ten things (12)

While thumbing through one of my favorite magazines this morning some of the words seemed to jump off the pages at me.

So I decided to make a ten things list of words or items I found that I don't use everyday. By the way *Country Living* is the magazine, I encourage you to check it out!

1. doppelganger (defined as a ghostly counterpart of a living person). I think they misused this word, because as I thought, it means a person and they used it to refer to doorknobs painted white to hold necklaces and such.

2. baroque ( defined as relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of artistic expression prevalent especially in the 17th century that is marked generally by use of complex forms, bold ornamentation, and the juxtaposition of contrasting elements often conveying a sense of drama, movement, and tension) I think of baroque as something heavily ornamented. I can never recall actually using this word in daily conversation!

3. asparagus tongs- I searched the web and these are available at Crate and Barrel and many other places.....I don't recall ever having seen asparagus tongs. At our house we use generic tongs, I am not much of a gadget person and don't see the point in any utensil that isn't multifunctional! I did see a cute pair of tongs shaped like asparagus! If you have unlimited storage space you might want to check these out, they were less than six bucks!

4.marrow scoop- just as you might imagine a marrow scoop is a thin bowled spoon suitable for eating osso buco. I don't ever see myself as one who will even try to eat osso buco, but my Cali kids have had it for dinner. I shall ask her if they had these special spoons.

5. grape shears- These little scissors are very expensive and made for one purpose, to cut grapes from the stem before you put the grapes on your plate. Please. I think this is a total waste of someones money!

6. soiree- Actually I know this word and have used it. But apparently I have used it incorrectly. A soiree is a party (usually in a private home) that takes place in the evening. I didn't know the *evening* part.

7.decanter-Another word I know, I just don't say decanter, I say "bottle"

8.cloche- It can be a bell shaped hat or glass used to cover something. I know this word, I have a hat and the glass thingy. I just always foreget how to pronounce this word, so I don't use it often. (Klosh, with long o)

9. ephemeral- means lasting a short time. I am fairly certain I have only used this word one or two times in my life!

10.frippery-Pretentious, showy finery. Pretentious elegance; ostentation . Something trivial or nonessential. I think this word is pretentious & ostentatious itself! It won't find its way into my everyday conversation!