Oh, That was Awesome!

On a beautiful fall day, our family went to Cocoa Beach in Florida.  It was about 85 degrees and a perfect occasion to enjoy the calm and consistent waves at the beach.  The water was shallow enough to walk out past the breakers, and many people enjoyed their attempts at surfing the waves.

I love swimming and marched right into the surf.  While I was jumping over and into the waves I thought about how waves develop.

Waves on the beach area are caused by open water waves coming in contact with the bottom as they approach the shore. This causes the waves to rise up until they become a breaker, when the top of the wave falls over itself. The bottom of the wave is dragged by the bottom and also by the undertow of water returning from the beach to open water, while the top of the water keeps moving forward, causing the breaker to curl over itself.

~ Source: The beach

Some waves were higher than others but all of them were a powerful force, and I could feel the back wash under my feet which sometimes was so strong that I lost my balance.  One swell was very high, and I could not jump over it; it completely took me off my feet, and I got swirled under.  I developed great respect for the force of the water and was in awe of the beauty as well as the energy which I received from my bathing experience.

After my invigorating experience I thought some more about how awesome the ocean is with its saltwater’s healing and cleansing effects.  Even getting my hair wet turned out beneficial because of all the minerals in the water; it increased the volume of my hair.  My nostrils felt cleaner, too; they got rinsed with the salt water.  Overall, swimming in the waves gave me a great workout; and I had a few hours visiting a ‘natural spa.’  Walking on the sand was a good massage to my feet.

Of all the experiences in Florida I appreciate going to the beach the most.  It was nice swimming at the resort and going to SeaWorld, but nothing beats swimming in the ocean.

 

 

After the Winter

Last week, when the snow finally melted, I was walking in the back yard.  I was watching my step since it was still very muddy back there.  Looking down, I discovered a small twig which I recognized:
it had fallen off my hands last fall after I had cut the forsythia bush in the front yard.  I picked it up and looked at it more closely; since I saw some swollen buds on it, I decided to take it inside and put it into water. 

Within a few days I could see that the buds had grown and within a week the yellow flowers came out. 

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.”

~ Albert Camus, French author and poet

That is totally amazing to me, since it had been cut off from the bush for more than five months.  Since the twig was covered with snow it was kept moist and the cold just kept it dormant until I brought it inside.  The life force in that branch was still alive. 

I call this my little miracle.

 

That's what the rest of the bush looks like as of today.

 

Do Woolly Bear Caterpillars Predict Winter Weather?

Last Saturday, I was sitting around a lunch table, and suddenly the topic of winter came up.  One lady shared the story about the woolly bear caterpillar predicting the severity of winter.  Since we just had survived the first major snowstorm here in South-Western Ohio, I listened up.  I was already tired of the cold weather and being cooped up in the house.  What is this tale about the Woolly Bear caterpillar?  Can it be a clear prediction for a harsh or a mild winter?  It’s kind of like the ground hog predicting the end of winter. That gave me the idea to look up the folklore behind the woolly bear worm.

 

Scientific Facts about The Pyrrharctia Isabella Moth
 

The caterpillar is the familiar Banded Woolly Bear, and even today it seems necessary to point out that the width of the brown band has nothing to do with the severity of the forthcoming winter. The caterpillar can be seen running across roads in October. It is seen again in February and March, after having spent the winter as a full-grown caterpillar. Before winter the caterpillar feeds on various low-growing plants such as Plantago and Taraxacum, but does not feed again until spring before it pupates in a silken cocoon in which larval hairs are incorporated. The adult moth, which has distinctly reddish forelegs, has a rather unpleasant smell!

Legend of Woolly Bear Caterpillar
 

In some parts of the world, it is believed that the severity of the winter can be predicted by the intensity of the black on the Isabella tiger moth’s larvae (caterpillar). In the American Northeast, it is believed that if the woolly worm has more brown on its body than black, it will be a fair winter. If the woolly worm has more black than brown, the winter will be harsh.

In 1608 Edward Topsell, a naturalist, called them "Palmer" worms - so named after the "palmer", or wandering monk - because of their roving habits and ruggedness (they are seen so late in fall). He also mentioned they were known as "beare worms." They have further been compared to bears in that they hibernate and have a similar walking gate. They have a dark hairy appearance, and curl up into a ball when touched. Today they are commonly referred to as "woolly bears". "Woolly bears" are caterpillars of moths and there are over 2,000 species of them.

As cold weather approaches, the "woolly bears" are one of the few species of caterpillars known to hibernate. In spring they emerge very hungry! They feed for a short time and then build a cocoon made from hairs of their shed larval skins mixed with silk which they make from glands in their own bodies. After pupating they emerge from their cocoons as adult moths.

I think for the most part, people find these caterpillars cute, fuzzy and downright fun to watch as they inch their way across a sidewalk.  These harmless caterpillars have enjoyed being the center of weather folklore for a very long time!  Like the groundhog’s shadow, the woolly worm’s thirteen distinctive black and reddish-brown bands have become a rule of thumb in forecasting winter.

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the longer the middle brown band, the milder and shorter the coming winter; the shorter the brown band, the longer and more severe winter will be.

The woolly worm tale was popularized in the 1950s by Dr. C. H. Curran, the curator of insects at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Over an eight year period, he collected woolly worms and measured the width of their colored bands, generally finding wider brown segments, which he linked with milder winters in New York during the same time period.

Festivals celebrate the Woolly Worm Caterillar

Three festivals are planned each year in honor of the clever creatures: the Woolly Bear Festival in Vermillion, Ohio; the Woolly Worm Festivals in Banner Elk, North Carolina and in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. And the myth continues on, all over the United States.

What’s the Forecast for the Winter of 2013/14?

·       Overall mild

·       Start of winter will be more harsh than the end of winter.

·       Early spring

Source: http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/2013/09/calling-all-woolly-worm-interpreters/

Other Nature’s signs

Here are some other ways of looking at nature and predicting weather: Winter Outlook 2013-2014 Animal Style! You'll love the spin plants & animals can tell us all

Source: http://www.liveweatherblogs.com/index.php?option=com_community&view=groups&task=viewdiscussion&groupid=1796&topicid=45291&Itemid=179

I copied some of the information in this blog from the respective websites.  I enjoyed he legacy and the tales connected to the Farmer’s Almanacs which I hope will never be taking away completely because they make good conversation topics.

Honk, honk – Lessons Learned from the Wild Geese

This past Sunday’s sermon, given by our brother Rev. Bruce Grodner, District Pastor at HSA-UWC,  left a deep impression on me.  Bruce talked a lot about team work, co-operation, caring for each other and being kind.  As an example he mentioned about migrating birds, especially wild geese which can travel whole continents by flying in the v-formation.

When we unite, we can achieve so much more than when we work alone.  By joining together we create a force for positive change, discover new territories, and can accomplish anything we set our minds on.  Working together gives a feeling of belonging; it makes us stronger, and helps us accomplish our human purpose.



I found a beautiful poem-like story, written by Dr. Harry Clarke Noyes in 1992 which describes their activities:
The Goose Story

Next
fall, when
you see Geese
heading South for
the Winter, flying along
in V formation, you might
consider what science has dis-
covered as to why they fly that way:
as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an
uplift for the bird immediately following. By
flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least
71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community
can get where they are going more quickly and easily
because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When
a goose falls
out of formation,
it suddenly feels the drag
and resistance of trying to go it alone
and quickly gets back into formation to take
advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

If we have as much sense as a goose,
we will stay in formation
with those who are headed the same way we are.

When
the Head Goose
gets tired, it rotates back
in the wing and another goose flies point.

It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs
with people or with geese flying South.

Geese
honk from behind to
encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

What do we say when we honk from behind?

Finally,
and this is important,
when a goose gets sick, or is
wounded by gunshots and falls out
of formation, two other geese fall out with that
goose and follow it down to lend help and protection.
They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly, or until
it dies. Only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation
to catch up with their group.

IF WE HAVE THE SENSE OF A GOOSE,
WE WILL STAND BY EACH OTHER
LIKE THAT.

by Dr. Harry Clarke Noyes
ARCS NEWS, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 1992

To get a view of what Dr. Noyes is talking about you can watch a video:

We should learn from the wisdom of the flocks of wild geese. "Everyone works hard, all help, and encourage each other. Pull those who fall behind. If someone cannot climb up, help that person by becoming a base for him to step on. This is what it is like to go on the path to Heaven.”
Rev. Sun Myung Moon

Lessons learned from the Goose story:

They geese fly in the v-formation because it helps them conserve energy.  The formation reduces the wind resistance and gives each bird to take the lead (exerting the most energy).  It also helps with visual assurance (like keeping track of each bird), space orientation and communication.  Scientists have now discovered that single flying birds tire much faster.

And so it is with us humans, too.  We can accomplish so much more if we are willing to co-operate, encourage and share with each other.  A common goal can be reached much faster and with less effort by the individuals.

“People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.”

~ Dr. Harry Clark Noyce

Military adaptations of v-formation

Military flight formations are using the v-form in aerodynamics because they have discovered that the leading bird (plane) does not simply block the wind for the following birds. The wings of the birds create wing-tip vortices which create a wind called upwash for the following birds.  Scientist Cutts and Speakman have written extensively about it.

“I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love.”

~Mahatma Gandhi

When we unite, we can achieve so much more that when we work alone.  By joining together we create a force for positive change, discover new territories, and can accomplish anything we set our minds on.  Working together gives a feeling of belonging; it makes us stronger, and helps us accomplish our human purpose.