One more comment on Mother Nature and what winter holds. In a supermarket near you, you should find a persimmon fruit. If you cut it open a seed may be another clue to winter weather. According to old-timers, persimmon seeds can be used to predict the severity of winter weather. When cut into two pieces, the persimmon seed will display on of three symbols. A knife shape will indicate a cold icy winter (where wind will cut through you like a knife). A fork shape indicates a mild winter. A spoon shape stands for a shovel to dig out the snow.

If you do open a seed, let me know where you are located and how the seed reads.

You know how everything is “bigger” and presumably better in Texas, well that may be true. One of the signs of a heard winter is the size and frequency of spider webs. In this morning’s paper an AP article captured the fact that entomologists are looking into the discovery of a sprawling spider web that covers a number of trees and measures 200 yards. Yikes. Located in Wells Point (Texas), it is so large that one person is quoted as saying “”Now it is filled with so many mosquitoes, that it has turned a little brown. There are times you can literally hear the screech of millions of mosquitoes caught in the webs.” Experts are saying the web may be constructed by “social cobweb spiders”. I don’t know but if I lived in Texas, I’d dust off my shovel.

Labor Day - this holiday was first celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City. The originator of the celebration was the Central Labor Union. The first Labor Day holidays were celebrated with grand parades, picnics and sometimes fireworks. Today, labor Day is celebrated in many different ways but is still suppose to be a day set aside to appreciate the advancements, freedoms and prosperity our country experiences, thanks to the hardworking people who make up this country. With family and friends, have a memorable Labor Day Weekend! Stay safe.

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by pgeiger
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Yesterday, I mentioned 10 of the most common signs of a hard winter. Today, here is the rest of the list including some of the more popular ones.

* Pigs gathering sticks - have to live on a farm for that one.

* Insects marching a bee-line rather than meandering.

* Early seclusion of bees within the hive.

* Muskrats burrowing holes high on the riverbank.

* The squirrel gathers nuts earl to fortify for winter.

* Frequent halos or rings around the sun or moon forecasts numerous snows.

* Mice eating ravenously into a home.

* Heavy and numerous fogs in August.

The final two that I hear about most often are:

* Spiders spinning larger than normal webs and entering the house in great numbers.

* The wollybear caterpillar - A narrow orange band in the middle of the caterpillar warns of heavy snow; fat and fuzzy caterpillars warns of bitter cold. Also… a rough winter if you see lots of them crawling around, their movement is slow (thought they were always slow?), you saw them crawling before the first frost.

So, here is the official Farmers’ Almanac signs of a hard winter. I expect as we move into September, you will start to notice many of these. Feel free to share your observations. and/ or include a photo of your caterpillar or other sign of nature. I will post them. It can be mild in one place and rough in another. Let’s see how you observe nature getting ready for the winter months. My e-mail address is pgeiger@farmersalmanac.com.

Tomorrow I will tell you about winter and the persimmon seeds and winter.

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by pgeiger
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Once the Farmers’ Almanac comes out with its winter predictions then our attention turns to the numerous signs of nature to see if she agrees. There are many signs of a hard winter but here are some of the most common ones. I will do half today and the remainder tomorrow. I have already heard form several folks about what they are seeing. Here goes:

1. Thicker than normal corn husks

2. Woodpeckers sharing a tree

3. Early arrival of the Snowy Owl

4. Early departure of geese and ducks

Today is the 25th of August and I just saw two huge vee’s of migrating Canada geese here in the Central Coast area of California. There is a staging area around a year round live riparian area where they stop annually on their way north and south. Does this mean we will have an early winter since they normally migrate around late September and October? Barbara

5. Early migration of the Monarch butterfly

6. See how high the hornet’s nest, will tell how high the snow will rest

Scott who lives in Maine tells me the wasps nests are only 2 feet off the ground - mild?

7. Unusual abundance of acorns

Dolly who leave on the Maine coast shares that she can’t leave home without a helmet because the acorns are falling like missiles. Rough?

8. Thick hair on the nape of a cow’s neck.

9. Early arrival of crickets on the hearth

10. Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands

Have you observed any signs of nature? Tomorrow, I will share the last10 including the famous Wollybear Caterpillar.

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by pgeiger
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Andy Warhol famously said that in the future everyone would have 15 minutes of fame. Mine comes each year when the Farmers’ Almanac is released. On Monday morning I “bounced” out of bed at the leisurely hour of 3:15 a.m., and headed straight to the Cumberland Club in Portland, Maine, where we’d arranged for a satellite truck to hook us up with a host of interviewers around the country.

From there, Mickey Youmans of Farmers’ Almanac TV and I were able to talk about the 2008 edition, the newest development with FATV, and about our new interactive website to audiences in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Birmingham, Albuquerque, New York City, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Washington DC, and Boston, to name just a few.

Manging Editor Sandi and I were also interviewed for pieces in newspapers throughout the country, most notably by the Associated Press, which feeds its content to more than 1,700 U.S. newspapers.

Don’t worry if you missed the publicity storm, though. The real excitement is in the pages of this year’s Farmers’ Almanac. You can pick yours up at any one of dozens of bookstore or discount department store chains, as well as right here on the Web <http://store.farmersalmanac.com/category/283>.

Enjoy!

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by pgeiger
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The 2008 Farmers’ Almanac is calling for a Two-Faced Winter! In fact, we believe that this winter, Mother Nature may in fact reveal her split-personality! But what does this mean?

Well in the East and Great Lakes– be ready for lots of snow, and cold weather (including frosts into Florida) but for the West — not too bad, a bit mild especially after last year’s winter.

White Christmas in the East? Looks like a good possibility. How about skiing? New England, Mid-Atlantic States, and the Rockies look like they’ll have a good season.

If you like snow, stay to the East and if you don’t, go west!

The 2008 Farmers’ Almanac contains 16 months of weather forecasts. Pick up a copy today at your local stores or order a copy here.

Forecasting the weather is always a challenge. In fact, I believe it’s on of the ways that Nature reminds us that we can’t control everything. However, the Farmers’ Almanac has been predicting the weather for nearly 200 years. We take great pride in offering readers an outlook for the year ahead.

So if you live in the East you may want to stock up on snow shovels and wool sweaters, while in the West, you may be in for a less severe winter. Stay tuned…

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by pgeiger
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As we have indicate on our home page, we are officially releasing the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac on Monday, August 27th. Part of the process is getting books into stores throughout the US and Canada. Keep in mind that there are a number of different titles in stores and some of the names can be confusing if not misleading. So, if you want to know where to find us, go to our home page www.farmersalmanac.com. At the top of the page is an item in the ‘nac. Click and you can search for the closest store. If you still cannot find our publication, send me an e-mail. Or, you can shop online on our site and have it mailed within 24 hours. Our cover is green/ orange and carries my name….. shopper buy wise.

Expect to see Sandi and me and an article about the new edition in newspapers on Monday morning. We will also be doing radio and TV interviews throughout the day for weeks to come. We will list appearances on our website starting Monday as well. If we are on a call in show in your town, don’t be shy call in and ask the “tough questions”.

Yesterday I mentioned the famed Abe Lincoln story using the 1857 Farmers’ Almanac to acquit a client of murder by utilizing the Farmers’ Almanac to dispute the claim of seeing the altercation by bright moon light. My blog pointed out that the astronomic conditions that existed on August 29, 1857 were the same last night. So, as a good trooper, I made note of the Moon position, lightness and agree with Abe, that the murder could not have been seen with the little light available at 11pm last night or on that fateful evening over a century ago. . I was surprised by the light in the early evening but as the moon moved, so did the ability to see any distance at all. Chalk one up for Abe.

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by pgeiger
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The Farmers’ Almanac is declaring August 22nd as “Abe Lincoln Day”. As a young attorney, Abraham Lincoln, represented many clients. But, there is one story that has become a legend. In May 1858, Lincoln served as the defense attorney in the murder trial of William “Duff” Armstrong. Armstrong’s father was an old family friend who passed away a year earlier. Hannah, his widow, traveled to Springfield to beg Lincoln to represent her son from this murder conviction. Lincoln agreed to do so under the condition that he would not be paid.

The entire case rested on the testimony of one witness, Charles Allen. As the only prosecution witness, he claimed that around 11pm on the night of Saturday 29, 1857, at a religious camp meeting in Virgin’s Grove Ill., he saw Armstrong kill James Preston Metzker. Allen said that Armstrong committed the murder using a “slingshot”. Despite being a 150 feet from the fight scene, he claimed to have a perfect view of the fight thanks to the light of an almost full moon “nearly in mid-heavens” (reference to the Moon’s southing or meridian passage). The prosecutor thought he had an airtight case.

Lincoln made the witness repeat his story several times reliving the brightness of the moon that night. Then Lincoln made a motion to use an 1857 almanac. No one knows which almanac but it was possible that it was volume 40 of the Farmers’ Almanac. In fact in the classic 1939 film Young Mr. Lincoln, Henry Fonda, in the leading role, implores the witness to “look at this…. it’s the Farmers’ Almanac, Go ahead look at it!.”

Consulting the pages of the almanac Lincoln proved that at the time of the incident, the moon was low in the sky and going out - not at all as the witness claimed. Believing the almanac and not Charles Allen, the jury ended up acquitting Duff Armstrong.

This makes for good lawyering and dramatics on the big screen.. Many people felt that “Honest Abe” might have prepared a fake almanac to prove his case. But, this claim so floored Mr. Allen, that he confessed to lying. Why mention it now?

For those historians among us, the exact conditions that existed that night will exist in our skies tonight - August 22nd. Check our calendar page for August. On Wednesday, August 22, note the Moon symbol with the cusps pointing up, indicating that the gibbous Moon tonight will be “running low”. About an hour later you’ll see the Moon crossing the southern meridian (in mid heavens”) And, three hours later, you’ll find the Moon hovering low on the southwest horizon, just as it was on that fateful Saturday night in late August 1857.

When we claim that we are 100% accurate, we refer to our astronomical information. For the weather, we are told that we run a healthy, but not perfect 80% - 85%. To read the entire article for the 2007 edition click here.

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by pgeiger
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I know most parts of the US is suffering under tremendous heat but those of us in Maine are being treated to cool temps and even early frosts. This weekend It was in the 60s for highs and lows touched into the 30s at night. Hurricane Dean is one to watch. We called for a hurricane in the Gulf States August 17 - 19th. Looks like we will miss the hit by a couple days but Dean is one to watch as it currently packs winds of 150 mph.

I’ve mentioned lightning strikes. We know that roughly 100 people die from lightning each year. It also injures another 500. A gentleman in Maine was taking a shower just before a thunder storm hit. Unfortunately his timing was off. As he touched the faucet in the shower, a bolt hit him not once but twice. It shot him out of the shower onto the floor and provided numbness on his right arm. In the best of all worlds, one should stay off the phone, away from metal and plumbing during thunderstorms. Lightning finds the quickest way to the ground including metal and wires.

With tropical storms becoming more active, let me reprint survival tips from the 2007 Farmers’ Almanac. Take a moment to review this list. And, go to our website and click on weather and then Hurricanes for video and other suggestions.

Hurricane Tips

BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON:
•Develop or review a family hurricane safety plan.
•Learn safe routes inland.
•Find out where official shelters are located.
•Ensure that you have enough nonperishable food and water on hand.

IF A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED:
•Prepare to cover all windows and doors, preferably with plywood.
•Prepare disaster supply kit (see below).
•Move lightweight objects inside.
•Fuel and service family vehicles.
•Have extra cash on hand.

IF A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED:
•Complete preparation activities.
•Follow instructions issued by local officials.
•If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
•Leave mobile homes.
•Notify family living outside the warned area of your plans.
•Fill the bathtub and large containers with water for sanitary purposes.
•Turn off propane tanks.
•Unplug small appliances.

DURING A STORM:
•Stay inside.
•Stay away from windows and doors (even if boarded).
•Move to small interior room on the first floor.

AFTER A STORM:
•Wait until an area is declared safe before returning.
•Do not drive into flooded roadways.
•Do not allow children to play in flooded areas.
•Use flashlights (not candles) for emergency lighting.
•Beware of downed power lines that may be electrically charged.
•Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

DISASTER SUPPLY KIT:
•A3-day supply of water (1 gallon per person per day).
•Food that won’t spoil (canned and dried goods).
•Prescription medicines.
•Toiletries.
•First aid kit.
•Battery-powered radio.
•Flashlight, extra batteries.
•Extra set of clothing and shoes for each person.
•One blanket or sleeping bag per person.
•Hand (manual) can opener.
•Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members.

In addition, have the following readily available and sealed in a moisture-proof package:
•Identification.
•Valuable papers (insurance).
•Extra money or a credit card.

Source: National Weather Service

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by pgeiger
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With our new interactive site up and running, I asked for questions. Here are a couple that may be of interest:

We have been working on an historical weather feature.

Q. Maybe I didn’t see it on the web page, but why are your weather reports limited to the past no further than 1945?

A. Of course the Farmers’ Almanac is best known for it’s long range - 2 years in advance predictions - but I am frequently asked about what happened on a specific date in the past. We are not in a position to capture specifics for every part of the country. But, the frequency of questions spurred us into finding a way to capture the data and share it with you. That said, a tremendous amount of effort went into pulling past data to our site. The few sites that have tried something like this have gone go back to the mid 70s. We had to draw a line at a certain date and decided that 62 years would answer 99.9% of the inquiries I have ever received. So, it was an arbitrary choice but based upon numerous questions, and the effort it took to make the connection work.

Later this month I will discuss the 20 Signs of a Hard Winter. Stay tuned for our winter forecast and then dictions and then we will point out those signs of nature that offer insights into what to expect, at least according to nature.

Q. We are noticing trees that are incased in cobwebs. Does this have a significant meaning?

A. Spiders can be predictors of winter weather. Spiders spinning larger than usual cobwebs and/ or entering the house in great numbers may mean a rough winter ahead. Time will tell.

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by pgeiger
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Have you had an opportunity to browse our new site. My favorite new feature is the Weather Time Machine. It is my brother’s 58th birthday today, so I was able to access August 16, 1949 and report that it was warm, sunny, clear and love was in the air that particular day. Frequently, brides to be ask what weather was for a specific date over the last 5 or 10 years. They want to see the likelihood of rain or sunshine. Try many of our new features of a few of the time tested old favorites and let me know what your think about our efforts.

And, if you have any problems with www.farmersalmanac.com , report them to me as well. There are bound to be a few “bugs” at the start. But, we seem to be off to a good start.

As we approach the middle of August, I am reminded that many people are harvesting their home gardens. The time of day you pick vegetables affects the quality and taste. Try picking leafy vegetables and herbs early in the morning when they still glisten with the dew.

For other veggies, try picking them close to when you you are going to prepare them as possible. To prevent water loss and wilting after picking, place vegetables in plastic bags or containers and store in the refrigerator or another cool place.

I have been husking lots of corn from the cob of late. A good way to remove the silk form the corn is to either brush the corn with an old but clean toothbrush in a downward motion or to rub the corn with a damp paper towel. It beats pulling the hairs off strand by strand.

Speaking of corn, if your child enjoys corn but struggles getting butter on it, generously butter a piece of bread and have the child roll the corn cob until it is completely covered. Speaking of butter, the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac will weigh in on the debate of what tastes better - butter or margarine??

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by pgeiger
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