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Saturday, August 17, 2013

Whistling Girls and Crowing Hens


I grew up steeped in old wives tales. My grandmother had one of those old sayings or omens for everything and of course, I believed her. The one I followed faithfully was, "whistling girls and crowing hens will always come to some bad end." I didn't want to come to a bad end but I always yearned to be able to whistle. My grandfather, my uncles and the hired men all whistled but they were men so they wouldn't come to a bad end.

By the time I grew up, I had figured out the old wives tales were just a part of country culture and I tried whistling for the very first time but still just a little nervous that the bad end might be just around the corner.  I'd pucker up in whistler imitation but no sound came out. I couldn't whistle.  Throughout the years, I'd practice a little but the tunes were always flat and off key. How disgusting.

For the past 3 years, I've been practicing whistling whenever I'm in the car. I've had a slight break-through and I'm whistling a real tune..... on key. YAY.  I'm not bragging that it's good but I can whistle.

Whoever said "you can't teach an old dog new tricks?"  nyuk  nyuk  nyuk

Hey Bloggie People..... do you whistle?

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Here's a vid of a guy whistling without moving his lips. I did post this a couple of years ago so those of you who have been with me for a while may have seen it.




69 comments:

  1. I thought I was a good whistler until I watched the video. :)

    I think I'm the only one who does it in the house, but I whistle all of the time. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosey
      I'm so happy that some gals are good whistlers. Good for you. When you can whistle the National Anthem all the way through, you're good. I can't. It has such a wide range.

      Delete
    2. Yee-oooow, plz allow me to reiterate and then add to it...I THOUGHT I was a good whistler until I saw that video and THEN tried to whistle the National Anthem. Oy!!!!!!!!!! I knew singing it was next to impossible, but whistling it? Eh, no problem. Until I tried. ;)

      I def. was off-key at points. Now I have to practice. I'm sure my family will thank me, hehehe

      Delete
  2. I can't whistle at all... not for lack of trying. Now my brother is an excellent whistler. It drove me crazy when we were kids that he could whistle and I could NOT. Kinda still drives me crazy now that you mention it...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robin
      I'm still lousy but I just started about 3 years ago from nothing. At least one can tell what song I'm TRYING to whistle. So I bet you could whistle too, if you kept at it a little every day. Beats me why I suddenly want to whistle, but I do.

      Delete
  3. How does he whistle like that?

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    Replies
    1. Fishducky
      I don't have the foggiest. He could be a ventriloquist whistler.

      Delete
  4. Whistling a song on key all the way is a wonderful feat in my book. When I was a kid, every time the Mama caught me whistling she'd say, "Don't whistle or you will grow a mustache." And then she'd remind me (again) about a woman in town who had a mustache and plenty of whiskers on her chin. Did I stop? Nope. Have I a mustache? Yep. Can't convince the Mama though that it's because of my hormones. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Su-sieee
      I never heard the one about the mustache. I suppose whistling was considered just plain un-lady-like so they had all these little scare-tatics for lady whistlers. I'm having fun with whistling but it's difficult.

      Delete
  5. Yes, I can do it, but I follow your grandmother's advice so I don't do it... hahaha.

    Have a wonderful weekend Manzanita. Enjoy your whistling.

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    Replies
    1. Julia
      Hahaha My Grandmother would like you. You could be a closet whistler. Ha
      Thank you Julia and may you have a week end of your dreams.

      Delete
  6. I can whistle while I work
    Do it with a smirk
    But am I in tune?
    Probably not at my sand dune
    Never heard that wives tale
    Guess you proved it untrue as you hit the whistling trail

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat
      Like the 7 dwarfs you can whistle while you work
      Somewhere not too far does Sleeping Beauty lurk
      Old wives tales are soon forgotten
      Some weigh heavy like a bale of cotton
      If hens can crow, get up at noon
      The girls can whistle a sassy tune.

      Delete
  7. Just wanted to let you know that I tagged you in the Thursday post...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robin
      I'll be over. This heat (here) is getting to me. It really must be hot in Florida.

      Delete
  8. Adorable. Keep whistling, Manzanita!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I whistle a lot but when I do it to music in the car my wife is ready to slap a hand over my mouth. I even have some fancy whistling in me from years of practice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chuck
      Yay for your whistling. You should give us a little concert of that fancy whistling. Haha

      Delete
  10. No wonder you are so young, such an inspiration. Always doing and learning. A great post, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Inger
      Ha...Thanks but I guess learning to whistle at my ate isn't much of an accomplishment.

      Delete
  11. I use to whistle a lively tune but somehow age has stolen that from me also. Think it went where ever my lips went.
    However, I may try to whistle like that fellow. Never mind, just tried.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patti
      That made me laugh. Yes lips have their way of sneaking off into the twilight.
      If you could once, Maybe you could again. I used to pucker up and blow and blow and nothing came out....not a sound. I just changed the shape of my lips a little and I made a noise. That was 3 years ago and I was thrilled.

      Delete
  12. I learned to whistle when I was 5 and loved to walk around whistling to my heart's content. Then my grandmother (who could really whistle beautifully) made me stop, said it was getting on her nerves. No more whistling for me.

    That guy and his little girl are delightful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan
      Oh that is too bad. But I think you said you sing around the house so that is fun, like whistling.
      Yes they are so entertaining. That little girl really gets into the beat.

      Delete
  13. I'm only able to whistle two notes. Must be my teeth or lips or whatever, but that's the best I can do. Sigh... My husband can't sing very well, but he CAN whistle beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kay
      They'll call you 2-note-Kay. Good for him. Some men are beautiful whistlers and I love to listen to their tunes. I suppose because they just practice more when they are young.

      Delete
  14. I can whistle here and there, but not great

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holy Ghost
      Then that would be Often Great Holy Ghost Writer Whistler. A very long handle.

      Delete
  15. Wives tales make for some good material

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John
      Yes, I rather like some of the old wives tales. They may even have a bit of truth.

      Delete
  16. How funny, I never heard this one. I whistle quite a bit and don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time. I remember that I learned to whistle by accident when I was blowing on my oatmeal to cool it down. I do know that you're not really supposed to blow on food to cool it as it is seen as rude so I guess I'm just kind of naughty after all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jasmine
      I'd say that was a lucky blow on the oatmeal. I guess as long as you have your eating out manners, you can blow on your oatmeal at home. Haha You can even do elbows on the table, spoon in the cup and slurp soup... be comfortable at home.
      Whistling is not JUST blowing, it is moving the lips in a certain way and now that I can whistle, I don't even know how to NOT whistle. Ha

      Delete
  17. When I was a kid I was told a similar thing about girls whistling so it's not just a country saying. It's a UK City saying too. I can't whistle now either. I can't do that fingers in the mouth whistle or ordinary whistling even though I've tried long and hard. I've given up trying now and sing (gustily and slightly out of tune) instead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosalind
      Haha.... great happy, singing, that is. I do that too, mostly in the morning but not when the windows are open. I don't know why but I whistle when I drive and don't sing.

      I guess it was always considered unlady-like to whistle.

      Delete
  18. I can sort of whistle, but not well or loud, unless I do it every day and then there is a bit of improvement. But it isn't something I normally do, it just happens when I hear a whistling tune, and find myself whistling along, like the whistle theme for the TV show Castle, or the tunes a few years back by Whistling Jack Smith which I have on my ipod. My dad whistled a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have never been able to whistle ... but I don't think that'll stop me from coming to some bad end ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha
      I don't think so. My grandma said you have to have the whistle with it. Oh well, if it's true, there are a lot of us. Safety in numbers. LOL

      Delete
  20. River
    You sound as if you are pretty good to me. Whistling is practice and I'm struggling with reaching the high notes.... actually the low ones too. I wonder how the guy in the video whistles without moving his lips.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's whistling through his teeth, more of a throat control than mouth, my brother can do it.

      Delete
  21. I'm usually either singing, humming, or whistling. (I call it, "making a joyful noise.")

    The one kind of whistling I've never been able to do it the two fingers in your mouth kinda whistle. Then again, maybe it's because I don't want to... that's how my father used to summon me home, as if I were a dog. The other kids in the neighborhood used to think it was really funny. Me? Not so much.

    As a teenager, I liked to play around with trying to hum and whistle two different parts of a song as the same time. "Moonlight Sonata" is the song I massacred most often. I was never all that good at it, but it was fun.

    That video is terrific. That little girl is adorable, and it's amazing that the guy can whistle so well without even puckering his lips. (Which makes me think of that line from the old movie... was that Carole Lombard, maybe? Or Mae West? Can't remember for sure, doggone it, but I'll bet you know which one I mean: "If you want me, whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you? Just put your lips together and blow.")

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was Mae West. Pretty sure.
      Oh my god, humming and whistling different parts. You can harmonize with yourself!!!! I can't imagine you could do that as I'm having so much trouble just getting out simple tune without going flat. That is the most amazing thing.
      This sounds silly but I can do that whistle with 2 fingers that you don't like. All the boys could do it when we used to play kick the can. I did learn that and now I drive people crazy at sporting events. I am impressed with your whistling.

      Delete
    2. HA!Don't be impressed. Like I said, I was never very good at it, but I entertained myself.

      Not the post about going to visit the grandkids, (we had a terrific time!) but the one before that... I think you'd really enjoy. It's about rock balancing.

      Delete
    3. HA!Don't be impressed. Like I said, I was never very good at it, but I entertained myself.

      Not the post about going to visit the grandkids, (we had a terrific time!) but the one before that... I think you'd really enjoy. It's about rock balancing.

      Delete
  22. I just left mail4rosey and tried the National Anthem. I was pretty bad. I thought I could whistle. But apparently its like you can sound half way decent singing with a song and then if you try to do it without music you sound just awful. Yeah that was me. That video was so cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kenya
      Thank you for visiting my blog. It is my pleasure to meet you.
      I did visit your blog and tried to leave a comment on the smart phone post but I don't think it would accept it.

      Delete
  23. I can't whistle worth a lick... never could. Damn you are good ... LOL.... What cha been up to my dear friend. I have been working my butt off getting the house ready for Dennis to have surgery and come home to a house that works for him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terry
      You are so efficient. You'll have everything set up and ready for him. I'm still digging rocks. Haha

      Delete
  24. Wow. What a beautiful video of both just hanging out, singing.
    I wish I could whistle.

    Just found your page from Mail4Rosey's blog.
    Have a fun week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Colette
      Thank you for dropping in. I will be over to visit you.

      Delete
  25. I learned to whistle when I was young. And I still do, even in public. More than once I have received complements about the whistling.

    Best wishes in your learning a new musical skill.

    P.S.: Thought the "Whistling Girls" had to do with geese. Or Ducks.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    desert.epiphanies@sasktel.net
    Bears Noting
    Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Bear
    Compliments for your whistling. Bet you are really good. I don't know why but I live to hear people whistling. Maybe because it's such a happy sound.
    As much as I want to whistle, my whistling sucks.
    Geese and ducks and whistling girls.... perhaps they are all like peas in a pod.

    ReplyDelete
  27. talk about talent. my whistling is platinum selling. for real! by the way, that wife's tale is so freakin' weird it's awesome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tammy
      WOW.... I'm serious. That's talent, for sure. It might appear weird but I grew up with a lot of them.

      Delete
  28. I always remember being told not to make faces, because if the wind turned, you'd be stuck with the silly face:)

    Whistle? yes.

    Today? No.

    Earlier? Yes, when single.

    Whistling = very important tool for single man:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark
      The making faces..... I was told something like that, too. I think mine was if I cried or pouted, my lower lip would stay like that. Haha But now females pay to have their lips look like that.

      Duh I finally get it.. single, whistle....guys, girls.... etc.

      Delete
  29. Greetings human, Manzanita,

    "The uploader has not made this video possible in your country." Well excuse me! Talk about not whistling Dixie.

    Anyhoo, I've learnt to whistle. Penny whistles and my human looks stunned. Okay, I whistle out my butt. This startles me and I run out of the room.

    Sorry it's taken this long to get here. My human is still looking for a clone. I'm helping him out as best I can.

    A pawsitive weekend to you, my dear human friend.

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and butt-whistling superstar! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Penny
      Hahahahah
      You are as funny as your human.
      Well, they've got a nerve, not letting our good Brit friends see the video. A pox on that.
      Oh, I just got a new phone.... excuse me, you said clone, not phone.
      Life's a whirly, curly twirly, isn't it?
      Take care you two and keep up that great butt-whistling. Maybe you can whistle, "Over There."
      Hope your week end is off with a bang.

      Delete
  30. Now that video just made my day! Keep on whistling. If you enjoy it, it doesn't matter how it sounds!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liza
      Thank you for the positive words on whistling. It does sound awful. Haha

      Delete
  31. Just wanted to let you know that I dedicated something to you on the Thursday post. Hope you like it:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Robin
      I know I was there but the techie thing again and I couldn't wait. I'll try again and go fix myself a bite while I wait.
      I'll get a new computer as soon as the weather gets cooler and I can leave the gardens unwatered. I'll have to go to Bozeman because that is where my computer guru lives and I can't transfer and set a new one up by myself. I'll go crazy...... or crazier.

      Delete
  32. Did you know (and, seriously, why would you?) that whistling aboard ship is considered bad luck?
    It stems from the age of sail when the superstitious feared you were "whistling up" a storm.
    Now, it's bad luck if you whistle at someone. You'd probably get punched in the nose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Al
      So that is where that "whistling up a storm" thing
      comes from. Who'd a known?
      Yeah, young gals always pretend to be insulted if a guy whistles at them. They'd prob be insulted if they didn't get a whistle. Whistle at old broads.... doesn't the saying go, they're grateful?

      Delete
  33. Dear Manzanita, like you, I've always wanted to learn to whistle. The thought of coming to a bad end didn't deter me. It was just that no one taught me how and I couldn't figure out how to get the sound out of my mouth! I still try but music escapes me.

    Watching that young man and his daughter do their song together was a delight. His whistling amazed me because I always thought a whistler needed to "pucker up." And his daughter's contentment and assurance was a joy to see. Thanks for sharing. Peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dee
      I understand how no sound will come out of the mouth. I tried for years every now and then and finally, not too many years ago a sound just came out of my mouth. I've been delighted ever since.
      Keep trying, maybe you'll get a sound too.

      Delete
  34. Here's a crazy coincidence! I'm watching a dvd of Criminal Minds and Penelope Garcia has just said, "you know how to whistle don't you? You just put your lips together and blow."
    Criminal minds: Season 7:disc 1: episode 3: Dorado Falls

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River
      We were trying to decide who originally said that and came to the conclusion it was Mae West.
      That was timely.Haha

      Delete