Friday, January 29, 2010

HERE'S A COUPLE MORE..

JACK PUDDING is not a desert. The 18th century definition is "A buffoon". So the next time you get mad at someone, which I hope doesn't happen too often, call them a Jack Pudding. I bet you will both forget what the argument was about.

IRON RUFFLES are not a fashion statement. The 18th century definition is "Handcuffs". Iron ruffles sounds so much better if that is possible.

JACULATE is a variant spelling for chocolate. For some reason jaculate just doesn't conjure up something sweet in my mind. I suggest you don't use jaculate on Valentine's Day. You might not get the response you thought you would.

Friday, January 22, 2010

A SECRET LANGUAGE

I never gave much thought about a fan. To me it was strictly used to keep one cool in the hot summer months. I did not know a fan was an instrument that was used in a secret language!

Apparently fans have been around since the 6th century in the Far East. The use of fans peaked in Europe during the 18th century adorning both men's and women's fashionable attire. They were elaborately painted and very detailed. Many featured dreamy romantic scences. In the later half of the century women's fans were printed with dance steps, song lyrics and card game rules. How very clever!!! Men's fans had painted bugs, like a beetle or mospuito, on them to distinguish them from women's fans. But the language associated with the fans is even more fascinating.

1. LETTING THE FAN REST ON THE RIGHT CHECK, "YES"

2. LETTING THE FAN REST ON THE LEFT CHECK, "NO"

3. THE FAN PLACED NEAR THE HEART, "YOU HAVE WON MY LOVE"

4. A CLOSED FAN TOUCHING THE RIGHT EYE, "WHEN MAY I BE ALLOWED TO SEE YOU?"

5. HALF-OPENED FAN PRESSED TO THE LIPS, "YOU MAY KISS ME"

6. HIDING THE EYES BEHIND AN OPEN FAN, "I LOVE YOU"

7. SHUTTING A FULLY OPENED FAN SLOWLY, "I PROMISE TO MARRY YOU"

8. DRAWING THE FAN ACROSS THE EYES, " I AM SORRY"

9. THE NUMBER OF STICKS SHOWN ANSWERED THE QUESTION, "AT WHAT HOUR?"

10. COVERING THE LEFT EAR WITH AN OPEN FAN, "DO NOT BETRAY OUR SECRET"

11. PRESENTING THE FAN SHUT, "DO YOU LOVE ME?"

12. TWIRLING THE FAN IN THE LEFT HAND, "WE ARE BEING WATCHED"

13. A FAN IN THE RIGHT HAND IN FRONT OF FACE, "FOLLOW ME"

14. CARRING THE OPEN FAN IN THE RIGHT HAND, "YOU ARE TOO WILLING"

15. OPENING THE FAN WIDE, "WAIT FOR ME"

What a wonderfully covert way to communicate. How flirty and romantic! I know I'll never think of a fan as merely something to use to keep myself cool during the hot summer days.


(information from Amazon Dry Goods)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

IT'S COMPLICATED

Sometimes life gets so very busy and complicated that it is hard to keep up let alone to make sense of it all. The Fall and the Holidays went by in a blurrrr. I can't believe it has been such a very long time since I posted a thing to my blog. I must apologize and promise not to neglect it in the future. I have many topics I would like to share with you.
Maybe I am a silly romantic thinking that life in the past was somehow easier and fuller than the lives we are forced to live today. My goal for 2010 is to slow down, pay attention to what is truly important in life; family and friends and spirituality. I wish the following Irish blessing for all of you this new year and for every year.

May you always have these blessings...
A soft breeze when summer comes,
A warm fireside in winter,
And always the warm, soft smile of a friend.

Peace and happiness

Donna