Walking on marbles...

.....at least that's what it felt like. I think I mentioned that our pecan tree has been prolific this year.  Well, we had no idea.  We had picked up well over 5 gallons during November.  But, now that the cold has settled in, the tree has lost its leaves and the wind has begun to blow....it is RAINING pecans.

Our yard has been so littered with pecans that it is almost impossible to walk safely through the yard.  I had to tell my Mom, who is a little unsteady on rough terrain, to stay out of the area!



We have had a little rain and lots of snow flurries these last two weeks making it too wet to pick up nuts.  Today, however, was a beautiful day - warm and sunny.  Beautiful enough to be outside without a coat.  So, after school today, we ventured out to rake pecans.  Yes.  I said rake. I raked pecans into piles like most people rake leaves.  Then we'd go through the piles and pick up the pecans. I listened to my boys plan inventions that would make this job easier.  They had some great ideas and I am sure something will come forth from their workshop before next fall rolls around.



We filled a 5 gallon bucket...and kept picking.  Josiah climbed the tree (he can climb a tree faster than a cat!).  He shook limbs and we watched it RAIN pecans...

*Note to self* Never stand close to the tree when it is raining pecans...unless you have a hard hat.

We talked and picked up pecans.  Elijah sang praise songs...and we picked up pecans.  The kittens joined us...and we picked up pecans.  We made Christmas plans....and picked up pecans.  We picked up pecans for about 3 hours and filled 3...count 'em 3....5 gallon buckets.  And the ground is still littered with them!

Even my Mom joined us for a few hours to help pick them up.  She has also been cracking and picking in the evenings. My friend Julie also told me that we can bag them whole and freeze them.  I think one night next week, I'll pick a Christmas movie and we'll bag while we watch...sounds like fun and then my living room decor can loose the big white buckets!



Our pies this Thanksgiving were made from our wonderful, organic pecans and what a difference in taste.  The flavor was so delicious - not sure what they are doing to the pecans in the stores but these were SO much better.

I sent home a gallon bag with my brother to Florida.  I gave another gallon to a sweet friend from North Carolina who came to Thanksgiving.  We have more bagged up to bless local friends. I'd say our total count SO FAR is at least 25 gallons of pecans this year.  I'll let you know when we're done!

Here's the kicker....

Why so many pecans?  We have lived here for 10 years.  We have NEVER seen this.  NEVER.  We might pick up a bucketful some years.  Most years little to nothing. We have been pondering this.  There has been one of those niggly little things in the back of my mind...."this means something".  But I just couldn't seem to remember.  I knew I had read something....somewhere...but I couldn't remember.

Then someone mentioned it and all the lights came on (yes...sometimes all my circuits dont' fire at the same time....happens once you pass the 50 year mark!)  An extra bountiful nut harvest is a good sign of a hard winter to come! Duh!  I knew that...somewhere in the deep, dark, recesses of my mind.

It is our Father's way of providing for His creatures and His people.  He knows what the weather will be and He reaches out months before to make preparation for us since we are unaware of what will happen.  What a loving Father!  This might also explain the amount of snow flurries we have been experiencing.  Months ahead of schedule!  My boys and I were in a neighboring town this week - much closer to the Smokies - and it was pouring snow.  I was worried about getting home it was snowing so hard.  It was so beautiful...breathtaking.....then the sun came out and it was all gone.  This cycle happened three or four times during the course of the day.  What fun it was!  How unusual it was...

The boys and I are excited.  We have been praying for at least one good snowfall so we can spend a day sledding together.  We have a wonderful sledding hill.  We sled until we are frozen stiff, come in to homemade hot cocoa and gingerbread, throw the clothes in the dryer and then suit up and head out again. All.day.long.  Did I mention that we suit up at night and sled under the millions of stars in the sky?  It is a breathtaking experience!  I can remember laying in the snow at the bottom of the hill and praying with Josiah and Elijah under the stars one year.

We had a mild snowstorm here about 10 years ago.  Perhaps 5 or 6 inches but it made for wonderful sledding. Elijah was a baby and doesn't remember it.  We've had paltry little snows over time but nothing very deep.  We are hoping that this is the year.  We are hoping for The Big One! (Sorry Amy!)

We are ever so thankful for this bountiful harvest.  I don't think I will need to purchase pecans for years!  Yet another provision and blessing from the hands of our very caring Father.

Blessings,