We were talking adjectives and adjectival nouns in Spanish on Tuesday. The teacher was having to explain what "pedantic" meant, and seeing my face (confused rabbit in a Large Hadron Collider expression) said that it wasn't a word that Americans seemed to use as he was always having to explain it, although Europeans seemed to have no problems. "Ah," I said, "Maybe they are just more pedantic in England than they are in America, so we need a word for it". "And are there more pedantics do you think in England?" he asked. "No," I said from the lofty heights of my B grade at o-level, "Just pedants". Gosh, how we laughed!
I missed out on a Brit get-together on Monday, because of the snow that now seems to causing havoc elsewhere. Note that I have used the word Brit. I have only ever heard it used between ex-pats, usually in a mocking way comparing our ability to spell with the rest of the world and the fact that "flavorful" is probably not actually a word. Without exception, if you were to ask any one of them, they would admit to being born in England, and never from Britain. I'm certain it is only (English) politicians which use the expression...you can be pretty sure that the Welsh, Scots and Irish always describe themselves as such.
Last night, I made lavender biscuits on the assumption that if they didn't work out, I could always use them to lace my knicker-drawer.
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
02 February 2011
30 March 2009
Syrup from Sap
We decided in the end to go to the Arboretum yesterday. As it was the pancake breakfast, it meant we did not have to pay the entrance fee. We should really become Friends, we go there that often....but then again we can get free passes from the library.The breakfast was very popular - as many as you could eat (about 3 as it turns out, as they were the thick, fluffy variety), chickens sausages and lashings of syrup. I was mentioning to a friend of mine (American) last week that it was a bit odd for us to see people pouring maple syrup over their bacon. "Urgh!" she agreed, "That's disgusting! It's not bad on sausages though....".
It was a nice bright, tingly sort of day, so it was actually getting quite warm by the time we decided to see the maple tapping. It's very intriguing - they put metal taps into the maples (about an inch in), and then link them all to one enormous central hose which then leads to the syrup house. So overhead, in this wood are all these reticulation hoses. Prime syrup-gathering times are when it's below freezing at night, and above during the day (so most of the year, then). This means the sap actually freezes in the pipes, as it is about 97% water, 3% sugar. It's then boiled down; 40 gallons (I think) gives about 1 gallon (or cup, I can't remember - I was getting a bit high on the fumes by this point) of syrup. Apparently up in Alaska (and, obviously, the Ukraine), they make syrup out of birch.
After that we had a nice amble about the grounds, and then went to the potato exhibition at the children's centre there. T potted the smallest potato I have ever see (pea-sized), made potato-print pictures, coloured in a potato, and made some potato snacks. There was a bit of a theme.
We have just been experiencing the famous "Minnesotan fake spring" as tomorrow it is forecast 6 inches of snow. My poor little daffodils are only just nervously peeking their little heads out, and now they'll get frost-bitten. I saw on the local Daffodil Club web-site that they are actually considered a summer flower here.
07 November 2008
Gun-Powder Trees on a Plot
Lots of celebrations at this time of year - obviously to off-set the snow we expect. Maybe 5 months. Maybe 6.
First off was Hallowe'en. T, naturally, dressed as a princess. Here the emphasis is on cuteness and candy, rather than gore and cash. T is the one who complains about walking precisely five minutes after we start. Strangely, that evening, she managed two hours. Luckily, the weather was a balmy top 60s, which meant thermals under the outfits, but not snow-suits, which were required last year.
Some of the houses were excellent, with spooky music and lights outside. The unwritten law (lore, I suppose) is that if the house lights are on, you trick or treat (I think some were hiding out in their cellars). the Lawn Nazi across the road (who goes out twice a day to mow his lawn, and it's not my epithet but from the estate over on the other side) left sweets out in a bowl saying "do not knock, help yourselves". These went in about the first 5 mins. Bridgjo was left at home to man the fortress, decorated with suitably spooky items, culled from Target and the Freecycle web-site - pumpkin lights, a giant cauldron etc. He didn't sit down for around all the time we were out. A few people were sitting around fires in their yards, handing out sweets, and then beer for the grown-ups.
It was a good way of introducing myself to all the neighbours (within a two-hour radius), without appearing too Jehovah-Witness.
On Wednesday, of course, it was Guy Fawkes. I googled "Bonfire Night" and "Guy Fawkes Minnesota" and found a blog dated 2004 of someone talking about this Guy Fawkes party their parents had gone to, and a mention of an article in the Burnsville paper. So I googled the paper, then searched the article, and found it, together with the organizer's name - Paul Ellerby - an ex-Brit who likes celebrating it. The article also mentioned that he was involved in curling. So I then googled the curling club in Burnsville, and his name, and it came up with a page about him, which included his company name. So then I searched on that company AND FINALLY FOUND AN E-MAIL ADDRESS! (Sore trigger finger by this time). Upshot was, I sent him an e-mail and he wrote back saying "of course, coma along: - so we did. He had a biggish piece of land - unfortunately no fireworks, as, although you can buy guns down the road, it is illegal to buy fireworks in Minnesota. But he had lots of people, food, drink, a big fire with seats around and a Guy. And, naturally, Morris Men and singing. It was an excellent evening!
Today was the first time T has woken-up to snow, and she was very excited indeed. She was one of the only ones to turn up to school suitabley attired, menaing taht non of the kids were allowed out all day. It prompted a letter from the head-mistress detailing the clothes the children are expected to have from now on in. ie they are expected to turn up roughly spherical. Bridgjo and I had to drive into St Paul for a Cultural Awareness training course (which was 6 hours of chatting a nice meal out - the trainer told us about Japan where he lived, we talked about Switzerland. I think US may have been mentioned once or twice). We were a bit concerned we couldn't make it back to pick her up at home-time, but luckily they have day-care after-hours there, so I called up the secretary so that she could sort it for us. We managed to get there just in time.
More snow expected this week-end.
First off was Hallowe'en. T, naturally, dressed as a princess. Here the emphasis is on cuteness and candy, rather than gore and cash. T is the one who complains about walking precisely five minutes after we start. Strangely, that evening, she managed two hours. Luckily, the weather was a balmy top 60s, which meant thermals under the outfits, but not snow-suits, which were required last year.
Some of the houses were excellent, with spooky music and lights outside. The unwritten law (lore, I suppose) is that if the house lights are on, you trick or treat (I think some were hiding out in their cellars). the Lawn Nazi across the road (who goes out twice a day to mow his lawn, and it's not my epithet but from the estate over on the other side) left sweets out in a bowl saying "do not knock, help yourselves". These went in about the first 5 mins. Bridgjo was left at home to man the fortress, decorated with suitably spooky items, culled from Target and the Freecycle web-site - pumpkin lights, a giant cauldron etc. He didn't sit down for around all the time we were out. A few people were sitting around fires in their yards, handing out sweets, and then beer for the grown-ups.
It was a good way of introducing myself to all the neighbours (within a two-hour radius), without appearing too Jehovah-Witness.
On Wednesday, of course, it was Guy Fawkes. I googled "Bonfire Night" and "Guy Fawkes Minnesota" and found a blog dated 2004 of someone talking about this Guy Fawkes party their parents had gone to, and a mention of an article in the Burnsville paper. So I googled the paper, then searched the article, and found it, together with the organizer's name - Paul Ellerby - an ex-Brit who likes celebrating it. The article also mentioned that he was involved in curling. So I then googled the curling club in Burnsville, and his name, and it came up with a page about him, which included his company name. So then I searched on that company AND FINALLY FOUND AN E-MAIL ADDRESS! (Sore trigger finger by this time). Upshot was, I sent him an e-mail and he wrote back saying "of course, coma along: - so we did. He had a biggish piece of land - unfortunately no fireworks, as, although you can buy guns down the road, it is illegal to buy fireworks in Minnesota. But he had lots of people, food, drink, a big fire with seats around and a Guy. And, naturally, Morris Men and singing. It was an excellent evening!
Today was the first time T has woken-up to snow, and she was very excited indeed. She was one of the only ones to turn up to school suitabley attired, menaing taht non of the kids were allowed out all day. It prompted a letter from the head-mistress detailing the clothes the children are expected to have from now on in. ie they are expected to turn up roughly spherical. Bridgjo and I had to drive into St Paul for a Cultural Awareness training course (which was 6 hours of chatting a nice meal out - the trainer told us about Japan where he lived, we talked about Switzerland. I think US may have been mentioned once or twice). We were a bit concerned we couldn't make it back to pick her up at home-time, but luckily they have day-care after-hours there, so I called up the secretary so that she could sort it for us. We managed to get there just in time.
More snow expected this week-end.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
