Oh Dear, bread and beer

Spending time with my sisters-in-law has brought back memories of mother-isms, sayings unique to their mother. I remember her saying "Oh dear, bread and beer if I hadn't have married,I wouldn't be here." Nobody knows the origins of that one, possibly song lyrics, but I've been known to say it now and then.

Their other momism were words that were expressed when things went well for while, like a series of green lights when you're driving. Or a 31 row repeat without forgotten yarn over's. She'd say "You must have been holding your tongue straight."

I was listening to CBC Radio around Mother's Day. The on-the-street reporter asked, "What words of your mother's do you still have in your head." If you asked my kids, they'd probably say, "Little children who know how to read can never be bored."

Or "I want never gets." Remember that one, Auntie Ellen? You borrowed that one from me and I used your "Ask one more time and you won't get it." My eldest, at age four, wanted gum. She asked for it over and over again. Auntie Ellen used her magic phrase and niece replied, "I want.......(long pause)...a sail boat." It still cracks us up.

Having company here means good food. No bread and beer for us. Cousin Lena from Denmark was responsible for last night's dinner. There's a salmon fillet under the mushrooms, lime, scallions and dill, along with a yogurt garlic dill sauce, and an avocado salad:

 

Comments

[Kristen]

It all looks delicious.
My mom ended that saying with '...if I were rich I wouldn't be here.' And I still say it too.

[Chris Nielsen]

I'm putting together some projects to take on a bike trip in Idaho next week and would like to knit some scarves for the Red Scarf Project. Would you be so kind as to send me the pattern for the Herringbone Rib scarf? It would make great use of one of my yarns. Thanks.

[Jane Toumpas]

" By all means " does that one ring a bell sister? Thank God I don't use it and if I do please by all means shoot me : )

[Jane Toumpas]

PS Never heard that beer and bread one. The avocado salad is picture perfect !

[Dorothy]

One of our dad's sayings was "No yeah-buts" in response to our giving the excuse, "Yeah, but . . . ." And in our family it was holding your mouth straight, not your tongue! The food looks delicious!

[Li_B]

Witten by sister-in-law Ellen:
Believe it or not, the food tasted even better than it looks!

[Angie]

It's a shame to eat anything so beautiful. My kids will probably remember, "Pretend you're talking to your mother." My sisters and I are cooking up a card with photos of each of us :Is your leg tied to a piano, hold your horses, were you born in a barn. Unfortunately it looks like I get: Keep your shirt on.

[Lynn]

My grandmother's favorite saying was we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I HATED IT!!! It basically put off a decision she didn't want to make and was an eventual no. I SWORE I'd never use it. Yep, you guessed it. I used it a few months ago with my kids. I said it and it took a full minute to realize what I said. THAT is when I realized I was indeed my grandmother. and I've made a conscious effort NOT to say it again!

[Lacy]

Mom would say, "If wishes were fishes we'd have a mess fried." and then after having said that she would continue with, "and if horse turds were biscuits we'd eat 'til we die."
I know it's not pretty but she did say it. And on more then one occasion, too.
There were so many sayings floating around from every family member, I could write a book!

[Andrea]

Oh yum, that food looks awesome.

My mom isn't really the saying type person. But my mother-in-law... she's full of fun stuff. My current favorite is when my kids ask where we're going her answer is, "Crazy. Wanna go along?" They usually laugh and don't ask again for the next two point four seconds.

[Rebekah]

My mouth is watering!

[maureen]

That avocado salad looks almost too beautiful to eat! Sounds like you've balanced the scale in the household's testosterone/estrogen level ;)
Hope you and your guests are enjoying this lovely summer weather.