known in English as "Softly awakes my heart", or more literally "My heart opens itself to your voice".

Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), Samson and Delilah, ca. 1610
London, National Gallery

Original French

English translation

Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix, comme s'ouvrent les fleurs Aux baiser de l'aurore! Mais, ô mon bienaimé, pour mieux sécher mes pleurs, Que ta voix parle encore! Dis-moi qu'à Dalila tu reviens pour jamais, Redis à ma tendresse Les serments d'autrefois, ces serments que j'aimais! Ah! réponds à ma tendresse! Verse-moi, verse-moi l'ivresse! Ainsi qu'on voit des blés les épis onduler Sous la brise légère, Ainsi frémit mon coeur, prêt à se consoler, A ta voix qui m'est chère! La flèche est moins rapide à porter le trépas, Que ne l'est ton amante à voler dans tes bras! Ah! réponds à ma tendresse! Verse-moi, verse-moi l'ivresse!

My heart opens to your voice Like the flowers open to the kisses of the dawn! But, oh my beloved, to better dry my tears, Let your voice speak again! Tell me that you are returning to Delilah forever! Repeat to my tenderness the promises of old times, those promises that I loved! Ah! respond to my tenderness! Fill me with ecstasy! Like one sees the blades of wheat that wave in the light wind, So trembles my heart, Ready to be consoled, by your voice that is so dear to me! The arrow is less rapid in bringing death, than is your lover to fly into your arms! Ah! respond to my tenderness! Fill me with ecstasy!