i am familiar with ALL of those words!
i'm in northern california but grew up in east texas. my grandfather and my older uncles who continued to live near him in trinity tx. used those phrases and more. i don't recall any of their associates using as many quaint words.
i have a comment on the use of the word "blinky". blinky meant that the milk was going off, but hadn't yet soured.
my granny would milk the cow. most of the milk was put in the churn to sit by the fireplace and curdle for making butter and buttermilk. a little bit of "sweet milk" was set aside to enjoy with some "post toasties". if it didn't get used in time, it started to turn. this happens with regular homogenized milk, too. before it goes sour, it becomes a little bitter. depending on the degree to which it has turned, it can be difficult to tell if it's off or not. i've always had the strong stomach, so i get to check the milk.
Nice, hedbanger! Thanks for these observations. Was your grandfather also from Texas or did his people hail from back east?
I highly recommend that dictionary I mentioned in that "Appalachian Cackleberries" podcast. It's a blast -- especially if you already recognize all the words I mentioned!
hi martha,
so, where you're from, blinky means completely sour? interesting.
all i know is that my grandfather was born in oklahoma. i've felt for a long time that there were some real hillbillly roots somewhere, but nobody seems to know anything beyond oklahoma. two of my aunts who married his sons are also from oklahoma and their speech is a little more like my grandfather's than the uncles' speech is. one aunt used to always say, "y'uns [note: rhymes with ones and is a contraction (i believe) of 'you ones'] come in and eat, now". while everyone else always said "y'all".
and thanks. i'll look that book up at the local libraries.
"Blinky" when referenced to milk always meant just beginning to turn sour in my experience. I grew up in southwest Missouri and have lived here most of my life. My paternal great-great-grandfather came from Ohio via Iowa, settling here after the Civil War (probably passing through with or to get to General Sherman during the war). My paternal grandmother's people settle here about the same time.
"Blinky/Blankie" mentioned by my 2-year-old grandaughter is her blanket. (I had one too.)
Emmett
emmett,
my daughter's blanket was her "banky".
🙂
jf