April 9-15, 2007
the trees
are turning
their own bodies
into pillars
of light,
are giving off the rich
fragrance of cinnamon
and fulfillment.
-Mary Oliver
The astronomical outlook The dark Robin Chorus Moon wanes throughout the week, becoming the new Warbler Moon on April 17 at 6:36 a.m. (EDT).
After moonrise, Orion disappears into the far west, Arcturus is reaching the center of the heavens and the Northern Cross (Cygnus, the Swan) is rising from the east, accompanied by the Milky Way. The Lyrid Meteors are active after midnight, between Cygnus and Hercules, during the second and third weeks of April. These shooting stars often appear at the rate of 15-25 per hour.
The weather The chances for a high above 50 degrees are 85 percent almost every day during this part of April, and temperatures above 60 come at least half the time. Cold 20s are rare (just a five-percent chance on April 17-18), but frost still strikes one night in four, on average.
April 19 is another pivot point for spring: A high temperature below 40 degrees is extremely unlikely until October. Chances for highs in the 80s are five percent, 30 percent for the 70s and 60s, 25 percent for the 50s and only 10 percent for the 40s.
Rain or snow falls an average of 35 percent of the time this week. Beginning April 16, we’ll see a major jump in average daily sunlight: An increase from early April’s 50-percent chance of sun to a brighter 70-percent chance for clear to partly-cloudy conditions.
Best times for fishing The following weekly guide to lunar position shows when the moon is above (best times) or below (second-best) the country and, consequently, the period during which fish and game are typically most active.
Date - Best - Second-Best
April 9-16 - Mornings - Evenings Almanac literature
Vacation on the Farm:
A Memory Story
By Sara Beck
Jeffersontown, Ky.
One of my favorite vacations was visiting my cousins at the family farm in Marshall, Mo. We traveled by train, and I slept in the upper berth. Uncle Matt met us in his Model T Ford, and I got to be with my grandpa and my cousins.
The next morning, I awoke to the delicious smell of Grandma’s biscuits baking. We girls rushed downstairs to find the boys just coming out of their sleeping bags. I loved Grandma’s homemade yellow-tomato preserves. After breakfast, the kids tumbled out to the yard where we saw Uncle Matt riding in on his wagon filled with corn stalks for the cattle. “Want to ride?” he asked. Off we went. Then something landed on my arm. I stifled a cry when I saw it was a big grasshopper. I was petrified and sat frozen until we reached the field with the cows. When we jumped off the wagon, I felt I had conquered my first hurdle of the farm. We ate a great dinner at noon. I loved having both angel food and devil’s food, since I’d never had two desserts at the same meal before. Then, Grandma took her nap in the front room - as she lay down, a sunbeam struck and I saw fleas jump from her sofa.
The kids spent the afternoon sliding down the huge straw stack. We played games and then went to the barn to see the piglets. I fell in love with those squealing, squirming animals. Later in the afternoon, we gathered in the yard for the best watermelon I had ever eaten. After supper, Uncle Matt brought out his Magic Lantern and showed pretty pictures (that contraption was the forerunner of our movies and television sets). We left the next morning, with a promise from the Kansas City cousins that they would visit us. The seasons
The third week of April brings Bumblebee Season and Carpenter Bee Season, Asparagus Cutting Season and Crab Apple, Cherry, Dogwood, Redbud and Star Magnolia Flowering seasons. Lawn Mowing Season starts at the same time as Buckeye Leafing Season, the Great Dandelion Bloom Season and Winter Cress in the Pasture Season. The best of late Middle Spring Flower Season surges with watercress and ragwort blooming in the wetlands, thyme-leafed speedwell in the lawn, early meadow rue, rue anemone, wild geranium, large-flowered trillium and columbine in the woods. Along city streets, Pink Magnolia Season replaces White Star Magnolia Season. Buttercup Season and Money Plant Season complement Snowball Viburnum Season and Bridal Wreath Spirea Season. Last week’s Scrambler
In order to estimate your SCRAMBLER IQ, award yourself 15 points for each word unscrambled, adding a 50-point bonus for getting all of them correct. If you find a typo, add another 15 points to your IQ.
GINTNER - RENTING
TINGCSNE - SCENTING
EEICMNTNG - CEMENTING
SSNTNGAEI - ASSENTING
GNITENMGAU - AUGMENTING
INGSENTNOC - CONSENTING
REFNEMGNIT - FERMENTING
QERFUENTGNI - FREQUENTING
MALENTING - LAMENTING
GINTENVREP - PREVENTING This week’s Scrambler
TIVELECLOC
EVITCEVNI
EIEOVTCJB
REPCEPSEVIT
BUSEJECTIVE
VETICEFEIN
SPECINTROEIVT
ERORTEPSITCEV
EEIEVTCFD |
