SEASONAL SIGNS: We spotted a woolly bear caterpillar Saturday
crawling along the road in ignorant bliss of the snow only inches
away. From our reading of its stripes, we’ll have coldest periods
at the beginning and end of winter and relative warmth in the
middle. Given the snowstorm we just endured, we can’t argue the
“beginning” part. Let’s hope it warms up, as predicted, so we at
least have time to unpack the long underwear and sweaters. More
than one reader has commented that we have come from “spring” to
winter in 2009 with nothing in between except rain.

LET IT SNOW: Toni Kan-Boatwright of Lumberton, N.J., writes, “I
was able to see a picture of the area’s first snowfall last week
because a childhood friend, who lives in Clermont, posted one on
Facebook.”

“I live in New Jersey, and the snow does not fall much here. And
when it does, it’s short lived. I actually drove home last
Christmas Eve in hopes for a white Christmas for my son. We ended
up with ice the next morning instead.

“Was curious though, what is the earliest snowfall ever recorded
for the Bradford area? Anyone know? I’m willing to bet this has
already been answered in RTS at one point or another.”

We have written about snow falling in virtually every month of
the year which makes it a little difficult to know how to different
a “first” snowfall from a “last.” No doubt, this question has been
answered at some point in Round the Square — but we don’t remember
it.

Snow is not uncommon for October. In fact, many years we
remember kids trick-or-treating with winter coats covering their
costumes. It’s equally possible, however, that the youngsters can
be sweating in 70 degree temperatures on Oct. 31.

FALL LEAVES: Dom Petillo of Honolulu, Hawaii, writes: “The photo
of the fall leaves on Route 59 was so great that I am using it as
the background on my monitor. Thank you.”

While the leaves were prettier than usual this autumn, nothing
could really top the colorful display of red, yellow and green
covered with a blanket of white. This spectacular view was enhanced
by the heaviness of the snowfall, causing trees to bend their
boughs in a way reminiscent of Robert Frost’s description in the
poem, Birches.