Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Weather Lore

An old neighbor used to say that when there are "a plenty" of hickory nuts "a fallin'" then it's bound to be a cold winter. If that's true, I'm buying some more long-johns. 

Each day when we walk, we have to tiptoe by the old barn because walking over the hickory nuts is hazardous. It's been a while since we've had this many.

When I was a kid, my grandmother used to pay me in candy to crack hickory nuts for her. She wanted enough of the "goodie" (the edible stuff inside the nut) to back a cake. I thought I was taking advantage of her because there was nothing I enjoyed more than beating the crap out of things with a hammer. 

I soon learned that hickory nuts have mother nature's version of titanium. I beat the hide off of both my thumbs and most of my fingers. I finally got enough for a cake, but I thought she should have given me the entire box of candy.


10 comments:

  1. Too bad you didn't use a vise. Not much fun, but easy on the thumbs.

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  2. We had a big black walnut tree removed a few years ago because when I mowed I was always spewing out nuts everywhere! I also slipped more than once going to the creek. Don't miss that messy tree at all..plus they paid us for it...win-win! No candy though!

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  3. It used to be great fun to go into the attic where my grandparents stored walnuts from their trees. There was a thick piece of metal and a couple of hammers for us bang away to our hearts' content. (The walnuts tasted good too.

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  4. We used to love to hammer chop Hickory Nuts when I was young. They also made great weapon if someone walked past our tree house. Haha.
    I see a lot now on my walks. No desire to crack enough for a cake but the the thought has crossed my mind.
    Lisa

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  5. I am surprised you could ge5 them open...they are so tough. I bet her pies were delicious

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  6. Experience has taught me to trust the old 'uns weather pronouncements. Stock up on those long johns.

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  7. Every weather forecast I've heard has been for a cold winter, so best you pay head to those nuts. I remember when the only nuts we had were the ones you had to crack open. Now I just buy a bag full of ones already shelled when I want some. I haven't always liked all the changes that have happened in my lifetime, but this is one I do appreciate.

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  8. The old folks were pretty observant and wise so I too would say to get yourself some more long johns.
    Hugs, Julia

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  9. Yes, I even in hind sight feel your pain. I had walnuts in my salad today and commented to Sherry but these aren't REAL walnuts. LOL Real walnuts are WORK!
    I smiled reading this.
    OH, in one RV Park I met a welder from Iowa who had built a hickory nut and Walnut cracker. He had enough leverage to neatly crack either nut. It worked like a champ.
    Memories ,,,,, Thanks.

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  10. Anonymous12:53 PM

    I don't think I've ever tasted hickory nuts!!

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