A day of thaw. Early this morning crows flew westward over the prairie, cawing in the fresh, temperate air, their voices as always filling the morning with the promise of spring. – August Derleth, A Countryman’s Journal, Jan. 15

The Moon, the Stars and the Sun

The Fourth Week of Deep Winter

The Tufted Titmouse Moon, full on Jan. 17, wanes throughout the period, entering its final quarter on Jan. 25 at 8:41 a.m. Rising in the evening and setting in the morning, this Moon passes overhead in the middle of the night. Animal activity will be most easily monitored at the second-best lunar time, when the moon is below Earth, during the middle of the day. Expect more activity at the approach of the January Thaw between the 19th and 24th.

Jan1 19 is the first day of the new year that three minutes are taken away from the night in one 24-hour period. In spite of the cold, the advance of spring is quickening, and from this week forward, the night contracts by two to three minutes per day all the way into June.

The Sun enters its sign of Aquarius on the 20th, ushering in the last sub season of winter (aptly called “Late Winter”). And the day’s length approaches a spring-like 10 hours. The brightest marker of Late Winter, Sirius, the giant Dog Star, is due south at 10 p.m. The Great Square of autumn is setting in the west then. Perseus follows Cassiopeia into the northwest.

Weather Trends

The low that precedes the Jan. 19 cold front is the first one of the year to consistently offer the possibility for a major thaw. On the other hand, bitter weather often follows as the next front arrives.

Zeitgebers

(Events in Nature that Tell the Time of Year)

This is the time of year to watch for the first flocks of robins arriving from the South. Bluebird sightings become more common, too, and by the 26th, cardinals ordinarily begin their mating songs half an hour before sunrise. Junco movement also starts in mid-January; you may see them flocking by the side of the road, planning their journey to Canada.

As the sun moves into Aquarius, crows start migration. Be on the lookout for opossums and skunks in the milder nights. The first flies of the year come out in the sun.

In the Field and Garden

Prepare to seed bedding plants and cold-weather vegetables (like collards, kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts) near new moon (Feb. 1).

Reserve your spring chicks for March, April or May so they can gain weight throughout the summer and be ready to lay by autumn.

Take advantage of the darkening moon for cutting wood and for your winter building projects. Order or build cloches (small covers of transparent material for individual plants set outdoors). Clean and repair cold frames. Make hot frames (which traditionally use manure for heat).

This is also a good lunar time for frost seeding the lawn (as long as there is no snow cover), as well as for frost seeding oats and barley. Spread the seeds across the field and yard; the freezing and thawing of the ground as winter progresses will do the planting for you.

Take advantage of the weak moon to move livestock culls to market, as well as to give vaccinations, trim hooves and treat for parasites. Animals ought to be a little less skittish than they were last week under the full moon.

If you have just adopted a puppy or kitten, this is a fine lunar week to get your new pet his or her shots. As for your chickens, check them for mites.

Mind and Body

When the moon lies early in its gentle fourth quarter, it will be most favorable for going on dates and for working with livestock. Teachers and other public service employees should also have it easy – compared to what they often experience during full-moon week.

The S.A.D. Index, which measures the forces that contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorders on a scale of 1 to 100, remains in the 70s most days of the period and even dips down to 68 on Jan. 25. Although the Index shoots up to the 90s again by the end of the month (thanks to the new moon), the lengthening day combines with improved odds for milder temperatures and for more sunshine to provide light at the end of winter’s tunnel.

Almanack Classics

Herman’s Famous Ears

From the memories of Lela Maurine Lamb Johnson (born 1904)

I believe it was when boys still wore knee pants that my brother Herman went to the Amboy Department Store and bought one bright red and one bright green sock.

Why they ever sold them to him as such I never knew. Anyway, he then put on a great show. He wore them to school. What a sensation, but also what a fad he started! The store quickly sold out of unmatched red and green socks.

Another thing about Herman: Mother could wiggle her ears, so Herman thought if she could, he could also. He practiced until he mastered the art.

He sang in the choir and practiced his art while the minister was preaching. He would look carefully over the congregation until he got the attention of his victims, which were often some girls sitting together. Then looking very solemn, he would wiggle his ears at them. Naturally this was most disruptive.

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S SCKRAMBLER

In order to estimate your SCKRAMBLER 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.

FISH HISF

SWISH            WISSH

DISH            SHID

DISTINGUISH      TINDISHSIUG

ANGUISH        GANUISH

EXTINGUISH      SHIUGEXTIN

ROUGHISH          GUOR

ROUNDISH          DISHNOUR

RELINGUISH      LINGUISHER

REPLENISH          HSINELPER

 

 

THIS WEEK’S RHYMING SCKRAMBLER

LESSDORC

HEESSLOM

TINLESSPR

NNEESSLIP

PRISSEELC

TEESSSRL

MAISSEL

GHTLESSSI

NISSSEL

SSELECAF

 

Copyright 2022 – W. L. Felker