Monday, October 20, 2014

When the Frost is on the Punkin, Vintage Books

For you literalists (you know who you are), yes, I know there's no frost on these pumpkins.


James Whitcomb Riley
1849-1916 

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’ turkey-cock,
And the clackin’ of the guineys, and the cluckin’ of the hens,
And the rooster’s hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it’s then’s the times a feller is a-feelin’ at his best,
With the risin’ sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock. 


They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;
But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock. 


The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin’ of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries—kindo’ lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin’ sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover over-head!—
O, it sets my hart a-clickin’ like the tickin’ of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock! 



Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin’ ’s over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...
I don’t know how to tell it—but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin’ boardin’, and they’d call around on me
I’d want to ’commodate ’em—all the whole-indurin’ flock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!




Childcraft 1949
Vol. 2

This is the Childcraft edition that was in our home when I was a kid. I loved those books (and still do.) The artwork was warm and beautiful and realistic. The poems and stories were comforting and/or exciting. This set was given to me at the baby shower given for one of our daughters, thirty years ago. Someone had found it in their attic and had heard that I had been looking for this particular set. Needless to say, I was beyond thrilled, much to the (likely) dismay of people who had given gifts of baby clothes. lol

Question: Are there any books from your childhood that bring back fond memories?  Have you ever tried to track down a book you loved as a child? Did you find it? I'd love to hear about it.

 'John Deere Drive'



***

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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and Barn Collective and  Artsy Corner Thursday and Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday Critters

48 comments:

Mike@Bit About Britain said...

Loved the poem - though I did find myself mentally picturing scenes from 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'. I don't know why. Childhood books - Rupert, Biggles, Famous Five ... and, of course, the Ladybird History Series!

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I love the poem and I love how this post was sprinkled with all things fall :)

September Violets said...

What a great poem. I can see the appeal you have with this book. The writing makes me feel like my old neighbour is talking to me with the little country way of talking he had. I found a couple of books I loved as a child. One was "Beautiful Joe" of an abused dog who came into a happy home. I found it recently, and it was SO corny! Another was "Homer Price", but that was still kind of fun ;) Wendy x

NanaDiana said...

I remember those books, Judy! That is one of my favorite Fall poems, too. Your pictures are the perfect accompaniment.

I read a book that stuck with me for years and I found a copy of it about 10 years ago. It was A Lantern In Her Hand...and it was about a woman that always felt the "passage of time" and even as I child I had that sense of time passing....xo Diana

MadSnapper said...

love the view from John Deer Drive and this is the first time I ever read this poem. i have heard When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock! my whole life, but never the whole thing. and your photos are perfect

MadSnapper said...

oops no I have never tried to find a book from my child hood..

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Hi Judy!
Wow, I liked reading that poem! Never knew where "that saying" came from. I had two particular loves when I was a kid. I red-covered reading book called Friends and Neighbors, and a library book, The Boxcar Children. In fifth grade, I devoured the Cherry Ames series (Student Nurse, Senior Nurse, etc.) and, of course, the Little House series. Oh, and Little Women. And, OH! OH! Wee Wisdom monthly magazines. Dec 1959 - Nov 1960.

I have tracked down the first one and the Cherry Ames books on the internet, but didn't buy them. Can only find a couple of the Wee Wisdom.

Thanks for sending me down memory lane here for a little while!

:) m & jb (who, as far as I can tell, doesn't read)

Debby Ray said...

What a wonderful time of the year! I just love the old book and the illustrations...reminds me of the artwork in the old readers when I was in elementary school. Your photos are just lovely and the poem describes them so well! Great post, Judy!

Cheryl said...

What a fun post...from the lively poem to your perfect go-along photos to the delightful Childcraft book! Love it all!

I did not know Childcraft in my youth, but gathered a few for my own children. They are such treasures! Some of my warmest childhood book memories include the illustrations of Eloise Wilkin. I absolutely loved Baby Dear (and owned the doll which I adored), but my favorite was (and is) A Child's Garden of Verses, a perfect melding of words and pictures.

Balisha said...

Love that poem. Actually, I bought a book of all James Whitcomb Riley's poems and found that I didn't like very many of them.....but this is one of my all time favorite poems.
Childcraft...This is the first set of books that we bought as our kids were growing up. When our last little boy came along, 10 yrs later...he fell in love with the books. He almost had the one volume of poems memorized. When anyone would visit...he would run and get his favorite book for them to read to him. This post was so special to me....Balisha

TexWisGirl said...

that was really cute.

especially liked 'wimmern-folk' :)

Primitive Stars said...

Morning, beautiful pictures, love the story book. Blessings Francine.

A Colorful World said...

Did you see my Willy Nilly Friday Five a week & a half ago? I celebrated these wonderful books and copied a few Autumn poems! I can't remember if you commented (if you did, please forgive me...it's hard to keep everything straight! :-) ) Your Autumn post is wonderful...not only the poem, but each photo that represents the lines so perfectly! Great post! I particularly love seeing those corn shocks. Oh, all this brought back such memories of my childhood!

Lorrie said...

That poem has such a lovely lilt to it and all those words are fun to say. Great photo in spite of the lack of frost!
I devoured the Bobbsey Twins as an early reader, then Nancy Drew, Louise May Alcott's books and so on. I won the book Eight Cousins in third grade for having the most "A-s" in my language arts workbook. Still have that book although it's mostly falling apart.

Anonymous said...

Charming and lovely autumn shots.

Deborah Montgomery said...

I do love that poem, and vintage children's books. I have vintage copies of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates and the Little Women series. I loved Make Way for Ducklings. My mom read it to me, and I read it to my children. And A Child's Garden of Verses by RL Stevenson.
Beautiful pictures to go with the poem.

Pamela Gordon said...

Beautiful photos to go along with this great old poem. But, OH the spelling!! LOL That must have been a pain to type up and I know spellcheck on my Mac would have a heyday correcting me. I still have many of my childhood books. A favourite was a Christmas one that was actually my sister's. The Shiniest Star. My husband also has the book. The drawings in it are so sweet. Lovely post! Blessings, Pam

Michelle said...

I love the air of these crisp Autumn days.

I had several of my children's book for years.
I finally gave them away since they were getting so old and beaten down.
One of my favorite books was `Beautiful Joe`

Linda Kay said...

Such great pictures to share with us. Love the colors and the older buildings, etc.

Arlene G said...

I love that poem Judy!! And that old book...love that illustration. Thanks for sharing.

Terri D said...

Oh I so loved this post and your illustrations!!

Yes, in first grade (long before the movie came out) I fell in love with Mary Poppins and had the story in a Golden Book. The class was tasked with drawing our favorite storybook character. I drew Mary Poppins, with umbrella opened and raised.... Miss Gibson had never heard of Mary Poppins and made me stay in at recess and draw Snow White. My mom let me bring the book in to school the next day (I was devastated) to show Miss Gibson (who dismissed it with a wave of her hand....she wasn't very nice).

Terri D said...

Oh I so loved this post and your illustrations!!

Yes, in first grade (long before the movie came out) I fell in love with Mary Poppins and had the story in a Golden Book. The class was tasked with drawing our favorite storybook character. I drew Mary Poppins, with umbrella opened and raised.... Miss Gibson had never heard of Mary Poppins and made me stay in at recess and draw Snow White. My mom let me bring the book in to school the next day (I was devastated) to show Miss Gibson (who dismissed it with a wave of her hand....she wasn't very nice).

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

I loved childcraft books as well.
Don't know what ever happened to our
set tho......
but we spent lots of hours with those
books.
Love all these gorgeous Fall pics,
such a delight.
Blessings, Nellie

Amy Burzese said...

I love this! I have to find it. My Childcraft books are in the basement somewhere. And yes, I did find a copy of "Harriet the Spy" at a yard sale or thrift store. I'm looking at it right now on the shelf! Thanks for joining The Barn Collective today.

Judy said...

That last photo is my favourite!!! Something about the folds in the hills! I cannot remember corn shooked up, although my grandfather did it, and it has been ages since I have seen horses working in the fields!!!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Your photos are wonderful today! The pumpkins with the sun on them, the trees with the shocks in front, and just all of them! My favorite book when I was very little was a book about puffins. It MAY have been one of those little Golden Books. My favorite uncle gave it to me, then died shortly after, only in his forties. So now I LOVE everything puffin!

Tom said...

A lovely collection. Tom The Backroads Traveller

Empty Nester said...

What you said about the books is exactly how I felt when I read this post. Your photos were perfect. Such a stunning area of the country. It would make me wish that fall lasted all year long.

Nancy Shuman said...

I love everything about this post.... the pictures (as always), the poem, and the memories now stirring as I think of books I loved when I was a child. Oh, there were so many! I wouldn't know where to begin.... :)

Thanks for a beautiful, perfect autumn post!

Judy S. said...

We had those very same Childcraft books! My other favorite from childhood which I still have is Horton Hatches the Egg. There may not be frost on those punkins, but I have heard it's been pretty frosty up your way?

Chatty Crone said...

I love your photos for sure! That poem - my grandson goes to a Christian School and they have to memorize those long poems - not that one - but ones like that - in older English - and when i first saw it I hate to admit I shuttered - I hope his English teacher doesn't give him that one!

LV said...

Wonderful post filled with great photos and words.

Hazel said...

I enjoyed the rhyme in my head; read it silently while looking the photos. I so love autumn scenes. It's most likely the colors that draw me in.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Love the poem and the accompanying shots

Anonymous said...

Judy, These are wonderful images to go along with the rhyme! I especially like the one of the farmers and horse team. Our family had a great nursery rhyme book when I was little, and I now have it. My children enjoyed reading from it when they were young, as well :) Hopped over from The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections.

Hootin Anni said...

Judy....I have to say, I think this is one of your best posts...ever!! The colors? So rich!! The poetry, beautiful. The scenes?---so awesome depicting the time of year, the season, culture, hard work and little pay so to speak with harvesting....and I'm lovin' it. Every bit.

Unknown said...

Hi Judy, that's one lovely post. Beautiful pictures and great poem.
Enjoy your week!

Lynne said...

I haven't heard the
"When the Frost is on the Punkin' " in tears . . .
It was from my early teaching days, I know that.
And even then I am not sure I had heard all the verses.
I enjoyed this and your photos too!

I don't recall my favorite child books . . . Oh I remember reading and my favorites like the Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew. But I remember my children's favorites more and I have them still in the
(children's/grand children's room) downstairs. Peter Rabbit was my son's favorite and he only wanted me to read from the large book version. And my Suzie's favorite dog and horse books are there too. Along with a book named, Lutie . . . their dad's favorite book when he was a child.

Jackie McGuinness said...

I knew the expression but not where it came from!

Diane said...

You're right-- great artwork. I had a set if those as a child, handed down from an older cousin. Thanks for sharing.

Lady of Fostoria said...

I love that poem. It made me so happy to read it this morning.
As for my favorite books--they are all at your house.:)

Jan said...

I love James Whitcomb Riley's poetry-this poem is one of my favorites! I'd forgotten all about Childcraft but they were one of my favorites. Our neighbor had a set and I headed for them everytime we visited.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I love this poem and the line "when the frost is on the punkin..."
You have beautiful images to go with it!

Stacey said...

Your pictures are so beautiful! Our scenery is nothing like yours so I really enjoy seeing. I still have the first few chapter books I ever read. I vividly remember just falling into the pages of Charlotte's Web, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, and Sounder. Did you read those? Before that, I remember fairy tales. :)

Terra said...

I like the punkin poem, the Childcraft book cover, the working farm horses, the basket of apples. I still have a few childhood books including A Child's Garden of Verses.

Tanya Breese said...

what a great october post and photos...i think i have a childcraft book here that i picked up in an old bookstore! i'll have to check!

Roan said...

Love the windmill. I love the old books, too. Sid of Tar Paper Shack is the first book I really remember reading, other than in school. I actually purchased a copy of it and gave it to my grandson to read.

Adorned From Above said...

This poem is so fitting for fall and I love the book. I remember them.

Thanks so much for sharing with Adorned From Above's Link Party. We hope to see you at tonight's party.
Debi

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