Maybe it's because there's no magpies here, so we have to settle for crows. But I was surprised to see magpies in Nevada. They aren't like the european magpies. They're much bigger, and more salt-and-pepper, it seems to me.
Nobody could tell me if they steal bright little things clean away, either.
Oh--I didn't mean to imply that the song should apply to magpies but not crows. I think these rhymes and things tend to travel around and get associated with whatever creature's appropriate. I think it definitely works well for crows!
My British husband learned that rhyme for counting magpies, I learned it for counting crows.
We have a lot of crows in my rural neck of the woods, not a day goes by that they aren't prophesying for me. On my way to work this morning it was two groups of two (double joy!) and one group of three (for a girl!) -- and then I found out that just as I hoped, the power was out at work and I got to come back home with my work laptop and do stuff from here, and I was happy. See, the crows were right!
Hey, do you know what the rule is for spilt cutlery? It means unexpected guests, I think, and women are forks, men are knives, and, I seem to recall, spoons are children. Did you ever hear that one?
Oh, right. Thanks for clarifying the reference. Haven't thought of that one in quite some time. Made into a film, as I recall. Young actor. Died on the set, just like dad. Talk of conspiracy. Yes?
Terry Pratchett has a very interesting chapter in Folklore of the Discworld all about magpie rhymes. Well, interesting to someone like me anyway, but I'd recommend the book generally!
Oh, I see! Folklore of the Discworld is the title! Pardon the density. Thanks. I'll be sure to order it in, since it seems it classifies as a special order at my local indie.
BTW, the next fat-fantasy-with-maps on my reading list after Inda is yours, meaning the one that begins with Stormcaller [ETA: Whoops. Ironically sitting right next to a Moorcock sent to me by someone in Texas]. Cara Sposa bought it for me last Christmas (also a special order here in Kingston). Any thing you'd like to say about it before I get started?
Erm, caveats for Stormcaller.... Well, don't get 30 pages from the end and then stop because you've not worked it all out - that was one Amazon review that annoyed me slightly, thinking the end should actually be significant like the crazy person I am. Other than that I'd say, remember it's my first novel and the writing improves through the series! ;0)
Other than that, enjoy and let me know your thoughts!
I've never heard the specifics of knife/fork/spoon for dropped cutlery. The only thing I've heard is a dropped knife means a stranger is coming, no gender specified.
Comments
Maybe it's because there's no magpies here, so we have to settle for crows. But I was surprised to see magpies in Nevada. They aren't like the european magpies. They're much bigger, and more salt-and-pepper, it seems to me.
Nobody could tell me if they steal bright little things clean away, either.
We have a lot of crows in my rural neck of the woods, not a day goes by that they aren't prophesying for me. On my way to work this morning it was two groups of two (double joy!) and one group of three (for a girl!) -- and then I found out that just as I hoped, the power was out at work and I got to come back home with my work laptop and do stuff from here, and I was happy. See, the crows were right!
Hey, do you know what the rule is for spilt cutlery? It means unexpected guests, I think, and women are forks, men are knives, and, I seem to recall, spoons are children. Did you ever hear that one?
BTW, the next fat-fantasy-with-maps on my reading list after Inda is yours, meaning the one that begins with Stormcaller [ETA: Whoops. Ironically sitting right next to a Moorcock sent to me by someone in Texas]. Cara Sposa bought it for me last Christmas (also a special order here in Kingston). Any thing you'd like to say about it before I get started?
Edited at 2011-08-31 07:27 pm (UTC)
Erm, caveats for Stormcaller.... Well, don't get 30 pages from the end and then stop because you've not worked it all out - that was one Amazon review that annoyed me slightly, thinking the end should actually be significant like the crazy person I am. Other than that I'd say, remember it's my first novel and the writing improves through the series! ;0)
Other than that, enjoy and let me know your thoughts!
I've never heard the specifics of knife/fork/spoon for dropped cutlery. The only thing I've heard is a dropped knife means a stranger is coming, no gender specified.