Lessons from a bird

  A few weeks ago, I checked the persimmon seeds to find out what type of weather we would have this winter.  Each seed that was sliced bore the image of a spoon which represents a snow shovel, hence, a snowy winter.  Down in the Deep South, snow is a rare occurrence and I guess I am about as far south as you can get.  When we do have snow or ice, it is surely a cause for jubilation and not despair.  Whereas our northern friends take it all in stride, here we rush out with the cameras to document that we did see the white stuff and are not just making up tall tales.  That said, those persimmon seeds in their shifty ways might have also been saying we were just going to have a wet winter and if that is the case, they were on target.  Last night brought another round of thunderstorms plowing across the Bayou. The temperature was a balmy sixty-seven degrees which does seem to be a mite warmish even for the Bayou.  Nigh on two inches of rain soaked everything in sight! Tonight, it is supposed to get cold.  Hmmm....

  Besides the persimmon seeds telling me that I had better stock up on firewood, my friendly woodpecker warned the same.  For some time, the bird has been stockpiling acorns in every nook and cranny.  Once again, the bird poked acorns in holes in the pier posts and in the crevices of the garden gates.  The shaggy bark of many of the pine trees also lent itself as a unique hiding place for food.  The bird's larder is full!  This is one smart bird!  Its nest in the old dead Black Gum Tree is lined with dead grasses and is toasty warm plus it has plenty of food stored in numerous locations.  The bird is ready for the coldest of winters.  

   Mark and I have made a point of preparing for the bleakest of times.  We have a nice stockpile of foodstuffs and wood stoves that make cooking possible even in times of power outages. A hand crank pump mounted on the well could provide fresh water.  (Although, I have canning jars filled with water for use during hurricanes.)  More than once, folks have literally laughed at our planning ahead, yet, a followup remark is always made.  "We know where to come eat if times are hard."  While I do not mind sharing with those in need, I do feel each and every one could...and should...at least make an effort to provide for themselves.  It is rather blind of folks to not be able to see (and prepare) beyond their immediate needs.  If the critters around us have the good sense to prepare for times of hardship, it does seem that people might be able to think ahead a bit as well.  Maybe that woodpecker should give lessons in preparedness.