Did anyone else see this photo which was photographed from space? It is the Polar Vortex over the United States, a frigid mass of cold air that I hope we never see the likes of again! We are lucky that we were so well warned of the sub-zero temperatures.
Do you know of the deadly blizzard from March of 1888? It was an unexpected storm that occurred in the Great Plains of the USA. Affecting Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho...only two of them were states at the time, the rest were territories. Because it caught so many children as they were walking home from school, it became known as "The Children's Blizzard" or "The Schoolhouse Blizzard". Two hundred and thirty five people died, many of them children. This story is told about in a book by David Laskin called, "The Children's Blizzard". Please note that if you click on the link that I gave you, it goes into great detail about the details of how the blizzard developed and David Laskin has all the meteorological facts too, but the most important thing for me is that we need to remember the children. All of the families who lost loved ones...it is simply heartbreaking to read about it.
A few months later, in March of 1888, a blizzard hit the East coast of the United States and was called "The Great Blizzard". Four hundred died in that storm. Nan from her blog letters from a hill farm recommended a book by Jim Murphy, "Blizzard!" which is a young adult book about this storm.
I hope you get the chance to read about these blizzards. True stories about real people. That's what I really care about!
This is a photo of a beautiful sunrise in front of our home. Sunsets are gorgeous but the sun rising is such a welcome sight!
No sure why I know about the story, but I heard it from somewhere. The link has lots of info--so sad reading about the deaths of the young and teachers trying their best to save them. Stay warm.
ReplyDeleteWith this cold and that photo from space, I was reminded of how fortunate we are to have our weather forecasts!
DeleteI know about the Childrens' Blizzard and it is one of the most heart-wrenching stories I have ever heard. The teachers that tried to save those children...the parents...so very sad all the way around.
ReplyDeleteI, too, hope to not see another storm like this again. I wonder what the proponents of global warming say about this? xo Diana
I think that I have read that global warming might be a part of this too, although, I can't say why that is...me and science, forget about it!
DeleteSorry that the Packers lost to SAN FRAN! Gee whiz, those folks needed to WIN that game!!
And you are right, the Children's Blizzard is such a sad story, but there were survivors too and you rejoice for those families.
This is the first time I hear about the Children's Blizzard. You are right, true stories about real people are what we should care most about.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder what the current weather conditions in much of the US will do to flora and fauna. I know nature has an amazing way of restoring itself, but still...
And I think that we should know all about history, not just the pretty, sweet bits of it! I have also read that this Children's Blizzard is fairly well known in the area where it happened, but not much in the rest of the country. We should all know as much history as possible, I believe!
DeleteI sincerely hope that this severe cold weather will not hurt my beloved wildflowers. Nature does have a way of bouncing back!
Wow, I never heard of either of these storms but it's really interesting and so sad. I know I'm a weirdo but I really love this weather. Although I have thought a lot about people who don't have homes or can't afford the heating bills......and that breaks my heart!
ReplyDeleteVery sad story and if my house was warmer I wouldn't mind the cold weather either. As it is, I don't like it when it is below freezing!
DeleteI know that those without homes really suffered in this cold. I hope we are seeing the end of it!
I thankful you posted this. We get so caught up on our own suffering which is nothing in comparison.
ReplyDeleteI make fun of modern times but we just don't know how lucky we really are!
DeleteLaura Ingalls Wilder's book The Hard Winter is about that year, too. Also true stories of survival in those difficult times in the territories.
ReplyDeleteSo many hardships in settling this country, you can't really get this from our history books, you have to really read lots of books! I knew Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote of it...and now, I am reminded of another book that I really must do a post about!
DeleteWe don't have blizzards here in Hawaii, but I can just imagine the terror and suffering. Awful.
ReplyDeleteYou hate to think of all those families losing their children, just heartbreaking, and yet, it is a story that few people know about!
DeletePlease keep your storms and stop sending them this way!!!
ReplyDeleteNo, no, you know how much we like to share everything with you! :-)
DeleteAs this cold covered our area with 30 below zero temps and blowing snow..I was eternally grateful for a warm home, technology that clued us in about it's arrival, and school closings and warnings that help keep our children safe. Life was hard enough back then...survival truly went to the lucky and the fittest. It's so sad when it's children are taken. Thank you for the references to the stories.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you with this storm. I must admit, as cold as it seemed to me, I knew it was much, much worse north of us! Notice on the map though, that Georgia is completely covered by the same swirling mass of cold air! It even went down as far as Florida! Fingers crossed it didn't damage any crops.
DeleteThat last photo of yours is just spectacular, Kay. I love the colors and the silhouette of the trees.
ReplyDeleteThose long ago blizzards were so tragic. I've been getting reports about the cold in Illinois. Thank goodness it's starting to warm up... a little again. My granddaughter was missing going to school.
Thanks, Kay! And that view is from our front door!
DeleteHope this winter eases up a little, especially for the folks up north!