According to an old wives tale, the upcoming winter weather can be predicted by splitting open a persimmon seed.

Folklore says when cracking open a persimmon seed from ripe fruit, the shape inside will either resemble a fork, spoon or knife. If the inside of the seed looks like a fork, the area can expect a mild winter; a spoon, a lot of snow; and a knife, bitter cold “cut like a knife” winter.

Local “weathermen” have been splitting open a few, most of which resemble a spoon, the area can expect to shovel snow from their drives. Other old-timers signs are the squirrels stripping your pecan trees, a sure sign of cold winter. That plus the wooly worms are fat and fuzzy this year. “You’ve got all three prediction signs of a cold, snowy winter, time to invest in a snow shovel.