By Paula Mitchell
Can the number of fogs that are seen in August be used to predict the snowfall this winter?
According to the old folklore, it really can. The saying is “For every foggy morning in August, it will snow that many days this winter.” The snow may be a light dusting or a heavy fall of snow.
This may be a simple thing to keep track of, but it’s a bit harder than one may think. Like many old proverbs that are heard, it won’t work for all times and places.
Why even count the fog anyway? Well, people explain this helps one to cope with the uncertainty of the future.
Local persons have researched this weather folklore for the past several years and found a bit of truth to some of the fog predictions. There have actually been a few years where the data almost matched the August fogs; however, it is extremely important that it is understood that the visibility with those August fogs can make a folklore prediction.
Fog, for one thing, is a very common occurrence around these parts. There are rivers and ponds which can contribute to moisture. Given a stable environment, moist air coming off of these waters can stick around and hang out in the low levels of the atmosphere
There are also mountains and valleys. Air can rush into the valley during the night and cool in the process to a point of saturation. It can then condense to form cloud droplets. In a stable atmosphere, that air will just stay in the valleys…valley fog.
Care to have another thing to do? Count the fogs in August to see whether they coincide with the snowfalls this coming winter.
Life’s small instructions for a better day:
- Always, always send thank you notes to the person who gave a gift.
- Life is short. Eat more pancakes and fewer rice cakes.
- When buying something that a person will only need to buy once, buy the best one can afford.
- Let one’s handshake be as binding as a signed contract.
- Teach one’s children to say “please,” “thank you,” “excuse me,” and “I am sorry.”
It appears as though the common thread of conversation in this neighborhood touches base with the July heat. The last several days have marked in the 90s on the thermometer. Moisture, in the form of rain, is very much needed. The South Fork River is so shallow that waters may take six months to reach the Potomac River!
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X
“The brilliant poppy adds her voice to sell the song that August is here again.” — Helen Winslow
“Everything food, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” — Jenny Nan
“Some things just can’t be described. And stepping onto the moon was one of them.” — Buzz Aldrin
“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” — Neil Armstrong
Sitting indoors by the central air is a great place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Jim and Karla Moats had a nice visit from their daughter, Tuesday Simmons of California. She had returned home for her Saturday baby shower.
Evelyn Varner was delighted to have a visit from her grandson, Daniel Judy, last Wednesday.
Returning from an Ocean Isle, North Carolina, vacation were Brandon, Cara, Macie, Carson and Carly Mitchell.
Terri Grogg spent several days with her mother, Rosalee Grogg. While here, she accompanied her mother to her 55th high school reunion. They all met at Traditions Restaurant in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Willard and Judy Rader enjoyed a Sunday visit in the home of Lena Eckard in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and also Barbara Parker’s birthday luncheon with friends at The Tradition’s Restaurant in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- The first “piggy” banks had nothing to do with the pig. They were containers made of a common clay called pygg.
- The 60,000-pound Brontosaurus had a brain the size of a softball.
- Not all cotton is white. Red, green and even black cotton is being grown.
- The first automobile was steam-powered. Its inventor was jailed after he drove it into a brick wall.
- Men once wore paste-board boxes to protect their well-groomed beards while they slept.
August birthdays are as follows: Justin Via, David Puffenbarger, and Lonnie Copley, first; Tracy Armstrong, second; Nancy Enyart, third; Brittany Gumm and Junior Bolton, fourth; Charlotte Hoover, Doris Hoops, Skyler Frame, Paula Price, Steve Stump and Carter and Colby Hott, fifth; Jerry Smith and Jonnie Rexrode, sixth; Amanda Rexrode, Karen Peer, Carl Hevener and Gary Smith, eighth; Dolly Rexrode and Philip Simmons, ninth; Carrigan and Dorinne Hedrick, Sherman Bennett and Margaret Kiser, 10th; Brandon Mitchell and Becky Rightsell, 11th; Doug Simmons, Pat Godfrey, Sam Harper and Curtis James Eckard,12th; Sandy Bennett, 13th; Monie Harman, 14th; and Denise Neil, Bobbie Shanholtz and Ina Jean Evick, 15th.
Concerns for this week are many, and they are as follows: Charles Anderson, Bill Brackman, Scherry Chambers, Charlotte Copley, Jeff Craig, Jeff Evick, Lee Roy and Ina Evick, the Herb Eye family, Mary Eye, Ron Gilkeson, Barry Gordon, Lola Graham, Marlene Harman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Starr Hedrick, George Hevener, Gary and Jackie Hills, Rose Hinkle, Virgil Homan, Jr., Charlie Marie Hoover, Lorena Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Enos Horst, Bob Hurry, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Melissa Lambert, Robin and Kitty Lambert, Rex Landis, Angela Lung, Linda Malcolm, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Neil McLaughlin, Naomi Michael, Joe Moats, Lincoln Moore, Ernie Morgan, Aaron Nelson, Kathy Nelson, Ken and Ruth Nelson, Bennie Nesselrodt, Cheryl Paine, Sutton Parrack, Alda Propst, Betty Lou Propst, Kara Propst, Kathy Propst, Linda Propst, Sheldon Propst, Pam Rexrode, Donna Ruddle, Bernie Sasscer, Barbara Simmons, Emily Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Charlie Sites, Diana Smith, the Jacob Smith family (grandson of Charles and “Pidge” Anderson), Ona Smith, Stanna Smith, Patricia Swecker, Rosa Tichenor, the Violet Thompson family, Sandra Vandevander, Jack Vogel, Judy Waggy, Ron White, Judy Williams, Larry Wimer and Carol Windett.
