Semi View/Don't scoff at old sayings; They got old for a reason

In typical Missouri weather fashion, just three days after a five-inch snow, we had a large thunderstorm at our house on Superbowl Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. The loud claps of thunder, lightning shots and marble-sized hail lasted for almost an hour.

But it was the first clap that really got my attention, because that little voice in my head reminded me (after the house stopped shaking), "Thunder in February, frost in May."

I had heard it from my mother-in-law several years ago. It was one of the many sayings she often quoted. As she explained back in settler's times, obviously they didn't have ways to predict weather, so they watched "signs" and developed rhymes and tales to help them get through.

She was very good at remembering the sayings and having never heard such things, she found a very good audience in me.

Now forgive me if I don't remember the exact words, but I think I got the gist of what she taught me.

"Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning."

"The darker the woolly worm, the colder the winter."

"If a snow lingers, there is another one on the way."

"If a cow keeps eating through the rain or snow, it will keep raining or snowing all day. If they just stand still while it rains or snows, it's going to end soon."

"If the sun comes out while it's raining, then the weather will do the same the next day."

I've heard some more from other people through the years.

Such as: "If a man can walk across a pond in November, a dog won't be able to cross it in January."

There's another I can't quite remember, but it has to do with the seeds on the maple trees. Apparently the more there are, the better the corn will be that season. I am especially hopeful those years!

Even though some may not believe these tales, I have been constantly amazed at how often they are correct.

I'm no sailor, but when I see a red sky at night, I know the predicted rain (snow, sleet, etc.) probably won't happen. And red sky at morning, well, I take an umbrella.

And you know, this past fall, and even the one before that, I saw some of the blackest woolly worms ever. It definitely has been a cold winter this year -- and last.

Yes, even though I know some may not believe it, I think the settlers were on to something. And even though I would never put myself on the same level with the old timers, who had to contend with difficulties I can't even begin to understand, I have managed to notice a few weather predictors myself.

"If I wash my car, it will rain -- on the way home."

"But if I wash my car, hoping it will rain, so I can go to a party, family reunion, give birth, take a nap, go to my own funeral, etc., instead of helping in the field -- it will not rain. Not on our farm anyway. The neighbor's farm, yes. Ours no!"

"If a calf is due in a week or two, it will come on the worst weather day possible. (Like snow, rain, ice, 4 degrees below 0, etc.)."

And my all-time favorite. (And this one is very accurate.)

"If the road graders come down our road, it WILL rain within the next 48 hours!"

"And if it doesn't, then you better prepare, because we are in a drought!"

But back to the weather at hand ... frost in May. I don't know about you, but I think I'll plant my green beans a little later this year -- like June!