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!
Great voice cast for "King of Kings" and the animation looks super! I'm for any recounting of the story of Jesus that can help rescue it from the punishing, hateful MAGA interpretation of what Christianity is all about.
Guess what book I checked out from the library? It is "On Heroism" by Jeffrey Goldburg. I highly recommend it! And not just because he was included in a group chat on Signal.
I would like to see King of Kings, thank you for sharing the videos. I had no idea that Dickens wrote this short story. More interesting information on Handel’s Messiah. Lovely photo Richard took and the carpet of red flowers is very pretty. Happy weekend!
IRL was one of the first abbreviations I learned in the late 90s when I started using the Star Trek chatroom (Klingon Great Hall) where I eventually met Steve 😊 I didn‘t know the marcescence, so, thank you for letting me learn a new word! We get the yellow pollen dust about a month later than you, but we often get a different kind of yellow dust: very fine sand, coming up from the Sahara. Especially car owners hate it, because it can cause tiny scratches.
Oh wow, you see then how long that IRL has been around! Ha, a Star Trek chatroom. That is so interesting to me. I always loved Star Trek. And that word that means the leaves hang on in the winter, I can never remember it, I will ask Richard, "what is that word? It begins with "m"...." Our yellow pollen is a fine yellow dust and when I wrote this post yesterday, the count was the highest in 35 years!
I didn't mean to criticize the marvelous Charles Dickens and if you read the background of the family publishing the story, it is quite wonderful, really. They voted on it, apparently, and they agreed it should be shared with the world. Bless you in Louisiana! x
Another bird I've never seen. We have similar plants here that like bare rock to form low carpets on and it is always a joy to find them or a tiny green oasis of emerald moss with miniature sand beach evolving and growing around a mountain rock pool. Perfection in nature at any size is always a special treat.
Hey Bob! You know I thought of you when I remembered to add that last photo! And reading my post again, that was the bird singing, not Richard, haha! Yes, the rock pools are special here too. As long as can keep people from destroying them.
I know I would enjoy that movie and hope it comes to our little theater here in Ashland! Your area is blooming and vibrant...so Spring in all it's glory! I love all your words. You are so smart and nice to share that knowledge with us! Have a good rest of your weekend!
Hey Yaya! It amuses me to learn new words and phrases but alas, I instantly forget them. Maybe I can just come back and read my blog and perhaps that will help my memory. I have read that the film is getting advance great reviews and that the seats are booking up quickly. Not surprising, it IS the greatest story ever told. x
Hello! Thank-you for your comment! The Diamorpha is truly amazing. I've said it before, when you think it can't get any prettier, it develops tiny white flowers! Truly a magical sight.
As a big Dickens fan, Iwould love to see King of Kings, and hear Dickens version. Hopefully it will come to a theatre near us. Lots of top name actors too. The brilliant red tulips and red rock flowers speak to us of Easter too. The Eastern Towhee looks so cute, singing with pride there. I wish we could hear him!
Lucinda Hawkseley is an author who tours and also gives talks about Charles Dickens, who is her 3 times great grandfather! (I hope that's correct, might be 4 times). Maybe she will go to Australia one day! I will try to get Richard to take a video of birdsong, next time. This bird, believe it or not, has a call that sounds like RICH -ard!!! This song was just a slight modification of that. I love touches of red, here and there, it is cheerful. Happy Spring to you in Australia but I know it is like our Autumn here. xx
We tend to think of the Messiah piece at Christmas but it was written for Easter celebration. Always wonderful to hear that chorus! I too have memory lapses (I call them fades because they do seem to come & go.) For example, had to Google name of the brass musical instrument in this piece--is it a a cornet? Your posts are always so edifying!
Why, thank you so much! You have made my day! (And it has been quite a day with neighbors having very loud repair work next door!) Handel has quite a history in London, I am sure you know all about him. I just typed "Handel in London" and there is a book by that very name! You know I want it now.
I love how this post starts with a simple list of new words and phrases and then takes a scenic detour through flowers, film, and music history. It’s like a conversation with a well-read friend who always has something interesting to share.
The bit about Dickens’ *The Life of Our Lord* is fascinating—I had no idea he wrote a personal retelling of the Gospels just for his children. And the ongoing Messiah tradition at the Royal Albert Hall? That’s the kind of continuity I find really moving.
Also, that pollen situation in Atlanta sounds intense. I hope you got your cleansing rain.
Great voice cast for "King of Kings" and the animation looks super! I'm for any recounting of the story of Jesus that can help rescue it from the punishing, hateful MAGA interpretation of what Christianity is all about.
ReplyDeleteGuess what book I checked out from the library? It is "On Heroism" by Jeffrey Goldburg. I highly recommend it! And not just because he was included in a group chat on Signal.
DeleteI would like to see King of Kings, thank you for sharing the videos. I had no idea that Dickens wrote this short story. More interesting information on Handel’s Messiah. Lovely photo Richard took and the carpet of red flowers is very pretty. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise. I guess I did kind of have quite a few bits and bobs in this post. Hope you have a great weekend! x
DeleteThings are looking just beautiful in GA! The flowers, the birds...
ReplyDeleteI've seen things on the King of Kings movie. I'm excited for it.
Oh, I do hope it will be good. I always have high hopes for things but often, they are dashed to the ground!
DeleteIRL was one of the first abbreviations I learned in the late 90s when I started using the Star Trek chatroom (Klingon Great Hall) where I eventually met Steve 😊
ReplyDeleteI didn‘t know the marcescence, so, thank you for letting me learn a new word!
We get the yellow pollen dust about a month later than you, but we often get a different kind of yellow dust: very fine sand, coming up from the Sahara. Especially car owners hate it, because it can cause tiny scratches.
Oh wow, you see then how long that IRL has been around! Ha, a Star Trek chatroom. That is so interesting to me. I always loved Star Trek. And that word that means the leaves hang on in the winter, I can never remember it, I will ask Richard, "what is that word? It begins with "m"...." Our yellow pollen is a fine yellow dust and when I wrote this post yesterday, the count was the highest in 35 years!
DeleteGreat photos again! Shame about the pollen.
ReplyDeleteThanks! We are promised heavy rain tonight!
DeleteWow you covered a few subjects. I will focus on King Of Kings. It looks like one I will see. A simply told story is one I always appreciate.
ReplyDeleteOh, I totally agree. A simply told story and one that is true, that is for me!
DeleteIt's good to never stop learning.
ReplyDeleteThe movie looks fabulous! I know he wanted it kept private, but such a story is needed now more than ever.
Pollen season should be over soon, I hope.
Have a blessed week!
I didn't mean to criticize the marvelous Charles Dickens and if you read the background of the family publishing the story, it is quite wonderful, really. They voted on it, apparently, and they agreed it should be shared with the world. Bless you in Louisiana! x
DeleteAnother bird I've never seen. We have similar plants here that like bare rock to form low carpets on and it is always a joy to find them or a tiny green oasis of emerald moss with miniature sand beach evolving and growing around a mountain rock pool. Perfection in nature at any size is always a special treat.
ReplyDeleteHey Bob! You know I thought of you when I remembered to add that last photo! And reading my post again, that was the bird singing, not Richard, haha! Yes, the rock pools are special here too. As long as can keep people from destroying them.
DeleteI know I would enjoy that movie and hope it comes to our little theater here in Ashland! Your area is blooming and vibrant...so Spring in all it's glory! I love all your words. You are so smart and nice to share that knowledge with us! Have a good rest of your weekend!
ReplyDeleteHey Yaya! It amuses me to learn new words and phrases but alas, I instantly forget them. Maybe I can just come back and read my blog and perhaps that will help my memory. I have read that the film is getting advance great reviews and that the seats are booking up quickly. Not surprising, it IS the greatest story ever told. x
DeleteI enjoyed reading your busy post. The red ground cover is amazing.
ReplyDeleteHello! Thank-you for your comment! The Diamorpha is truly amazing. I've said it before, when you think it can't get any prettier, it develops tiny white flowers! Truly a magical sight.
DeleteAnd I forgot to say, the diamorpha grows wild, in the sandy pits on the granite outcrops!
DeleteAs a big Dickens fan, Iwould love to see King of Kings, and hear Dickens version. Hopefully it will come to a theatre near us. Lots of top name actors too. The brilliant red tulips and red rock flowers speak to us of Easter too. The Eastern Towhee looks so cute, singing with pride there. I wish we could hear him!
ReplyDeleteLucinda Hawkseley is an author who tours and also gives talks about Charles Dickens, who is her 3 times great grandfather! (I hope that's correct, might be 4 times). Maybe she will go to Australia one day! I will try to get Richard to take a video of birdsong, next time. This bird, believe it or not, has a call that sounds like RICH -ard!!! This song was just a slight modification of that. I love touches of red, here and there, it is cheerful. Happy Spring to you in Australia but I know it is like our Autumn here. xx
DeleteWe tend to think of the Messiah piece at Christmas but it was written for Easter celebration. Always wonderful to hear that chorus! I too have memory lapses (I call them fades because they do seem to come & go.) For example, had to Google name of the brass musical instrument in this piece--is it a a cornet? Your posts are always so edifying!
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you so much! You have made my day! (And it has been quite a day with neighbors having very loud repair work next door!) Handel has quite a history in London, I am sure you know all about him. I just typed "Handel in London" and there is a book by that very name! You know I want it now.
DeleteI love how this post starts with a simple list of new words and phrases and then takes a scenic detour through flowers, film, and music history. It’s like a conversation with a well-read friend who always has something interesting to share.
ReplyDeleteThe bit about Dickens’ *The Life of Our Lord* is fascinating—I had no idea he wrote a personal retelling of the Gospels just for his children. And the ongoing Messiah tradition at the Royal Albert Hall? That’s the kind of continuity I find really moving.
Also, that pollen situation in Atlanta sounds intense. I hope you got your cleansing rain.