ORDER is a lovely thing; On disarray it lays its wing, Teaching simplicity to sing.  The Monk in the Kitchen by Anna Hempstead Branch (1875-1937)    

The boondocks is an American expression from the Tagalog (Filipino) word bundók ("mountain").  It originally referred to a remote rural area, but now, is often applied to an out-of-the-way location considered backward and unsophisticated by city-folk.  It can also occasionally refer to a mountain in both Filipino and American contexts.  The expression was introduced to American English by U.S. military personnel fighting in the Philippine–American War (1899–1902).  It derives from the Tagalog word "bundók", which means "mountain".  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boondocks    

A rya or rye is a traditional Scandinavian wool rug with a long pile of about 1 to 3 inches.  They are made using a form of the Ghiordes knot to make the double-sided pile fabric.  Though rya means "rug" in English, the original meaning in Sweden of rya was a bed cover with a knotted pile.  The first ryas originated in the early fifteenth century as coarse, long-piled, heavy covers used by mariners instead of furs.  As time progressed, the rugs have evolved to be lighter and more colorful. The insulation that ryas provide protects against the cold Scandinavian climate. Ryas are a knotted pile carpet, with each knot composed of three strands of wool, which enables the rug to exhibit rich texture from all the different shades of color.  he name originates from a village in southwest Sweden.  The term rya may also refer to a breed of sheep whose wool is used to make rya carpets.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rya_(rug)    

The soprillo, also known as the piccolo saxophone or rarely sopranissimo saxophone, is the highest pitched and smallest saxophone.  The soprillo was developed as a piccolo extension to the saxophone family in the late 1990s by the German instrument maker Benedikt Eppelsheim, although a working prototype sopranissimo of the same pitch was made in 1960 in a more compact curved form.  The soprillo is pitched in B♭, one octave above the soprano saxophone, and half its length at 33 centimetres (13 in) including the mouthpiece.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soprillo    

Penuche is a fudge-like candy made from brown sugar, butter, and milk, using no flavorings except for vanilla.  Penuche often has a tannish color, and is lighter than regular fudge.  It is formed by the caramelization of brown sugar; thus, its flavor is said to be reminiscent of caramel.  Nuts, especially pecans, are often added to penuche for texture, frequently in the making of penuche candies.  It is primarily a regional food, found in New England and some places in the Southern United States, though in the latter it goes by different names, including creamy praline fudge, and brown sugar fudge candy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penuche   Thank you, reader.   

Sorcova is a Romanian popular custom, practiced on the morning of 1 January. This custom is very old and is spread throughout the country, being practiced mainly by children.  Sorcova is also used to describe the object that characterizes this custom.  It consists of a stick or twig decorated with artificial flowers of different colors, wherewith children tap their parents or acquaintances on the back in the morning of New Year, wishing them, in special verses, health and luck.  This custom varies depending on the ethnographic region.  In northern Transylvania, children go with sorcova from house to house, wishing health in exchange for local delicacies (cozonac, colac, apples, nuts).  In urban areas, it is common for children to receive cash, candies or oranges.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorcova    

December 29, 2025