Memories
This morning I picked up a copy of my journal written while my husband Charles and I were on a tour of Ireland in 2012. Hard to believe it’s been ten years since we strolled the cobblestone streets, hiked 100 steps to the top of a castle, and stopped for a bowl of hearty leek soup and brown bread for lunch.
One of the most delightful side trips was a visit to a replica of an old Irish village where I learned the origin of a few Irish sayings.
“It’s raining cats and dogs.”
Family pets slept in the rafters so when it poured rain, the soggy roof on an older home collapsed from the downpour and people shouted, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
The word lynching came from the act of hanging a man for a crime at the order of a self-appointed judge named Captain William Lynch.
“The walls have ears,” referred to the tiny holes in the corners of the high walls in a castle where the servants could listen to conversations in various rooms and then report what they heard to the king.
“Saving face,” was a phrase used to describe a lady’s face covered with wax makeup as she shielded herself from the heat of the fireplace.
“Sleep tight,” reminded people to tighten the ropes that supported a mattress so they wouldn’t fall on the floor when sleeping.
I hope these quotations bring a smile to your face as they did mine. Maybe you know a few of your own.
How fun to learn the origin of these! Thanks for sharing! Happy Tuesday!
Thanks, Patty. Glad you enjoyed the sayings.
Fun post. Sweet memories. XO
Thanks, Mona. It is fun to enjoy memories of a great trip.
Dear Karen, When I read the word memories, I paused and tried to think of the very earliest thing in my life that I could remember and this is what I am positive is my first really clear memory; Of course I do not remember my exact age but I was probably about four. We were visiting my Dad’s parents and Dad’s brother who had a daughter about my age, lived next door. Rosemary is her name. We were playing close to the front door and thee was a small green leaf plant next to the porch. All I remember is we would take one of the leaves from the plant, put it in our mouth, suck on it and finally bring it out and it would be all ‘bloated’ and we called it a Frog Belly as that is what it looked like! I remember that so well! Amazing! She and I had so much fun playing together.
I have many wonderful memories of traveling with my husband Herb all over the United States and with some college students when I was single and in my 40’s to London. Awesome. Thanks for your great subject today. Love you, Margaret
Margaret, you earliest memory is so delightful. Thanks for sharing it with us.
It’s so special to see a photo of Charles and reflect on the great guy he was. And I praise God for you, Karen, in your journey of trusting and following God in your singleness. Thank you!
What a lovely comment, Kathy. I agree that Charles was a great guy. We had a lot o fun together. I.miss him every day.
Enjoyed your “memory lane” post today Karen with the history of phrases I’ve heard or repeated since a young girl. Thanks for sharing your sweet memories too.
Smiles, BRC
PS. Do you know where the term “memory lane” came from?
Here’s what I found online. “Often put in a nostalgic way, this term may have originated as the title of a popular song of 1924, “Memory Lane,” words by Bud de Sylva, and music by Larry Spier and Con Conrad. It was revived in the film In Society (1944), starring Abbott and Costello.”
That’s neat trivia info Karen.
I’m going to look up that song!
🌸Smiles, BRC
Thank You for the memories. So nice to see a picture of Charles. There are so many memories that come to mind. One is the square meal. The food served at the way stations of the Pony Express was served on a square board. Hence a square meal. Might have originated in Europe. Any way there are many more
that contribute to our memories. What fun
Thanks Joan. I hadn’t heard the origin of ‘square mea’l till you shared it. What fun to find out the meanings of these familiar sayings.