Weather or Not

It's the seventh day of December, but we haven't seen much frost in our corner of North Carolina yet ... until yesterday, that is. The frost-covered twigs and leaves on the ground made me think of the famous poem by James Whitcomb Riley, which I have copied below (from poemhunter.com) for your reading enjoyment. Reading it out loud is a little difficult, but it's worth the effort.

When The Frost Is On The Punkin

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey cock
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence
O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock

They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below the clover over-head!
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin' 's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too!
I don't know how to tell it but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me
I'd want to 'commodate 'em all the whole-indurin' flock
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock

 ~ ~ ~

Now, back to the weather ... or not. Five to eight inches of snow are predicted for our area this Sunday/Monday. I have to get a few groceries today, but I dread going to the store because it will probably be bedlam and lots of empty shelves. Fortunately, I don't need any bread, milk, or toilet paper.

I don't know whom to credit for this photo. I saw it on Facebook.

This is my photo of the bread situation in January 2011.

Weather or not, I'd better get my buns in gear (harhar) and head to town. Stay safe and warm. Be blessed.