Did you know that…. In olden days, space was limited so to “set the table” meant you had to take the board hanging from the rafter in the kitchen and “set” it on trestle legs where the meal would be eaten. For example, “set the table” in front of the fireplace or “set the […]
Author: Donna R Causey
DYK: Does it have a ring of the truth?
When coins were made of gold, silver or other metals. Their value depended on the amount of gold or silver they contained. Some people would make counterfeit coins by mixing gold or silver with a cheaper metal. However you could check if a coin was genuine by dropping it. If it was made of the […]
Watch this beautiful film of America from 1924 with music – to put you in a patriotic mood
I ran across this film recently and it is one that truly “should not be forgotten.” It is titled America the Beautiful. Be sure to share with others. Contributor Names to vocal Shannon Quartet (vocalist) Ward, Samuel — 1847-1903 (composer) Bates, Katherine Lee — 1859-1929 (lyricist) In it you will see these truly historic and […]
DYK: Rule of thumb
It is believed that in olden days, brewers estimated the temperature of a brew by dipping their thumb in it thus came about the saying ‘Rule of Thumb’
DYK: Have you ever been given the cold shoulder?
In olden days if you were served a cold shoulder of mutton instead of hot meat, you knew your were not being encouraged to call again…hence you gave someone the “cold shoulder.” Check out historical, genealogy books and novels by Donna R. Causey
The Fire Engine Driver
THE FIRE ENGINE DRIVER (Excerpt from The Washita Breeze, Bessie, Oklahoma, January 19, 1906)
DYK: Have you ever worn your heart on your sleeve?
The saying “wearing your heart on your sleeve” comes from the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages knights who fought at tournaments wore a token of their lady on their sleeves. Today if you make your feelings obvious to everybody you wear your heart on your sleeve. WHERE DO I START? Hints and […]
DYK: The true meaning of a long shot?
Did you know that…. In the past, guns were only accurate at short range and a ‘long shot’ (fun fired over a long distance) only had a small chance of hitting its target. That is how the term ‘long shot’ derived.
DYK: Pease porridge hot, peace porridge cold
Did you know that…. In olden days all kinds of food went into a big pot for cooking. If you sat down to a meal with a family you often had to take ‘pot luck’ and could never be quite sure what you would be served. Sometimes what was in the pot might be […]
DYK: Do you have a frog in your throat?
This is a very confusing saying that doesn’t seem to make sense. How would anyone get an actual frog in their throat? Medieval physicians believed that the secretions of a frog could cure a cough if they were coated on the throat of the patient. It may be unbelievable, but a frog was placed in […]