The Old Farmer's Almanac Companion Newsletter

Through golden noons and purple eves, and shadows cool and tender,
From scenes of tranquil happiness and dreams of deep delight,
October like a princess in her oriental splendor
Comes down the valley singing with her retinue of light.
–Katharine Brownlee Sherwood (1841–1914)

Wednesday, October 18, 2017
291st day of the year
Winter begins in 64 days

Zac Efron (actor) was born on this day in 1987.
Dee Dee Warwick (soul singer) died on this day in 2008.

Question of the Day
What is amber, and where does it come from? Answer

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Are You Ready for Old Man Winter?

5 Disaster Preparedness Tips to Tackle Now
Fall is the perfect time to step up disaster preparedness, both inside and outside the home. The time to figure out details is not when a storm is bearing down on you. Here are five simple steps that we urge you to take for disaster preparedness—plus, 10 steps to make sure that your house and property are ready for Old Man Winter.

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How to Carve Your Pumpkin

Pumpkin Carving Tips and Tricks
Whether this is your first attempt at carving a pumpkin or your hundredth, there are many imaginative ways to create something special.

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Easy Herbal Vinegar

Preserving Herbs: Make Your Own Herb-Infused Vinegar
You’ve seen herbal vinegars in upscale food boutiques and catalogues, usually stoppered or corked glass jars with sprigs of herbs floating in translucent liquid. Gorgeous. And pricey. Why not make your own herb-inflused vinegar? It’s easy!

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The 2018 Old Farmer's Almanac Everyday Calendar

How much does a cloud weigh? What is an ‘okina? Where can you drink tea with chopsticks? Answers to these and dozens of other questions appear with fun facts, folklore, tips, quotes, proverbs, and puzzles in this cleverly illustrated page-a-day desk calendar.

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Pumpkin Mac 'n' Cheese!

Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

This Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese recipe was an entry in our Old Farmer’s Almanac Reader Recipe Contest using pumpkin. Though it did not win a prize, it got many thumbs up!

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What's That Worm in My Flour?

How to Get Rid of Pantry Moths and Worms
You open a bag of whole wheat flour, a box of cereal, or a bag of dog food to find little worms or moths or perhaps some webs. Ew!

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The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Notebook

A gardener’s most useful tool is knowledge from past seasons. Don’t rely on sticky notes or memory! You’ll love our beautiful Garden Notebook with its waterproof cover—easy to bring to the garden. Keep records so you know when pests arrive and when to put preventative controls in place to avoid damage. Also, track what blossoms when, first and last frost dates, what was planted where, what worked, favorite varieties, what you want to move, and other notes.

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