What to do about the weather? Live with it and adjust as best I can. Today, for example, the thermometer is at an unbelievable -2 degrees. So, on such a morning, a hot cup of Folgers is at hand, you can be sure. In looking at past posts, I came across one from a few years back that warms the cockles of my heart and warm, on a day like today, is good!
Words are like people–they have interesting backgrounds; take, for example, the word gardyloo. Without telling you its meaning, let me say that it has been around a long time, its origin was France but it was used in many countries as a warning that something distinctly unpleasant was about to happen and the person beneath the shouter was to look out! I think it would be a useful word today, used before many politicians speak. However, that’s just my thought.
At the cozy critique, there was absolutely no need to shout, “Gardyloo!” because everything was open, above-board, encouraging and helpful. Six of us sat around the table, sipping tea or coffee and munching cookies or some of those zucchini muffins I told you about. Peg, our reader, is in the process of reading The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer. She also began a book by Ellery Adams called Mystery Suite. Janet read another of her well-researched articles based on biblical truths. Janet tracks down biblical sources and writes what she believes or doesn’t believe, based on the Bible. We should all be able to explain what we believe and our reasons. Helen brought an inspirational article about her time as a volunteer in a home for expectant mothers. Her article was about helping young ladies learn to knit and, in doing so, giving them hope for the future. Nancy read one of the thirty devotionals that will be included in her book, The Grace Impact. It was a reminder that God’s grace is available to us through prayer. As well as being a poet and a writer of children’s stories, Jane is a historian. She read one of the three interviews she did with older ladies who remember Johnson, Arkansas in its early days. As she read, I visualized Johnson as a thriving, close-knit community of the kind of people who made Arkansas a great state. I shared my good news of a new endorsement by a well-known mystery writer, and a copy of the proposed cover for Barbara’s and my second Darcy/Flora cozy, Grave Shift.
So passed a couple of hours immersed in words. Nobody prefaced a remark with,”Gardyloo!” Nobody was a flibbertigibbet (today’s word) and our words were propitious. It was a gratifying afternoon!
I never heard of that strange word before, but it kind of fits the weather today and what’s predicted for the next few days! Thankfully, fingers crossed we still have our power and internet. I feel so sorry for our dog, though, who has to brave going into the snowy, cold yard to do his duty.
Right. It is truly winter weather. Thanks for writing.