Bonjour! Today we had our annual Bastille Day dinner at the farm! Oo La La! It was a bright, clear, hot summer day and the grass and corn is growing at full speed. The farm looks beautiful this time of year. Here's me sitting with daddy and petting my newest pal, Zippy!
Grandmimi is so much fun! I showed her all my new tricks: pointing out my nose and ear, and saying "Iowa", although I still have trouble with the last syllable.
I liked playing with Zippy: she's an 8 week old basset hound, very friendly, lots of energy, and her coat is silky smooth. But she doesn't hold a candle to Skye and Ali.
Granmimi made a wonderful dinner: roast chicken and veggies hot off the grill. Daddy provided a Chatueaneuf Cante Cigale '03 that was full and rich with just enough fruit to be interesting but had a mellow chocolate and anise finish. Mom had to work late, but she made it in time for dessert: a fabulous home-made torte made with all home-grown organic berries from the farm. YUM! Becuase of all the excitement and thanks to a long nap in the late afternoon, I stayed up until 9pm! WOW! I can't wait for July 14th next year!
2 comments:
Viva La France!
In honor of Bastille Day and a celebration of all things French!
The lyrics to the French National Anthem Translated inn English.
La Marseillaise
French National Anthem
La Marseillaise was composed by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792 and was declared the French national anthem in 1795. As a side note it was composed in one night- another song to add to your play list.
Love,
Ada
Let's go children of the fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived!
Against us tyranny's
Bloody flag is raised! (repeat)
In the countryside, do you hear
The roaring of these fierce soldiers?
They come right to our arms
To slit the throats of our sons, our friends!
Refrain
Grab your weapons, citizens!
Form your batallions!
Let us march! Let us march!
May impure blood
Water our fields!
More
La Marseillaise en français
Listen to la Marseillaise
Bastille Day article
Bastille Day online games
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This horde of slaves, traitors, plotting kings,
What do they want?
For whom these vile shackles,
These long-prepared irons? (repeat)
Frenchmen, for us, oh! what an insult!
What emotions that must excite!
It is us that they dare to consider
Returning to ancient slavery!
What! These foreign troops
Would make laws in our home!
What! These mercenary phalanxes
Would bring down our proud warriors! (repeat)
Good Lord! By chained hands
Our brows would bend beneath the yoke!
Vile despots would become
The masters of our fate!
Tremble, tyrants! and you, traitors,
The disgrace of all groups,
Tremble! Your parricidal plans
Will finally pay the price! (repeat)
Everyone is a soldier to fight you,
If they fall, our young heros,
France will make more,
Ready to battle you!
Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors,
Bear or hold back your blows!
Spare these sad victims,
Regretfully arming against us. (repeat)
But not these bloodthirsty despots,
But not these accomplices of Bouillé,
All of these animals who, without pity,
Tear their mother's breast to pieces!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sacred love of France,
Lead, support our avenging arms!
Liberty, beloved Liberty,
Fight with your defenders! (repeat)
Under our flags, let victory
Hasten to your manly tones!
May your dying enemies
See your triumph and our glory!
Refrain
We will enter the pit
When our elders are no longer there;
There, we will find their dust
And the traces of their virtues. (repeat)
Much less eager to outlive them
Than to share their casket,
We will have the sublime pride
Of avenging them or following them!
Refrain
Translated by Laura K. Lawless
I love July 14th- I will try to spend it with you next year- and enjoy Mimi's food on Bastille day- a perfect match- Did you notice that your Iowa flag looks like the French flag. I just returned from Africa where i saw an owl I have not seen before. I will send you a picture soon- it is an African Blue- really looks a little like the color blue. I miss you, your Mommie and Daddie and Allie and Sky. Love, Gran
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