Our family has some interesting expressions that are unique to us. I’ve been recalling some of them lately.

No one but us ever seems to know that a bed of quilts and pillows on the floor is called a “pallet.” But I looked it up. It’s the first listed definition. A makeshift bed, sometimes of straw.” so there!

Daddy used to say he was “all stove up” if he had worked too hard and was sore all over.

Aunt Caroline’s expression of amazement was, “Well, I’ll swan!” I never heard anyone else say that.

Her mother, my great-grandmother greeted all her Christmas day visitors when they came in the door saying,”Christmas gift!” Was she saying we were her presents?

Joannie had some cute things she said when she was a tot. If she was angry with you and wanted to put a curse on you she would point and say, “Hinks-00-kinks-oo-men,” no doubt meant to put the fear of God in you. Another was her conflation of “each other” and “together”: ” to the juthers.” We still say that. Lately, a lot. “When we can be to the juthers again. “

Elizabeth coined “mamamiska” and “kiddiewinkles. They mean just what you think.

Mother was usually very precise with correct usage, but sometimes she used words to mean what they sound like they should mean.

When it was very wet and muddy outdoors, she would say, “It’s a loblolly out there!” I’ve been saying that a lot lately too.

Will this rain ever stop? It’s a loblolly out there!

(p.s.: Someone directed me to an old dictionary listing of loblolly: “A soggy marsh.” Mother was right about so many things.)