Good 38º chance of rain morning.
Yesterday morning just at sunrise there was this red sky to the east of us.....
The fog in Grants Pass was heavy....
We topped at 65º.
Picture of the Day...architecture failure....
Interesting about the 5 foggiest places in North America...
While there’s nothing initially exciting about fog, there’s no doubt that there is something interesting and mysterious about the way it can change a landscape simply by enveloping it in a cloud. A sunny landscape can be instantly turned into a scene from a scary movie with the addition of one of Mother Nature’s props. But of course it isn’t sinister at all. It’s simply moisture in the air.
Fog forms when two ground level air masses of different temperatures meet, especially over bodies of water, and condense to form a low-lying cloud. And depending on the micro-climate of that land mass (such as mountains), the fog can get trapped and has a tougher time being burned off by the Sun’s rays. Many parts of North America receive fog at one time or another. But for some areas, it’s an everyday occurrence.
Here’s a list of five places where fog is a way of life:
Grand Banks, Newfoundland. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the foggiest place in the world, no less North America, is this spot off the island of Newfoundland, Canada, where the chilly Labrador current from the north meets up with the much warmer Gulf Stream from the south, creating 206 foggy days per year. When the fog burns off it starts with the inland areas, slowly making its way to the coast, so it takes longer to dissipate. The town of Argentia, once the site of a US Naval Air Station commissioned during World War II, would be fogged in for days. One serviceman recalls, “Being on base was tough. A fog factory. Yet right in the next town over, it would be sunny.”
Point Reyes, California. Point Reyes has two monikers of notoriety: not only is it known as the windiest place on the Pacific Coast (some clocked at hurricane force levels), but it’s known as the second foggiest place on the North American continent. Thanks to the Pacific Ocean, which contributes by providing the moisture and by its temperature, that contrasts greatly with the air surrounding it. The area gets 200 foggy days per year that can stick around for weeks, especially during the summer months. Visibility is commonly reduced to mere feet.
Cape Disappointment, Washington. With a name like that, you may wonder if the fog had anything to do with why this spot made the list! Located in the extreme southwest corner of Washington State, Cape Disappointment sees nearly three and a half months of thick fog each year, and just like at Point Reyes, the Pacific Ocean has a lot to do with it. Washington is the most overcast state in the Union and sees 165 foggy days a year on average.
San Francisco, California. While San Francisco may not be at the top of the list in terms of number of foggy days, fog is famous in San Francisco. In fact, even though the City By The Bay only sees half of the foggy days as Cape Disappointment, no place on Earth is more associated with fog. Who doesn’t conjure up the image of the Golden Gate Bridge, peeking out from the clouds at the very mention of the city? During the winter months, San Francisco gets enveloped by a tule fog, a radiation fog which develops in humid conditions (like after a rain), calm winds, and abrupt cooling of air temperatures (especially at night, when they are the longest in winter). The mountains trap the cool air clouds and force them downward. “You never think you’ll get used to living in a cloud all the time,” said one resident. “But one day, you find you just don’t mind anymore.”
Mistake Island, Maine. The Atlantic Coast’s fog capital is Maine’s Moose Peak Lighthouse on Mistake Island, northeast of Bar Harbor, where foggy conditions are reported nearly 1,600 hours annually, thanks this time to the chilly Atlantic Ocean. In early 1931, it was announced that Moose Peak Lighthouse “has just completed another year as the foggiest spot in the United States,” according to the Lighthouse Service of the Department of Commerce. The keepers at Moose Peak reported 1,562 hours of fog during 1930, an average of roughly four hours each day. There are no more lighthouse keepers, but tourists flock to the area, only accessible by boat, to see the fog for themselves.
From Mr. Food
Ok, you don’t have to be a cowboy (or cowgirl) to enjoy this flavor-packed dip that’s studded with all sorts of good stuff like bacon, corn, and lots of cheddar cheese. This is ideal for an after school treat, to put out on game night or really any night. And when it comes to dippers for this, we think anything goes.
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (1-ounce) package ranch dressing mix
- 1 tablespoon diced pimiento, drained well
- 1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon real bacon pieces
- 2 teaspoons chopped chives
- In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, cream cheese, and ranch dressing mix; mix until smooth.
- Stir in corn, pimiento, cheddar cheese, bacon, and chives; mix well.
- Serve or refrigerated until ready to serve.
Test Kitchen Tip: Serve dip with pretzels, chips, or your favorite fresh veggies.
Historically this date........
1822 – The design of the Greek flag is adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus.
1993 – Space Shuttle program: Endeavour heads for space for the third time as STS-54 launches from the Kennedy Space Center.
2001 – An earthquake hits El Salvador, killing more than 800.
And births this date include...
1884 – Sophie Tucker, Russian-born singer and performer (d. 1966)
1919 – Robert Stack, American actor (d. 2003)
1931 – Charles Nelson Reilly, American actor (d. 2007)
1934 – Rip Taylor, American actor (d.2019)
1943 – Richard Moll, American actor
1961 – Julia Louis-Dreyfus, American actress
1962 – Trace Adkins, American country music singer-songwriter
1966 – Patrick Dempsey, American actor
All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Thursday. Ciao.
xo Sue Mom Bobo
According to a 1973 Sesame Street calendar, Rubber Duckie’s Birthday is January 13th so around the country it’s National Rubber Ducky Day! A friend of Ernie and Big Bird, Duckie made his debut in a February 1970 episode.
The rubber ducky (also spelled duckie) has come a long way from his first concept as a chew toy for children. While the origin of the first rubber ducky is uncertain, many rubber molded toys came about when rubber manufacturing developed in the late 1800s. They produced a variety of toys from dolls and various animal shapes, including the rubber duck.
In 1928, Landon Smart Lawrence received the earliest patent fora rubber duck toy. His clever design weighted the toy so that when it tipped it returned to an upright position. The sketch included with the patent was that of a duck.
During World Wars I and II, rubber was a valuable commodity. Rationing became mandatory and by the 1940s with the advent of plastic, the rubber ducky began being produced in vinyl and plastic.
Russian Sculptor Peter Ganine sculpted many animal figures. One, a duck, he later designed and patented into a floating toy which closely resembles the rubber ducky we have become familiar with today.
Sales of the iconic yellow rubber ducky we’ve come to know today soared in Britain in 2001. Why? A British Tabloid, The Sun, reported Queen Elizabeth II had a rubber duck in her bathroom that wore an inflatable crown.
The rubber ducky became a Toy Hall of Fame inductee in 2013. Founded in 1998, the Hall of Fame has only inducted 52 other toys.
I have some rubber ducks.......
