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Hi, Rusty!
We had frost on the grass, though, this morning!
(If we have snow and it becomes slippery underfoot, I am not going out after my previous debacle!
I shall order food online!!)
I have finished the Times QC and am now battling with the larger crossword.....
Here is a clue to annoy you (and Malone if he is about).........
Thieves duck, coming to part of roof that sticks out (3,6)
I meant to ask you ......what is the "Grammarist" site?
(You mentioned it yesterday)
I haven't heard of it?

Hello, Elle!
I hadn't heard of the Grammarist site either!
I just happened across it.
If it has potential for word exploration for you, save it.
Try it and explore it?
I do not know the answer to your clue.
Will tackle the crossword later.
"Parky" is not used in Norn Iron, they tell me.
"Manon".
Today is the anniversary of the death of Madame Roland.
She was known as "Manon" but it was not a given name.
It was a childhood name that stayed with her.
Nobody knows what her proper name was.
The clouds look a bit snowy to me!

Hi, Rusty!
I have found the Grammarist site.....yes, it does look intriguing......
I have added it to my Favourites to explore at leisure.
Now "Manon"......
That is interesting about its being a nickname for Madame Roland.
I thought that she was born "Marie -Jeanne"?
Now, do you remember when I was researching "Manon" for Manon Lloyd?
I came across a reference saying that "Manon" was a nickname for "Marie"?
That would follow here, would it not?
That Marie- Jeanne Roland (nee Philippon) should be called "Manon"?
Just a thought.......?
And wasn't it of a somewhat strange coincidence that Marie - Jeanne (Philippon) should marry Jean- Marie (Roland)?
What has happened to your "snowy" clouds?

Hello, Elle!
I think Grammarist and you shall become firm friends.
Manon?
What I was reading, was, they were not sure if Madame Roland was named Marie, or Jeanne, or Marie-Jeanne?
She was known to everyone as Manon, or Madame Roland.
Perhaps Pigale would know more?
So far, so good, with the clouds, but the gritters have been gritting some pavements.
Not promising, at all!

Hi, Rusty!
Still very cold out!
But it has remained fine so we shouldn't grumble!
There were not many folk out with their dogs braving the park this afternoon.
I forgot to tell you the answer to the clue...not very exciting ...just something to add to your collection of cockney terms.....
Thieves duck, coming to part of roof that sticks out (3,6)
tea leaves = thieves (def) - cockney rhyming slang!
teal - duck
eaves - part of roof.......
I learnt a new word in the 15x15...
"catalpa" - I have never come across that before.
And I still have three I cannot do......
Oh dear! I may have to ask for help later.....

Hello, Elle!
I have just finished it.
9A was my last one in.
And I texted The Times to get their online grid sorted.
And, like you, I have learned a new word.
On the Grammarist site.
My new word is "eggcorn"!
It is not in my Chambers and I suspect it may be American.
I will look up Merriam Webster later.
This is an example of an eggcorn.
"Get one's dandruff up!", instead of,
"Get one's dander up!"
I do not know why it is eggcorn though.
Do you know the word well?

Hi, Rusty!
I do not know the word "eggcorn" at all!
Whatever will you come up with next?
I have been driven to looking it up!
What I have found is that an "eggcorn" is a substitution of a word or phrase for those that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect (sometimes called "oronyms")
An "oronym" is yet another new word for me - it was coined by Giles Brandreth apparently!
An example of an oronym is "ice cream " and "I scream"
This is getting confusing ......
I need to do some more research!
Maybe you can explain ?

Hello, Elle!
I found oronym, too.
Apparently someone, in trying to say "acorn", said "eggcorn", and "eggcorn" was the word chosen for this anomaly!
Is it in your Chambers?
I like learning new stuff like that.
Still no snow.
"Treasures of the British Library" is on later.
It is Julia Donaldson this week.
Wonder what she shall choose?
I am recording it.

Hi, Rusty!
I, too, like discovering these titbits of information!
Neither "eggcorn" nor "oronym" is in my Chambers!
I even thought to check my list of the Chambers 500 missing words, but to no avail!
We are learning a lot of new words and meanings today!
It should be interesting to find out what Julia Donaldson's choices are.
I have read a lot of her books - very skilfully illustrated by Axel Scheffler - out loud to my grandsons.
They are excellent.
Although I have to say that I think it is the clever drawings that so enhance the books.
I am nearly at the end of "Chesapeake"!
Only two chapters to go...I am wondering how it will all end...
No, don't tell me!

Hello, Elle,
There is a little clip of Julia at British Library on YouTube.
Lasts around 90 seconds.
She seems a nice lady.
There was a clip of her looking at a drawing, and specs!
I do not know what she has chosen but she said some folk will be surprised!
Have a wee look on YouTube??
I struggle to remember how the tale ended!
I look forward to your opinion when you have finished.
Oh, I do remember!
It has been hinted at all through the tale!