It is most useful to do my little puzzles that I enjoy. Not just to keep my brain ticking over but also, to learn certain phrases and words that I might not otherwise know. Here are just three things that I learned recently....
1. IRL...
This means "in real life". It refers to life outside the internet. It is often used in texts or DM. (Direct messaging). I had to know this for the Mini Puzzle in the New York Times.
2. Baize...
A coarse woolen cloth, often used as a covering for gaming tables such as pool, snooker or billiards. Upon further reading, I discovered that stately homes often used baize upon doors as wool is a fire retardant and also would deaden noise. (How can woolen cloth be so interesting? It is!)
3. Flexion...
This means the act of flexing or bending. The definition of this came home to me when I spent a lot of time raking up leaves in my yard! (Some trees hang on to their leaves and only drop them in the Spring, just before the new leaves emerge. This retention of leaves in the winter is called marcescence.)
When we stopped at a supermarket on the way home from walking at a trail, I saw a pretty bed of flowers at the edge of the parking lot. Guess who had to jump out and walk over to admire the flowers? Yep, that would be me! (Had to block out that bright sun with my gigantic head but hey, anything to get that red tulip shot!)
We have granite outcrops beside some of our trails here in Rockdale County. The diamorpha smalli is bright red. In April, this will have the starlike white flowers on top. (I have shown you photos of this before from Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain, but the same plant life exists on many of these rock outcrops also. That bright red is just beautiful! Look, let's get closer...
Just found out today that there will be an animated film coming out on April 11th. "King of Kings". (Not to be confused with the 1961 film with the same name.) This is based on a short story by Charles Dickens, which he called "The Life of Our Lord" about the life of Jesus. Isn't that interesting? Apparently, he wrote it for his children and would read it to them every Christmas, but he never wanted it published. (It was eventually published in 1934, the publication being delayed until the last of the Dickens' children had died.)
I have a trailer here for you. There are several trailers, but I hope I have chosen the one for you that doesn't have the Broadway type song in the background. Oh dear, sometimes music enhances a film and sometimes, it does not! I have some very strong opinions about what kind of music should be in the background of films or TV shows.
What do you think? I think I would like to see it. (Please Lord, forgive them if they have a very trendy song which is jarring to the subject matter!)
Did you know that Handel's Messiah has been performed at The Royal Albert Hall every Good Friday since 1876? Isn't that wonderful? It was first performed on April 13, 1742 in Dublin, Ireland. Ladies were asked to wear "dresses without hoops" so as to "make Room for more company".
I started this post to tell you about words and phrases that I learned recently. I learned more but...now, I have forgotten them. Ha ha, such is life!
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Hope you are all doing well these days, my friends! In the Atlanta area, our pollen count today is very high. There are clouds of yellow pollen just floating in the air, it looks like yellow powder has been dusted by a giant hand. We are hoping for a wonderful cleansing rain tonight. Wish us luck!
Oh, I almost forgot! Here is a photo that Richard took of the Eastern Towhee, which was just beside our walking trail, and he was singing his heart out! (And this looked like a male bird to us, the male has very dark feathers on his head whereas the female is more a dark brown color.) Hey, we love our birds!
As time goes by, I realize that there are words and phrases that are no longer in use. Recently, I was sure about something, and I said, "If this doesn't happen, I will eat my hat!". It reminded me that I have not heard anyone say that in a very long time. Can you think of more? (Even the title of this post, "You can say that again!" refers to what one used to say when someone made a statement, and you were in total and complete agreement.)
"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it".
(243 steps across, I counted!)
This photo is of a pleasant canitude. (Meaning whiteness or greyness).
"Fences make good neighbors". (From a poem by Robert Frost, I think)
I know that I told you that the title of this post reminded me of what we used to say when we agreed with someone but what really brought that to mind was the birdsong we heard on a walk. You have heard of the mockingbird, it is called that because it repeats the songs of other birds. It normally repeats three times. If you hear a bird repeating TWICE, then you are hearing the brown thrasher! It was the brown thrasher that we heard, such clear beautiful sounds. And I wanted to say, "You can say that again!".
The brown thrasher is also very welcome in our back yard! Look at that tail! Such a gorgeous bird. I think I have told you before that all the states have their own state birds. Georgia is the only one that chose the brown thrasher. I read somewhere that it was chosen by Georgia schoolchildren in the 1920's. I don't know if that is true, but I like that story and I hope that it is.
We normally drive a few miles to get to a walking trail. Recently, some wild turkeys were beside the road. I snapped a quick photo, but I asked Richard if he could take a few shots from his side of the car. Since there was no traffic, he did so....
THIS was my favorite! Isn't it wonderful? You can say that again!
Chas & Dave! I have told you my admiration for them before. Sadly, Chas died a few years ago. Dave Peacock seems to endorse this cover band, The Rokney Rebels. I really love to see young people do great covers, don't you?
Of course, Chas & Dave can still be found on YouTube! Don't forget!
The following song lyrics for you:
"Mustn't grumble, you cry and you cry all alone. Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry all alone."
"Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink. The years go by, as quickly as a wink. Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think!"
We are trying to go through lots of "stuff" we have accumulated over the years. A LOT of it is associated with our son! But honestly, it was all so doggone cute! Just look at this Wallace and Gromit toothbrush holder!
Hope you are all doing well, my friends. March is marching on by!
