Copyright © Louise Bostock 2007-2013. Please give credit where credit is due.

Sunday 27 September 2009

Of clementines and chestnuts

Warm and sunny with not a cloud in the azure-blue. High of about 25°.

Today is the birthday of American journalist Clementine Paddleford (1900-1967). For the sheer Victorian exuberance of his name alone he should be famous. I also quite like this sentiment:

"Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be."

It should be inscribed in gold lettering on special greetings cards, to be sent to offspring who show signs of believing that they deserve to be owners of a.) a horse, b.) a car, c.) other, but that they need do nothing to contribute to their purchase or upkeep.


Today is also the second birthday of A View from Carmine Superiore. To celebrate, last night we had our first chestnut roast of the season. The children collected chestnuts fallen from our own tree, and we roasted them over a raging fire made of wood cut and hauled with our own hands. They were followed down the hatch with wild boar salami, and for dessert we tasted M's delicious chestnut-flour chocolate torte.



Autumn is here!

10 comments:

Alan Burnett said...

Happy birthday to the blog. I know I have only come across it late in the day, but I have become a firm fan. Keep it coming.

LadyFi said...

Happy second birthday to a wonderful poetic blog!

Peter @ italyMONDO! said...

You're lucky! I can't wait to have our first roast as well. :-)

Karin said...

Congratulations on your blogaversary!! I enjoy reading about your adventures in life! I have not lived - have never had a roasted chestnut - although in my youth in Germany we would collect them and take them to our town's Apotheke - I think for coins! What they did with them I wouldn't know! Love your pic of chestnuts roasting by an open fire!

choirgirl said...

Happy 2 year anniversary - your blog is the first thing I read every morning. I particularly like 'tales of the totties' and your magical photographs.

Joy said...

All I know of roasting chestnuts is from the Christmas songs. I'd love to taste them.
I like that sentiment too. It needs to be posted all around our area of Texas. It's ridiculous what some of these kids drive to school.
Congratulations on two years of sharing your love of beautiful Carmine.
Keep it up.

Joy

Bev said...

Something went off in my head when I read that quote from Paddleford because I see that behaviour in Antonio's kids. They expect to be given the things they ask for and it drives me nuts!

Sounds like it was a chestnut evening. Nothing from our tree yet, but I am looking forward to doing the same...just the roasting part.

Woodman said...

Congratulations on the anniversary of your blog, keep it coming, we just love it.

Carla Fran said...

Happy Birthday! What a great celebration. Here's to strong backbones and another great year.

Brenda said...

"Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.". . . I never heard this expression before, but it is certainly a good one to tell our daughters!

Sunday 27 September 2009

Of clementines and chestnuts

Warm and sunny with not a cloud in the azure-blue. High of about 25°.

Today is the birthday of American journalist Clementine Paddleford (1900-1967). For the sheer Victorian exuberance of his name alone he should be famous. I also quite like this sentiment:

"Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be."

It should be inscribed in gold lettering on special greetings cards, to be sent to offspring who show signs of believing that they deserve to be owners of a.) a horse, b.) a car, c.) other, but that they need do nothing to contribute to their purchase or upkeep.


Today is also the second birthday of A View from Carmine Superiore. To celebrate, last night we had our first chestnut roast of the season. The children collected chestnuts fallen from our own tree, and we roasted them over a raging fire made of wood cut and hauled with our own hands. They were followed down the hatch with wild boar salami, and for dessert we tasted M's delicious chestnut-flour chocolate torte.



Autumn is here!

10 comments:

Alan Burnett said...

Happy birthday to the blog. I know I have only come across it late in the day, but I have become a firm fan. Keep it coming.

LadyFi said...

Happy second birthday to a wonderful poetic blog!

Peter @ italyMONDO! said...

You're lucky! I can't wait to have our first roast as well. :-)

Karin said...

Congratulations on your blogaversary!! I enjoy reading about your adventures in life! I have not lived - have never had a roasted chestnut - although in my youth in Germany we would collect them and take them to our town's Apotheke - I think for coins! What they did with them I wouldn't know! Love your pic of chestnuts roasting by an open fire!

choirgirl said...

Happy 2 year anniversary - your blog is the first thing I read every morning. I particularly like 'tales of the totties' and your magical photographs.

Joy said...

All I know of roasting chestnuts is from the Christmas songs. I'd love to taste them.
I like that sentiment too. It needs to be posted all around our area of Texas. It's ridiculous what some of these kids drive to school.
Congratulations on two years of sharing your love of beautiful Carmine.
Keep it up.

Joy

Bev said...

Something went off in my head when I read that quote from Paddleford because I see that behaviour in Antonio's kids. They expect to be given the things they ask for and it drives me nuts!

Sounds like it was a chestnut evening. Nothing from our tree yet, but I am looking forward to doing the same...just the roasting part.

Woodman said...

Congratulations on the anniversary of your blog, keep it coming, we just love it.

Carla Fran said...

Happy Birthday! What a great celebration. Here's to strong backbones and another great year.

Brenda said...

"Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.". . . I never heard this expression before, but it is certainly a good one to tell our daughters!