Frittering away … well enjoying some time-space … with a nodding head as the Winter and early Spring disappear before an easier Summer, one (I do) hope/s, at least on the nature side, arrives …
Snake's-head Fritillary
Diddle away dissipate fribble away … words, words, words … aren't we lucky to have so many expressions to illustrate our ideas …
I'm on slow-go time … lots to do, and no doubt will get there … so in the meantime … some wonderful plants from a by-gone era …
 |
| Nodding Meleagris in the meadow |
Fritillaries first recognised in Europe in the late 1500s … characterised by nodding flower heads … probably brought over from the Middle East ...
 |
| Cultivated (Dutch) Fritillaries |
... in Oxford there's a wild meadow, which hasn't been cultivated for centuries, as it's annually flooded …
... once the fritillaries in Iffley Meadows have finished their flowering, the deer herd is moved in for the summer and autumn …
Shakespeare in his narrative poem Venus and Adonis, Adonis metamorphoses into a purple flower checked with white:
Meadow Fritillary - underside of the female
By this, the boy that by her side lay kill’d
Was melted like a vapour from her sight,
And in his blood that on the ground lay spill’d,
A purple flower sprung up, chequer’d with white.
Helmeted Guinea Fowl in Namibia
The Latin specific epithet 'meleagris' means “spotted like a guineafowl” …
Then I came across the 'Fritillary' an academic term's magazine of the Oxford Women's Colleges … published between 1894 and 1931 …
Fritillary
Summer term
1927 magazine
... which I'd noted in the book Joanne Faries had reviewed last December … titled “The Eights” …
... and came about from Joanne Faries at her Word Splash blog in December last year when she reviewed “The Eights” - about four women in 1920 starting at Oxford University … which took me back to my school days in Oxford, and brought some history to life …
... and then oh yes! - in the book Joanne recommended … 'The Hilary Term' … which has just finished. I'm more than delighted today … I'm cheered at the coincidences!!
So here's to hope – I do fall on the side of optimism … and relate to my name derived from the Latin 'hilarius' – cheerful merry...
 |
| Section or Semester heading |
Joanne Faries - Word Splash blog 'The Eights'
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
17 comments:
May summer arrive soon.
I do love to fritter away my time. I've done it since I was a child, back when my mother took notice of it, and I've never grown out of the habit. Even as a busy mother of many active children, I gave value to frittering, both for myself and my kids.
I cannot think of a better time or place to set the novel The Eights. Ambitious women were acutely aware of misogyny in the academic world and in 1920 the nation was suffering from WW1 losses. Brave!
Fritillaries What a beauties Never seen them Neither the guineafowl They must be a kind of chickens. That book about 4 womand starting at Oxford took me back to the time when I started retail management school We were at the start that this school was mixed and some teachers didn't like it lol
Hari OM
Fine foray, flibbertigibbeting on the theme of fritillary...!!! And that's quite enough from me 🙂 Have a fun floaty weekend, YAM xx
I am of the firm opinion that frittering away one’s time in moderation is a fine thing. One should not always be driven by speed and efficiency. Last evening, it was warm enough on a corner of the deck when the sun is concentrated to sit out with a glass of wine, some Stilton cheese, and pass an hour or more doing very little of anything. Not a deep thought crossed our mind. If that is frittering, I am looking forward to perfecting the skill…or perhaps I already have. Very best wishes, Hilary. David
It's good to hear that you are enjoying life gently, Hilary. Long may it continue.
This feels like a gentle walk through early spring, where thoughts move at the same pace as the flowers opening in the meadow.
I like how it drifts between the fritillaries themselves and the memories and books they bring back. It has that natural way of thinking where one thing leads to another without hurry, the kind that often comes when you are outside noticing the season changing.
As usual, lots that I didn't know on your post. I love that. "The Eights" sounds good!
@ Liz – yes it's well on its way now … thankfully …
@ Karen – yes I think I probably have … but at the moment it's more part of my life – the 'get on with it' needs to be back in line!! You certainly had many children … so can understand those times must have been precious …
@ Hels – it's a very interesting book …
@ Marja – Fritillaries are quite delightful … now they're cultivated and freely available. The guineafowl I first came across in South Africa, then an asparagus farm here had them grubbing around … fun to see with the chickens etc …
@ Yam – thank you … fritillary frittering always a good time …
@ David – your idea of rushing around is definitely off the cards now … so I'll happily relax with a glass of wine in the setting sun. Good for you and Miriam taking time out … more of it is required …
@ Janice – yes thank goodness I'm getting my act into gear now the sunshine has started to appear on a more regular basis …
@ Melody – you've nailed it … the way of everything connecting the dots … meadows, books and coincidences … I'm happy the Spring season is here – perhaps early Summer …
@ Jacqui – definitely a book you'd enjoy. I learnt too – I'd never heard of 'The Fritillary' magazine … great connection (I thought!) …
Cheers to you all – thanks for commenting and being here - Hilary
Love knowing your name's Latin derivative, Hils. Have a weekend filled with good cheer and energy.
Beautiful flowers, aren’t they? And how nice to spot your name referenced.
I wasn't familiar with fritillaries! So interesting that they likely came from the middle east. Love the colors on them.
I am so happy spring is here and hope for a little warmer weather soon! It has been still close to freezing at night- but tomorrow is projected to be a bit warmer, so fingers crossed. Fritillaries are beautiful. I don't think I have ever heard of them before. Thanks for sharing. :)
Greetings Hils, I've always been intrigued by the fritillaries and to think they've been around since the 1500s. Wow. Have a happy, healthy weekend, Hils.
I enjoy frittering away time reading blogs and you are top of my list. Thanks for the shout out on The Eights. Glad you enjoyed that book - it's not Hilarious, but entertaining. You do have the perfect name. Happy Spring. Fritter, putter, and breathe in fresh air. I hope you are doing well.
@ Sandra - thanks for your two comments ... I do live up to my name ... and being positive ...
@ Anabel - they are beautiful flowers ... and yes to have a chapter in a book named after the Hilary term is fairly special ....
@ Elizabeth - so many of our plants came from the Middle East - Persia and Turkey - but further afield too. They do have interesting markings ...
@ Jess - thanks for coming by - I sincerely hope I'll be back properly very soon. It's still cold here at times ... I'm on the coast and we have an east wind, which is very unpleasant. These special flowers are a delight ... I've seen them in Oxford, before I knew anything about them ...
@ Joanne - ah ha ... frittering time is such fun, but must get back to the blogging scenario. The Eights is a fun book - probably made more sense for me as I could envisage the places and surrounds having spent a fair amount of time in and around the city. Thank you ... my parents named me well ... yes - I'm going to enjoy Spring and Summer ... and start to feel properly better ...
Cheers to one all - I'll be around soon - Hilary
Post a Comment