More Words

 Last weekend we paid a visit to my folks.  They had a load of sand delivered to fill an old cistern pit and the delivery was so over what was needed, that Jim took the tractor to clean up the sand and pack the pit. While we were there, we added to the already formidable list of idioms, proverbs and sayings. 

Mom, who grew up hearing this and taught them to me, was making a list, and we thought of and spoke more of them during the visit.  It's a way of speaking for us.  It's normal. 

I'm making a new list, since the other one is so long.

Sayings

Adding insult to injury

All bets are off

Better fish to fry

Beyond the pale

Bit off more than I can chew

I have a bone to pick with you

Brought to a head

Burning the midnight oil

Cash on the barrel head

Cat got your tongue?

Clear as a bell

Cool as a cucumber 

Don't burn your bridges

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Don't rock the boat

Down to brass tacks

Dry as a bone

Give up the ghost

Get off on the right foot

Get our of my hair

Get under your skin

Get your foot in the door

Give them the boot

Got the short end of the stick

Finger on the pulse

Fly by the seat of your pants

A fly in the ointment

I have a bone to pick with you

In the loop

In the nick of time

Jump out of your skin

Let sleeping dogs lie

Like a fish out of water

Living hand to mouth

Look at what the cat dragged in

Lose your shirt

Low man on the totem pole

Money burning a hole in your pocket

Need like a hole in my head

No skin off my teeth

Not my  cup of tea

Not my strong suit

On its last legs

Out of the loop

A pig in a poke

Poor as a church mouse

Preaching to the choir

Put a damper on

Put your best foot forward

Right of the bat

Right on the money

Running around like a chicken with its head cut off

Same song, second verse

See the handwriting on the wall

Sharp as a tack

Slick as a whistle

Spill the beans

Start on a shoe string

Sticks to your ribs

Strike while the iron is hot

Sweep under the rug

Take the bull by the horns

Testing the waters

The early bird gets the worm

The tide has turned

Too big for your britches

Tricks of the trade

Until the cows come home

Waiting for the other shoe to drop

A watched pot never boils

Water under the bridge

We're all in the same boat

What goes around comes around

You can't teach an old dog new tricks

You make a better door than window

Other Words

A pretty kettle of fish

All buttoned up

As the crow flies

Bandied about (told around)

Bone of contention

A bum steer

Cobble together

Crack of dawn

 A Doubting Thomas

On edge

Feel like death warmed over

Feel like I've been run over by a truck

For crying out loud

Hand over fist

I declare

In a pickle

In nothing flat

In one ear and out the other

Jam-packed

Looked High and Low

Nip and Tuck

No time like the present

Pain in the neck

Pennies on the dollar

Shot down

Slim to none

Splitting hairs

I'm ready to be done with this project, but it has been lots of fun.

We use a lot more than we thought we did.  Most of these, one time or another, we have used.

Our language is the more colorful in their use.  

First list

It Really Is There

As anyone who has read my current posts will know that I am obsessed with words and phrases at the moment. It is remarkable how many come up in our everyday language.  My dad has been collecting them from the "old men" (pardon me, Dad) that exercise at the same time he does.  I notice them in books, the news and in other people.  I have used at one time or another most of those words and phrases.  

When Jim's sister, Bonita was here, I asked her if they used that sort of language in New England, and they don't.  It may be a "middle of the country" and southern sort of thing. 

Anyway, one of the sayings I use quite a bit, and it really doesn't qualify in my list, is "and there you are" when making a point or finishing up a thought.  The last line in that paragraph reminded me of it, and there you are!

Marching On

 Two of my grandsons are interested in making music.  One wants to play the piano, one the guitar.  Since I can play the piano, I rashly offered my services to give piano lessons.  I'm not a very good teacher.  I don't seem to be able to think of efficient ways to get the lessons across.  I'm not really starting from scratch, because Christian has had his keyboard for a year.  It is labeled with the key names and places on the keyboard and he has a book that makes this kind of playing easy.  My training being traditional read from the book and play the keys, I'm having to adjust my thoughts and teaching to a slightly different method where fitting what he knows into what I think he needs to know.  

Last week I was emphasizing timing and the different values of notes, instead of playing every note at the same speed.  This week he was much improved.  I think he has potential. However, like most kids, he won't realize that potential unless he practices.  Barry is taking guitar lessons from the school music teacher.  I asked him today how his practice was going.  It wasn't.  We have two of a kind there. 

I hated practicing when I was a kid.  I would be a better pianist if I had, but I play well enough to give myself and sometimes other pleasure, so I'm happy with that.  I could still learn more, if I practiced.

Here it is March.  It came in like a lamb with 70 degree weather.  This has been a crazy winter.  I don't think I've ever known one like it.  I've seen 80 in February before, but while this winter has had its fair share of weeks with chilly weather hovering around the freezing mark, it has more weeks with temperatures ranging from 50s to just below zero.  My prediction is of a cold May or a great dumping snow in April. We are getting a little bit of snow this afternoon after some drizzle and sleet.  We are so short on moisture and this is going be the most current of the four barely cover the ground snows.  It won't mitigate the lack of moisture problem.

Basketball is over.  We try to get to as many games as we can.  In small schools like the boys are in, Jr. High basketball is the PE program, so everyone practices during school, and everyone goes to the games, which were held on Wednesday afternoons. I've enjoyed watching Zane play.  I remember my own pitiful attempts in games when I was that age.  I didn't know how to play the games; I was afraid to put myself out in case I make mistakes (the teasing was brutal).  I also have problems with depth perception so trying to hit anything at the end of a stick just doesn't work. 

I watch Zane follow what I assume are the directions of his coach.  The team sets up a certain way under the basket and he's ready to catch and pass.  He makes a few baskets.  He gets right in there to get rebounds.  It does help that he's one of the taller ones and can jump.  He plays as part of the team, and they win a good share of the time. 

Barry's program isn't part of the school as Jr. high and high school are, but the local schools with their volunteer coaches make a league and play each other at their schools. I enjoy watching Barry play, too. He and his classmates are a competitive group and play well together on the basketball court.  I think they as a group really are "getting" how to play.  I really don't know much about the rules and strategy.   I wonder if I should read up on it. They are a short small-boned bunch, but they are fast and win against much taller and larger opponents. Neither of these boys are the main basket makers, although they usually make a basket or two a game.  Barry is excellent at assisting and those kids just dart in and around the other team and get the job done.  In fact, they've only lost one game that I know of, but I didn't get to all the games.  A couple weekends ago they had a weekend tournament and they played three games each day and won a gold medal both days. 

Family Time