"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," is a famous expression and proverb instructing us to avoid finding fault or making a complaint about a gift or present. As horses develop they grow more teeth and their existing teeth begin to change shape and project further forward. Determining a horse's age from its teeth is a specialist task, but it can be done. This incidentally is also the source of another teeth/age related phrase - "long in the tooth."

The advice given in the 'don't look...' proverb is: when receiving a gift be grateful for what it is; don't imply you wished for more by assessing its value.

As with most proverbs the origin is ancient and unknown. We have some clues with this one however. The phrase appears in print in English in 1546.

During our Math problems practice in Room 17 each morning, students copy down between twenty to twenty-five arithmetic problems from the screen in the front of our room. Occasionally, I will present one that is already answered, telling the class to not "look a gift horse in the mouth." Looks of puzzlement follow as, apparently, this expression is seldom heard these days.

Rain seems likely this Friday when we walk to Peninsula College for the Storytelling event. Rain appropriate boots and jackets are advised.