junket

The word "junket" was Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day recently and it is an interesting origin story. I associate the word with two things:. Now, I think of it as a promotional trip paid for by someone else (such as a press junket for a film by actors). As a child, I thought of it only as a dessert that my mother used to make. 

Junket goes back a long way. A long time ago a basket made of rushes (marsh plants used in weaving and basketwork) comes from the Latin word for "rush" which is juncus. It was used in English as a borrowed word in several forms finally becoming "junket." The word was used in English to name not just the plant and the baskets made from the plant, but also a type of cream cheese made in rush baskets. 

Going back to the 15th century, you can find the word associated with desserts ranging from curds and cream to sweet confections including the one my mom made that is still available.  

By the 16th century, junket had come to mean "banquet" or "feast" as well. 

Perhaps, some of those junket events came to include the journey to them and so the word broadened its usage to apply to pleasure outings or trips, whether or not the food was a part of it.

Grandfather Clock

I'm sure you have seen a "grandfather clock." maybe your grandfather had one. My grandparents had a logically named mantle clock on their mantle. So why did this tall piece of furniture clock take on the name "grandfather?"

A grandfather clock (also known as a longcase clock, tall-case clock, grandfather's clock, or floor clock) is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower or waist of the case.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the origin of the name is a popular 1876 song "My Grandfather's Clock" which gave the common name "grandfather clock" being applied to the longcase clock. 

The song was composed by American songwriter Henry Clay Work who saw one in The George Hotel in Piercebridge, England. He was told that when the first owner of the clock died, the clock became inaccurate. When the second owner died, the clock stopped working altogether. The odd story inspired him to write the song.

Grandfather clocks are tall. Possibly as tall or taller than your grandfather. They are usually at least 1.9 meters (6 feet - 3 inches). Later, there were made clocks referred to as "grandmother" and "granddaughter" clocks, which are shorter in height.

Goodnight, Texas

Goodnight, Texas plays a kind of music that might be termed today as "Americana" but is just as easily put on a shelf with folk or folk-rock bands.

Their clever and often enigimatic lyrics are up front on most songs and the instrumentation has a simple complexity that benefits from multiple listenings. 

The band is Scott Griffin Padden (Drums), Adam Nash (Guitar, Pedal Steel, Fiddle), Chris Sugiura (Bass) and founding members and songwriting vocalists Avi Vinocur (Lead Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar, Banjo) Patrick Dyer Wolf (Lead Vocals, Banjo, Guitar).

Patrick & Avi

The band's name is an actual town in Texas east of Amarillo, though neither Avi or Patrick come from there or had any connection to the place. In its earliest duo configuration, the two were on opposite coasts. Avi was in San Francisco and Patrick was in Chapel Hil, North Carolina. Looking at a map, they found Goodnight in the State of Texas to be the place between them. 

The town is named for Charles Goodnight who is often referred to as the "Father of the Texas Panhandle" and is said to have been "the most romantic man living, not only in West Texas, but in the entire West." If you watch the series 1883, Taylor Sheridan's character is Charles Goodnight.

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2022 marks the release of the band’s fourth album How Long Will It Take Them To Die.

You can find out more about the band, tour dates, buy music and stream their songs on their official and strangely domained website at hiwearegoodnighttexashowareyou.com
and on Spotify. 

Band Photos: Brittany Powers