Perfect weather here to sleep with the windows open and listen to the “stars twinkle”. Althoufh Thirdguy is right- when you get one in the house, the noise bounces off the walls.
Crickets and frogs and toads at night are the soothing symphony of southern summers. Combine those with the occasional song of a whippoorwill or mockingbird and you open a delightful trip down an auditory lane.The overpowering din of cicadas – not so much !
Since I have 2 grandsons who are 3 and one more that isn’t yet 1, I am saving Earl’s words for them(for just the right time) I am going to have sooo much fun.
When I went to Santa Fe one fall, I noticed that the crickets there chirped more slowly than the ones in Florida, using a lower tone. Apparently, this happened because of the lower temperatures in Santa Fe. This phenomenon is discussed athttp://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/do-crickets-chirp-more-slowly-as-the-temperature-drops-in-the-fall
This strip really hit home. I thought I was hearing the stars twinkle until I was nine years old. I heard the sound only on clear nights when we had our windows open. In fourth grade I read outline my composition that included, “I like to listen to the stars twinkle at night.” My teacher stopped me to ask if I had read the sentence correctly. I repeated it. A bunch of kids laughed and the teacher told me it was impossible to hear stars twinkle. I didn’t believe it until my parents confirmed that night that I must be crickets I heard. I’m 62 now, but this strip is the only indication to me that anyone else even might have had the same misperception.
I’ve heard that some oriental countries keep a cage full of crickets in the house at night as a form of burgular alarm. The crickets hear a disturbance, stop chirping, and the lack of noise wakes up the residents. Not sure if true or not.
A cricket in the house is supposed to bring good luck. Love listening to them, plus one can tell the temperature by how many times they chirp in a certain time frame.
Llewellenbruce about 12 years ago
Can’t believe Nelson doesn’t know what a cricketsounds like.
thirdguy about 12 years ago
If you ever have one get into the house, you won’t like them nearly so much.
Linda1259 about 12 years ago
I know I shall regret this but . . . What are cricket bats???
kathleenashbaugh about 12 years ago
I want to frame today’s strip! What a philosophy!
GROG Premium Member about 12 years ago
As long as the mosquitos aren’t biting.
I'll fly away about 12 years ago
Perfect weather here to sleep with the windows open and listen to the “stars twinkle”. Althoufh Thirdguy is right- when you get one in the house, the noise bounces off the walls.
bkflorida1 about 12 years ago
I agree with kashbaugh, this one is priceless! I shall listen to the stars twinkle for the rest of my life.
scottie4851 Premium Member about 12 years ago
A rare moment of sentimentality from Earl. Sweet!
Ray-Bear about 12 years ago
Gotta go with Earl on this one.
jtviper7 about 12 years ago
♫♪ Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. ♫♪.
Number Three about 12 years ago
Beautiful strip today…
Hearing the crickets chirping just relaxes me.
xxx
graycie5198 about 12 years ago
“I shall listen to the stars twinkle for the rest of my life.”
Me, too.
riverhawk about 12 years ago
Does Nelson ever go home to his mother?
mimmiesan about 12 years ago
i wonder what he would call those very loud locustchirps.
Foghorn Leghorn about 12 years ago
It’s great to see Earl and Nelson just relaxing together listing to the crickets, Oops, the stars twinkle. I like the coloring in today’s comic.
Linguist about 12 years ago
Crickets and frogs and toads at night are the soothing symphony of southern summers. Combine those with the occasional song of a whippoorwill or mockingbird and you open a delightful trip down an auditory lane.The overpowering din of cicadas – not so much !
ncalifgirl58 about 12 years ago
Aw Earl, so cute. Personally, cricket chirps drive me crazy!
Peanut jelly about 12 years ago
Maybe I can use this analogy on the coqui frogs!
temmons_1 about 12 years ago
Linda1259, cricket bats are bats who like to play cricket…
celeconecca about 12 years ago
I like Earl’s way of thinking. Very sweet.
Don’t get me started on cyclical cicadas, though.
Beebleeahnee about 12 years ago
This is one of the best strips I’ve ever read. From now on in this family it will be stars twinkling.
route66paul about 12 years ago
Since I have 2 grandsons who are 3 and one more that isn’t yet 1, I am saving Earl’s words for them(for just the right time) I am going to have sooo much fun.
Two Cats about 12 years ago
Listening to the stars twinkle right now, and it’s broad daylight.
lcdrlar about 12 years ago
Romantic and idealic explaination, don’t let truth destroy the imagination.
Rickapolis about 12 years ago
I like this idea very much. If I had young children I’d tell it to them.
jnik23260 about 12 years ago
I wish I still had kids young enough to tell that to!
Gokie5 about 12 years ago
When I went to Santa Fe one fall, I noticed that the crickets there chirped more slowly than the ones in Florida, using a lower tone. Apparently, this happened because of the lower temperatures in Santa Fe. This phenomenon is discussed athttp://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/do-crickets-chirp-more-slowly-as-the-temperature-drops-in-the-fall
gregory.ripps about 12 years ago
This strip really hit home. I thought I was hearing the stars twinkle until I was nine years old. I heard the sound only on clear nights when we had our windows open. In fourth grade I read outline my composition that included, “I like to listen to the stars twinkle at night.” My teacher stopped me to ask if I had read the sentence correctly. I repeated it. A bunch of kids laughed and the teacher told me it was impossible to hear stars twinkle. I didn’t believe it until my parents confirmed that night that I must be crickets I heard. I’m 62 now, but this strip is the only indication to me that anyone else even might have had the same misperception.
Jeff0811 about 12 years ago
I’ve heard that some oriental countries keep a cage full of crickets in the house at night as a form of burgular alarm. The crickets hear a disturbance, stop chirping, and the lack of noise wakes up the residents. Not sure if true or not.
sbriggs919 about 12 years ago
I absolutely love this. Back to a simpler time, if only we could all live this way.
lin4869 about 12 years ago
A cricket in the house is supposed to bring good luck. Love listening to them, plus one can tell the temperature by how many times they chirp in a certain time frame.