I sent this to a local publication recently. I'll find out today or tomorrow whether or not they print it (if they do, I get money ):


A Promise of Frost


“They said it was going to freeze,”
My husband says at five-thirty in the morning,
Scowling at the thermometer by the kitchen window.
The temperature is just over 40.

“No, they didn’t.”
I never learn, just can’t let it go.
“They said a chance.”

“Well.”

I wait, even though I could lip-sync his next words:
“What’s it supposed to be tonight?”

I take a deep breath,
Thinking of the dozen old bed sheets
Draped over support stakes
Like lopsided ghosts in the garden.
The ghosts of September tomato plants.
He’s getting sick of it.
So am I.
“A better chance for a freeze,” I finally say.

He looks at me, and I specify:
“That’s what Gary Sadowsky said.”
I’m trying to think, did he actually say freeze or frost?
Widespread, heavy or generalized?
Are we a low-lying valley or what?

“Well,” he says again.

I bite my tongue through the ensuing silence,
Wanting desperately to fill it,
Come close to saying “That’s a deep subject”.
But it’s way too early in the morning
To say something lame and smart-alecky.
So I exercise uncharacteristic restraint
And say nothing.

“You want me to pick the rest of them tomatoes, or what?”
(He says it like: resta them tuh-maytas”)

This inevitable question should be easy, but it’s not.
Not for me, anyway,
And my answer is long in coming.
I hate to waste anything I can salvage.
I glance at the stainless steel bowls heaped with tomatoes of all types and sizes,
Already abundantly salvaged,
Crowding out the toaster and my work space.

But do I ever want to see another tomato?
I factor in the probability of a hard freeze,
The inefficiency of removing and folding all those sheets
Only to haul them out
And clothespin them to the chicken wire again tonight.
I consider the likelihood of tomatoes shriveling en masse on my counter
While I crawl into bed every night thinking,
“Tomorrow I really need to do something with those tomatoes.”

Tick tick tick.
I need to say something.
Yes or no, just make the call.
Pick them? Irrevocable.
Cover them? What a hassle.
Take a risk? So not me.

“No,” I finally say,
While he’s still patient with my ambivalence.
“Just leave ‘em.
If they freeze, feed ‘em to the hens.
If they don’t....”

In my head I finish the sentence like this:
If they don’t, we’ll go through this again tomorrow.

DM.....please take away that sad fairy!

I can't stand to see you crying my friend!

Even Jack Frost isn't bad enough to have you crying....surely!

Here.....come here and get a hug....

OK OK OK>>>> I am tying from the good old U.P. ...I was up at 600am to get one ready for the bus....I dont think we got frost....but we are wearing light jackets in mornings...then heats up and dont need to in day....hhehehee

but yes waking up mornings are getting nippy...watch out all..it will come south soon enough hehehehhee hugsss,sarah from the northern MI area....a Yooper...

HEY wait, yous guys ... I didn't start this post!! Frank, did!

*ducking projectile produce*

It's tooooo soooooooooonnnnnnn!!!!!!!

I HATE the winter, I don't know about everyone else but the cold bothers me really bad. My feet get so bad it feels like their frozen. PLEASE someone send me to somewhere it stays in the mid 70's all year long.
I know we can all hundle together to stay warm

Kim

hey all
typing from the good old U.P. not tying hehehee

anyhow, just took a walk with little one..and sunny...in Tshirt and stayed warm enough hehehee

about to head out again with the two little ones now...walking to the store...hugsss all, sarah

Ok spoke too soon... most of New Brunswick, Canada had frost warnings last night LOL! South Eastern NB was spared thankfully.

It was 7 celcius out (45F) last night, so I slept with my window open. It was glorious sleeping weather. I love fall.

Easy for you to say Anne summer is coming for you. :hug how you bee stranger


Laura I was gonna type the other day you are going to jinx yourself

and did you all see how vonn is so willing to tape the bulls eye to my back sheeeesssssshhhhhh lol

you all do know the first few frost if you go out real late and water the plants they wont freeze? but you can only get away with it for a bit, because the first few frost are not so cold, the water acts as a protective layer to the plant I have been doing this for years

scroll down to Numero Uno on the list

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/frost.html