Wintery Wonderland

With this recent blast of winter, I often consider what my ancestors did when faced with these weather conditions. This led me to look up the Farmers' Almanac. Did you know that the Farmers' Almanac first started publishing in 1818? You can find more information here. My 3rd-great-grandfather Aaron Ballard was age 21 in 1818; I wonder if he invested in a copy of the Farmers' Almanac whilst living in south-central Kentucky? Maybe one person had a copy and let their family and neighbors read it.

My assumption is my ancestors would have prepared accordingly depending on where they lived, though sometimes weather situations arise unexpectedly. For example, in Indiana, a seemingly harmless thunderstorm can turn on a dime into a damaging tornado.

How do you think your ancestors handled weather extremes?

Backyard snow, 2025. Captured by Kaye Ford.