The ORIGINAL 1000+ Posts Club

[CellarDweller]

Boneless here as well, but 18, so a wee bit warmer than you!

[Brown Eyes]

Brrrr! It was 11 F here in Pittsburgh this morning!

But, yes, I hear things are supposed to start getting warmer this afternoon.

[MaineWriter]

I've been meaning to ask this for weeks. What the heck is a "boneless blue morning" anyway?

LOL.

L

[Jeff Wrangler]

I've been meaning to ask this for weeks. What the heck is a "boneless blue morning" anyway?

LOL.

L

I don't have The Text in front of me, but surely you recognize "boneless blue" as Annie Proulx's phrasing? In this context I've always taken "boneless" to mean "cloudless," though I can't exactly say where I picked up that notion and it may predate my reading of Annie Proulx.

I know, for example, that a ship moving fast enough to create a white wave at the bow is said to have "a bone in her teeth," so I may be projecting from "bone" = "white wave" to "boneless blue (sky)" = cloudless, clear blue sky.

If I remember correctly, Annie's use occurs in her narration of the last horsepacking trip in May 1983.

[belbbmfan]

Hey cowboys and cowgirls...here's something to add to your wishlist...boot purses!

http://www.artofarizona.com/bootpurse.htm

Made from genuine cowboy boots!

Flipping cold here in Maine this morning...4 below zero. Brrr. I'm sick of winter and ready for spring.

L

 

Where DO you find these things?

Who knows, maybe they'll make their way to the western shop in Brussels.

[Ellemeno]

Congratulations to all milestoners.  Isn't that something that I never questioned the phrase "boneless blue" before, just took it to mean pure and cloudless.  How does she do that with language?

I am feeling much better.  The worsening of my chickenpox seems to have stopped.  I woke up in the middle of the night last night and was very confused for a moment - something was missing - I wasn't on fire anymore.  God bless my poor husband who has a) solo parented b) put up with a very scared and cranky me c) done it with grace.  Three cheers for Mr. Meno.

[Brown Eyes]

I don't have The Text in front of me, but surely you recognize "boneless blue" as Annie Proulx's phrasing? In this context I've always taken "boneless" to mean "cloudless," though I can't exactly say where I picked up that notion and it may predate my reading of Annie Proulx.

I know, for example, that a ship moving fast enough to create a white wave at the bow is said to have "a bone in her teeth," so I may be projecting from "bone" = "white wave" to "boneless blue (sky)" = cloudless, clear blue sky.

If I remember correctly, Annie's use occurs in her narration of the last horsepacking trip in May 1983.

Hi Jeff!  Yep, you're right that it's about their May 1983 trip. In my copy of Close Range, the phrase "boneless blue" appears on p. 274.  And, based on Proulx's context here, the phrase does seem to reference a cloudless sky.  This phrase comes early in the important sentence about Jack feeling like he could drown looking up into the sky.

"Ennis, weather-eyed, looked west for the heated cumulus that might come up on such a day but the boneless blue was so deep, said Jack, that he might drown looking up."



And, Ellle!    Glad you're feeling better Bud!  Chickenpox really are miserable.

[CellarDweller]

Hiya Meno!  Glad to hear you're feeling so much better!

[Jeff Wrangler]

Hi Jeff!  Yep, you're right that it's about their May 1983 trip. In my copy of Close Range, the phrase "boneless blue" appears on p. 274.  And, based on Proulx's context here, the phrase does seem to reference a cloudless sky.  This phrase comes early in the important sentence about Jack feeling like he could drown looking up into the sky.

"Ennis, weather-eyed, looked west for the heated cumulus that might come up on such a day but the boneless blue was so deep, said Jack, that he might drown looking up."



And, Ellle!    Glad you're feeling better Bud!  Chickenpox really are miserable.

Thanks, Amanda! Saved me the trouble of double-checking the reference this evening! 

Elle, I'm glad to hear you're feeling better, too. Sounds like Mr. Meno has real courage (grace under pressure). 

[Ellemeno]

Thanks Buds.  Yes, Mr. Meno must have courage to have lived with me these umpteen years.  He has done a yeoman's job this week, and still will be, for at least a couple more days.

I'm feeling much, much better.  Thanks for the support.