#Allegheny River

[washingtonscontinentalarmy]

Washington’s 1753 Winter

When it came to winter weather, the beloved General did not have the best of luck. The winters in Morristown and Valley Forge were not kind to Washington or his army as historians have famously reported. The winter of 1799 is also arguably what killed him. Of course, not every winter was completely awful with the Delaware Crossing in 1776 being very successful for Washington. However, did you know that the Delaware was not Washington’s only river crossing? That is what I am going to talk about today.

In 1753, tensions between the French and British armies were rapidly rising about who would control the Ohio Valley Territory. George Washington, then 21, was selected by the British army to carry out the diplomatic mission of ordering the French army to vacate the Ohio Valley. On December 11th 1753, Washington and his traveling companion Christopher Gist would deliver the demand to the French commander Jacques Le Gardeur, who politely refused, forcing Washington and Gist to quickly start the journey a second time, back through the wintery wilderness and their home of Virginia.

It was 18 days later, on December 29th 1753 that the two men reached the Allegheny River, which like the Delaware River would be 23 years later, was filled with large chunks of floating ice. The two men had originally assumed the river would be frozen over to the point where they would be able to walk across, and were therefore ill prepared for the crossing, forcing them to build a wooden raft and paddle across.

About halfway across the river, George Washington was tossed into the river when their raft crashed into a large ice pack on the river. Washington was nearly hypothermic due to the icy waters, and had Gist not been there to assist in pulling George from the water, it is possible that the mixture of woolen clothing dragging the man, and hypothermia impacting his ability to move properly Washington would have drowned in the Allegheny River at just age 21.

Due to the struggle, the two men were too exhausted to free themselves from the ice pack, making it impossible to reach the opposite shore or return the way they had come. Luckily, they were able to wade through the freezing water and stay a night (though miserable) on an island. By the next morning, the river had luckily frozen over allowing Washington and Gist to successfully return to Virginia, where Washington would go on to become the man we all know, while Gist who remained a friend of Washington’s went on to hold successful commands during the French and Indian War died of Smallpox in 1759.

One final interesting thing that can be observed about Washington’s 1753 trip across the Allegheny River is that it overlaps quite heavily with the Turn: Washington’s Spies scene, which shows Benjamin Tallmadge taking a plunge into the Delaware River during the 1776 crossing, leaving one to wonder if his experience may have been based off of Washington’s real world experience.

Source: “Washington's Winters.” George Washington's Mount Vernon, https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/so-hard-a-winter/.

[rabbitcruiser]

National Find a Rainbow Day

Go on a rainbow-hunt, make some rainbow crafts, or simply read about the science and discovery of the beautiful arc that represents so many different things.

Perhaps one of the more interesting and yet lesser-known holidays is an event that is affectionately known as Find a Rainbow Day. As the reader may have already guessed, this celebration occurs during the month of April each year –after all, the early spring is known for its fair share of these beautifully stunning phenomena of refracted light!.

Of course, finding a rainbow is not as easy as it may sound but, if a person is lucky enough to find themselves outside just after a rainstorm in early April, it may just be possible to catch a quick glimpse and even take a snapshot of one of these wonderful natural events. With some extra luck, it may even be possible to spot a double rainbow!

So, in this case, it appears that there are indeed times when a bit of rain is not necessarily a bad thing!

History of Find a Rainbow Day

The science behind rainbows was recorded in 1693. This is when scientists realized that rainbows are caused by light from the sun bending in such a way from the raindrops that it causes a rainbow.

Throughout human history, rainbows have often been a sign of hope and wellness. And, of course, many people know the legend that if one is ever able to find the bottom of the rainbow, they might also find a leprechaun’s pot of gold waiting for them! This legend originates from Ireland and stories of leprechauns have been around since as far back as the 8th century.

While finding the bottom of a rainbow might not actually be possible in terms of science, it’s still a fun legend and story for kids, as well as adults who are kids-at-heart. And a great way to celebrate Find a Rainbow Day!

How to Celebrate Find a Rainbow Day

Quite a few ways to celebrate Find a Rainbow Day can be imagined. It might be fun to grab some friends and try to find a rainbow, although this activity may be dependent on the weather. While rain isn’t usually the kind of weather people prefer, when it comes to Find a Rainbow Day, it sure is!

Host a Rainbow Themed Party

Have some friends over to make rainbow crafts and treats, or decorate the house with all things rainbow-like. Don’t forget to serve rainbow-themed foods. If baking rainbow foods at home isn’t appealing, then colorful candy-like M&M’s or Skittles can be a great snack. On the healthier side, a rainbow-colored tray of fruits and veggies can be a simple, tasty treat that guests will love.

To make a rainbow-themed party even better, have every friend dress in clothes of a different color of the rainbow. Then, line up in color order and take an instant photo that everyone can use to remember the party with!

Make a Rainbow Treat in the Kitchen 

Many people enjoy cooking colorful foods on this day; treats such as jello and cookies might be some of the most common items.

When it comes to rainbows and baking, food coloring can be a great friend. When baking foods like cookies or cakes, food coloring is the easiest way to bring bright, rainbow colors to the baked dessert.

Some other options for making rainbow-themed foods come from more natural ways to color baked goods. Many powdered forms of fruits or vegetables can be purchased at health food stores (like powdered carrot for orange, or strawberry for pink). However, unlike using commercial food coloring, it is important to note that these types of coloring can change the flavor slightly.

Make Projects with Rainbows

Making crafts related to rainbows can be simple or complicated, depending on the type of project chosen. Use some colored paper to cut out and glue together the pieces of a rainbow. Or grab some colored markers to draw fun and easy rainbows on white paper.

Stained glass window kits can be purchased at craft stores for making a rainbow to hang in the sunshine. Or, for those who are really invested in the day, knitting or crocheting a rainbow scarf or socks with many colors of yarn can also be a clever way to bring rainbows into the day!

Watch Reading Rainbow 

A classic show for children of the 80’s and 90’s, Reading Rainbow aired new shows on public television in the United States from 1983 until 1999. Plus, the old episodes were then shown as reruns for another ten years. Now, they can easily be located through various sources online.

This show, hosted by LeVar Burton, was meant to encourage children to read. Every episode focused on a specific topic from a chosen children’s book for that episode, and also recommended new books for children to check out from the library. For some people, watching old episodes of the Reading Rainbow might be a fun activity to bring some nostalgia and, for rainbow lovers, it could be a cool way to see what their parents may have watched when they were children!

Look for Four Leaf Clovers 

Finding the end of a rainbow might not be possible and, even if it was, there’s no way to keep it as a souvenir! But finding a four-leaf clover might be a bit more feasible. It can be a fun little souvenir denoting the search for rainbows, and might even bring some good luck. At the very least, it will provide memories of rainbow-hunting on Find a Rainbow Day.

Source

[coreyscotthill]

The Andy Warhol Bridge at night time. In Pittsburgh PA.

[julieschulerart]

Pittsburgh. Instant Printable art. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1360665230

[newtownpentacle]

back to West End Overlook Park

Monday – photo by Mitch Waxman On December 29th, a humble narrator negotiated his way back to the West End Elliot Overlook Park in the Elliot section of Pittsburgh in the late afternoon. I offered a couple of shots I’d captured up here at dawn last week, but even while I was shooting those I was thinking “I have to come back here at sunset, this “view” is a sunset thing.” Also mentioned last…

[gpfphoto]

Allegheny

[cradledescending1]

The event that transfigured my being…

After Ed and I dressed and freshened-up, I turned on the radio and randomly the song “Always and Forever” by Heatwave was playing. We stopped doing what we were doing, and started slow dancing together. This song had become our song, as it remains to this day, because it holds so much meaning for both of us. Ed asked me while we were dancing, “Any regrets?” I looked at him and said, “No, no…

[worldoflunatriix]

Fiberboard - Exterior Idea for a large, conventional, beige, two-story home's exterior

[laylaheartphilia]

Fiberboard - Exterior Idea for a large, conventional, beige, two-story home's exterior

[bernadettekazmarski]

Reflections

In the afterglow of day the Three Sisters bridges, the lights at PNC Park and the Allegheny River reflect in the glass wall of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Sunset Reflections In the afterglow of day the Three Sisters bridges, the lights at PNC Park and the Allegheny River reflect in the glass wall of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

[rabbitcruiser]

Warmer-than-normal temperatures rapidly melt snow and ice on the upper Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, leading to a major flood in Pittsburgh on March 16, 1936.

[vandaliatraveler]

Damp, cool, and overcast are the prevailing themes of this year's fall season. But even on the darkest of days, nature's inner light cannot be denied. On days like this, as a photographer, I get the benefit of longer exposure shots, which make the colors of the fall forest all the more vivid, expressive, and moody. My early morning hike in Cheat River Canyon reminded me how mist, carotenoids, sandstone, and moss can cast a magical spell that brings joy even on the darkest days.

[newtownpentacle]

Burnt ends

Friday – photo by Mitch Waxman A few odds and ends shots from a visit to the Millvale River Walk space on the Allegheny River, just east of ‘Pittsburgh proper,’ greet you today. As described, this was a scouting scuttle, wherein I was checking the place out and seeing if there were any interesting compositions to be exploited during intervals when the weather was a bit more photogenic. I was…