11.   Early season frost is possible in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and northern Michigan, but abundant sunshine will boost readings back toward seasonal levels Thursday afternoon.

12.   Even far north of the city there was no frost in the ground, and the snow that fell vanished on contact with the warm earth.

13.   Even the few frosts so far have been less than militant.

14.   If the weather report even hints that frost might be in the offing, they all move indoors, where they brighten the winter windowsills.

15.   It is akin to ordering seeds and plants for your garden when frost is still in the ground.

16.   Last year, there was no frost.

17.   Now the frosts are only a few weeks off, and if they come any sooner the nation will suffer its worst harvest in three decades.

18.   Remember, the dates are based on averages, and in any given year there may be a frost weeks after that date.

19.   Still, the cold weather is a reminder that frost still is a threat in Brazil, which is in the middle of its winter.

20.   The first frosts are often light.