ALMOND “Indiscretion, Heedlessness”* ALMOND, FLOWERING “Hope” The problem, see, is that the almond blossoms way too early in spring. If there’s a late frost, the blossoms are killed, and there will be no almonds. Optimists, therefore, see the almond as a symbol of constant hope, while the pessimists make it represent indiscretion, stupidity, andContinue reading “Ranunculus to You, Almond to Angel’s Trumpet”
Author Archives: uncleblogsy
No Cowherd Soul Mine
We have dealt, in this space, with certain animals and their roles in postcard cartoons. We have considered dogs and their job chasing suspicious characters, as well as for their enthusiastic urination habits, each heavily covered by our cartoonists. Cats, we have seen, spend a lot of time yowling on back fences. One day,Continue reading “No Cowherd Soul Mine”
All Purpose Vehicles
Mere months ago, we considered the postcard possibilities of canoodling in a Cadillac or fooling around in a Ford. We looked at a number of postcards chuckled at by our ancestors which dealt with the uses of an automobile for a little romance on the road, and the perils associated with it. That heroicContinue reading “All Purpose Vehicles”
Ranunculus To You: A to Allspice
A ABATINA “Fickleness” Despite its appearance in eight of the flower language books consulted, abatina is still a mystery to me. The best io can tell you is that once upon a time, the conifers, or trees with cones, were referred to as “abietinae”. But see the next entry. ABECEDARY “Volubility” AlmostContinue reading “Ranunculus To You: A to Allspice”
Vegetation Vocabulary
Now that we have sent two blogs on the introduction and foreword and such, that flower language can settle into the Monday slot previously occupied by the glories of my Old Joke Quizbook. Those of you who have been yearning for postcard pictures can resume their regularly-scheduled program today, while those waiting for moreContinue reading “Vegetation Vocabulary”
Ranunculus To You, Pt. 2
OWNER’S MANUAL AND LIST OF PARTS An average entry in this book consists of two to four parts and looks something like this: BANANA BLOSSOM* “Old Jokes A” B C D Slipping on a banana peel is one of the oldest jokes in the book. It may or may notContinue reading “Ranunculus To You, Pt. 2”
Ranunculus To You, Pt. 1
This is information for which there is NO PRACTICAL USE. None/ None whatsoever. Stop looking for it. From the outset, flower language experts—floriographers—had no illusions. Elizabeth W. Wirt, author of the second flower language book published in the United States, wrote, “The lady who has given her leisure hours to this little playContinue reading “Ranunculus To You, Pt. 1”
Dogs of Doom
I suppose one ought to TRY to be fair, even if one is posting material for the Interwebs. This column, some months ago, did suggest that dogs on postcards are primarily concerned with indiscriminate urination. Although you can find a lot of postcards to demonstrate this (I have plenty more you haven’t seen yet),Continue reading “Dogs of Doom”
Sun ‘n’ Fun
I am, of course, the first philosopher in the history of mankind to observe this but, man, things used to be easier. In grade school, I was taught every year that autumn began on September 22. This was not especially, um, true, as it depends on certain phases of the moon and other usefulContinue reading “Sun ‘n’ Fun”
Old Jokes Go On Forever
And so we come, butternut squash latte, to the klast of our Old Joke Quizzes. I know there are a lot of jokes we did not cover: the book I wrote way back in, well, the twentieth century, did not make space for really old joke poems, or really old dirty jokes, or anyContinue reading “Old Jokes Go On Forever”
Blogsy Babbles 