Barky’s Blizzard
                               3rd book in the ‘Barky’ series      

                                     Ant or Grasshopper

            Becky called Quentin on the phone. When Quentin answered, Becky said, “Guess what Grandpa told me?”

            Quentin paused a few seconds then said, “The early Bird gets the worm.”

            Becky said, “He did say that but that’s not what he said this time. Guess again.”

            Quentin tried again and said, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
            “That’s one of his favorites but that’s not it.” Becky said, “I don’t think you’ll get this one. Can I tell you?”

            “Give me another hint,” Quentin said, “I feel like guessing again.”

            Becky said, “OK, It’s about the weather.”

            “Hmmm,” Quentin said thoughtfully, “Don’t spit into the wind.”

            Becky made an obnoxious noise that sounded like the buzzer on a TV quiz show when an incorrect answer was given. “Wrong,” She said.

            Quentin said, “I’ve got it… Don’t eat yellow snow.”

            “Yuck,” Becky said, “Wrong again.”

            “OK, I give up,” Quentin surrendered, “What did Grandpa tell you?”

            “He was reading the Farmer’s Almanac and it said that this winter was going to be extremely severe.” Becky announced.

            “He already told me that the other day,” Quentin said. “I was helping him carry wood to the pile beside the house.”

            “Oh, darn,” Becky said with disappointment, “I wanted to surprise you with the alarming news.”

            “Just how accurate is the Farmer’s Almanac when it comes to predicting the weather?” Quentin asked Becky.

            “I don’t know,” Becky answered,” but I do know that Grandpa always reads it and plans accordingly. He also looks to nature for signs of unusual behavior.”

            “Such as…?” Quentin asked.

            “The other day, Grandpa spotted a large wasp nest. When he took it down, he said it was the largest one he had ever seen in that location and it might indicate a bad winter to come.” Becky told Quentin.

            “Does Grandpa really believe those stories?” Quentin asked.

            “There is some basis in fact to some of the stories,” Becky answered. “If honey bees have an unusually large amount of honey in the hive that could indicate that they will need more food to get them through the winter. So if a wasp nest is larger than normal, that might point to the same thing.”

            “Is that why Grandpa is cutting and splitting more wood than he usually does?” Quentin asked.

            Grandpa said, “It just makes good sense to be prepared.” He told me if you have too much of something, it’s never a bad thing. But if you don’t have enough of something, you could suffer for it. Grandpa also told me that he would rather be safe than sorry. He said he would rather be secure knowing he overcompensated, than kick himself with regret.

            “The Grasshopper and the Ant.” Quentin said.

            “He used to tell me that story when I was little,” Becky said.

            “So did my dad,” Quentin said.