It has rained on and off for the last three days and Serge–one of our young farmer neighbours–has a broad smile on his face in Lautrec market.
“J’imagine que vous êtes content…”
“Tous le monde est content!”
I mention the sunflower fields I have just driven past and how they have sprung back to life.
Patchy and arid looking a few days ago they are now returned to almost normal–serried ranks of small green plants standing proud.
He looks to the heavens and grins, miming sunflowers offering their faces to the rain and drinking deep.
I buy his last 6 eggs and remark on the pile of garlic on the stand–it looks new and I pick up a half kilo.
“Je vais te donne”( “a gift”)–I protest–he insists; I put the truss in my basket beside the eggs–everyone is happy!
There is action too in the garlic fields.
Small groups of workers arrive early and–bending low–slowly work their way through the crop, snipping off the flowers that have appeared after the rainfall.
All the plant’s energy must go into the garlic bulb in the couple of weeks remaining before the harvest.
Now the sun comes out.
The biting north wind has dropped and June feels like June at last!
Tous le monde est content…!
Robin Ellis 
Mr. Ellis, I must thank you for your delightful posts. I’m so glad I stumbled upon your site! A blog message from you in my email In-Box is one of the highlights of my day. Big thankyous for all that you do. 🙂
~delayne
(A Poldark fan from Minnesota)
Thanks, delayne.
May I ask HOW you ‘stumbled’ on it!?
Nice Robin, thanks! A good way to start my day, here in San Francisco.
Good morning–Bon jour, Steven!
buongiorno! Or I like the Spanish expression, “Como amanece”, which literally translated is something like “how did the dawn go for you?” or “how did you wake up?” Such a considerate thing to ask.
Have you come across any French expressions that, in their literal meaning, make for an interesting translation? I’m more familiar with Spanish, for example, one way to say “to give birth” is “dar una luz” which literally translated means “to give a light” – what a beautiful expression for giving birth! And perhaps telling about how the culture that speaks that language regards birth.
Have you come across any French expressions that would be similarly interesting or illuminating? Just curious.
Thanks for your great blog.
Steve
No french ones come to mind.
Meredith likes this italian one.
“Fidarsi é bene–ma non fidarsi é meglio”
“To trust is good–to mistrust is better”!!
Thanks for your continuing support–which I find so encouraging.
I do look forward to reading the post on your blog.
Thank you for all the information you pass on. I am happy for the farmers. They can smile. In Florida we are so hot and dry. with no rain in sight. We smile for the sunshine.
French is one of my favourite language, unfortunately i can’t speak it.
I don’t always leave a comment but i do read your stuff
Thanks
Leoni
You are exactly correct on this writing…