99 WORDS...AND A LITTLE BIT MORE
“Winter’s coming early, probably a long one too,” Mac said, rubbing his hand along the shaggy neck of the horse.
The young cowboy wondered if the decision to call about the advertisement for the ranch job had been a good one. Smirking, he asked, “Where’d you hear that? You some kind of a weather guru?”
Mac’s face didn’t change. Teaching youngsters the old ways of telling the weather had saved more than one who rode for them.
The foreman shook his head. “It’s August, the horses are hairin’ up.”
“Whatevvvrrrr.”
Mac chuckled. Sooner or later the boy would learn.
The young cowboy wondered if the decision to call about the advertisement for the ranch job had been a good one. Smirking, he asked, “Where’d you hear that? You some kind of a weather guru?”
Mac’s face didn’t change. Teaching youngsters the old ways of telling the weather had saved more than one who rode for them.
The foreman shook his head. “It’s August, the horses are hairin’ up.”
“Whatevvvrrrr.”
Mac chuckled. Sooner or later the boy would learn.
 |  |  |
For generations prior to radio, television and weather apps, animals and nature told us what was going to happen in the weather department.
From horses and cattle getting their winter coat in the late summer and fall, a.k.a hairing up, to squirrels gathering pine cones. These were some of the signs winter was not far off. The more nuts the squirrel gathered and the hairier the animals got, a hard winter was expected.
Several years ago, I wrote about animals and nature’s weather telling abilities. Nothing has changed in my world, all are common sense lessons worthy of paying attention to. They are observations I have passed onto our girls, and now our grandson is at an age where he can start learning some of the basics.
Yes, I have a weather app. However, the calendar on the wall is my first choice of reference because it’s here I make notes about what has been presented to me from out of doors. The weather app is more of a way to see if my predictions come to fruition. I am usually pretty bang on when it comes to comparing to technology.
Watching the sky, the animals and birds is an enjoyable way to keep me linked to traditions and history. And of course knowing what the weather will be brining my way.
From horses and cattle getting their winter coat in the late summer and fall, a.k.a hairing up, to squirrels gathering pine cones. These were some of the signs winter was not far off. The more nuts the squirrel gathered and the hairier the animals got, a hard winter was expected.
Several years ago, I wrote about animals and nature’s weather telling abilities. Nothing has changed in my world, all are common sense lessons worthy of paying attention to. They are observations I have passed onto our girls, and now our grandson is at an age where he can start learning some of the basics.
Yes, I have a weather app. However, the calendar on the wall is my first choice of reference because it’s here I make notes about what has been presented to me from out of doors. The weather app is more of a way to see if my predictions come to fruition. I am usually pretty bang on when it comes to comparing to technology.
Watching the sky, the animals and birds is an enjoyable way to keep me linked to traditions and history. And of course knowing what the weather will be brining my way.
| Ann Edall-Robson Author, Photographer, Lover of Life "Capturing moments others may never get to experience.” |
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October 17, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about something shaggy. It can be carpet, a hair-do, or some sort of critter. How can something shaggy steer the story? Go where the prompt leads!
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