Winter Weather Folklore

[GeorgiaPeachie]

I've never put much stock in wooly worms, etc, but this year I've noticed something .

I've lived here for 20 years and this is the first time the squirrels are stripping the bark on the cedar trees. I'm guessing it's because the cedar is sturdier and more weather resistant.

Any opinions?

Squirrels like bark for their nests. They tend to target the thinner barked trees.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

Farmer’s Almanac is predicting cold for my area and really cold and snowy for the Midwest.

 

[user 7704]

Squirrels like bark for their nests. They tend to target the thinner barked trees.

I thought it was because the cedar had resin and was more water resistant. It was very wet last 6 ear when they stripped the trees.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

I thought it was because the cedar had resin and was more water resistant. It was very wet last 6 ear when they stripped the trees.

Could be Robin. I just never heard that, but I’m not an expert on squirrels. They do use the bark to eat when everything else is gone come late winter.

 

[user 7704]

Could be Robin. I've never seen a walnut here yet and every winter we're butt hole to titt deep in snow. Oh wait..we don't have walnut trees here. Never mind.

Year before last, I collected 2 full wheelbarrows full of walnuts. I didn't bother last year because I had so many. Thought I would stock up this year, but there are too few to mess with. I'm going to go back into the woods and check some trees. My neighbor said he had seen the squirrels stealing all of his. Maybe the are stocking up.

 

[user 7704]

I just know I'm tired of cold rain all winter. If it's going to be cold, bring on the snow.

 

[DrHenley]

Old timers said the fur on the squirrels in the fall told you how cold it was going to get in the winter.

 

[user 7704]

Old timers said the fur on the squirrels in the fall told you how cold it was going to get in the winter.

How should I measure the fur?

 

[user 6493]

How should I measure the fur?

with a ruler
lol

 

[DrHenley]

How should I measure the fur?

That was so long ago, I don't remember whether it was the length or the thickness of the fur or both. But if you shoot some extremely furry squirrels in the fall, watch out for a severe winter!

 

[tmttactical]

How should I measure the fur?

Carefully!! LOL

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

How should I measure the fur?

My grandparents told me it was the thickness, not the length. They just look woolly when it is going to be a rough winter.

 

[user 7704]

I don't believe I've seen so many walnuts and hickory nuts as this year. Food for animals during bad Winter (?)
I'm going to harvest as many as possibly for a food source in case we run low.

The wooly worms I am seeing are grey with a dark stripe. No idea what that means.

 

[DrHenley]

I don't believe I've seen so many walnuts and hickory nuts as this year. Food for animals during bad Winter (?)
I'm going to harvest as many as possibly for a food source in case we run low.

It's raining hickory nuts at my daughter's house. Two different types of hickory trees. Stand still too long under one and you'll get hit in the head.

 

[GaRp58]

Bad year for walnuts here but the acorns are on the ground tho. Might make some more hardtack with some of them.

 

[Dracos]

I may have posted this before but it is still amusing. I asked a tribal friend of mine how the coming winter was going to be. "Much deep snow and very cold." "How do you know?." I ask "Is it the fur on a bison's chin, Are the chipmunks storing more nuts? Did the leaves fall off the tree early?"
"No,no,no." He replied. "I know because White Man stack much wood".

 

[GaRp58]

Like the Indian "weather stone" they sell to the tourists...
A tripod with a leather band and a stone hanging from the middle of the tripod.
A little sign comes with it:
If the rock is wet: it is raining
If the rock is white: it is snowing
If the rock is moving: it is windy
If the rock is not visible: it is foggy
If the rock is gone: it was the Great Spirit

 

[user 7704]

If folklore is real, we are in for a horrible Winter. I have never seen so many walnuts in my life. My son and I just picked up 3 bushels and didn't scratch the surface. The trees are fuller than I've every seen.

When we can't afford meat or it isn't available, I will have walnuts.

 

[Dracos]

We are working on winterizing the place. Blow out all the underground sprinklers. Check and change antifreeze in everything water cooled. Change oil and filter in the big generator. Make sure all tools are stored, because if you don't, you won't see them again until Spring. Look at the wood shed and feel happy. Stock up on bird seed. Cover the asparagus and strawberries. Seal all the gaps around the doors and windows. Explain to Jackie (tropical fish) why I don't give her any more grasshoppers. Fill all the fuel cans. Check the survival kits in all the vehicles. That does it. There is always something I wish I had done. But come winter I can say "Bring it on!"

 

[Mountain trapper]

The stink bugs were really bad this fall. Not sure what that means, we always have lots of cold and snow every winter.

 

[Dracos]

The stink bugs were really bad this fall. Not sure what that means, we always have lots of cold and snow every winter.

 

[Dave2001]

Down in our area you look at the wooly worms, their color tells of a bad winter!!!

 

[GaRp58]

We are working on winterizing the place.

Doing the same here, we got the first frost last night and the northern border of our little land just got 40 cm of snow...about 15 inches. It is supposed to get up to over 20°C next week also...crazy weather. Got my first two steel post feet into the terrace today and can start getting the complicated nut and feather cuttings on the support legs, master brace and rafters on the roof of the terrace. Trying to build it in the old fashioned way without nails and screws or metal braces. Just proper cuts, tight fit and glue and maybe some wooden handcarved pegs.
Filling the jerry cans and checking all the water well and underground piping and getting them wrapped or covered with styrofoam. If it gets really cold they will freeze, even at three feet deep.

 

[Dracos]

About 40 years ago a friend of mine built a 1 room cabin off the grid for him and his wife. He did not use a single nail or screw. Just a hand auger and a hammer to drive the pegs in. Then one winter a tree blew over and landed on it. Big tree. The cabin was fine. The tree broke in three places.

 

[GaRp58]

I have three hand augers and four hand planes to work with, but do not know how well my beat up old body will survive with the work, have to see.

 

[EastenerWesterner]

After reading this thread last night, I noticed when I feeding this AM how thick the ponies coats have gotten. There has to be an old adage in there somewhere.

 

[GaRp58]

Nature always tries to teach and warn us,,,if we could and would only LISTEN TO HER