Category: Poetry

Today’s old time phrase that we shall decipher is, “Rough around the edges.”

This one was suggested by JSteeleWrites, so thank you, my friend… I’ll give it my best shot!

We’ve all used this phrase at one time or another, so one would think that it might be simple to uncover the actual meaning and origin. Actually, I’m a bit unsure, now that I truly think on it, as to where it may have come from, and I’m not even fully sure that I understand why they said it!

As it seems to refer to the edge of a thing, my brain goes to where I might use it in an explanation, which would be sewing.

Either that, or something else that requires precise measurements or lines. I wouldn’t want to present something as flawless, if it weren’t, even if it were nearly so. If the finished product was a usable item for use, or a pie that were still delicious to eat, maybe I would suggest that “it’s a bit rough around the edges”, as it’s still good to eat.

Maybe a cartographer might assure you that the map is accurate, even if “it’s rough around the edges.”

It may even have to do with wood, during the carving or cutting of wood for building things.

Ok, that’s all I got! Now let’s see what Googlini has to say about it:

Wikipedia was my first stop, allowing us an actual definition to look upon…

Adjective

rough around the edges (comparative rougher around the edges, superlative roughest around the edges)

1. (idiomatic) In need of refinement; unsophisticated. While rough around the edges, the church is really a wonderful place to be. The north side of town is a less expensive, rougher round the edges choice for a young family. His writing is appealing, but a bit rough around the edges.

So far, I’m a bit disappointed at there being no other meaning, aside from the dictionary’s bland “not real good, but getting better” kind of description. Let’s search a bit more, in hopes of finding the phrase, or idiom’s, true origin.

When I typed in the question, “what is the origin of rough around the edges?” I found this on Tumblr…

Origin: The expression is probably early to mid 20^th century, though the word “rough” itself is very old going back to Old English making it prior to the 11^th century. It was originally spelled “ruh” and had a gutteral sound at the end, later signified by the “gh” when the spelling changed.

Usage:  Informal, spoken, general American and British English.

Idiomatic Meaning:  Someone who is lacking in sophistication and/or refinement. It can refer to social class as well as personality

Literal Meaning: An object with a surface that is not smooth and even or soft to the touch, having imperfections

Here I’ve been using this phrase for everything but people… how very odd. I think that I like my definitions better… just sayin!

Remember, if you leave me to my own devices, not offering up any more old sayings to decipher, I’ll simply come up with my own! I know just enough to be dangerous…

My hubby is stealing me away, down the river of romance and fun, so I gotta go…

Frolicking Friday Fun it is!

Hugs!!!

I woke up so relaxed this morning, leisurely brewing a pot of coffee while simply staring out the window of our RV’s front door. I slept like a baby last night, without a care or thought or dream in my head. All was quiet!

Yesterday marked the day that I came to the end of my first real edit, of a project I consider to be a labor of love, if you will. As I’ve mentioned before, I’d been writing my first fantasy/fiction novel this last year, but God had other plans. Just as I was nearing the 2/3 mark of that particular project, I was led to set it aside and return to my own story; one that had been written this time last year. In truth, it was more like a fast food version of my life story, and I’m not even sure that more than 15 to 20 subscribers even read the whole thing. I don’t blame them! When I went back through and read it again myself, I realized how jarring and incomplete it was in so many places.

Over the last three months, God has been walking back through the paths of my journey with me, asking that I complete a work that He’d begun in me, so long ago. I believe that there is something, somewhere, within the pages of my journey that someone needs to read. What that thing might be, is not for me to say, or even bother trying to figure out the who, what, why, when, and/or where parts. In the end, I suppose that the only important thing I’m striving for, is to simply follow wherever God leads.

I wouldn’t say that I tore up my first attempt at writing down my story, but I will say that I broke it apart, added, changed and/or removed whatever was not necessary. No fluff! At first, I gathered a large amount of work I’d written over the last few years, wanting to share so many different things, and to be honest, make the book bigger! I thought I needed to build up the number of words and pages to produce the expected size of a standard novel. It was a nightmare, as the book I sought to produce, became so fragmented that even I got lost! I found myself at an impasse, unable to edit something I no longer recognized. Easter weekend was where I found my answer, while walking along the river and singing worship music. I heard God say, “No More Fillers!”

Letting go of societies expectations of what this book should be, in size and quality, I went back at it, boldly deleting great chunks of words I’d previously thought were so important! Something beautiful began to happen, as I allowed my actual Chief Editor to select the content to be added. By letting go, and letting God direct my writing, I’ve blown through all the barriers and obstacles that hindered my progress! In only a few short weeks, I’ve been able to successfully edit the project in its entirety, with last night being the last of it. Now you can better understand why I slept so well last night.

While you may be thinking that completing a novel, aside from the audio recording still needed, would be the most exciting thing for me right now, it isn’t! Something happened inside my spirit, on this second run at my own story; the memories were not so painful to write about, and not nearly as confusing. In just over a year, God has been healing and transforming my heart, as I never imagined could be possible! As I worked through the editing process, it was as if I were reading someone else’s story, though I knew it to be my own.

As I’ve always been a very passionate writer, usually it served me quite successfully in my literary endeavors… but not while writing my own memoirs! Perhaps this is why it’s taken me two attempts to write down my truths with purposeful passion, rather than passion based on pain and suffering. Now, when I look on my memories, I do it with love, peace, patience and understanding… Something only God was able to accomplish! Though the work is not over, the peace that dwells within my soul now, allows me to walk, write, think, talk and pray… in freedom!

Eustace wants to share some midweek pick-me-ups!

I thought this was a better picture of him, aside from the AI giving him an additional halfleg…

Speaking of half a leg, we’re halfway through the week, and nobody’s stuck a pen lid in the water dispenser… yet!

One day I spied a small bird, simply sitting on a branch,

When I set out a bowl of seeds, the little fella did a dance,

Landing on the table, the bird gathered the seeds with care,

Through a mouthful of seed, a story he did share…

In the forest, he told me, was a family of mice

Who’d nearly been eaten, by a cat with a vice,

With their home destroyed, all their food had been lost,

The bird thought the seeds could be shared, at no cost…

I refilled the bowl of seeds,

suggesting he come back,

He could help out this tiny forest family,

whilst I give that naughty cat a whack!