Monday, 2008's ticking away!

Re: Monday, 2008's ticking away!

that the building is topped out?

Re: Monday, 2008's ticking away!

Meant that you could get them to put a head on it?

I thought so too at first ,but no.

Not always, but mostly correct

Re: Monday, 2008's ticking away!

Hmmm ... SB on an E brings something to mind, but I doubt it's what you're looking for. :)

After thought, I think no, we'll see.

Monday,Answer

John was correct for the current ceremony of attaching a pine bough or tree to the last beam or framing on a house or building. It�s called topping off. It originates from Scandinavia and, in legend, was meant to appease the lumber gods who were displaced by the cutting of the trees to make the building. That may be linked to the 1700s practice I was after, but far enough removed to not award the star. Dan maybe had it figured�I�ll let him decide. If he had the right idea he gets the last gold star of 2008. In early America a wooden pole with a branch tied on it indicated that a traveler could purchase food and drink at the place where the pole was located. They were often seen at travel choke points as at a ferry or before a steep grade of road. This place was called an �Ordinary�, and unlike a tavern where you got a room and a common area, separate from the host family, a Ordinary layover meant that you moved in with the host and ate and drank what they had available. You ate when the host ate, and ate what they ate which was different from the tavern where you could order meals at any time and had some choices of what to eat. A tavern offered selection of drinks including wine. An Ordinary was limited to the host preference which might be cider, ale, or rum. (Is that the head (ale) Dan had in mind?) The cost was a penny to sleep on the floor and sixpence to eat. If not able to pay, then cutting firewood, and other work could barter the cost.

Re: Monday,Answer

That was the "head" I was referring to. Beer or ale. I took it as being a place where alcohol could be purchased.

Pick up your star before Midnight 12/31.