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 Storms Never Last
When the sun of joy is hidden And the sky is overcast, Just remember light is coming And a storm can never last. by J. B. Smiley
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 “The very fact of snow is such an amazement.” -Roger Ebert “The snow is sparkling like a million little Suns.” -Lama Willa “It was the kind of snow that brought children running out their doors, made them turn their faces skyward, and spin in circles with their arms outstretched.” -Eowyn Ivey (born 1973): “The Snow Child” (November 2011) at https://eowynivey.com/ “A snowflake is winter’s butterfly.” -Author Unknown Snow is a form of precipitation like rain and sleet are. Basically, they are all different forms of water falling from the sky. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Snow. Snow, who? Snowbody but me! Snowflakes start as tiny ice crystals that form from water vapor as it freezes in the atmosphere. On average snowflakes fall from the sky at 4.8 to 6.4 kilometers (3 to 4 miles) per hour. By comparison, raindrops fall through the sky at an average rate of 11.3 kilometers (7 miles) per hour. “It takes a snowflake two hours to fall from cloud to earth. Can’t you just see its slow, peaceful descent?” -Amy Krouse Rosenthal Individual snowflakes are each made up of about 200 ice crystals. The size of a snowflake depends on how many ice crystals connect together. “Is it snowing where you are? All the world that I see from my tower is draped in white and the flakes are coming down as big as pop-corns.” -Jean Webster ▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ www.MakeFunOfLife.net ♥ l o v e ☼ g r o w ▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫ A Little Snowflake I watched a little snowflake Come sailing from the sky, It played a joke on me when It fell right in my eye! Another little snowflake Came dancing toward the south, It looked at me a minute . . . Then landed in my mouth! They seemed like little fairies Upon a holiday, Just out for fun and frolic and asking me to play! by Isla Paschal Richardson (1886 - 1971) ▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ www.MakeFunOfLife.net ♥ l o v e ☼ g r o w ▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫ “There’s one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor’s.” -Clyde Moore To snow, the atmospheric temperature must be below 0 (zero) degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Overheard: It can be too warm to snow, but never too cold. “I remember being excited about seeing snow for the very first time.” -Thi Bui “Thank goodness for the first snow, it was a reminder - no matter how old you became and how much you’d seen, things could still be new if you were willing to believe they still mattered.” -Candace Bushnell “Snow is falling outside and all is peaceful and still. In such moments it is possible to believe that the world could still be good.” -Richard Paul Evans Question: What did one snowflake say to the other? Answer: “You’re one of a kind.” Wilson Alwyn ‘Snowflake’ Bentley (1865 - 1931) was a farmer and a photographer. He placed individual snowflakes on black velvet and photographed them. He was a proponent of the now widely believed idea that no two snowflakes are alike. “Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled.” -Author Unknown The snow fell gently all the night, It made a blanket soft and white. It covered houses, flowers and ground, But did not make a single sound. by Author Unknown  “Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.” -Vesta M. Kelly (Vesta Mae Kelly (born Vesta Mae Proctor (1901 - 1988))) Manuel: How was the snow-globe feeling during the winter earthquake? Samuel: A little shaken up. “Snow: The art of nature expressed in the medium of ice.” -David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966) “Humankind could learn a lot from snowflakes. No two of them are alike, and yet observe how well they cooperate on major projects, such as tying up traffic.” -Author Unknown “I’ll never outgrow the excitement of looking out my window and seeing falling snow.” -Author Unknown Snowflakes I like snowflakes. Ask me why. Why? Because they fall from the sky, Because they seem to dance and fly, Because they pile up so high, Because they are so white and dry. Because they melt in my hand, Because they’re quiet when they land. Because, because, because, That’s why, I like snowflakes! by Author Unknown Arthur: What kind of ball doesn’t bounce? Rutherford: A snowball. “To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” -Aristotle (284 B.C.E. - 322 B.C.E.) “Snowflake: A raindrop that has been to art school.” -David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966) “Snowflake: A tiny ice sculpture.” -Author Unknown Matthew: Why did the statistician wear just one snow boot? Bartholomew: There was only a fifty-percent chance of snow. Question: What’s the biggest problem with snow boots? Answer: They melt! “I love snow for the same reason I love Christmas: It brings people together while time stands still. Cozy couples lazily meandered the streets and children trudged sleds and chased snowballs. No one seemed to be in a rush to experience anything other than the glory of the day, with each other, whenever and however it happened.” -Rachel Cohn Question: What falls down in winter but is not harmed? Answer: Snow! Snowflake, Arizona, United States of America was founded in 1878 by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) pioneers Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake. Snowflake has a yearly average of 31.75 centimeters (12.5 inches) of snow, while the United States has a yearly average 71.12 centimeters (28 inches) of snow. However, with an average of 272 sunny days yearly compared to the United States average of 205 sunny days each year, the foot of snow doesn’t stay around long. “A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” -Carl Reiner Typically, about 9 parts of snow melts into 1 part of water. “Snow was falling, so much like stars filling the dark trees that one could easily imagine its reason for being was nothing more than prettiness.” -Mary Oliver “Snow isn’t just pretty. It also cleanses our world and our senses, not just of the soot and grime of a mining town, but also of a kind of weary familiarity, a taken-for-granted quality to which our eyes are all too susceptible.” -John Burnside Things to Make with Snow - Snowmen - Snow angels - Snowballs - Igloos What can you add to this list? “May we never forget the flavor of snowflakes.” -Author Unknown What do snowflakes taste like? “As I write, snow is falling outside my Maine window, and indoors all around me half a hundred garden catalogues are in bloom.” -Katharine S. White Knock, knock. Who’s there? Snow. Snow, who? Snow better place to hang out during the winter than the library!  Snow Song
I like to walk on fresh fallen snow The kind that whispers and speaks. It sings a song as I walk along With crackles and crunches and squeaks. by Author Unknown ‘Watermelon snow’ has a reddish color from the algae growing on it. It is mostly found in the Canadian Rockies. “Snow: Much ado about frozen water.” -David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966) Heavy snowfalls are called snowstorms. Heavy snowfalls with high winds over 56 kilometers (35 miles) per hour with limited visibility are called blizzards. Question: Blizzards feature low temperatures, strong winds, and heavy _______? Answer: Snowfalls. Overheard: A blizzard is when it snows sideways. “Heavy blizzards start as a gentle and persistent snow.” -Mark Helprin “Even the strongest blizzards start with a single snowflake.” -Sara Raasch “During the blizzard we had three feet of snow, and the pigs are only 18 inches tall. We had to dig tunnels so they could get out.” -Dale Riffle When meteorologists, or weather reporters, predicts a blizzard is coming, people tend to buy more cakes, candy, and cookies. “Avalanche!” [translation to English] “Lapsus nivium!” [Latin] By shouting, “Avalanche!” a person could possibly start an actual avalanche of snow. Avalanches can bury people in snow so deep that they cannot get out, and cannot be found if anyone comes to search for and rescue them. The best sound to make in avalanche-prone areas is total, absolute, deafening, silence. Shhh! Question: An avalanche consists of the rapid descent of what type of material? Answer: Snow. “No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.” [translation to English] “Żaden płatek śniegu nie czuje się odpowiedzialny za lawinę.” [original Polish] -Stanisław Jerzy Lec (1909 - 1966): “Myśli nieuczesane nowe” (English: “More Unkempt Thoughts”) (1964), as translated by Jacek Galazka (1969) Why is snow white? Snow is colorless and clear. It sparkles and at times even blinds us with glaring brightness because ice crystals reflect white light. Rather than absorbing light, snow’s crystalline lattice structure prevents the light from shining through it. A beam of white sunlight entering snow is so quickly scattered by the complex ice crystals and air pockets that most of the light bounces right back out. What little sunlight is absorbed by snow is absorbed equally over all wavelengths of visible light except for most of the white portion, thus giving snow its white appearance. While many natural objects get their blue, red, and yellow colors from absorbing light, snow is white because of the way it reflects light. “Where does the white go when the snow melts?” -Hugh Kieffer “In the long-ago beginning, the ice crystals all got together and held a meeting. One of them said, ‘Okay, everyone, we all know that flowers are brightly colored and fantastically shaped and wonderfully scented, and stars light up the night from relatively stable positions and paths to predictably guide sailors and pilots on their way, and to generally inspire everyone, by contrasting against the cold and dark and emptiness that makes up most of the Universe. We are just tiny bits of cold water with no special traits, so to stand out, we are going to be amazing symmetric designs of six sides and six points that bend and reflect light so that we appear white and sparkly. We will become as diamonds descending from clouds through the sky to blanket the earth.’ And so they did, and so they do, even to this time, becoming famously known as ‘snowflakes.’” -David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966) How many sides do individual snowflakes have? a. 6. b. 18. c. 81. d. The number varies. Answer: a. 6. Snowflakes have six sides. At the Earth’s North and South Poles, light from the Sun and the resulting heat or warming the light has the potential to create is reflected off the snow as if it were a mirror, and bounced back out into space. “Despite all I have seen and experienced, I still get the same simple thrill out of glimpsing a tiny patch of snow.” -Edmund Hillary (Edmund Percival Hillary (1919 - 2008)) “The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment, then where is it to be found?” -J. B. Priestley We are MFOL! . . . so nice to see you again . . .  Weather
I like to watch the way the wind can spin a weather vane. I like to wear my big blue boots to splash with in the rain. I like to ride my bright red sled on cold snowy days. I like to feel the sun’s warm rays when I wade in the ocean waves. Wind, rain, snow, and sun every kind of weather is wonderful and fun! by Author Unknown  “Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.” -Roger Miller Overheard: I like rain so much that I have begun to suspect that I may be part duck. Quack! Quack! Oh, no - I am a duck! How did this happen to me?! Everybody should be made aware of this - if you go out walking in the rain, you might turn into a duck! Quack! When the rain is splashing down On the fields and on the town Singing winds begin to blow And the flowers start to grow. -Author Unknown Falling raindrops are not tear-shaped, but actually are shaped more like tiny hamburger buns . . . though without the sesame seeds. “The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow It Rains It rains on the duck, cow, and horse. It rains on the trees and leaves, of course! It rains on a little girl and fella. But I’m not wet; I have an umbrella! by Author Unknown Carl: How does the rain tie its shoes? Clara: With a rainbow! What is precipitation? Precipitation is any form of water particle that forms in the atmosphere and falls to the ground. Precipitation can be liquid or solid, as for example, raindrops, snowflakes, hail, sleet, or ice. Rain Rain, rain, falling down, Landing all around. What a lovely sound you make Splashing on the ground! by Author Unknown: can be sung to the same melody as that of, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” Raindrops Raindrops are such funny things. They haven’t feet or haven’t wings. Yet they sail throughout the air With the greatest of ease, And dance on the street Wherever they please. by Author Unknown “Raindrops: Water-berries.” -David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966) “When life gives you a rainy day, play in the puddles.” -Author Unknown What is rain? What is drizzle? Rain and drizzle are precipitation in the form of liquid water drops. The size of the drops determines which type they are. Raindrops have a diameter of 0.5 millimeters (0.02 inches) or larger. Light rain is any rain falling at a rate of 2.5 millimeters (0.1 inches) or less per hour. Raindrops fall faster through the atmosphere than smaller, lighter, less densely packed drizzle drops. Both drizzle and light rain fall to the ground, unlike fog and mist, which stay in the air close to the ground. Rich: What did one raindrop say to the other? Chris: Two’s company, three’s a cloud.  “A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods.” -Rachel Carson The wettest spot on Earth is located on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. There, Mount Waialeale consistently receives rainfall at the rate of nearly 1,270 centimeters (500 inches) a year. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ Who Likes the Rain? “I,” said the duck, “I call it fun, For I have my little red rubbers on; They make a cunning three-toed track In the soft cool mud. Quack! Quack! Quack!” “I,” cried the dandelion, “I,” My roots are thirsty, my buds are dry; And she lifted a tussled, yellow head Out of her green and grassy bed. “I hope ‘twill pour! I hope ‘twill pour!” Purred the tree-toad at his gray back-door. “For, with a broad leaf for a roof, I am perfectly weather proof.” Sang the brook, “I laugh at every drop, And wish they never need to stop Till a big, big river I grew to be, And could find my way out to the sea.” “I,” shouted Ted, “for I can run, With my high-top boots and my rain coat on, Through every puddle, and runlet, and pool, That I find on my way to school.” by Clara Doty Bates (1838 - 1895) ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ What if the little rain should say, “So small a drop as I, Can ne’er refresh a drooping Earth, I’ll tarry in the sky.” -Author Unknown “After rain comes fair weather.” -Author Unknown “Nature saves up rain in cloud banks.” -Author Unknown “If I were running the world I would have it rain only between 2 and 5 a.m. Anyone who was out then ought to get wet.” -William Lyon Phelps Rain, rain, Go away - Come again, Another day! -Author Unknown Raindrops fall through the sky at an average rate of 6.4 meters (21 feet) per second, or 11.3 kilometers (7 miles) per hour. They are like tiny, watery skydivers . . . minus any parachutes, of course. Ombrophobia is a persistent fear of rain. If you have ombrophobia combined with umbrellaphobia, or a fear of umbrellas, your life is pretty much limited to the indoors on rainy days, which could cause you to develop a ‘fear of boredom’ - is there a word for that specific phobia?  “It rained hard enough to fill a wire basket.” -attributed to Mike Royko (1932 - 1997) Walking in the Rain Once in the rain I saw a man, Strolling with an umbrella in hand. When I said it was insane To walk in the rain, He said, “Well then, I’ll just stand.” by Author Unknown “No single raindrop believes it is to blame for the flood.” -Author Unknown Rain Two ducks went waddling down the lane. Said one to the other, “What beautiful rain!” Two children came to the door with a frown. Said they, “What a pity, it’s pouring down!” And old Mr. Weather scratched his head. “You can’t please everyone!” he said. by Author Unknown The most rain fall ever recorded in one year was in Cherrapunji, India where more than 25.4 meters (83.3 feet) of the wet stuff crashed to the Earth’s surface. Rain Rain on the rooftop, Rain on the tree. Rain on the green grass, But don’t rain on me! by Author Unknown “Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.” -Author Unknown “Because rain must come from somewhere, it has been decided that it will come from clouds . . .” -Author Unknown The Rain Pitter-patter raindrops, Falling from the sky. Here is my umbrella To keep me safe and dry. When the rain is over And the Sun begins to glow, Little flowers start to bud And grow and grow and grow. by Author Unknown The right amount of rain has a way of washing away the a great deal of the unpleasantness of life, making everything smell fresh and clean: making green things grow, giving animals a refreshing drink . . . but too much rain becomes floods, which have a way of washing away all of life itself. And, when areas go without rain or other water for long periods of time, it is called a drought, and life does not thrive in drought-like conditions. “Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away hunger.” -Basil (C.E. 330 - C.E. 379) Puddles When the rain is coming down In the puddles I splash around The water’s wet, but I am dry I have my boots on, that is why! by Author Unknown  “Without the rain there would be no rainbows.” -Author Unknown
Rain, Rain Rain, rain falls on the street, mud in puddles cleaning my feet. Thunder, thunder rumble and roar, close the windows and lock the door. Clouds, clouds black and gray, heavy with water to drop all day. Sun, Sun is breaking through, clouds are moving, the rain stops too. Rainbow, rainbow across the sky, see-through colors to tickle my eyes. by Author Unknown “I can’t believe it,” said the foreign tourist. “I’ve been here an entire week and it’s done nothing but rain. When do you have Summer here?” “Well, that’s hard to say,” replied the local resident. “Last year, it was on a Wednesday.” Amy: What is worse than raining cats and dogs? May: Hailing taxis! Overheard: It’s raining cats and dogs - and lions and tigers and bears, oh my! “A man goes out to get the newspaper, comes back inside the house, and says to his wife, ‘It’s raining cats and dogs outside.’ His wife says, ‘Are you sure?’ ‘Yes,’ he says, ‘I just stepped in a poodle.’” -Jack Benny (1894 - 1974): “The Jack Benny Show” radio show The phrase ‘raining cats and dogs’ originated in seventeenth-century England. During downpours of rain, stray animals would drown and float down the streets, seeming to show that it had ‘rained cats and dogs.’ Keep your pets safe at home! Holly: What is it called when it rains ducks and geese? Mollie: Fowl weather. “Rain is a good reminder of how our attitude can affect everything. Some folks let it destroy their day; others consider it a blessing.” -Judy Ford To ‘save something for a rainy day’ means to set money or other needs for a time when one will not be able to work to earn them, just as one might not be able to work on a rainy day or in a period of retirement from work. Donald: I saved something for a rainy day. Donna: That’s wonderful - what did you save? Donald: A barrel of rainwater, from the last time it rained. Welcome to MFOL! We are here to bring a little happiness to the world, and we hope you will enjoy the fun and learning that follows below on this page, as well as on the pages shown on the menu bar at the top of this page, such as the Library and the Society pages . . .  Raindrops
Raindrops, raindrops, Falling all around, Pitter-patter on the rooftops, Pitter-patter on the ground. Here is my umbrella, It will keep me dry, When I go walking in the rain, I hold it up so high. by Author Unknown  Snowflakes
Icy, cold crystals, Falling, falling from the sky, Landing on my tongue. White, lacy wonders, Resting gently on my face, Melting on my skin. Running, scampering, Chasing, catching, shivering Time for hot cocoa. by Author Unknown  Rain Rain
Rain rain falls on the street, mud in puddles cleaning my feet. Thunder thunder rumble and roar, close the windows and lock the door. Clouds clouds black and gray, heavy with water to drop all day. Sun sun is breaking through, clouds are moving, the rain stops too. Rainbow rainbow across the sky, see-through colors to tickle my eyes. by James Hörner  Rain
The rain is raining all around, It falls on field and tree, It rains on the umbrellas here, And on the ships at sea. by Robert Louis Stevenson: “A Child’s Garden of Verses” (1885) Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was born on 13 November 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He became an essayist, a novelist, a travel writer, a poet, and a lyricist. He is known as the author of the adventure novels “Treasure Island” (1883) and “Kidnapped” (1886), the science fiction novel, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1886), and the poetry collection, “A Child’s Garden of Verses” (1885), all of which remain popular even now with readers of all ages. Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson passed on at 44 years of age on 3 December 1894 in Vailima, Samoan Islands.  After the storm comes the rainbow . . . “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow you gotta be willing to put up with the rain.” -Dolly Parton (born 1946) “A rainbow occurs when it is raining in one part of the sky and sunny in another.” -Author Unknown Riddle: How did the rainbow know it was lost? Solution: It was out on a clear day. Rainbows remained a mystery until the seventeenth century, when scientist René Descartes (1596 - 1650) investigated interactions between light and water, and scientist Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) determined that white sunlight is a combination of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet light - exactly the colors that make up a rainbow! The wondrous apparitions called rainbows are still objects of fascination to humans. Sunlight is made of the colors of the rainbow. When the colors are mixed together, it is called white light. White light is the light we commonly see every day. When all sunlight moves through the air in the same direction, we see white light. When sunlight travels through a raindrop, the colors that the white light is made of separate, creating a rainbow. Are rainbows natural prisms? What we call rainbows are the visible colors, and the millions of tiny raindrops are each individual natural prisms through which ‘white’ sunlight passes to separate and become the ‘colors of the rainbow.’ Every one of the tiny raindrops makes its own tiny rainbow, but it takes millions of raindrops to make enough color for us to be able to see a rainbow with our eyes. You can make a rainbow by standing with your back to the Sun and taking a water hose and spraying it in front of you, being sure to keep the Sun behind you. You may also be able to make a rainbow with a spray-nozzle bottle filled with water. Spray water into the air, and watch a rainbow form. “There can be no rainbow without a cloud and a storm.” -John Heyl Vincent (1832 - 1920) ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ Rainbow Song Red and yellow and pink and green, Purple and orange and blue. I can sing a rainbow, Sing a rainbow, And you can sing one too! See with your eyes, See with your eyes, And sing everything you see. You can sing a rainbow, Sing a rainbow, Just sing along with me. Red and yellow and pink and green, Purple and orange and blue. You can sing a rainbow, Sing a rainbow, And now you’ve sung a rainbow too! by Author Unknown ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ “You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re always looking down.” -Author Unknown Scientifically explained, a rainbow is an arc of spectral colors that appears in the sky opposite the Sun as a result of refractive dispersion of sunlight in drops of rain. “It takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow.” -Author Unknown “Rainbows apologize for angry skies.” -Sylvia Voirol (1944 - 2003) Earth is the only planet in our solar system on which rainbows are possible. It is believed that rainbows got their name from their shape. Rainbow arcs look similar to a bow for shooting arrows. People also noticed that this colorful arc would only form when it was raining, so they called them rainbows. When chasing rainbows, there are a few things to keep in mind. For instance, in order to see a rainbow, you must have your back to the Sun. If you face another direction, you will not be able to see it. When standing on the Earth’s surface, rainbows can be seen only in the morning or late afternoon, when the Sun is at less than 40 degrees above the horizon. When the Sun is low, rainbows will be higher than the Sun in the sky, and when the Sun is high, rainbows will be lower than the Sun in the sky. On the ground, we see only a semi-circle or arc-shaped rainbow, but from high up, such as when viewed from an airplane, a rainbow appears as a complete circle. No two people see the same rainbow. A person standing next to you is standing in a slightly different spot and will see the rainbow in a slightly different place. The rainbow may look the same but is different because the person sees different raindrops from a slightly different position and angle. For those of you who are always chasing rainbows, did you know you can never get to the end of a rainbow, because when you move, the rainbow moves too? If I traveled to the end of the rainbow As Dame Fortune did intend, Murphy would be there to tell me The pot’s at the other end. -Bert Whitney We cannot touch rainbows, because if we attempt to move close enough to touch them, they either move or become no longer visible to us. Thus, the pot of gold said to be at the end of a rainbow is an eternally elusive object, forever and always just beyond reach. “Leroy bet me I couldn’t find a pot of gold at the end, and I told him that was stupid because the rainbow was enough.” -Rita Mae Brown (born 1944) Eliot: In addition to a pot of gold, what else can be found at the end of a rainbow? Eloise: The letter ‘w.’  Sometimes sunlight is reflected twice inside a raindrop. When this occurs, a secondary rainbow, or a double rainbow, is created. The colors of a secondary or double rainbow are in opposite order of the primary or first rainbow. Violet will show at the top of a secondary rainbow rather than red. “I do set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.” -Author Unknown: “The Bible” (NKJV), ‘Genesis,’ chapter 9, verse 13 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ Rainbows Rainbows appear after mighty storms, when things look their very worst. Just when the skies are darkest gray, look for the rainbow first. The rainbow is a sign of God’s promise, that He will guide us through all our troubles, no matter what their form. When you feel battered by life’s storms, and you are filled with doubt and dismay; just remember God’s rainbow is coming, it’s only a prayer away. by B. J. Morbitzer ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ l i v e ☆ l a u g h ツ l o v e ♥ g r o w ☼ ══════════════════════════════════════════════════ “Count your rainbows, not your thunderstorms.” -Alyssa Knight, age 12 Rainbows are more common in warm tropical locations and near waterfalls, where the water content of the air is higher, especially as a mist or a fine, light rain.  Rainbows are rare in winter and in cold climates, because water in the air usually freezes into tiny ice crystals called snowflakes, rather than becoming raindrops. However, during cold weather, upside down rainbows, also known as sun smiles or circumzenithal arcs, occasionally form when sunlight reflects through ice crystals that are suspended, or floating, in the atmosphere.  What is a night rainbow? Moonbows, or lunar rainbows, occur when the Moon’s light reflects through raindrops. Night rainbows are rare because the Moon’s light is usually not bright enough for a rainbow to appear. Rainbow to Windward Rainbow to windward, Foul fall the day. Rainbow to leeward, Rain runs away. by Author Unknown: weather lore for sailors The colors of the rainbow are Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. An easy way to remember the colors of the rainbow is with the acronymic mnemonic ROY G. BIV. An acronym is a word typically formed from the initial, or first, letters of words, and a mnemonic is a method that aids in the memorization of information.  Who is Roy G. Biv? Hello, allow me to introduce myself. My name is ROY G. BIV. I am here to help you remember the colors of the rainbow. I am an acronym, and so each letter in my name stands for one of the colors found in a rainbow, like the colorful rainbow shown above. R is for Red, O is for Orange, Y is for Yellow, G is for Green, B is for Blue, I is for Indigo, and V is for Violet. So that’s me, ROY G. BIV.
ROY G. BIV ROY G. BIV is An odd name for a fellow But what his name means is Red, Orange, Yellow The G is for Green Which as you may know Comes right in the middle Of every rainbow. Next come Blue and Indigo More pale than dark Then V for Violet - And that completes the arc. by Author Unknown Fun fact: The word ‘rainbow’ has 7 letters in it, and a rainbow has 7 colors in it. “May your skies be always filled with great and glorious rainbows.” -David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966) Rainbows Quiz - Is a rainbow a spectrum of light that appears when the Sun shines on water droplets in the air? - How many colors are commonly recognized as being in a rainbow? - What are the colors of the rainbow? “We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.” -Gloria Gaither Rainbows Quiz Answers - A rainbow can be described as a spectrum of light that appears when the Sun shines on water droplets in the air. - Rainbows have seven commonly recognized colors. - The colors of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. This is MFOL! . . . wishing you rainbow skies forever . . .  The Rain-Drop
The rain-drop, the rain drop, Its soft and tiny feet Keep up a pleasant pattering Along the dusty street. The rain drop, the rain drop, It falls on the stream, And floats in gladsomeness along Beneath the sunny beam. The rain drop, the rain drop, It whispers to my ear - “I am but lent to earth - not given - I must not stay here: “Soon as the golden Sun shall shine In an unclouded sky, Borne on the gentle breeze I’ll haste To my sweet home on high! “And, when all nature seems athirst, On mountain, hill and plain, The bright and sparkling rain-drop Will visit you again!” by Richard Coe  It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity . . . or is it the other way around . . . or maybe it’s the alligators and mosquitoes and swamp monsters . . . all of whom seem to be enjoying the weather and climate around here.
“My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather.” -Loire Hartwould (pseudonym of Terri Guillemets): “April Morning on the Patio” (1988) Five Little Weathermen Five little weathermen sitting on a gate. The first one said, “My, it’s getting late.” The second one said, “There are storm clouds in the sky.” The third one said, “Let’s run inside.” The fourth one said, “Wait, the Sun is peeking out.” The fifth one said, “That’s what weather’s all about.” Ooh . . . went the wind, and up flew their kite, And the five little weathermen chased it out of sight. by Author Unknown “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” -Anthony J. D’Angelo: “The College Blue Book” (1 November 1995) “Antiphanes said merrily that in a certain city the cold was so intense that words were congealed as soon as spoken, but that after some time they thawed and became audible; so that the words spoken in winter were articulated next summer.” -Plutarch (C.E. 46 - C.E. 120): “Of Man’s Progress in Virtue” “If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.” -Frank Lane “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” -Charles Dudley Warner (1829 - 1900): editorial in the “Hartford Courant” (24 August 1897) newspaper; a quotation often mistakenly attributed to Mark Twain “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” -Alfred Wainwright “In my best social accent I addressed him. I said, ‘It is most extraordinary weather for this time of year!’ He replied, ’Ah, it isn’t this time of year at all.’” -Oliver Saint John Gogarty (1878 - 1957): “It Isn’t This Time of Year at All” (1954) The Reason Rabbits and squirrels Are furry and fat, And all of the chickens Have feathers, and that Is why when it’s raining They need not stay in The way children do who have Only their skin. by Dorothy Aldis “What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.” -Jane Austen (1775 - 1817): in a letter (18 September 1796) Jenny: Terrible weather, isn’t it? Lenny: Better than no weather at all! “Weather forecast for tonight: dark. Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning.” -George Carlin (1937 - 2008) An honest weather reporter might say, “Today’s forecast is bright and sunny with a fifty percent chance that I am wrong.” Weather Whether the weather is good, Or whether the weather is not; Whether the weather is cold, Or whether the weather is hot; We’ll weather the weather, Whatever the weather - Whether we like it or not! by Author Unknown “We must learn to see danger only in the storm clouds where it exists, and live our lives more fully in the clear skies between.” -Author Unknown Possibly the last completely accurate weather forecast was when God told Noah that there was a one-hundred percent chance of precipitation. The old proverbs, “Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight,” and “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight,” turn out to be surprisingly accurate, and have a weather science basis. A red sky appears when light is scattered by airborne particles trapped high in the atmosphere by high pressure. A red sky often means that an area of high pressure is moving in, bringing with it dry and pleasant weather. Nature’s Shows Nature puts on little shows Every time it rains or snows. by Author Unknown And now the seven-day forecast: Monday to be followed by Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with Saturday and Sunday expected over the weekend. Weather Lore Evening red and morning gray Sets the traveler on his way; Evening gray and morning red, Brings down rain upon his head. by Author Unknown “We often hear of bad weather, but in reality, no weather is bad. It is all delightful, though in different ways. Some weather may be bad for farmers or crops, but for man all kinds are good.” -John Lubbock (1834 - 1913): “The Use of Life” (1894), Chapter IV: ‘Recreation’ “The weather is not bad here; it only rained twice last week; the first time for three days and the second time for four days.” -Author Unknown Wet-Weather Talk It hain’t no use to grumble and complane; It’s jest as cheap and easy to rejoice, - When God sorts out the weather and sends rain, W’y, rain’s my choice. by James Whitcomb Riley (1849 - 1916): “The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley” (1916), volume 4, page 948 “Don’t knock the weather; nine tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while.” -Frank McKinney Hubbard (Frank McKinney ‘Kin’ Hubbard (1868 - 1930)): as quoted in “Changing Times” (May 1957) magazine Good Weather Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, Wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; There is no such thing as bad weather, Only different kinds of good weather. by John Ruskin (1819 - 1900) “In fair weather, prepare for foul.” -Thomas Fuller (1654 - 1734): “Gnomologia: Adages and Proverbs” (1732), number 2,818 Allen: Hey, look - the barometer’s falling! Ellen: Huh. It probably wasn’t nailed up properly. Meanwhile, in the weather reporter dating scene, Coastal Eddy is said to be going steady with Onshore Flo . . . “Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring.” -Lily Pulitzer Are there natural ways to predict the weather? Falling air pressure causes pain in birds’ ears, so they drop down and fly at lower altitudes. Low flying birds indicate a thunderstorm is coming. Pinecones can be used to forecast the weather. The scales will close when rain is on the way. Listen to the crickets. The number of times a cricket chirps in 15 seconds, plus 37, gives the current air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. Knock, knock! Who’s there? Wayne. Wayne, who? Wayne’s expected later today, so bwing an umbwella! Adam: How do weather reporters greet each other? Adeline: With little heat waves. Weather Lore If a rooster crows When he goes to bed, He’ll rise in the morning With rain on his head. by Author Unknown Is global warming real? Here is the inconvenient truth: Global warming is occurring on Neptune’s moon Triton, as well as on Jupiter, Pluto, and Mars - and there are no humans on these worlds, so what makes some people believe that global warming or climate change on Earth is human-made? Nuttiness and fraudulent money-grabbing schemes makes them believe it, that is what. Global warming is caused principally by natural cyclic activity such as solar flares erupting from the Sun. We can no more control or affect climate than a bunch of ants scurrying around on the ground can change the direction of clouds floating across the sky. However, we should still be concerned about pollution and contaminants, both human-made and natural, in our air, water, soil, and consumer goods. And mosquitoes. Distracted drivers. Processed foods. Aging infrastructure. High taxes. Low-quality television programs. Power-mad super-rich politicians. Lenient judges. Noise pollution. General rudeness. Tooth decay. “I don’t care what anybody says - we never had strange weather before people started using bows and arrows.” -Prehistoric Caveman When a pinecone fell on Chicken Little’s head, she misinterpreted the event to mean the sky was falling, and she went about spreading panic among the other animals, which eventually led to their demise when they were trapped and eaten by Foxy Loxy. The “Chicken Little” folktale teaches a valuable lesson or two, one of which is that we must be careful who we listen to, because listening to the wrong folks could lead to a bad ending for all of us. If we listen to the global-warming-climate-change fanatics, we’ll miss out on much in life because we will believe in wrong ideas. We need to get our heads right and start believing in the right ideas, like working hard and planning carefully to build good lives for ourselves and for the people who are important to us. Leave the doom and gloom to people who create works of fiction such as movies and books, and let the rest of us learn to live in reality, in which the weather and climate are doing just as they have always done, continuously moving toward becoming colder or warmer, wetter or dryer, windier or calmer. That’s the weather for you, always changing, but it in no way indicates the world is coming to an end. “In view of the inevitable inaccuracy and incompleteness of weather observations, precise very-long-range forecasting would seem to be nonexistent.” -Edward Lorenz (Edward Norton Lorenz (1917 - 2008)) Rose: If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Lilly: Pilgrims . . . June brides . . . allergies? I Like It When It’s Mizzly I like it when it’s mizzly and just a little drizzly so everything looks far away and make-believe and frizzly. I like it when it’s foggy and sounding very froggy. I even like it when it rains on streets and weepy windowpanes and catkins in the polar tree and me. by Aileen Fisher (Aileen Lucia Fisher (1906 - 2002)) “A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day.” -Author Unknown And now for your extended forecast: Fffooorrrcccaaasssttt! “The weather forecast is as follows: Funny skies and a chance of smiley faces, with giggle storms anticipated for later in the week.” -David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966) Weather and Climates Facts - Weather describes the state of the atmosphere at any particular time. - Scientists who study weather are called meteorologists. - Weather can be described in terms of temperature; precipitation such as snow, rain, and hail; wind speed and direction; visibility and road conditions; and cloud or fog cover, at any given time. - Trying to predict weather is called weather forecasting. - People who are especially interested in weather forecasts include farmers, travelers, commuters, aircraft pilots, ship captains, astronauts, home owners, and students hoping for ‘snow days’ on which schools will be closed. - Climate is the prevailing weather conditions present in geographic regions over time, typically a year or longer. - Scientists who study climates are called climatologists. - Climates can be described in terms of annual rainfall and snowfall amounts; average daily temperature and wind speed; and record low and high temperatures. - People who are especially interested in climates include architects, wildlife biologists, manufacturers of heaters and air conditioners, and vacationers. Willard: Why can meteorologists not forecast today’s weather? Wilfred: Because they are too busy studying asteroids and meteors. Humidity: Expecting air - but finding water. If you encounter a heat wave, should you wave back? Roger: What does not get any wetter no matter how much it rains? Robert: An ocean. Weather and Climates Quiz - What are scientists who study weather called? - What are scientists who study climates called? - What is precipitation? Judy: “What is the weather like out there?” Rudy: “I will be able to tell you just as soon as it clears up.” Weather and Climates Quiz Answers - Scientists who study weather are called meteorologists. - Scientists who study climates are called climatologists. - Precipitation is water that falls from the sky, such as rain, snow, and hail. “On cable TV they have a weather channel - 24 hours of weather. We had something like that where I grew up. We called it a window.” -Dan Spencer “The human race likes to give itself airs. One good volcano can produce more greenhouse gases in a year than the human race has in its entire history.” -Ray Bradbury (Ray Douglas Bradbury (1920 - 2012)) Mortimer: How did you find the weather on your vacation? Timothy: I just went outside - and there it was! What is the weather like in Tokyo? What is the weather like in Seattle? What is the weather like in Paris? What is the weather like in Sidney? To find out, visit the Weather Channel Website at www.weather.com. What is the weather like on Mars? That is a good question, and surprisingly, they can tell you. Wonderful Weather I like to watch the way the wind can spin a weather vane. I like to wear my big blue boots to splash with in the rain. I like to ride my bright red sled on cold snowy days. I like to feel the Sun’s warm rays when I wade in the ocean waves. Wind, rain, snow, and Sun Every kind of weather is wonderful and fun! by Author Unknown “After a storm comes a calm.” -Matthew Henry Jerry: What is the difference between partly cloudy and partly sunny? Reggie: It is never partly sunny at night. Partly cloudy and partly sunny mean the same thing. “On staring out at a gloomy day: First you must realize that it is the day that is gloomy, not you. If you want to be gloomy, too, that’s all right, but it’s not mandatory.” -Nora Gallagher “Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.” -George Herbert (1593 - 1633) Ruth: What is the difference between climate and weather? Arthur: Climate is what you expect, and weather is what you get. Funny weather we are having . . . go ahead and joke about it . . . seriously. More MFOL! follows below . . . unless you would rather go outside to see what the weather is like . . . which is fine with us . . .  The Fog
I like the fog It’s soft and cool, It hides everything On the way to school. I can’t see a house I can’t see a tree, Because the fog Is playing with me. The Sun comes out The fog goes away, But it shall be back Another day. by Author Unknown  The Tempest
We were crowded in the cabin; Not a soul would dare to sleep: It was midnight on the waters, And a storm was on the deep. ’T is a fearful thing in winter To be shattered by the blast, And to hear the rattling trumpet Thunder, “Cut away the mast!” So we shuddered there in silence, For the stoutest held his breath, While the hungry sea was roaring, And the breakers threatened death. And as thus we sat in darkness, Each one busy in his prayers, “We are lost!” the captain shouted, As he staggered down the stairs. But his little daughter whispered, As she took his icy hand, “Isn’t God upon the ocean, Just the same as on the land?” Then we kissed the little maiden, And we spoke in better cheer; And we anchored safe in harbor When the morn was shining clear. By James T. Fields James Thomas Fields was born on 31 December 1817 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States of America. He became a publisher, an editor, a poet, and a writer. His books include, “Yesterdays with Authors” (1871). James Thomas Fields passed on at 63 years of age on 24 April 1881 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. His biography, written by his wife Annie Adams Fields, is titled “Memoir of James T. Fields, by His Wife” (1881).  Snow Falling
The wonderful snow is falling Over river and woodland and world; The trees bear spectral blossom In the moonshine blurr’d and cold. There’s a beautiful garden in Heaven; And these are the banished flowers, Falling and driven and drifted Into this dark world of ours. by John James Piatt  To a Snow-Flake
What heart could have thought you? - Past our devisal (O filigree petal!) Fashioned so purely, Fragilely, surely, From what Paradisal Imagineless metal, Too costly for cost? Who hammered you, wrought you, From argentine vapor? - “God was my shaper. Passing surmisal, He hammered, He wrought me, From curled silver vapor, To just of His mind - Thou could’st not have thought me! So purely, so palely, Tinily, surely, Mightily, frailly, Insculped and embossed, With His hammer of wind, And His graver of frost.” by Francis Thompson  Snow
Lo, what wonders the day hath brought, Born of the soft and slumbrous snow! Gradual, silent, slowly wrought; Even as an artist, thought by thought, Writes expression on lip and brow. Hanging garlands the eaves o’erbrim, Deep drifts smother the paths below; The elms are shrouded, trunk and limb, And all the air is dizzy and dim With a whirl of dancing, dazzling snow. Dimly out of the baffled sight Houses and church-spires stretch away; The trees, all spectral and still and white, Stand up like ghosts in the failing light, And fade and faint with the blinded day. Down from the roofs in gusts are hurled The eddying drifts to the waste below; And still is the banner of storm unfurled, Till all the drowned and desolate world Lies dumb and white in a trance of snow. Slowly the shadows gather and fall, Still the whispering snow-flakes beat; Night and darkness are over all: Rest, pale city, beneath their pall! Sleep, white world, in thy winding-sheet! Clouds may thicken, and storm-winds breathe: On my wall is a glimpse of Rome, - Land of my longing! - and underneath Swings and trembles my olive-wreath; Peace and I are at home, at home! by Elizabeth Akers Allen Elizabeth Akers Allen, who was born as Elizabeth Ann Chase and is also known as Elizabeth Akers and by the pseudonym Florence Percy, was born on 9 October 1832 in Strong, Maine, United States of America. She became a poet and a journalist. Elizabeth Akers Allen passed on at 78 years of age on 7 August 1911 in Tuckahoe, New York, United States of America.  Rain
The clouds are shedding tears of joy, They fall with rhythmic beat Upon the earth, and soon destroy Dust dunes and waves of heat. Each falling drop enforcement bears To river, lake and rill, And sweet refreshment gladly shares With wooded dell and hill. Every flower, bud, and leaf, Each blossom, branch, and tree Distills the rain, ’tis my belief, To feed the honey bee. I pity every wretch I find Who, frowning in disdain, Is deaf and dumb and also blind To beauty in the rain. by Raymond Garfield Dandridge Raymond Garfield Dandridge was born in about 1882 in Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America. He became a poet and a writer. His published works include, “The Poet and Other Poems” (1920). Raymond Garfield Dandridge passed on at about 48 years of age on 24 February 1930 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America.  It Snows
It snows! it snows! from out the sky The feathered flakes, how fast they fly, Like little birds, that don’t know why They’re on the chase, from place to place, While neither can the other trace. It snows! it snows! a merry play Is o’er us, on this heavy day! As dancers in an airy hall, That hasn’t room to hold them all, While some keep up, and others fall, The atoms shift, then, thick and swift, They drive along to form the drift, That weaving up, so dazzling white, Is rising like a wall of light. But, now the wind comes whistling loud, To snatch and waft it, as a cloud, Or giant phantom in a shroud; It spreads! it curls! it mounts and whirls, At length, a mighty wing unfurls; And then, away! but, where, none knows, Or ever will. - It snows! it snows! To-morrow will the storm be done; Then, out will come the golden Sun: And we shall see, upon the run Before his beams, in sparkling streams, What now a curtain o’er him seems. And thus, with life, it ever goes; ’Tis shade and shine! - It snows! it snows! by Hannah Flagg Gould Hannah Flagg Gould was born on 3 September 1789 in Lancaster, Massachusetts, United States of America. She became a poet. Hannah Flagg Gould passed on at 76 years of age on 5 September 1865 in Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States of America. |
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