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Certainly a stamp collection would have been simpler to pack and cheaper to move than my accumulation of reference books. But it's too late now. 

We're loading our wagons and heading west from the bread basket of the world (Linn County, Iowa) to the salad bowl of the world (Monterey County, California). These days are full of farewells and at Cooking Club Wednesday there was a party game (thanks, Beth!) which included the challenge Name five things you will find in Anne's purse. Among the responses - a thesaurus. Um... (depending on the bag) yup.

And from the amazing Kate, the gift of this enormous Webster's International Dictionary. The kind with the little letter tabs, black and white line drawing illustrations and brown speckled edges. It weighs 12 pounds. Too big for nightstand reading material but I love it. 

From WID, random definitions of the word farewell (a word which, by the by, originated 800 or more years ago) 

a wish of happiness or welfare at parting

aftertaste (the coffee left a good farewell in his mouth)

and farewell-to-spring: a summer-flowering annual herb cultivated for its showy flowers.

Thanks, Lauren Stringer, for pointing me to Visual Thesaurus, an online wordie paradise (promised land, nirvana, heaven, Shangri-la, Eden). Word mapping is addictive (habit-forming). And the column Fresh Ink is a...well...fresh (novel, original, new; also invigorating, bracing, refreshing, brisk) take on language. Don't miss the entry on Crash Blossoms. There is a word of the day, word lists made from chapters of books and speeches (or make your own), lesson plans, contests, and more. I am partial to traditional, hard cover reference books, but Visual Thesaurus may be my new favorite tool (implement, instrument).

I used the word bumbershoot in an email today and discovered that it is a regionalism. I love finding words, like independent stores, that can't be found in every state in every strip mall and coffee shop.

According to DARE, bumbershoot (umbrella) has been heard most places east of the Mississippi, beginning back in 1896. It is a combination of bumbrella and shoot, from chute. Some of its delightful cousins include: blundershoot, brumbershoot, bumblershoot, bumbleshoot, bumpershoot, bumptershoot, and bumshoot. Then there's bumbersol, combining bumbershoot and parasol and its relatives bombersoll, bumbasol, bumbersoll, and bumpersol.  

And finally, from my favorite thesaurus, Chambers, two more umbrella words: brolly and gamp. 

Stay dry, everyone!

It snowed last night - less than an inch, but we're in for a heap more over the next couple of days. I broke out the thickest, longest, puffiest of my winter jackets this morning when I went out to shovel. It made me think about my favorite winter book, Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer and one of my favorite winter pictures, Great Grandparents Andreas and Maria snug on a sleigh in their cozy chin to toe coats. 

From Chambers Compact Thesaurus, coat:

overcoat, greatcoat, redingote, car-coat, duffel coat, fleece, fur coat, Afghan, blanket, frock-coat, tail-coat, jacket, bomber jacket, dinner-jacket, donkey jacket, hacking-jacket, reefer, pea-jacket, shooting-jacket, safari jacket, Eton jacket, matinee jacket, tuxedo, blazer, raincoat, trench-coat, mackintosh, mac, Burberry, parka, anorak, cagoul, jerkin, blouson, cape, cloak, poncho...

And my favorite: windcheater

People name babies April, May, June and August (from Latin: grand), but not November. And it’s no wonder. November in a word: stark. If it were a crayon: grey. October’s brilliant yellows dissolve into brown crinkles on the pavement and trees are left shivering black skeletons. But this Iowa afternoon defines anomaly (divergence from what is usual or expected). On my walk: lawns July green, skies September blue. November, you’re nearly name worthy.