Silas has been hiding in his room for a week, now. I’ve nearly got him convinced that the barghest sighting portended nothing and Bubo’s cooking has really helped. It appears Silas is quite the gastrosnob. But we knew that.
It’s almost as though he’s turned his room into a hibernacle, and with the coming of winter, that is rather apropos.
Hibernacle is a noun meaning that which serves for protection or shelter in winter; winter quarters; as, the hibernacle of an animal or a plant.
It comes from the Latin hibernaculum – a winter residence. (The plural being hibernacula for winter quarters.)
Botanically speaking, hibernacle refers to the winter-quarters of a plant. For example, a bulb or a bud, in which the embryo of a future plant is enclosed by a scaly covering and protected from injuries during winter.
And yes, my dears, you are correct; the word hibernate is related. So clever, you etymological recidivists, you.
I will keep you apprised of the Silas hibernacle debacle as it continues. I’m hoping he comes out soon. For his own mental and emotional safety, of course, and having nothing to do with the fact that he purchased three pounds of delicata squash and I haven’t the foggiest what to do with the gourds. Bubo wants to make hats out of them, but I’m sure Silas had something tastier in mind.
