I walked out to the snowy garden again, drawn by something still stronger than myself. Something that had been to the other side and had returned.
What secrets had this scarecrow traveler gleaned from that frozen, mystic underworld where the earth sleeps in primordial darkness, awaiting the magic light and life of spring?
Would it, could it, share its knowledge?
“Scarecrow,” I said, “will I live to be 100?”
Crisp, tiny flakes of snow blew against my cheeks. A chicken crowed, near but somehow so far away. It was only the scarecrow and I in this garden. I leaned closer and, in the winter wind swirling around me, I heard it answer.
It’s possible, it said.
Encouraged, I asked another question. “Will I be happy?”
Do you really want to know the answer to that question?
Hunh. It had a point.
“When will I be able to plant in my garden?”
Visit me again and bring a cookie. I might have an answer.
“Will the roads ever dry out again so I won’t be scared every time I have to drive?”
Don’t bet on it anytime soon, Woman. Stay home and bake cookies.
“Will I have a big garden this year?”
Maybe. Plant cookies.
“Is Clover pregnant?”
She might tell you if you bring her a cookie.
“Why do you keep answering my questions with something about cookies?”
“Scarecrow? Scarecrow!”
“Why does your voice sound so familiar–”
“CLOVER!!!!!!!”
Michele Messier says:
After seeing on the news all the cars driving off the roads because of all the snow I think Clover is correct. Stay home and bake cookies (or plant them if you want to) just be safe! :pinkbunny:
On March 4, 2010 at 1:32 am
Michele Messier says:
P.S Scarecrow needs a brain. :sun:
On March 4, 2010 at 1:33 am
margiesbooboo says:
clover looks bigger to me. maybe its her coat.
On March 4, 2010 at 3:36 am
Tracey In Paradise In Pa. says:
:happyflower: WOW I was thinking the same thing CLOVER looks fat!! She is either prego or too many cookies!! I am totally fat because of cookies..lol
Hugs Granny Trace
On March 4, 2010 at 5:50 am
Patricia Herman says:
This put a smile on my face today. The scarecrow needs a spring cleaning!!!! And give Clover another cookie!!!!
On March 4, 2010 at 5:53 am
Diane says:
Clover looks like she is eating for two. She needs extra cookies.
On March 4, 2010 at 6:39 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
I think that’s just her winter coat. It would be too early for her to really fatten up from pregnancy.
On March 4, 2010 at 6:44 am
NorthCountryGirl says:
Clover has a big smile on her face. She does look heavier. Maybe if you take her a cookie, she’ll tell you some good news!
On March 4, 2010 at 6:41 am
carsek says:
HA!! I love that one, what a great imagination you have. But just in case, you better plant cookies!
On March 4, 2010 at 6:43 am
Carmen Smith says:
LOL, that is too cute!!!!
On March 4, 2010 at 7:29 am
Rose H says:
Yet another string to her Bow…Clover the Ventriloquist 😆 😆
On March 4, 2010 at 7:37 am
Dianna McBride says:
I love these Clover tales! You should really consider writing some Little Golden Books…I’d buy them for sure!
On March 4, 2010 at 7:38 am
kerri says:
She’s a tricky one :sheep:
Thanks for the smiles this morning 🙂
“Cookie” is the magic solution for everything! 😆
On March 4, 2010 at 7:41 am
lavenderblue says:
You know how someone did the book cover featuring Clover and her beau? I want to see Clover as ‘Mona Lisa’, that smile is absolutely enigmatic. She may have a secret… 😉
On March 4, 2010 at 7:41 am
Debnfla3 says:
This was very cute. Clover is such a sneaaky girl…LOL
Deb
On March 4, 2010 at 7:47 am
Chic says:
LOL…look at her smile! 😆 She’s such a character. :hungry2:
On March 4, 2010 at 7:56 am
MMHONEY says:
LISTEN TO THE WIND IN THE TREES (THEY TELL A LOT OF SECRETS)
On March 4, 2010 at 7:57 am
Susan at Charm of the Carolines says:
I’m feeling a line of children’s books starring Clover the Cookie Goat. Might not have the same audience as Harry Potter, but you never know.
Susan
On March 4, 2010 at 7:59 am
CindyP says:
Yes! Like the little golden books! My grandson would LOVE to have a Clover filled book or video. We spent about 2 hours a couple days ago getting him caught up on all the stories and videos……. “I want another Cwover one, Nana!”
On March 4, 2010 at 8:08 am
Mary says:
This one was very clever. Thanks for making me smile…and email my daughter to read it. Perhaps in the spring you can give us one of your great tutorials on making a nice scarecrow. Everyone should have one!
On March 4, 2010 at 8:23 am
Joycee says:
That little Stinker, she’s been talking for Scarecrow all along! The tipoff should have been the way cookies kept working their way into the conversation….
On March 4, 2010 at 9:06 am
Shirley says:
Dear Mother Nature, send Spring weather STAT. Suzanne is conversing with a scarecrow. :dancingmonster:
On March 4, 2010 at 9:35 am
beth aka confusedhomemaker says:
Ha, very cute & Clover is a tricky one. You have to watch for her :yes:
On March 4, 2010 at 9:53 am
Shirley Corwin says:
Yesssss, I see children’s books in your future! Clover could get really famous! This started my day of with a big smile.
On March 4, 2010 at 9:54 am
Beth in Texas says:
I love the suggestion to plant cookies. 🙂 Thanks for making me smile this morning.
On March 4, 2010 at 10:00 am
farmershae says:
Silly Clover!!! She should have known you would never fall for that! Scarecrows don’t eat cookies!! 😉
On March 4, 2010 at 10:13 am
Tammy says:
:shimmy: Great Post!
On March 4, 2010 at 10:32 am
Beth says:
Hahaha! Now this story is a classic! That Clover is a clever goat! :purpleflower:
On March 4, 2010 at 10:33 am
mrnglry says:
Precious!
On March 4, 2010 at 10:44 am
Nancy says:
That’s what you get for talking to a headless scarecrow! Clever girl that Clover! lol
On March 4, 2010 at 10:50 am
Aedrielle says:
What a smirk on little Clover’s face!!
On March 4, 2010 at 11:00 am
M.J. says:
Love Clover’s grin in the last photo!
On March 4, 2010 at 11:18 am
Melissa Marsh says:
What an ornery goat! 😉
On March 4, 2010 at 11:21 am
Linda says:
That was cute! Hahaha!
On March 4, 2010 at 11:31 am
Mary says:
:dancingmonster: That thing scares me, and I don’t scare easily!! I’d be afraid to be out there alone! LOL!! Beware crows!!! :devil2:
On March 4, 2010 at 11:34 am
Southern MN Gal says:
I seriously love how Clover is smiling in every picture that you take of her! I just stumbled onto your site a few days ago and have absolutely fallen in love with it! I printed off your recipe for homemade lard and promptly went home and told my husband that we need a pig to raise. I’m pretty sure he told me something about “forget it”, but I’ll probably do whatever it is that I want to anyway! :happyfeet:
Thanks for the great stories – I really love your writing style!
Southern MN Gal
On March 4, 2010 at 11:40 am
Nancy in Iowa says:
As usual, the best way to start the day is with Suzanne and Clover and the Scarecrow and anyone else on Stringtown Rising Farm! Clover’s grin tells me she thinks she has you convinced to plant cookies in the goat yard…. :hungry:
On March 4, 2010 at 12:32 pm
catslady says:
hahahahahahaha hysterical. And I agree, you wouldn’t catch me out in your garden – I’ve read too many stephen king books!
On March 4, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Julie Wriston says:
I love Clover! She really is very cleaver.
On March 4, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Sharon Gosney says:
Does Clover follow you where ever go? She really loves you or the cookies that you carry.
On March 4, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Maureen Child says:
That’s a completely evil smile on Clover’s face. Gotta admire that.
On March 4, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Donna says:
I had to lol! That scarecrow is creeping me out – he looks too much like the headless horseman! Clover is a cover girl at all times! That one could grace next year’s calendar!
On March 4, 2010 at 3:40 pm
JeannieB says:
Girl, you so funny!!!!
On March 4, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Grammie Earth says:
Cookies grow well in warm places! One day soon, WV will be warm again! Clover is quite ‘fluffy’, and scarecrow is very intuitive! :snuggle:
Pam :happyfeet:
On March 4, 2010 at 6:48 pm
princessvanessa says:
I have never seen such a big “grin” on a goat, or any other animal besides a cat or dog. A person would almost think that the grin had been photoshopped….but I know it hasn’t. Maybe the grin is because she is preggers and is keeping it a secret from you.
On March 4, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Kim says:
I love the photos of the scarecrow!They are exquisite~don’t change him. Reminds me of one of my very favorite books…Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon. I reread it every year. Have you read it? You’ll like it. It came out in 1974. Very well written. I have just joined your blog and I love it! I return every day if not more. Clover is the perfect name for her and I hooted at the hot Crooked Little Hen story. What a harlet!
On March 4, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Ann says:
I got the feeling its not the scarecrow that likes them cookies.
clover looks so sweet I believe she is smiling.
ann
On March 5, 2010 at 3:16 am
Toni says:
I foresee a Clover mystery series…..
On March 5, 2010 at 6:52 am
Debbie in PA says:
So clever and funny! My husband got a laugh out of it too!
I am loving goats! I wonder how our neighbors would feel about goats living in the suburbs? :sun:
On March 5, 2010 at 7:52 am
Runningtrails says:
Such a cute story! Clover is a sweetheart!
On March 5, 2010 at 3:28 pm