New calendars are coming in the mail, and it is hard to believe how fast this year has gone. It is hard to grasp. I have found myself beginning to write checks with the date starting out with a six. When I started to write this column today, I began the date with a “11” as if December was still in the future.

Besides the calendars, new almanacs will also be available. I like to check them out, because they have so much good information. The latest almanacs do not have as much information as the older ones. This will certainly date me; however, I do remember ones from the 1970’s contained first-aid remedies for illnesses and accidents. One I especially remember had a note at the bottom of the page, “In case of an accident or sudden illness, call a doctor.”

In the old ones, there were horoscopes, lists of historical facts and special days, farm and gardening bulletins, a seed-planting table, weather forecasts and weather wisdom, such as “a deep blue sky, even seen through clouds, indicates fair weather; a growing whiteness indicates and approaching storm; a gray or greenish sunset indicates rain”, etc. Living on a farm, my father always checked the almanac for farm and gardening bulletins and planted by the signs indicated. He also checked it for signs as to good fi shing days.

I remember Earl’s gardening. He just loved to be out in the yard, and it did not matter what he did; he just wanted to be outside. Some years he planted cucumbers, and we had an abundant crop. Other years, he planted cucumbers, and all we had were an abundance of yellow blooms. I never did tell him to check the almanac for a good day to plant cucumbers. It was my secret, because on the good years, I had canned enough pickles to last several years. I fi nally got wise and found a recipe for frozen pickles, which are delicious and a lot less work. Call me for the recipe if you have a lot of cucumbers next year.