By WILLIAM FELKER
Poor Will's Almanack Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2015 As December begins, so truly does a new year. Even though plenty of remnants hang on in the land around me – a few pear, beech and lilac leaves, some forsythia and Japanese honeysuckle – there is not enough to keep me looking for the past in this present, not enough to keep me from plotting the beginning of another cycle. -Poor Will Lunar phase and lore The Second Spring Moon (that encourages next year’s weeds to grow back) enters its final quarter at 2:40 a.m. on Dec. 3. Lunar apogee, the moon’s position furthest from Earth, occurs on Dec. 5. Fish and scout for game with the moon overhead near dawn, especially as the cold fronts of Dec. 3 and 8 approach. If you are dieting, be ready with lean meat, celery, carrots and maybe a fat-free granola bar when you see the moon above you before sunrise. Weather trends The last cold front of late autumn usually passes through the Midwest on Dec. 3. Lunar apogee on Dec. 5 is expected to soften the effects of this first monthly system, increasing the possibilities for a warm start to the natural year. The Dec. 8 front, however, ordinarily initiates the 16-week period during which the most snow falls within the borders of the United States. The natural calendar Nov. 30: Tidal lunar influences have been shown to be greater at full moon and new moon times. You might expect more trouble with your children, parents, flock and herd, therefore, on or about Dec. 11 and 25. Dec. 1: Venus moves retrograde, backing up into Libra, lower in the east before sunrise. Mars remains in Virgo, still the red morning star. Jupiter, keeping his place in Leo, rises after midnight and is overhead near dawn. Saturn rises behind Venus in Ophiuchus. So here is the order of their rising: Jupiter is the first, then Mars, then Venus, then Saturn. Dec. 2: The moon exerts less influence on ocean tides and on human and animal behavior when it comes into its second and fourth quarters. Therefore, it might make more sense to shop and then take care of your animals, family and other friends on or about Dec. 3 and 18. Dec. 3: The S.A.D. Index, which measures – on a scale of 1 to 75 – the forces which can contribute to seasonal affective disorders, climbs from 62 at the beginning of December to its highest so far this winter: a reading of 66 by Dec. 10. If you are susceptible to seasonal stress (accompanied by depressions and irritability), keep your diet balanced, continue to exercise and drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids. Dec. 4: Except along the Gulf Coast, nearly every deciduous tree is bare. Bats hibernate where insects have been killed by frost. Crows flock to winter roosts. Dec. 5: The sun reaches a declination of 22 degrees, 17 minutes today, slightly more than 1 degree from its declination at winter solstice. The sun’s position stays within a degree of solstice until Jan. 8, producing a period of solar stability similar to the one between June 4-July 8. Dec. 6: Since most heart attacks occur during early winter, be especially careful of strenuous activities throughout the month. In field and garden Nov. 30: Call in final bedding plant seed orders for delivery before Dec. 11. Dec. 1: Mulched parsley, carrots, beets, potatoes, chard, broccoli, kale and chives can still be brought in from the vegetable garden. Dec. 2: Growth of winter wheat slows in the cold. Some fields yellow from low nitrogen levels. The Christmas tree harvest is still in progress, and Christmas cacti often have reached full bloom. Dec. 3: It’s time to plug in the electric bucket heaters and try to keep the water near 50 degrees for your livestock. Small fish ponds and water features may also benefit from heaters. Dec. 4: Bedding plant seeding for 2016 starts a few days before the new moon (Dec. 11). This is the time to prepare seeds and flats for May flowers. Continue seeding at new moon throughout the winter months. Dec. 5: Maintain good ventilation in the barn for all your animals, and watch for stress from overcrowding. Keep on the lookout for pneumonia. Dec. 6: Plant daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs after you have chilled them for about 13 weeks. Almanac literature This Story Stunk By Margaret Horn Crawfordsville, Ind. One evening I returned home from work late, going into the house via the carport. As I came around the corner of the house, there was a skunk eating out of the cat pan. Not wanting to alarm her, I went around and knocked on the side door of the house. From inside my husband yelled, “Who is it?” “Come and let me in,” I replied. Why not come in the back door?” he answered. “Because there is a skunk there,” I said. Once I was inside my husband tried yelling at the skunk through the screen door, but it didn’t budge. “I’ll show her who’s boss!” he said. Going to the faucet, he ran very hot water into a pitcher, then went to the screen and threw the water on the skunk. Big mistake – she sprayed the whole area with her perfume. Eventually she left and we tried to scrub down the walls and floor to get rid of the scent. Nothing worked. We had to paint the walls with stain-killer, then apply regular paint. It was a lesson learned the hard way. 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. GIVANTEA – NAVIGATE TIAAETG – AGITATE GGGRTEEA – AGGREGATE RRGTIIAE – IRRIGATE EAITR – IRATE ETARBELEC – CELEBRATE EAOETRCD – DECORATE ATEPETUPER – PERPETUATE RAPCITEAT – PARTICIPATE REPTEPTARE – PERPETRATE This week’s Scrambler SAMTISCHR AECTRSS SALAT XISOUNA SIGAE SELSAGE UAGNS MARSELS NTPASES MOSA
The 2016 Poor Will’s Almanack is in! For your autographed copy, send $20 (includes S&H) to: Poor Will, P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, OH 45387. You can see a sample of the Almanack and order online at www.poorwillsalmanack.com Listen to Poor Will’s “Radio Almanack” on podcast anytime at www.wyso.org and send your true tales to Poor Will at the address above. You’ll receive $4 if the story appears in this column. |
