Poors Will's Almanack by Bill Felker 

 

Dec. 15-21, 2014

In the summer, everything in this place seemed to quiver with the continuous wavering of a thousand songs and sounds. But on this day, the quavering had stopped, and a clear, bright calm had descended and had covered everything with its sweet peace.

-Paul Gruchow,

Journal of a Prairie Year

Lunar phase and lore

The Sandhill Crane Migration Moon wanes throughout December’s third week, becoming a half-moon on Dec. 14, and is finally overtaken by the dark new Marauding Mouse Moon at 8:36 p.m. on Dec. 21. Rising in the middle of the night and setting near the middle of the day, the crescent moon is overhead in the morning.

Mid-morning to mid-afternoon fishing and hunting should produce good results (according to the moon), especially as the Dec. 15 and 20 cold fronts approach. Seasonal stress will be increased at the time of the new moon.

On the S.A.D. Stress Index, stress levels reach 71 out of a possible 75 at that time.

Weather trends

The coldest December days, those with better than a 35 percent chance for temperatures in the 20s or below, all come at this time of year: Dec. 17-19 and 25-26.

The most bitter day this period in weather history is Dec. 19, with a 30 percent chance for highs only in the teens.

And more below-zero temperatures occur between Dec. 18-26 than on any other of the month’s mornings. (Double-digit below-zero temperatures are possible between Dec. 15-March 22.)

Precipitation is common throughout the period, with every day this week bringing a 50 percent chance for rain or snow except Dec. 16, which is typically the driest and the sunniest day between now and Christmas.

The natural calendar

Dec. 15: The Christmas cacti are all coming in, the pale pink ones completely open, the darker colors not far behind. If your cacti have already bloomed, keep them in bright light through the year to come, and don’t forget to keep them watered.

Dec. 16: The sun now starts to go down a minute later every few days throughout the United States. Sunset continues to move later in the day throughout the next six months, gaining about 10 minutes in December, around half an hour each in January, February, March, April and May and 10 minutes in June.

Dec. 17: The Ursid meteors fall near the Little Dipper between Dec. 17 and 25. The dark moon will favor viewing of these shooting stars as Christmas approaches.

Dec. 18: At midnight, Orion lies in the middle of the southern sky. Autumn’s Great Square fills on the western horizon and spring’s Regulus leads Leo out of the East. In the north-northeast, the Big Dipper hugs the horizon.

Dec. 19: Along the Gulf of Mexico, the sun is already shortening the dormancy of trees and shrubs, hurrying the gestation of spring.

Dec. 20: In the dark afternoons in December, orchids are in their prime. Under lights, in a greenhouse or in a south window, most varieties bloom before Christmas.

Dec. 21: The sun enters its winter sign of Capricorn, and winter solstice occurs at 6:03 p.m. Not to be outdone, the moon is new today, as well.

In field and garden

Dec. 15: The moon is new on the same day as winter solstice, Dec. 21. Anytime in the next week is recommended for seeding bedding plants under lights. Dec. 17-18th and 21-28 offer the best lunar conditions of all.

Dec. 16: Poinsettias, placed in the closet about 17 hours a day through late fall, should be turning red.

Dec. 17: Hanukkah starts today. It lasts eight days and offers possibilities for marketing lambs and kids.

Dec. 18: Separate your thinnest pregnant ewes and does now and give them a little extra attention in order to improve their body condition and reduce risk of abortion. Mark for culling ewes that failed to rear their October and November lambs.

Dec. 19: Check gladiolus, dahlia and elephant ear bulbs brought in for the winter. They should be dry and firm.

Dec. 20: Be especially careful of stressing pregnant animals this week; abortion risk can increase at new moon. Put off clipping hooves and hair until next week when the moon will be less powerful.

Dec. 21: New moon today is expected to intensify the Christmas cold front. Snow and brisk temperatures are likely throughout the northern half of the country. Taking advantage of the dark moon, get your bedding plants planted under lights with gentle radiant heat provided below the flats. Root grape vine cuttings, too.

The seasons of early winter

The first weeks of the Natural Year, like all the weeks, are filled with seasons. The Major Snow Season started on Dec. 1 and typically lasts 13-14 weeks, ending in the middle of March.

The Season of Heightened Seasonal Affective Disorders started on Dec. 3, peaks on Jan. 3 and then gradually declines through Feb. 19. The Season of Bird Migrations typically closes with the Season of Gull Migration.

Almost all birds (except some of the sandhill cranes) have reached their winter habitats.

Woodchuck and Bat Hibernating Season is under way throughout southwestern Ohio. Redpoll Season arrives in the Northeast, and Mistletoe Gathering Season and Brown Pelican Nesting Season commence along the Gulf of Mexico.

The third week of the Natural Year brings to a close the Season of Late Autumn Crocus Bloom, the Poinsettia Shipment Season, the Season of Bittersweet Shedding and the Corn and Soybean Harvest Season. Leafdrop Season is complete for all but renegade trees, and Fertilizing Season continues through the winter phases.

The Cold Frame Season now protects lucky autumn vegetables from the early winter. Depending on their construction, cold frames may keep root crops and greens from freezing in all but the worst weather.

Almanac literature

Great American Story Contest entry

The Carnival Ride

By Jackie Buckler

Shelby, Ohio

My grandma lived about an hour away from us in 1962 in Shiloh, Ohio. One summer day, a big carnival came to town. Well, I knew I just had to be a brave 10-year-old girl and ride the huge Ferris wheel.

I had my aunt with me one afternoon, and she said she would ride it with me. Now my aunt wasn’t afraid of hardly anything, so I knew we’d be fine. Sure enough, once amid the sights and sound of the big afternoon, I found us seated on the Ferris wheel ride.

Up, up, up we rode all the way to the top – and stopped! All at once I was shocked to hear my aunt yelling “Help! Help! Get me out of here!”

Well, she was wild, and I knew she was really frightened. Down, down we rode, and she jumped off, white as a ghost. That was the last time I ever asked her to ride any ride with me.

I certainly found out my fearless aunt had a fear of heights that long-ago summer day at the carnival.