Incondite (in-con-dite) Adjective From the Latin in (meaning not) and conditus (a past participle condere meaning to put together) Meanings: 1. poorly constructed (often used in connection with literary works); 2. lacking refinement or crude. Sally Olsen’s latest book is incondite and almost totally lacking in plot.
Word of the Week
My Word! February 23
by Betsey Ellis •
Digitigrade dig·i·ti·grade Adjective: a mammal walking on the toes alone without the heels touching the ground. From the Latin digitus (finger,toe) and gradus (walking) Cats are an example of a digitigrade animal.
Word of the Week
My Word! February 16
by Betsey Ellis •
Cernuous (cer·nu·ous) Adjective: nodding, drooping, pendulous. Derived from Latin “cernuus” meaning bowing forward. The cernuous peaches were just waiting to be picked.
Word of the Week
My Word! February 9
by Betsey Ellis •
Bromide (bro-mide) Noun This one has two meanings: 1. A trite or obvious remark. 2. Any compound of the element bromide and another metal. These drugs were sometimes used as sedatives or paralytics. John just kept repeating the phrase, “follow your dreams” until it had become a meaningless bromide. Tennessee has been having trouble obtaining…
States Well Stated
What’s In A Name?
by Betsey Ellis •
Thank the good Lord that there is a couple of States before Iowa. I don’t know about you, but I am sick to death of hearing about Iowa. So instead, let’s look at a highly nutritious State (as long as you don’t load it up with butter, cheese and sour cream) – Idaho. Unofficially known…
States Well Stated
Aloha, Hawai’i
by Betsey Ellis •
HELLO GOODBYE Remember that old Beatles song “You say good-bye, and I say hello”? It might well have been written with our next target in mind. Aloha and welcome to the Nation’s most recent state (if you can call 1959 recent) Hawai’i. Yes, for the natives, that extra mark is necessary. They think it helps…
States Well Stated
Georgia, Always Fashionably Late
by Betsey Ellis •
We all know that Georgia boasts of her peaches – but did you know that the peach is not the official State tree? That would have probably made too much sense. The live oak is the official State tree. And to get this out of the way now, the official fish is the largemouth bass.…
States Well Stated
Reasons We Did Not Move to Florida For
by Betsey Ellis •
Yep, I decided not to leave the best for last. And what makes Florida the best? It’s obvious, it’s because we all live here. There are lots of reasons we chose Tanglewood and Florida for our new home. Some of us just wanted a place where we did not have to worry about falling flat…
States Well Stated
Once More Dear Friends, Once More into the Swamp
by Betsey Ellis •
Welcome to part three of our in-depth foray into the swamp called Washington, District of Columbia. I need to start with an apology and correction. I previously promised to report on the number of bathrooms in the White House. Somehow, I neglected this in the last installment. So, for those of you who have been…
States Well Stated
States Well Stated – Washington D.C. : The White House
by Betsey Ellis •
Washington, D.C. just has too many oddities (and, no, I am not referring to Congress) to fit into one column. This month I am focusing on one of the most recognized addressed in the country: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. So let’s get started with country’s most impressive government housing: The President’s Palace The Gilded Prison, That…