Sunday, June 24, 2012

Betimes

Very often I post on this blog betimes. In fact I did today. Do any of our readers know what I mean? (No fair doing an Internet search!) If you are from an old Ocracoke family you might know this uncommon word. Leave a comment if you think you know.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Molly Lovejoy's 2012 Ocracoke School Valedictory Address. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news062112.htm.


12 comments:

  1. Looks like a misspelling to me.

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  2. Anonymous8:24 AM

    My guess ... You sometimes write the blog and schedule it to post later. Therefore you wrote it betimes.
    My grandmother often talked about funeral arrangements or plans when there was a death in the family or community and she said the plans were made betimes. I always thought she was trying to say "before time".
    We sure missed being on Ocracoke this year. However, we have a great excuse. Our first grandchild, Ava-Marie Davis, arrived on May 24. We are flying high!
    Mandy Davis
    Ranburne, AL

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  3. debbie s.8:40 AM

    agreed with anon .... and congrats to them on their new grand-baby!

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  4. Mandy,
    How nice to see your name again! Congratulations, I know the feeling to fall in love again with children! I am in Indiana so I have not made it there yet as well!
    Sending a big 'hi' to Donald.
    Lou Ann

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  5. Anonymous10:25 AM

    Something done in plenty of time before it's needed - at least that's how some of the older folks here in the NC mountains use the word "betimes."
    I suspect this word is among the old English words still in use, like "I holp him" instead of "I helped him." :-)
    Bisse

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  6. Philip:
    Enjoy your blog, have been following for awhile now. Was wandering if you know of any locals who rent out rooms to vacationers trying to save money (instead of renting a whole house). If you could put me in touch with anyone I would greatly appreciate it.

    Thanks,
    Dan

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  7. You all are right on the money. "Betimes" on Ocracoke means "early." In fact that is its general meaning, and it is an unusual word that survives from the Middle English.

    Congratulations to you all!

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  8. Mandy and Donald -- congratulations! Grandchildren are such wonderful additions to our lives.

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  9. Dan, I don't think anyone on Ocracoke runs an old-timey boarding house (like Walter & "Meda" and several other folks did, back in the 1940s & 1950s), but there are several B&Bs in the village. However, I don't know what their rates are. There are links here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/ocracoke.htm.

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  10. Dan-
    A good inexpensive option is edwardsofocracoke.com

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  11. debbie s.7:07 PM

    Dan, we stay at the Sand Dollar, which is also very reasonable!

    Tons of good places around!

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  12. thanks so much for the advice everyone, much appreciated!

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