The working vocabulary of the average 14-year-old has declined in the last 50 years from 25,000 words to 10,000. Language reflects the depth of our human experience. Because we think in words, are we losing the capacity to say what we feel?
Like, whatever.
Altiloquent?
Me?
Surely you jest!
I merely marvel at the lilt of language, the superlative subtleties of speech, the phonological possibilities present in every crisp, untrodden page that lies like an open road before me.
There’s nothing quite as serene as the wide, rolling hills of the Palouse here in Idaho, especially in springtime, when everything turns every shade of green you can imagine. But in order to get all that green, we do have to put up with some rain.
Speaking of rain …
Winnie Nielsen says: Me three!! This is quite interesting to learn about today! Mother Nature is so remarkable. Nothing is by chance!
MaryJane says: It rained here around 4 a.m. after a hot, dry day. I awoke to Petrichor!
Betty Stone says: The smell after a fresh spring rain is not unlike fresh mowed grass.
kristin n. says: I wish we had more petrichor here in Illinois!
Girls, do I have some words to dish to you about.
Or, maybe I have a dish to have a word with you about.
Actually, it’s both.
Have you ever heard of something called scotch woodcock?
Hint: It’s food.
Another hint: The recipe calls for no scotch (disappointing), and no woodcock (not disappointing).
So, here’s what it is. Ready?
Winnie Nielsen says: Once upon a time, I would have totally agreed with you. But then, while staying with a family in France, they served a salad nicoise with, yep, anchovies. I did not want to appear picky at the table so I ate them. Much to my surprise, they added a wonderful salty bite to the potatoes and other veggies. Then, a few years later, my friend had a party and made a beautiful mound do egg salad and placed anchovies on top surrounded by toasted French bread slices. When you scoop up the egg salad with a bit of anchovy , the result is wonderful. I was amazed at how the anchovy actually gave the rather plain egg salad that uumph!
Who would have guessed? Certainly not me— hater of most condiments!!
MaryJane says: Okay, second chance in the making. To be titled something like Open to Anchovies. Wish me luck.
Winnie Nielsen says: Mary Jane- I think with anchovies, a “little dab will do ya”, is best for trying them again. In Italy, they also have some small pieces along with good black olives on a cheese pizza. I first looked at the pizza in horror, but again , the small bites of salty anchovy did add a tasty dimension ! Now sardines??? As my friend’s grandson would say… “I can’t want it !”
MaryJane says: I can’t want it indeed:)
Joan Marie says: Love the blog and the recipes and the photos! They’re making me hungry.
Why resort to a knapsack, rucksack, or packsack, when a portmanteau is waiting for your flip flops, aviators, high-wasted jeans, and let’s-hit-the-road grin?
Are you ready? It’s National Glamping Weekend!! We’ve packed our bags and we’re heading out for a fun-filled weekend sitting by the campfire making s’mores, fishing in the nearby stream, board games, jigsaw puzzles, and fun in the sun.
Say it with me: portmanteau—a large traveling case made of stiff leather, especially one hinged at the back so as to open out into two compartments or,
portmanteau is also used to describe a linguistic blend, namely a word formed by blending sounds from two or more distinct words and combining their meanings … such as Spanish and English into Spanglish, or smoke and fog into smog, or,
in Lewis Carroll’s book, Through the Looking-Glass, Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice the coinage of the unusual words in Jabberwocky, where “slithy” means “lithe and slimy” and “mimsy” is “flimsy and miserable,” OR
glamour and camping into glamping!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Winnie Nielsen says: Oh how I wanted to come to this event!! This summer we already had made plans and paid for a trip to France when the information came out. BUt, I know it will be successful and I am hoping that you do again next year and I can come then, and meet my new Idaho friends and meet other farmgirls and , and , and , and……..Is it time to book my flight yet in 2013? I can’t wait for you to post how it all went!! Thanks Mary Jane!!
Hey fantastic farmgals! MBA Jane here. I’m hearing lots of talk about garlic today.
I like garlic. It’s not good to eat when you’re on a date (learned that one the hard way), but it’s pretty delish.
Anyway, speaking of garlic … I remembered a story about my Auntie Anna and Uncle Umberto.
Uncle Umberto was a big, handsome guy. Good intentions … but between you and me, sometimes he was a little late to the party, if you know what I mean …
Suzie says: My husband’s company is garlic! I had a laugh when I read that.
Spring is definitely in the air at my farm, and love is bloomin’ just as big and bright as all the flowers in my garden.
Even that precocious little MBA Jane has found herself a man (I can’t let that girl out of my sight for even one morning!).
(Wondering who she is? She’s Merit Badge Awardee Jane, MBA Jane for short. In her former life … )
Mr. Wonderful, she calls him.
Well, he does look awfully cute. And he says the sweetest things (more about that in a minute).
But still.
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Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
This word is totally new to me! Hmmm, I wonder if you said it in daily conversation if anyone would have a clue as to what you were saying? Maybe in a salon with Oscar Wilde? It is true that most of us limit our word choices to a very narrow slice of the possibilities. One thing I loved about doing the MJF Grammar Badge was learning a new word every day for a month. It opened my eyes to the fact that I could be doing a whole lot better in the use of the English language!
A salon with Oscar Wilde? BIG smile.
Hi, just had a look at your site from a prompt in my facebook and wondering if it you really mean ‘Gleaming word a week’ or ‘Gleaning word a week’
gleaming present participle of gleam (Verb)
Verb:
1.Shine brightly, esp. with reflected light.
2.(of a smooth surface or object) Reflect light because well polished: “gleaming limousines”.
gleaning present participle of glean (Verb)
Verb:
1.Extract (information) from various sources.
2.Collect gradually and bit by bit.
Just wondering… Thanks. Catherine x
Gleaming was intentional, as in smile, shine. But thanks!!!!
Hi MaryJane
Glad I cleared that up and anyway, both words work well since you and all your readers, including myself, are gleaming about gleaning such lovely words! I enjoy your posts very much! And have voted for you – ‘More Magazine’. Thanks for all you do.
May God bless you. Catherine x
Gleaning is such a cool word. Have you seen the 1857 Jean-Francois Millet painting, The Gleaners? It’s three peasant women gleaning a field of stray grain. And thanks!!! for your More vote!
Gosh! ‘The Gleaners’ and ‘Angelus’ by Jean-Francois Millet c1857 are two of my favourite paintings! And you’re welcome – The Vote… You do a wonderful thing for our world… And for us Gals! x