My whole family refers to a "mess" of beans, greens, okra, etc. As far as I can tell it just means enough to feel the bunch you got to feed. I didn't even think of that as an "ism". I've heard and said that all my life. OK. Here's another one. How many of you had your momma tell you to "hold your tater" when you were anxious for something? My mother used to tell me to "hold your tater till your sock gets cool". Now, what in the world did that mean? I knew it meant wait a bit but what does a sock have to do with anything? I never did understand that. Also, my mother referred to a switch (the most dreaded instrument of torture on the earth. I would rather be hit with a belt) as a with. I never understood that one either. Anyone heard of these? P. Mitchell -----Original Message----- From: OK1WE1@aol.com <OK1WE1@aol.com> To: TNUNION-L@rootsweb.com <TNUNION-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, September 27, 1999 9:08 PM Subject: RE:RE Expand your vocabulary >My husband is the one with the Tennessee roots. His folks were both born in >E. Tennessee, but migrated to Oregon in the 1920's. They both carried a >slight southern accent all their lives, but his dear sweet little >Grandmother, Minnie Warren Monroe Beeler was a wonderful lady. She passed >away in 1972 at the grand age of 98 and 1/2 ---- she wanted so badly to live >to be 100, Well, anyway, she said, "I Swan" and "Lawsy Mercy" She said that >one time, when she was holding our first born , her first great grandbaby, >and the baby spit up most of her lunch. Granny said, "Lawsy Mercy, that >chil" must be sick!!" She used to baby sit for my husband when both his >folks worked during the depression, and she'd let him help her with the >garden they always had. (A carry over from their Tennessee days, no doubt). >She'd take him out into the garden to pick vegetables for dinner, and always >picked a big white onion for lunch. They'd eat an onion and mustard sandwich >or a green bean and mustard. He swears they were good!! Has anyone else >ever tried that? Before I forget, she'd always say, "Let's have a MESS of >beans (green beans) for dinner. Does anyone know what a Mess of beans is???? > Grammy Beeler to me will always be a symbol of the goodness and kindness of >Tennessee. Earlene in Minnesota. > > >==== TNUNION Mailing List ==== >If you live in Union County why not pitch in. Take a day and write down the tombstones in the nearest cemetery. Send it to us for others to use. You could be helping a cousin. Go to the courthouse and copy some early marriage records. Anything helps. > >