Howling Wolf’s Drumbeats

As we sit beneath another day of incessant rain I cannot bring myself to wax lyrical about the Howling Wolf up above and his continuous drumbeats on the skylight.

I therefore present an earlier relevant post most of my readers will not have seen: https://derrickjknight.com/2014/10/06/the-uses-of-enchantment/

From the days when my blog had yet to build up interest, this deals with literary thoughts stimulated by frightening weather and more.

Jacqueline and Elizabeth visited in time for dinner for which Jackie produced succulent roast lamb; crisp roast potatoes; al dente carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli; tender runner beans, and meaty gravy. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden, my sisters drank CEO Mencia Bierco 2019, and I finished the Cabernet Sauvignon.

66 comments

  1. A good supper, with special people, can ensure a positive end to even the most inclement of days.
    Thank goodness for Jackie and your sisters – and let’s hope that the weather soon remembers that it is now June!

  2. I almost feel guilty about the pleasant and calm weather here over the last few days. Almost, but not quite, as it makes a a very satisfactory contrast for us to the usual weather situation. I hope that your rain stops soon and i hope that we get just enough for the garden soon too.

    1. You are not alone, Liz. It was either that Howlin’ or Howling Wolf, the Cherokee Indian chief. I plumped for the latter – glad you got it. Thanks very much πŸ™‚

  3. Being German I grew up with Struwwelpeter. I hated carrots but I ate them. It was better than having Struwwelpeter leap from behind the curtains and …. ?‍?

  4. Where the Wild Things Are was one of my favorite books to read to my children. I still have a copy at the house. I told them that Max wasn’t really going to hurt his dog, but needed to go to his room to calm down. When the wild rumpus started, I would dance the book back and forth saying, “Rumpus. Rumpus. Rumpus.”

    1. Thank you very much for this wonderful link, Linda. For my title I tossed between this Howlin’ and Howling Wolf, the Cherokee Indian chief πŸ™‚ – but you got it.

  5. I fully agree with the observation that the exposure to scary folk tales prod us to come to terms with the darker sides of life. I am not surprised by your frequent allusion to the howling wolf and the pigs! Your quick overview of Grimm Brothers, Struwwelpeter and Sendak’s β€˜Where the Wild Things Are’ was a delight, and also an insight into child psychology.

    PS: WordPress has changed so many things for worse. It is no longer possible to interact on a WP link from another WP blog when using the reader on a mobile device. How low can they descend?

  6. While you’re having rain, our weather is unseasonably hot. I’ve never seen it this hot in June.

    I also agree with Bettleheim. I read a couple of his books many years ago and very much enjoyed his original thinking. Fairy tales and fables were a delight to me when I was a child. I don’t remember ever being frightened by the witches and wolves. But then, I didn’t read Struwwelpeter.

  7. The north would benefit from a day or so of the rain in the south – I never thought I would hear myself saying that!

  8. Thank you for directing us to your earlier post – I have commented on it there. Suffice to say I was delighted to read it.

  9. Send some rain this way, please! πŸ™‚
    The book Where the Wild Things Are was a fave of mine, my kids, and my students! πŸ™‚ And the film of it is fabulous! πŸ™‚
    Good that Elizabeth could come and enjoy that delicious meal and the company of you and Jackie!!! πŸ™‚
    (((HUGS))) πŸ™‚

  10. down at the bottom of the fully inhabited world – it’s damp, drizzly, dreary and we have seen no sun today – oh and it’s cold – that’s winter for you πŸ™‚

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