F FAIR MAIDS OF FRANCE “Lustre” FENNEL “Strength”* This was a wreath awarded at games in ancient days, generally for great strength. Gladiators ate it to give them strength and courage in the ring. And the Battle of Marathon was supposed to have been fought in a field of fennel. But its meaning couldContinue reading “Ranunculus to You: Fair Maids to Furze”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Can’t Top the Topper
I try not to dwell too fiercely on the fashions of previous generations. I recall too well the exchange between a teacher in my high school who was pointing out to a classmate of mine who was snickering at the crewcuts shown in an old yearbook that within twenty years, what the kids wereContinue reading “Can’t Top the Topper”
NOTABLE NOTES
Although we see discussions (sometimes in this very space) of the music of bygone days, these tend to focus on what I would call “officially available music”. These are performances on the Broadway stage, or concerts in big cities by big name musicians, or the debuts of operas or symphonies in front of massiveContinue reading “NOTABLE NOTES”
Ranunculus to You: Daffodil to Eyebright
D DAFFODIL “Regard” The pioneer floriographers could not agree on whether the Daffodil meant Chivalry, Uncertainty, or Mistaken Hope. In 1867, the Lover of Flowers declared it stood for Regard, and that meaning has prevailed ever since. DAHLIA “Instability” Tradition tells us the Dahlia came from mainland Europe to England twice. TheContinue reading “Ranunculus to You: Daffodil to Eyebright”
Generic Halloween
It’s that time of year again. The air is chill, night comes more quickly than before, and ghosts roam out with ghouls in search of things that go crunch in the night. And by that I mean Nestle’s Crunch, along with bite-size Snickers, miniature Snickers, and full-size Snickers. Here’s hoping your share of theContinue reading “Generic Halloween”
Well, Wellness
There are plenty of postcards which deal with doctors, just as, if you can remember way back to the serialization of my book on old jokes, there were a lot of jokes about doctors. I have related this to a medieval fear of powerful community figures who spoke Latin and who seemed to beContinue reading “Well, Wellness”
Ranunculus to You: Coriander Through Cypress
CORIANDER “Concealed Merit”* Henry Phillips says this comes from the use of coriander as an anti-colic drug given to women and children disguised in a bonbon. The men took it straight, I guess. Anyway, most all the pioneers agree on this meaning: Mme. De Latour, Robert Tyas, Lucy Hooper, and Frances S. Osgood. Continue reading “Ranunculus to You: Coriander Through Cypress”
Another One for the Birds
There have been so many references to roosters, hens, and chickens in this space lately that I thought a few of my own reflections on birds would be of interest. No, I said that incorrectly. I thought they would be of no interest at all except to me, but it’s my blog, and I’llContinue reading “Another One for the Birds”
A Bunch of Spring Chickens
Oh, all right, if you’re going to cry and kick your heels, we’ll talk about the chicks and their role on postcards of a century or so ago. This is NOT the right time of year, as you will see, but as, just like last year, I don’t really have any Halloween cards, IContinue reading “A Bunch of Spring Chickens”
Ranunculus to You, Carrot to Coreopsis
CARROT “Good Character” As Dennis the Menace will not tell you, eating all your cooked carrots builds good character. Animals, birds, and insects seem to get all the really good superhero names; even weather conditions and abstract qualities seem to be preferred. There was Captain Carrot (a superhero rabbit) and The Black Orchid,Continue reading “Ranunculus to You, Carrot to Coreopsis”
Blogsy Babbles 