A long time ago publishers of The Old Farmer’s Almanac had The Oxford Leader on its mailing list. Which means each year, I got a free copy.
I don’t know why they quit, and I don’t know why I didn’t start buying it at the local drug store.
Daughter Luan brought me the 2015 Old Farmer’s Almanac this week. I’m loving it.
I’ve been addicted to the tube far too long, and this Almanac gives me a chance to get back to the 239th year of its publication.
The last item in this magazine is typical of stuff I love: An old tombstone in a Thurmont, Maryland cemetery reads, ‘Here lies an atheist, all dressed up and no place to go.?
And, if a turtle doesn’t have a shell is it homeless or naked?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac still fills its 272 pages with nature stuff, like gardening, home remedies, best fishing days, lots about weather and the outdoors.
And 2015 trends.
We’re saving water by growing drought resistant edibles such as prickly pears and cactus.
Some are using phone apps to know when foods in the fridge are about to expire.
Our fave craves are chocolate teas, seaweed chips and truffle ketchup.
Seventy five percent of families eat most meals in the kitchen, 18 percent munch on the couch.
* Stuff we love – corduroy upholstery, baby changing tables that become bookcases, macrame and fibre art wall decor.
* The look for ladies: ‘regal? with embroidery, emblems and crests, hues of teal blue, deep red, honey and reddish brown and fabrics of luxurious mohair, and shearling, and silk.
* Tones for guys: sage, purple, indigo, and burgundy suits, slacks and sport coats.
* * *
Ya gotta hear this one:
During the worst blizzard of the century, Mike the mailman was making his deliveries. Unfortunately, his mail truck skidded off the road into a snowy bank.
After struggling out of it, he walked to the nearest farmhouse seeking help.
The farmer agreed to help Mike and led him to the barn where he introduced him to Tiny, a huge draft horse that he harnessed up. As the farmer grabbed a heavy towrope, the trio set out.
At the scene of the accident, the farmer hooked the rope to both Tiny and the mail truck, and then yelled, ‘Pull, Sam! Pull, Blaze! Pull, Jack! Pull, Tiny!?
To the mailman’s great relief, the truck was back on the road and undamaged. He thanked the farmer, then asked, ‘Did you forget your horses names??
You said, ‘Pull, Sam! Pull, Blaze! Pull, Jack!? Before you said, ‘Pull, Tiny!?
‘No, I didn’t forget his name,? said the farmer. ‘Tiny is blind, and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t have done a darn thing.?