#dippy eggs

God is a thrifted duck.

Dippy Eggs & Spicy Feta Provolone Soldiers

I did that today, as the rest of my family is off at a sports thing for my brother. Grammy isn’t too Dutchy, since she went away to teaching college and got it mocked out of her, but Gramps makes up for it. 

Today I have come to distribute the delightful expressions that Mr. Aurand classifies as “Just Poor English, That’s All”. He then goes on to explain that while it may sound like poor English to outsiders, it is usually either English words with German grammar or simply a creative interpretation of English. I read these and then was confused because I could’ve sworn some of these were normal, correct English. Apparently not. In my defense, my elementary school teachers 1) spoke like this, and 2) did not teach grammar, and my remaining English teachers did their best with my fake correct English. (I have what I like to call “fake English”, which I use at school and outside of the area where I live so that I sound smart and articulate. It is not how I actually speak.) But on with the expressions!

All: You think you know all about “all”. “What other meaning could it possibly have, Grace? You come here with your bad German accent and your small town charm and claim exotic knowledge of the word all?” Yes, my friends. In PA Dutch, “all” is often used to mean “gone” or “used up.” Sometimes people also use “yet” to mean “still there.” Here is an example for you poor English* souls: 

Shouting about the potato chips available: “The Utzes are all, but the Herr’s are yet.”

Big Bugs: Part of living in the country is a healthy distrust of all people wealthier than you. “Big bugs” or “bick bucks” is way of insulting someone who is wealthier or more powerful (or acts like they are). Usually used as “those politicians act like real big bugs.” 

Booghered up: My mother frequently accuses me of booghering things. Mr. Aurand defines this as “mixed” or “damaged,” but it’s more specific than that. It often refers to having ruined a perfectly good object through mishandling it. For example, I accidentally mess up a piece of tape so that it gets stuck to itself and becomes unusable. My mother, who is wrapping presents and waiting for me to hand her the tape, goes: “Well, you booghered that up, now didn’t you?” 

 And finally, I must discuss the phenomenon known as “dippy”.