P Is For Parsnips, Most Peculiar

April 19, 2016January 28, 2021 / Ally Bean / 44 Comments

“Fine words butter no parsnips.”

This is an old English proverb that means empty words or flattery achieve nothing. The idea being that buttering food makes it taste better, but it’s still the same food.

I first remember hearing this proverb on an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Olivia d’Abo as Nicole Wallace played an accomplished grifter who was always one step ahead of Vincent D’Onofrio as Detective Robert Goren aka Bobby. She tormented Bobby, the brainiac, like a cat with a mouse, and at one point while he was trying to find a way to put her in jail, she said the above saying.

The saying stuck with me, and is my only “real life” experience with this saying.

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{ SOMETHING TO DO FOR FUN }

If you’re a fan of vegetables and of Walt Disney World, you may remember that during the 1980s & 1990s there was The Kitchen Kabaret show at The Land Pavilion in Epcot.

The show was a hoot, complete silliness– with a memorable theme song. Click HERE to listen to the “Veggie, Veggie, Fruit, Fruit” song. Click HERE to see some photos of the show.

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O Is For Orange, Okay Then

April 18, 2016May 6, 2021 / Ally Bean / 50 Comments

Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?

… is the punch line to a knock-knock joke that I believe all English-speaking children learn at about age 4. Maybe a little older or younger, I dunno.

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It’s just a goofy way of playing around with words, and means literally: Aren’t you happy that I did not say banana? The humor in this saying is that the spoken word “orange” sounds phonetically like the spoken words “aren’t you.”

I’m not a connoisseur of le knock-knock jokes, so I rarely, if ever, say the above phrase. However, considering that my A To Z Challenge theme is Food: Talking the Talk, this phrase fits right in.

Orange you glad of that?

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{ SOMETHING FUN TO DO}

Here’s a link to Knock Knock Jokes based on first names where you can add your own joke to the list. Have at it, kids.

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N Is For Nuts, Please Note

April 16, 2016May 6, 2021 / Ally Bean / 32 Comments

Nuttier than a squirrel’s pantry

… is a way to say someone is crazy, while not saying directly that someone is crazy. It’s a cute turn of phrase, correct in the right context. ‘Ya know?

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THE OTHER MORNING I was looking out into the forest behind our house, admiring the color green, when I noticed that Fuzzy the Squirrel was on the ground, up to something.

He rarely allows his little paws to touch the ground, preferring to stay above it all in the trees… or in our gutters… or on our deck. I was intrigued.

I’D BEEN THINKING ABOUT the origins of the saying, nuttier than a squirrel’s pantry, all morning. So when I saw Fuzzy, in a flash of inspiration, I decided to ask him if he could explain the meaning of this saying, from his point of view.

Straight from the squirrel’s mouth, so to speak.

WELL, MY GENTLE READERS, I was not prepared for what our favorite squirrel had to say. But I give him credit, he told it like it is. He didn’t mince words, nor did he spare my feelings.

YOU SEE, COME TO FIND OUT, from a squirrel’s perspective, this seemingly innocent and silly human saying, is offensive and disparaging.

Squirrels take it personally, looking down upon us humans who say it. To them, this saying is animalist. Decidedly not PC.

And inaccurate, as Fuzzy was quick to point out before he scampered away. “Lady, we got more than nuts in our pantries. We got seeds and leaves– and sometimes a good old-fashioned purloined tomato from your very own pots of veggies.”

Thus he confirmed that: 1) he did steal those tomatoes years ago; and 2) that squirrels might not be as nutty as we humans think they are.

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M Is For Mush, Mighty Interesting

April 15, 2016May 6, 2021 / Ally Bean / 33 Comments

Turned to mush

… is an American slang phrase that means your heart &/or your mind are no longer sensible or clear. Someone or something has evoked tender feelings within you so that you’ve become nostalgic, sentimental, or sad.

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I’ve no story to tell you about mush, so instead here’s a random list of information about the word “mush.” Study & learn, my gentle readers. This information will be on the test. 😉

Mush: Breakfast Recipe, Fried OR Breakfast Recipe, Porridge

Mush: History Of A Regional Company Known For It

Mush: British Slang Term [in a phrase]

Mush: Romany Slang [word alone]

Mush: Word As Used In Alaska In Iditarod

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{ SOMETHING TO LISTEN TO FOR FUN }