If snow lays on the ground for three days-it’s waiting on more –Â Appalachian Folklore
I’ve heard that piece of Appalachian folklore all my life. Our 2 inches of snow has remained virtually unchanged since it fell on Tuesday. If the temps stay chilly enough to keep snow from melting for 3 days-chances are its a real cold spell and if any moisture decides to show up-it could indeed fall as snow-right? Maybe not? Maybe it’s just that I’m a true lover of snow and am always wishing for more.
If you’re wondering-the photo above shows the face of a kid who was just told school is out again tomorrow.
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
I live in Dalton, GA. Its been here on the ground or 4 days. My grandmaw always told me that. She said that 3 day’s on the ground and snow will come back around. Love your music !
Tipper,
and Ethelene, so glad you are well, warm and happy! I heard flu was kinda bad down in Georgia, so I was wondering and hoping you weren’t sick…I think a few of the folks that post here from close to our area, (and maybe many others too) have had a flu-like bug…Good to hear from you!
I know how you feel, I love to look out the big window and watch the birds flock around the feeders in the snow. I also look for the other critters, deer, etc. that might make a trip through the back yard. I would love to be out in the white stuff, but with a replaced hip, I am afraid to take a chance on falling…
Thanks Tipper,
PS…Wonder if that big’un is on its way!
Ask Jim and Don, what it means, (type of weather and when it will occur), if I see “Carp” and “Channel Catfish” in the sky? I don’t worry much about them “little speckled trout fellers”. I really don’t think many of the highlanders would know a mackeral in the sky, unless their yankee kin were present! LOL I could be wrong, ’tis happened before! LOL
I want to thank b. Ruth for missing my (what she calls) “sweet comments.” No, gratefully, I haven’t had “flu,”
“can’t help its,” or “mulligrubs.” It’s just been cold here in Milledgeville, and the beautiful snow that has remained around three days here, too, has drawn me to the window and sometimes outside. I’ve just neglected some of my “posting.” I’m remembering, too, those “school out for snow” days I experienced both as a student in Union County, GA and as a teacher in Fannin County, GA. Although we had to “make up” snow days then, that was worth an unexpected “time off.” One time, when out a whole week for teaching, I quilted an entire pieced quilt–all by myself! That particular quilt always seemed to have those happy snow days written on. My quilt frame was in front of the fireplace and I was enjoying a craft I did not get to ply as often as I liked with teaching and home duties! Oh, the joy of snow days–especially if we’re warm, well-fed and can look out upon its pristine beauty from the safety and warmth of a comforting house!
Today’s the third day here in southwest GA and the sun is doing an admirable job of removing all traces of that stuff I left behind 40 years ago. I admit that I enjoyed watching the person with the 4WD SUV pulling people (in their front-wheel drive cars) up the hill in front of our house, and the young’uns playing with their 4-wheelers on the ice and slush in the roadway the next day. I would have done the same thing if I were their age, or even 30 years closer to their age. I even worried a bit about the girl that was visiting her Granny across the street from me. She’s 17 and has a brand-new driver’s license; I was afraid she’d find it necessary to go back to Columbus; thankfully, the private school she attends was closed and she did not move that car until yesterday afternoon, after all vestige of ice had melted. My kids are all grown and gone, so I worry about the neighbor’s kids. Go figure.
OK, gotta run, gotta fix one busted water pipe and I’m all caught up with the storm-damage chores…
Tipper,
The picture above is definitely the
look of a pretty girl not having any
school.
With that last couple of inches on top
of what I already had, it’s like
driving on a Cloud. I hope this warm
spell gets rid of mine, so I can have
more fresh stuff for Snowcream…Ken
Thank God the snow in Atlanta didn’t hang around three days! I have never heard that folklore. Mom always said if the sun shines while it’s snowing, it will snow again the next day at the same time.
Maybe you will get the “big snow” you have been waiting for on Tuesday. The Weather Channel is calling it a monster storm. They just don’t know it’s exact path yet.
Ah Ha! Such a wonderful picture, one for the scrapbook! While snow is a definite inconvenience for those who need to get somewhere, its beauty is spectacular. Since we are currently in North FL, the temps in the high thirties, barely hitting forty, no sun and it is plain raw outside. I’m not sure whether I want beauty or rawness. Tough choice!
Good luck on the scholarship audition Pressley Girls, I know you both will be great!
Hi Tipper!
My mother never gave a time frame…she just said that if the snow hangs around and didn’t melt, it was simply waiting on some more to join it. For us here in Missouri, that is certainly true. We have not had a lot of snow but what we did have was welcomed as we need the moisture. Some shaded, north-facing slopes are still covered and it has been three weeks. We are to receive a snow/sleet mix today. Guess Mama was right!
uh oh! hunker down!
We have about 2 feet of snow on the ground in our back yard. With the cold temperatures often below 0, the snow we get doesn’t get a chance to melt. I shoveled 7″ of snow out of the driveway yesterday and we are due for more snow tomorrow. Our Wisconsin winter has been well below the average temperature. My Mother when I was a child growing up in South Jersey would sometimes say that it was too cold to snow, that doesn’t apply for this part of the country.
I’ve heard that all my life too. Also, if you see a possum out in the daytime, you’ll have bad weather within 3 days. I’ll have to say that has held true what few times I’ve saw a possum out in day light hours. 🙂
I’ve never heard that folklore but that’s exciting! Like you, I love the snow. We had 3 inches and it’s pretty much still everywhere…loving it!
Tipper,
I promise to quit commenting after this one….
But, I miss Ethelene’s sweet comments…hope she is OK and not down with the “flu”, “cain’t help its” or “mulligrubs”!
I’m purty shore they had snow in her neck of the woods as well although not a common occurence!
Thanks Tipper,
Tipper–I’ve heard it a bit differently, using the rhythmic patterns mountain folks found so handy.
“Snow hanging on the ground, Waiting for more to come around.”
There are many others:
“Chimney smoke hugging the ground,
Look for snow to come around.”
“Rabbits moving during the day,
A big snow is on the way.”
“Mackerel clouds in the sky,
It’s going to snow by and by.”
“Sun dogs seen on a winter’s day,
Heavy snow is on the way.”
Jim Casada
http://www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com
B-thank you : ) Everytime I see my baby pictures-including that one I see Pap-I think its the eyebrows LOL : ) Yes Paul was just a thought at that time. The girls have been crafting-making paper beads for bracelets-and practicing their music for a scholarship audition-keep your fingers crossed for them!!
Blind Pig The Acorn
Celebrating and Preserving the
Culture of Appalachia
http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
Here in Brevard, NC, the snow is starting to go away. We have snow in the shady areas, but today, the temp is supposed to get in the low 50s and tomorrow and the next day are forecast to be above freezing both days and nights. I don’t think the snow will be here long.
Tipper,
Hi again…LOL…
I forgot to tell you on the comment page, when you did the snow cream post! That little gal is the cutest and sweetest looking little thang. I just wanted to pick her up and give her a great big hug. But, alas that good looking young man behind her probably wouldn’t let me…
Those tiny fingers would love my “rabbit fur” gloves to go with that pretty little coat too. But, I doubt that her Mommy let her stand there only long enough to snap her picture so I doubt her fingers got cold at all!
Where was Paul…or was he just a thought: LOL
Thanks Tipper, you have some great pictures!
I’m predicting the cold, shaded hollers will keep some snow and we will get more.
Also, “Snow on top of snow, and it’ll snow again.”
Besides, my birthday is coming and I often get snow for my birthday.
Tipper,
It is so cold here today, AGAIN! As my ole buddy “Forrest” would say! I think I told you how much I loved that movie! LOL
My Mom allways said, “If it clouds up on a snow, it will snow again soon”!…Dad said, “Look for a ring around the moon, count the stars inside the ring, that count will tell you how many days it will be until it snows again!”
My Mom and Dad said, “That snow laying around in the shade of the woods for days, meant that it was lonely and was waiting for another snow!” I’ve also heard the one you mentioned in your post about laying around three days, as well!
It is supposed to warm up over the next couple of days, and then
the prediction is for more ice and snow…Has to warm up to snow again! LOL
That is a beautiful picture of that gal jumping for joy in the snow!
Thanks Tipper,
PS…Are you gals getting crafty or sewing during these “indoor cabin days?”
I actually have never heard that, but this winter it sure makes sense.
Tipper you would be very welcome to the snow we have if I could only ship it to you, ours is still hanging around but has melted a lot. I have heard that saying about hanging on waiting for more for as long as I care to remember but I hope all of ours melts soon because I do not care for snow anymore.
Yep, I’ve heard that one all my life too Tipper, if it stays around for three days it’s waiting for more. However I think it’s supposed to get into the 50’s today so I’m betting that one will not hold true, this time.
The girls have been out of school all week haven’t they? That’s pretty unusual these days.
I have always heard that also. Most of ours is gone here in Calhoun, GA., and a balmy 50 degree day should get rid if the rest. It’s the early morning ice that still scares me.