Thursday 24 March 2011
The favourite word . . .
No surprise here . . . I am a great lover of words. I think I can thank my father for instilling this great love of words in me. When I was a child, if I wanted to know the meaning of anything at all, he would send me to the Dictionary to look it up. He never simply told me what it was. As a result I learned to love the dictionary, and could often be found simply reading it . . . I know . . . I was always a wierd child!
We also used to play word games like scrabble together as a family but our favourite word game was this one whose name escapes me at the moment. Each person decided on a word they were going to use and then picked out the letters, placing the letter cards face down in front of them in correct order. Then the rest of the players had to guess your word, letter by letter in turn, until one of them had guessed your word completely. Each letter card had a points value and the person who guessed them would get the points for that letter and the person who was able to guess the whole word would get the points for that as well as a bonus. It was great fun!
I can remember always trying to find a word that I thought might stump everyone else, but of course . . . I never succeeded! We used to get a bit frustrated with my dad however, as he would often pick electrical names and terms. (He was an aircraft electrician.) We wouldn't be able to guess his word very easily. (I wish I could remember the name of the game!)
In recent years the British Council conducted a poll in which they asked more than 40,000 English speaking people in 46 countries what their favourite word was. How intriguing!
There were lots of good words to be found in the top 20. Words like cherish, blossom and tranquility took top honours. but can you guess what took the top position??? This will blow your mind.
M-O-T-H-E-R
I know, what a surprise . . . but then again, one wonders why it should be so surprising. What other word could possibly mean so much to so many people of such a variety of different races, creeds or colours?? It is a word that goes right to the heart of us all. The one person on earth that we first learn to love and depend on. Our main nurturer and first teacher.
April 3rd is Mothering Sunday over here in the UK. (Thanks Sheilagh!) We have been teaching the children in our Primary Class at church a special song to sing to the Mother's in our Ward. I can remember learning special songs to sing in church on Mother's Day when I was a girl. I can remember being so filled with love for my mother as we sang them each year, and I still am as I think of those songs this morning. I think that "mother" is my favourite word too.
What is your favourite word?
We went into town yesterday and I managed to walk around quite a bit using the cane, although by the end my back was quite sore as was the hand that was gripping the cane. I will need to get used to that I guess! It was very nice to be out and about though! What a gorgeous day it was!
Here is a quick and easy light supper or luncheon dish which makes good use of leftover cooked chicken. We eat a lot of chicken in this house and often have leftovers so I am always on the hunt for ways to use it up! This is quite a delicious one I have to say!
*White Chicken Pizza*
Serves 8
Printable Recipe
A flavourful gourmet pizza which makes good use of leftovers and simple ingredients.
2 TBS soft butter
1 tsp finely chopped fresh garlic
1 cup of shredded cooked chicken
1 1/2 cups of shredded pepper jack or provolone cheese (6 ounces)
2 TBS coarsely chopped flat leaf parsley
1 (12 inch) pre-baked pizza crust
(Store bought or make your own. I have an excellent recipe here. )
Preheat oven to 230*C/ 450*F/ gas mark 8. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Add the garlic and cook gently until the garlic is softened without browning. Stir frequently. This should take 5 to 6 minutes.
Place your prepared pizza crust onto large ungreased baking sheet. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the crust and then sprinkle with 3/4 cup of the cheese. Evenly spread chicken and parsley over that and then finish off by topping that with the remaining cheese. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned. Let sit for a few minutes before cutting into wedges to serve. I like to serve a salad with this.
In The English Kitchen today a delicious Bun and Butter Pudding.
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As always Marie a wonderful post:)
ReplyDeleteMy favourite word is JOY. For many years there was no JOY in my life, or maybe that is wrong, maybe there was joy but I couldn't feel it.
Now a feel it everyday, in different ways, different degree's, but oh do I thank God that I now have JOY in my life.
Hugs
Sheilagh
xx
PS Mothers Day is not this Sunday, it is April 3rd.
Ahh, I stand corrected! I thought it was this week because the children are singing their song this week, but then I realized that is because on the real Mothering Sunday we won't be having services because of General Conference! DOH!
ReplyDeletethe game was called Probe :)
ReplyDelete(((((((((hugs)))))))))
Ahh, Thanks sister! It was driving me up the wall this morning not being able to remember the name od the game! I love you!!! xxoo
ReplyDeleteI've never thought about my favorite word before but I think it would be FAMILY. Of course there wouldn't be family without MOTHER so still it is connected. We don't celebrate Mothers Day here until May. It's a little early but I do wish you a wonderful day when it comes there in April for you.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the game we played called Probe. After we were all in high school Daddy used to drive us crazy because he would spell phonetically. He was a terrible speller and would justify his spelling up one side and down the other. Being Daddy, he pretty much got to make the rules. We have such good memories of how he made us laugh with his spellings! The chicken pizza sounds great. I'm sure you will get better at walking as you get used to the cane. I'm so glad you aren't too proud to use one, since it can help you so much. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThat is the name of the game Donna. My lovely sister remembered what it was called. (Cindy) WE always had so much fun playing it together as a family and trying to stump my dad and brother!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh do I have to choose one word? There are so many. Some for their meaning, others for the sound and then the spelling could be the clincher. In fact I have just been using English to French dictionaries.
ReplyDeleteSo onto the word. Serenity appeals as a state to be in it and then there is Serendipity which is happy too.
I am glad you were able to walk around with Todd. I would ask the physio for tips to help you use the cane well.
Hi, Marie! Glad you are getting around a bit better... Hope you knee and back will be OK. ;o) VERY interesting about the world's/people's favorite word. LOVE and JOY are my most fave words. The possibilities those words hold lift me daily. WONDERFUL pizza today. Hubby loves chicken, you know, so I have to make this for him. We have a busy weekend ahead--errands & things on Saturday, and then Sunday one of your nieces has her birthday party. Also trying to get some new creations made to sell to raise funds for Japan. :o) Happy Day, dear friend--LOVE YOU LOTS! ((BIG HUGS))
ReplyDeleteErin and Patrick got me into a computer word came call Bookworm. I really enjoy playing it. I think you would like it too. It is a word search where you get points for the letters you use making words. There are bonus words you get extra points for... and there are burning letters that will end the game if you can't make them into a word before they drop to the bottom of the screen. It is a fun game but it can be addicting. I got it at www.popcap.com It cost a little to buy it but not much and it is a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to tell you love words... you use them beautifully to enrich our days. Thank you
Hugs, Lura
This is an interesting concept. There has been something going around the blogsphere about choosing a word for the year. It started around New Year's and lots people seem to have their word posted on their blog side bar.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea is what word motivates you or some such thing. Anyway along that vein, I thought progression was a good one. Just growing and progressing and becoming who we are meant to be in God's eyes.
Hugs, B
Beautiful post, as always. My favorite word is "HOPE". It gives me peace and positive energy throughout the complexities of life.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day tomorrow!
Marie, I just took a peek at your Etsy shop...what precious art! I, too, love words and art. Your paintings are wonderfully charming, with such perfect messages, so you should like them very much. Your blog has been a pleasant surprise.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Marianne