Winter Forecasting

Below are the 20 signs in nature to be wary of ahead of the upcoming winter season later this year:

1. Thicker-than-normal onions or corn husks
2. Woodpeckers sharing a tree
3. The early arrival of the snowy owl
4. The early departure of geese and ducks
5. The early migration of the Monarch butterfly
6. Thick hair on the nape of a cow’s neck
7. Heavy and numerous fogs during August
8. Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands
9. Mice chewing furiously to get into your home
10. The early arrival of crickets on the hearth
11. Spiders spinning larger-than-usual webs and entering the house in great numbers
12. Pigs gathering sticks
13. Ants marching in a line rather than meandering
14. Early seclusion of bees within the hive
15. Unusual abundance of acorns
16. Muskrats burrowing holes high on the river bank
17. “See how high the hornet’s nest, ‘twill tell how high the snow will rest.”
18. The size of the orange band on the Woolly Bear (or Woolly Worm) caterpillar
19. Squirrels gathering nuts early to fortify against a hard winter
20. Frequent halos or rings around the sun or moon forecasts numerous snowfalls

The above list is from "News Break" that we get from Ohio.  I thought I'd share so you could all think about Winter while most of the country is still having high heat indexes, high humidity, storms, floods, and other nasty weather.  Take care of yourselves!  I have seen some of these listed things over the years.  But I think number twelve is the most interesting.  I have never, ever, seen a pig carrying a stick.  😀

God Bless America!  Life is good.