Mother Goose Almanack. Mother Goose rhymes and tales have appeared in manuscripts since the time of Henry VIII of England, and some have links to earlier oral traditions.

An anonymous author who compiled Mother Goose’s Melody in 1765 wrote, “The custom of singing these songs and lullabies to children is of great antiquity: It is even as old as the time of the ancient Druids.”

Signs that foretell the seasons are commonplace in these verses, too, for by observing the weather at certain phases of the moon and on certain Saint’s Days, country people had a handle on what the coming weeks and months would be like.

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A-swiveling we will go

For many years, when dry fly fishing, I was bothered by the twists and kinks that would appear in my leader tippet after an hour or so of casting.

Al McClane, the long-time fishing editor of Field & Stream Magazine, once wrote, “Trout are not used to seeing their food arrive attached to a bedspring.” He urged his readers to straighten their leaders prior to fishing. Excellent advice.

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Gifford Pinchot Audubon continues

MILFORD, PA —Dedicated members of the Gifford Pinchot chapter of the National Audubon Society met on February 3 to work out a plan to re-energize and re-focus the group.

Community members who turned out for this session felt strongly about continuing the chapter, especially its Audubon Adventures program, which distributes environmental education materials to 43 classrooms in 8 regional schools.

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S