Author Topic: Happy Longerdays! (Read 31913 times)

Front-Ranger · « **on:** December 22, 2017, 04:08:37 pm »

I think this is our first exclusively BetterMost holiday: Longerdays!

(with thanks to serious crayons and Pentheslea)

Happy Longerdays, everyone!

serious crayons · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2017, 12:09:52 pm »

Thank you, Lee! And same to you!

The sun is now up for a few seconds longer each day. I can't say the difference is ever very noticeable, for me at least, until at least mid-February. But it's nice to know it's happening.

Here's an interesting article with great maps about how the solstice works, how daylight times differ in other parts of the country, how sunrise and sunset don't start expanding at the same rate, why the coldest part of winter usually follows the solstice (and differs by weeks, Lee, between CO and MN). Sorry, non-US Brokies, it's from the Washington Post and is very US-centric, but it will give you information you can loosely apply to your own geography.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/12/21/winter-solstice-2017-five-things-you-should-know-about-the-shortest-day-of-the-year/?utm_term=.39d10c729ec8

And here's a chart showing how the coldest, warmest and in-betweenest times tend to follow a Dec-Feb, March-May etc. pattern. Apparently these are called meteorological seasons (based on weather), while the solstice-equinox system is called astronomical seasons, and the writer advocates for adopting the former.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/12/01/this-chart-shows-why-winter-should-without-question-officially-begin-dec-1/?utm_term=.99eab5b7452e

CellarDweller · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2017, 03:25:18 pm »

Happy Longerdays!

Penthesilea · « **Reply #3 on:** December 24, 2017, 05:33:09 am »

Quote from: serious crayons on December 23, 2017, 12:09:52 pm

Here's an interesting article with great maps about how the solstice works,

Cool maps, thanks for sharing

.

serious crayons · « **Reply #4 on:** December 24, 2017, 03:47:44 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 22, 2017, 04:08:37 pm

I think this is our first exclusively BetterMost holiday: Longerdays!

You're right! It's very Brokieish.

Of course, we always keep a special place in our hearts for Brokie Thanksgiving. And, to a lesser extent, the Fourth of July.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2020, 05:25:15 pm »

Five years ago, I posted this on this day:

Some surprise good news. TODAY is the earliest sunset of the season. Sunrises will continue getting later and later until the 21st. Thanks to Earl Mellor
for the info.

serious crayons · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2020, 07:56:10 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 06, 2020, 05:25:15 pm

Some surprise good news. TODAY is the earliest sunset of the season. Sunrises will continue getting later and later until the 21st. Thanks to Earl Mellor for the info.

Apologies if I asked you this same question five years ago, but why?

I will say the sun set plenty early tonight. It was cloudy, which exacerbates the effect, but it was dark by 4:30 at least.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2020, 08:18:57 pm »

Maybe this just applies to approximately the latitude of Philadelphia, but the almanac I use gives the length of the day (meaning daylight) for each Sunday. Today the length was 9 hours, 27 minutes. Next Sunday it will be 9 hours, 22 minutes. On December 20, the day before the Winter Solstice, the length will be 9 hours, 20 minutes. On December 27, the length will have crept back up to 9 hours, 22 minutes.

(I forgot today is St. Nicholas' Day, and next Sunday is St. Lucy's Day.)

serious crayons · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2020, 08:37:26 pm »

Well, explaining this is beyond both my math and astronomy skills, but I found a chart that showed the sunsets getting earlier through Dec. 13 but then moving later starting the 14th. The speed at which they change increases as they go along. The sunrises get later throughout the month (by a minute every day or two in each case).

But the daylength is shortest on Dec. 21 and then starts increasing by a few seconds a day on Dec. 22.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2020, 05:11:34 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on December 06, 2020, 07:56:10 pm

Apologies if I asked you this same question five years ago, but why?

It's kind of complicated. This site explains it rather well:
https://abc7ny.com/winter-solstice-latest-sunrise-earliest-sunset-solar-time/8593291/

NYC had its earliest sunset on the 7th. Here in Denver, it's happening around 4:35 pm each day.

serious crayons · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2020, 11:24:59 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 10, 2020, 05:11:34 pm

It's kind of complicated. This site explains it rather well:
https://abc7ny.com/winter-solstice-latest-sunrise-earliest-sunset-solar-time/8593291/

NYC had its earliest sunset on the 7th. Here in Denver, it's happening around 4:35 pm each day.

But is the total daylight shortest on the 21st?

Here the sunrises and sunsets change in counterintuitive ways, but the shortest day is still the 21st.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2020, 05:38:18 pm »

For quite some time, sunset here has been at 4:37 pm. You can set your watch by it.

serious crayons · « **Reply #12 on:** December 18, 2020, 10:39:25 am »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 17, 2020, 05:38:18 pm

For quite some time, sunset here has been at 4:37 pm. You can set your watch by it.

4:33 here. This is the darkest week of the year.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #13 on:** December 18, 2020, 11:05:52 am »

Quote from: serious crayons on December 18, 2020, 10:39:25 am

4:33 here. This is the darkest week of the year.

In more ways than one.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2021, 01:54:32 pm »

At last! Sunset is past 5 pm here in these parts. And sunrise is at 7:18 am.

Also, we may be headed towards the "January thaw" that we sometimes have. This morning, it rained for a bit.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #15 on:** January 16, 2021, 02:00:01 pm »

Yes, I've noticed that the darkness is coming later.

serious crayons · « **Reply #16 on:** January 17, 2021, 12:05:18 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on January 16, 2021, 01:54:32 pm

At last! Sunset is past 5 pm here in these parts. And sunrise is at 7:18 am.

According to my phone, sunset today is 5 p.m. sharp and sunrise tomorrow is 7:45.

So it's still pretty dark, but it's unusually warm. By which I don't mean literally warm. Daytime temperatures have been in the teens, 20s and 30s -- got up to about 40, maybe even over, a couple of days. If there's been any below zeros, they were at night. We've only had one or two days with single-digit highs.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #17 on:** December 06, 2021, 04:31:58 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 06, 2020, 05:25:15 pm

Some surprise good news. TODAY is the earliest sunset of the season. Sunrises will continue getting later and later until the 21st. Thanks to Earl Mellor
for the info.

Yay! We are about to start having evenings again, instead of early afternoon turning into night.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #18 on:** December 07, 2021, 10:16:15 am »

Yup. According to Google, the Winter Solstice is Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 10:59 a.m. EST.

Penthesilea · « **Reply #19 on:** December 20, 2021, 10:30:34 am »

Quote from: CellarDweller on December 07, 2021, 10:16:15 am

Yup. According to Google, the Winter Solstice is Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 10:59 a.m. EST.

One more day- I can do that

For the last week I've been peeking towards the calendar, looking forward to Longerdays. Every time I think something along the lines of "What? It's already/still dark outside? - *'+%*

"

Longerdays, followed by Christmas, sure is a ray of hope in dull winter days.

- and the sun has come out during the last minutes

I take it whenever I can.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #20 on:** December 20, 2021, 11:49:46 am »

I'm getting ready for Longerdays! Getting out my lighter, smudging supplies, and little candle that I got on the Isle of Lewis when I visited there for the Equinox in 2010.

serious crayons · « **Reply #21 on:** December 28, 2021, 01:56:58 pm »

I remind myself now and then throughout the day that we've arrived at Longerdays. Very comforting!

Penthesilea · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2021, 01:33:08 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on December 28, 2021, 01:56:58 pm

I remind myself now and then throughout the day that we've arrived at Longerdays. Very comforting!

Yes! And I try to gauge wether darkness comes noticeably later already.

I'm not sure about it, but I do think it's getting brighter in the mornings. Hard to be sure however since I have a lovely period off work and get to sleep in every day.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #23 on:** December 30, 2021, 04:22:32 pm »

Quote from: Penthesilea on December 30, 2021, 01:33:08 pm

Yes! And I try to gauge wether darkness comes noticeably later already. I'm not sure about it, but I do think it's getting brighter in the mornings. Hard to be sure however since I have a lovely period off work and get to sleep in every day.

This is one reason why I enjoy getting an almanac geared to the latitude where I live. It gives the time of sunrise and sunset every day, so it's possible to track the times of sunrise and sunset and watch sunrise get earlier and sunset later as the world moves from winter toward spring. In addition, at the beginning of each week, there is a notice of the length of the day. For example, this Sunday the length of the day is given as 9 hours 25 minutes. Next Sunday it's 9 hours 32 minutes. That's a gain of 7 minutes.

Penthesilea · « **Reply #24 on:** December 31, 2021, 08:03:34 am »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on December 30, 2021, 04:22:32 pm

This is one reason why I enjoy getting an almanac geared to the latitude where I live. It gives the time of sunrise and sunset every day, so it's possible to track the times of sunrise and sunset and watch sunrise get earlier and sunset later as the world moves from winter toward spring. In addition, at the beginning of each week, there is a notice of the length of the day. For example, this Sunday the length of the day is given as 9 hours 25 minutes. Next Sunday it's 9 hours 32 minutes. That's a gain of 7 minutes.

7 minutes gained in one week, yay! That's exactly what I need to hear in winter and why I like Longerdays so much

Good idea with the almanach.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #25 on:** August 11, 2022, 05:43:47 pm »

Goodbye to 8 pm sunsets in Denver. Tonight will be the last one until May 2023. $:-\$

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #26 on:** August 11, 2022, 08:20:33 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on August 11, 2022, 05:43:47 pm

Goodbye to 8 pm sunsets in Denver. Tonight will be the last one until May 2023. $:-\$

According to my almanac, the last one here will be on Saturday.

Just now when I went to check, I saw I had not turned the almanac page over to August. Just too distracted lately.

The moon was full last night. As it was rising it looked like a wheel of Gouda cheese.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #27 on:** August 12, 2022, 10:15:28 am »

I just checked this site, it says sunset today will be at 8:01, and sunset on Saturday will be 7:59.

I'm not sure how the site works, and if there would be different times for different areas.

https://www.suntoday.org/sunrise-sunset/2022.html

serious crayons · « **Reply #28 on:** August 12, 2022, 11:20:33 am »

Yes, you can set your location. When I pulled it up it was set for Denver. In Minneapolis, today's sunset is at 8:26. One of the few advantages of living this far north. By the end of the month it will be at 7:54.

Although then I plugged in Grand Marais, MN, a small vacation town up by the Canadian border. I've always thought sunset seemed especially late up there. But this table has it slightly earlier than here -- 8:21 and 7:46, respectively.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #29 on:** August 12, 2022, 01:50:38 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on August 12, 2022, 11:20:33 am

Yes, you can set your location. When I pulled it up it was set for Denver. In Minneapolis, today's sunset is at 8:26. One of the few advantages of living this far north. By the end of the month it will be at 7:54.

Although then I plugged in Grand Marais, MN, a small vacation town up by the Canadian border. I've always thought sunset seemed especially late up there. But this table has it slightly earlier than here -- 8:21 and 7:46, respectively.

It's the funniest thing. We've had this discussion before, and I still don't get it.

I know our seasons come about because of the tilt of the earth's axis roughly 25.5 degrees, and I know "the sun doesn't set above the Artic Circle" in high summer. Yet as I visualize the sun "moving south" from the summer solstice to the autumn equinox, I still don't get why it doesn't get dark earlier "up north." It still seems counterfactual to me, even though I observed the phenomenon first had when I made my big cross-country train trip. It was later in the summer, and when the train stopped in northern Montana, it was light later in the evening than it would be back home.

Maybe what I should do is the old science class trick of sticking a pencil through a styrofoam ball and moving it around a light bulb.

Then I have to make sure I have the pencil tilted enough and in the right direction.

serious crayons · « **Reply #30 on:** August 13, 2022, 10:32:19 am »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 12, 2022, 01:50:38 pm

It's the funniest thing. We've had this discussion before, and I still don't get it.

I know our seasons come about because of the tilt of the earth's axis roughly 25.5 degrees, and I know "the sun doesn't set above the Artic Circle" in high summer. Yet as I visualize the sun "moving south" from the summer solstice to the autumn equinox, I still don't get why it doesn't get dark earlier "up north." It still seems counterfactual to me, even though I observed the phenomenon first had when I made my big cross-country train trip. It was later in the summer, and when the train stopped in northern Montana, it was light later in the evening than it would be back home.

Maybe what I should do is the old science class trick of sticking a pencil through a styrofoam ball and moving it around a light bulb. Then I have to make sure I have the pencil tilted enough and in the right direction.

I think at least part of the explanation is that at the solstice, the days are longer farther north. So on June 21, the sun sets at 8:33 in Philadelphia, 9:03 in Minneapolis and 11:43 in in Anchorage. Daylight in northern cities must shrink more quickly after June 21, though. By Sept. 22 everybody's got 12 hours. Then northern daylight keeps shrinking faster until Dec. 21 -- although, weirdly, at that point sunsets in Philadelphia are only 5 minutes later than Minneapolis (3:34 and 4:39 respectively, but sunRISES are earlier in Philadelphia. Anchorage sunset on Dec. 21 is 3:41 p.m.

These times are affected not just by longitude but also by latitude -- that is, where the city is located within the time zone.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #31 on:** August 13, 2022, 02:29:28 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on August 13, 2022, 10:32:19 am

These times are affected not just by longitude but also by latitude -- that is, where the city is located within the time zone.

I'm afraid you have that backward. Latitude is how far north (or south) of the Equator you are. Longitude is how far you are located west (or east) of the Prime Meridien (which runs through Greenwich, England).

I don't know how they do it now, but conventionally latitude and longitude were both expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds. Thus the latitude of Philadelphia is 39 degrees, 57 minutes, 9 seconds North. The longitude is 75 degrees, 9 minutes, 55 seconds West. (I spelled everything out because I don't know how to get the degree symbol.)

You can see this in action in Close Encounters, where the UFO guys are getting this stream of numbers, and somebody recognizes them as latitude and longitude coordinates (which turn out to be for Devil's Tower).

serious crayons · « **Reply #32 on:** August 14, 2022, 11:35:57 am »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 13, 2022, 02:29:28 pm

I'm afraid you have that backward. Latitude is how far north (or south) of the Equator you are. Longitude is how far you are located west (or east) of the Prime Meridien (which runs through Greenwich, England).

Oops, yeah. I keep thinking the rule is that "longitude" is the longer one and therefore runs is north-south. Whereas the mnemonic I should be using is Jimmy Buffett!

CellarDweller · « **Reply #33 on:** August 15, 2022, 05:56:49 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 13, 2022, 02:29:28 pm

You can see this in action in Close Encounters, where the UFO guys are getting this stream of numbers, and somebody recognizes them as latitude and longitude coordinates (which turn out to be for Devil's Tower).

and with this post, you made me want to find the scene from the movie where tones are being used for communication. Found it on YouTube.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #34 on:** August 24, 2022, 09:19:58 am »

I was letting the cat out and I noticed a certain duskiness in the garden today. I went out and looked up at the sky. It was a boneless blue--no clouds. But the sun wasn't yet in the sky at 7 am. $:-\$

serious crayons · « **Reply #35 on:** August 24, 2022, 10:10:38 am »

Weird. Not to quibble, but this site says it's supposed to rise at 6:20 a.m. today. I'm hoping this is a sign the sun is rethinking its planned route this year and will just stick with the 14-hour days throughout the winter.

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/denver?month=8

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #36 on:** August 24, 2022, 12:01:20 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on August 24, 2022, 10:10:38 am

Weird. Not to quibble, but this site says it's supposed to rise at 6:20 a.m. today. I'm hoping this is a sign the sun is rethinking its planned route this year and will just stick with the 14-hour days throughout the winter.

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/denver?month=8

That's the time my almanac gives for sunrise today in these parts: 6:20 a.m.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #37 on:** August 25, 2022, 03:01:59 pm »

Well, I didn't think we were going to be scientific about it

. I meant the sun wasn't in the sky...I couldn't see it. It may have risen above the horizon, but it's got to travel farther before I can see it at my house.

I'm reminded of that lovely song "Ticket to the Moon": "but I'd rather see the sunrise in your eyes."

serious crayons · « **Reply #38 on:** August 26, 2022, 10:55:08 am »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on August 25, 2022, 03:01:59 pm

Well, I didn't think we were going to be scientific about it . I meant the sun wasn't in the sky...I couldn't see it. It may have risen above the horizon, but it's got to travel farther before I can see it at my house.

I don't mean to draw out this debate, but I'm curious about a couple of things. 1) What gets in the way of your seeing the sun at sunrise -- trees, houses, or ... ? and 2) Does Denver not get good sunsets because the mountains block it or are they far enough away that they aren't really a factor? Obviously I've been in Denver for many sunsets but don't remember noticing or being disappointed. In fact, I do vaguely remember once arriving in the evening to a bright orange western sky. But sunsets are super important to me, partly because I am rarely up for sunrises (and now also because my apartment faces west so I see sunrises only reflecting off buildings and trees). I do distinctly remember that one thing I disliked about living in NYC for a year was skyscraper sunsets -- losing the sun and walking in shadows much earlier than you would without all those buildings in the way.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #39 on:** August 26, 2022, 11:30:30 am »

Quote from: serious crayons on August 26, 2022, 10:55:08 am

I don't mean to draw out this debate, but I'm curious about a couple of things. 1) What gets in the way of your seeing the sun at sunrise -- trees, houses, or ... ? and 2) Does Denver not get good sunsets because the mountains block it or are they far enough away that they aren't really a factor? Obviously I've been in Denver for many sunsets but don't remember noticing or being disappointed. In fact, I do vaguely remember once arriving in the evening to a bright orange western sky. But sunsets are super important to me, partly because I am rarely up for sunrises (and now also because my apartment faces west so I see sunrises only reflecting off buildings and trees). I do distinctly remember that one thing I disliked about living in NYC for a year was skyscraper sunsets -- losing the sun and walking in shadows much earlier than you would without all those buildings in the way.

For nearly 20 years, when the weather was clear, I could see the most beautiful sunsets in October from my condo. I would check the time of sunset in my almanac, and many times I've stood by my dining room windows and actually watched the sun sink below the horizon. Then just after sunset the sky overhead could be a very deep navy blue in color. As you moved your eyes from directly above down to the horizon, the sky went through all the colors of the rainbow down to a very deep red just at the horizon.

Now the new high rise next door blocks my view to the west-southwest, where the sun sets in October.

serious crayons · « **Reply #40 on:** August 26, 2022, 02:57:13 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 26, 2022, 11:30:30 am

For nearly 20 years, when the weather was clear, I could see the most beautiful sunsets in October from my condo. I would check the time of sunset in my almanac, and many times I've stood by my dining room windows and actually watched the sun sink below the horizon. Then just after sunset the sky overhead could be a very deep navy blue in color. As you moved your eyes from directly above down to the horizon, the sky went through all the colors of the rainbow down to a very deep red just at the horizon.

Now the new high rise next door blocks my view to the west-southwest, where the sun sets in October.

Wow, sounds beautiful and very frustrating to lose it. I'm lucky in my current place -- I look out onto a city park. That won't change within my lifetime. The biggest problem I have at this time of year is a some thick trees that semi-obscure the setting sun during part of its arc (and I can't see the horizon at all). But it's hard to complain about a view of trees.

In that way, though, sunsets are actually better in winter, when the trees are leafless. When I first moved in I thought, this is going to be great! Beautiful sunsets in the depths of winter! What I failed to account for was how far south the sun is during winter's depths. It's hidden behind another wing of the (five-story) building all but a couple of hours a day. By sometime in February, though, it emerges from the end of that wing and sunsets were at their beauty peak. I took a lot of cool photos of the brilliant red or orange sky behind trees. Well, as cool as iPhone photos from your balcony get, anyway.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #41 on:** August 26, 2022, 05:53:57 pm »

My house faces east, so there's my yard (with a large maple tree), the road, the neighbors' yards and trees, their facades and roofs, etc. So I don't see the sun until at least a half-hour after sunrise. There's a steep slope and about a dozen steps down to the back yard, which faces west. And more trees, which partially obscure the sunsets. Fortunately, on the top floor, there's a large deck where I can look out and see the sunsets and the mountains.

The mountains don't really obscure the sunsets here at all. Reason is because we are already so high; Denver is the mile-high city! The Alps are way more impressive than the Rockies, even though they're not nearly as tall, because they rise from a lower plain or valley. We have big skies and spectacular sunsets! Jeff, if your view was cut off like that, you have been robbed! Did they make you sign a waiver when you bought your place?

serious crayons · « **Reply #42 on:** August 27, 2022, 11:12:35 am »

For a while there my newspaper beat included covering Carver County, an traditionally rural county that now had a couple of towns of about 25,000, a town of about 12,000, one of about 9,000 and a few much smaller. There's still farmland in between, but it's shrinking.

When I was about 20 I worked in one of the towns. At the time it was about three blocks long, surrounded by open fields. Now its population has quintupled. Suburban developments and chain restaurants and stores sprawl out in every direction. The county is the fastest growing in the state (and the wealthiest).

Residents are constantly opposing new developments for ruining the views from their houses. "I moved here 10 years ago so I could have this beautiful view" people would say. I'd always think, "How do you suppose the people who moved here 20 years ago (or 30, or 40, or 50) feel about YOUR house?"

It got particularly intense over a parcel of land owned and occupied by Prince and his ex-wife. After they divorced he razed the house (he was living in his nearby recording studio, Paisley Park, also in Carver County, when he died). His heirs sold the property for a development of upscale houses. When the city council discussed it, city hall was overflowing. (The council approved it after the developer pledged to donate part of the property for a park.)

Anyway, when people complained about that kind of thing, government officials would sometimes say, "If you want to keep your view in Carver County, you have to buy it."

But in fact, you wouldn't have to. You could just live next to a park. The county has two big parks and an arboretum. A friend lives in a giant sprawling condo complex that's kind of ugly, but her unit looks out onto a bike trail that won't be demolished anytime soon.

So long story short: one of the things I like about my apartment is it looks out onto a city park. Nobody's going to suggest changing it -- if a city hall overflowed over Prince's place, a park would make it explode. There's also a wetlands back there, developing on which, I believe, is illegal.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #43 on:** September 18, 2022, 08:23:01 pm »

It seems like just yesterday I was warning people that the sun was going to start setting before 8 pm. But now I see that in just a day or two, it's going to set before 7 pm! Stop the world, I want to get off!

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #44 on:** September 19, 2022, 08:32:53 am »

It seems to me that in years past, by now I would have moved my summer shirts to the rear of the closet and begun to wear my fall/winter shirts. Not this year.

serious crayons · « **Reply #45 on:** September 19, 2022, 12:33:23 pm »

It's supposed to get to about 80 today and 88 tomorrow, but after that it drops off quickly. The next 10 days or so (according to my phone) the highest temps will be 73 and 75, most in the 60s, and one 59! Brrrr! Of course, in January this would sound like Paradise.

Sunset here is at 7:16.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #46 on:** September 19, 2022, 02:40:18 pm »

I'm looking forward to the electric bill going down due to the cooler weather, and the A/C not running as often.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #47 on:** October 17, 2022, 08:43:06 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on September 18, 2022, 08:23:01 pm

It seems like just yesterday I was warning people that the sun was going to start setting before 8 pm. But now I see that in just a day or two, it's going to set before 7 pm! Stop the world, I want to get off!

It's 6:45 pm and I see a glimmer of pink light through the trees; otherwise all is dark. Going out to catch the last few rays.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #48 on:** October 18, 2022, 08:42:12 am »

By the end of this month, sunset will be at 6:00 p.m.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #49 on:** October 24, 2022, 10:30:51 am »

I went out this morning to see if there was a frost last night. No signs of frost except on a raised bed of pumpkins, in between the pumpkins there were a few sprinkles of ice crystals. If tradition serves, it will turn bitterly cold on Halloween and children will have to put coats over their costumes once again.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #50 on:** December 08, 2022, 01:14:50 pm »

There is a ray of hope (literally). I'm told we've passed the earliest sunset of the season. The sun will continue to set at about the same time for a week or two, then afternoons will lengthen by about 4 minutes a day.

Sunrises--that's a different story. They'll continue to be later until December 21st. Keep that inner light burning bright until then!

serious crayons · « **Reply #51 on:** December 08, 2022, 05:21:54 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 08, 2022, 01:14:50 pm

There is a ray of hope (literally). I'm told we've passed the earliest sunset of the season. The sun will continue to set at about the same time for a week or two, then afternoons will lengthen by about 4 minutes a day.

Sunrises--that's a different story. They'll continue to be later until December 21st. Keep that inner light burning bright until then!

Thanks for the update, FRiend! I've now reached the point where I have no sun shining directly into my apartment. Last week I got about 30 minutes a day of direct sun; now the sun doesn't climb above the other wing of the building. Then it disappears altogether by about 4:30 and it's pitch dark in less than an hour. Depressing!

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #52 on:** December 09, 2022, 09:39:48 am »

Quote from: serious crayons on December 08, 2022, 05:21:54 pm

Thanks for the update, FRiend! I've now reached the point where I have no sun shining directly into my apartment. Last week I got about 30 minutes a day of direct sun; now the sun doesn't climb above the other wing of the building. Then it disappears altogether by about 4:30 and it's pitch dark in less than an hour. Depressing!

Depressing indeed! Right now, since my office is right inside my living room windows, I have to close the curtains for a couple of hours in mid-day because the sun is shining directly into the windows. After some time I can open them again because the sun has moved behind the new high rise next door.

This kind of speaks to why I like to put up Christmas lights outdoors. If the lights come on shortly after dark, I like to be able to look out a window and see the lights shining in the darkness. It's sort of like the lights are defying the darkness.

You wonder how the Ancients figured out how bit by bit the daylight began increasing after December 21. I mean, sure, eventually you would notice (by February at least, its really noticeable), but it's such a small increment at first. How did they figure out when the solstice was? It makes perfect sense to me that you would have a celebration of some sort to celebrate the coming return of the unconquered sun.

Dies Natalis Solis Invicti

https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-religion/roman-feasts/dies-natalis-solis-invicti/

serious crayons · « **Reply #53 on:** December 09, 2022, 11:55:09 am »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on December 09, 2022, 09:39:48 am

Depressing indeed! Right now, since my office is right inside my living room windows, I have to close the curtains for a couple of hours in mid-day because the sun is shining directly into the windows. After some time I can open them again because the sun has moved behind the new high rise next door.

My office is right inside my living-room windows, too. At this time of year I'll take all the sunlight I can get! In the summer it's too much in late afternoon and I'm forced to turn on the AC for an hour or two.

Quote

This kind of speaks to why I like to put up Christmas lights outdoors. If the lights come on shortly after dark, I like to be able to look out a window and see the lights shining in the darkness. It's sort of like the lights are defying the darkness.

Do you have a balcony? I've thought about putting lights up either inside or on my balcony.

Quote

You wonder how the Ancients figured out how bit by bit the daylight began increasing after December 21. I mean, sure, eventually you would notice (by February at least, its really noticeable), but it's such a small increment at first. How did they figure out when the solstice was? It makes perfect sense to me that you would have a celebration of some sort to celebrate the coming return of the unconquered sun.

Good question! At some point, of course, they fashioned some kind of time-keeping device. Certainly by the time Stonehenge was built. A sundial wouldn't be that precise though, would it?

I still don't quite understand why sunsets start getting later mid-month but sunrises keep going. I mean, I realize the result is that total hours of daylight continue shrinking until the 21st, but why would it be one-sided like that?

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #54 on:** December 09, 2022, 03:11:07 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on December 09, 2022, 11:55:09 am

My office is right inside my living-room windows, too. At this time of year I'll take all the sunlight I can get! In the summer it's too much in late afternoon and I'm forced to turn on the AC for an hour or two.

The real problem that I have is that because of the way I have to situate things, I get sun on the computer monitor, and that, of course, makes it difficult if not impossible to work.

Quote

Do you have a balcony? I've thought about putting lights up either inside or on my balcony.

I think I tried that once years ago, but I couldn't figure out how to run an extension cord except keeping the sliding door open a crack. Today I suppose there might be battery-powered lights that I could use. I had a large illuminated star that I hung in the dining room window until I went down to the street myself and learned that nobody could see it from outside anyway.

The place I really like to see the outdoor lights is at my dad's house. It's in a suburban neighborhood, so it's really dark at night, especially at this time of year when it gets dark so early.

Quote

Good question! At some point, of course, they fashioned some kind of time-keeping device. Certainly by the time Stonehenge was built. A sundial wouldn't be that precise though, would it?

Maybe it's a chicken or the egg kind of thing. They had to know where and when the solstices were in order to build Stonehenge to tell them when the solstice was.

Quote

I still don't quite understand why sunsets start getting later mid-month but sunrises keep going. I mean, I realize the result is that total hours of daylight continue shrinking until the 21st, but why would it be one-sided like that?

I don't understand that either.

serious crayons · « **Reply #55 on:** December 09, 2022, 07:36:42 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on December 09, 2022, 03:11:07 pm

The real problem that I have is that because of the way I have to situate things, I get sun on the computer monitor, and that, of course, makes it difficult if not impossible to work.

Oh, I see. I don't have that problem because I face the southern wall with the windows to my right, looking west. The sunlight either comes straight into my windows, which can get hot but doesn't cause a glare, or at an angle that shines on the wall behind me.

Quote

I think I tried that once years ago, but I couldn't figure out how to run an extension cord except keeping the sliding door open a crack. Today I suppose there might be battery-powered lights that I could use. I had a large illuminated star that I hung in the dining room window until I went down to the street myself and learned that nobody could see it from outside anyway.

The place I really like to see the outdoor lights is at my dad's house. It's in a suburban neighborhood, so it's really dark at night, especially at this time of year when it gets dark so early.

Yes, those Druids appreciated their yule logs for a reason!

Correct, there are battery powered lights. I think I'm going to order some from Amazon, even though I have plenty of the plug-in kind I used to use inside and outside my house, to offer more placement flexibility. However, I do have an outlet on the balcony wall.

Quote

Maybe it's a chicken or the egg kind of thing. They had to know where and when the solstices were in order to build Stonehenge to tell them when the solstice was.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #56 on:** December 09, 2022, 07:38:54 pm »

According to the old Farmers Almanac, it happens because Earth orbits the sun at an irregular rate. It speeds up and then slows down.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #57 on:** December 21, 2022, 11:47:58 am »

It's here! It's finally here! Yes, friends, we have all made it through the darkest days of the year, cheering each other on. We can count on 4 minutes more of daylight every single day, thanks to good old dependable sol.

I have my candle ready for this evening and I sprinkled rosemary on my morning egg. How will you celebrate?

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #58 on:** December 24, 2022, 06:17:30 pm »

I lighted our bayberry candle at sundown.

Merry Christmas to all Brokies far and near.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #59 on:** January 18, 2023, 03:27:05 pm »

Sunset today is 5:03 p.m. On New Year's Day it was 4:46 p.m. So that's--what?--17 more minutes of daylight in the afternoon?

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #60 on:** December 20, 2023, 06:03:12 pm »

We can make it, friends--only two more days to go!

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #61 on:** December 20, 2023, 10:14:20 pm »

I don't suppose Chuck celebrates this holiday, since he likes things cold and dark.

Sason · « **Reply #62 on:** December 21, 2023, 04:47:23 pm »

If there were any decorations to put up to celebrate the day, I bet he would!

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #63 on:** December 21, 2023, 10:41:56 pm »

The solstice is here. The moon is at first quarter.

serious crayons · « **Reply #64 on:** December 22, 2023, 01:03:11 pm »

Happy Longerdays, everyone!

Sunset here today is 4:34. By New Year's Eve it will be 4:41. But we'll only add four minutes of daylight, due to that weird phenomenon of sunrise getting later for a while, even as days are lengthening. I know we've talked about that before but I can't remember if anyone could explain it. My best guess is it has to do with our location within the time zone.

In any case, I'll welcome those four extra minutes! And by this time next month, we'll have added more than half an hour!

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #65 on:** December 22, 2023, 10:39:26 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on December 22, 2023, 01:03:11 pm

Sunset here today is 4:34. By New Year's Eve it will be 4:41. But we'll only add four minutes of daylight, due to that weird phenomenon of sunrise getting later for a while, even as days are lengthening. I know we've talked about that before but I can't remember if anyone could explain it. My best guess is it has to do with our location within the time zone.

I believe our latitude here is farther south than yours, but according to my almanac, it happens here, too.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #66 on:** June 20, 2024, 07:25:14 pm »

Happy Longestday! (in the Northern Hemisphere) I have now been through 11 hours of daylight with about 4.5 hours more to go. It's like living two days in one! I had an early appointment but was up in plenty of time to do some yardwork beforehand. Tomorrow is trash day and, although I have very little actual trash, I am able to easily fill up three large bins just with trimmings from my garden (these days better known as the jungle).

I volunteered to help out on my town's annual business walk, where a team is assigned a street and you interview all the businesses on that street. It was interesting and I was moved by the optimism of most of the proprietors. Our assigned street has some very interesting shops, not the usual stuff. But the heat really got to me and it was grueling to walk on that asphalt. I feel sorry for pedestrians in general.

This afternoon I came home and alternated computer work with more outdoors stuff. A couple of times I had to crash on the sofa for a bit and read the New Yorker. I especially enjoyed the article on the glass eel industry. How amazing. Then, around 3:30 pm, right when the solstice happened, there was a downpour. It was very monsoonal in nature. Six minutes of driving rain and it was over. The early evening is very refreshing.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #67 on:** June 20, 2024, 07:54:12 pm »

And tomorrow we begin the long trek to the winter solstice--by losing an entire second of daylight, or so I heard today.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #68 on:** June 21, 2024, 12:03:43 pm »

Yes, but we gain about a second of cool lovely night time every day!

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #69 on:** June 21, 2024, 03:40:41 pm »

I heard tell today that the current full moon is called the Strawberry Moon. I didn't hear why.

I'd rather keep that second of daylight.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #70 on:** June 23, 2024, 08:02:08 am »

Bring on the Shorterdays!

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #71 on:** June 23, 2024, 10:32:33 am »

I hear you, friend! I don't mind the long summer evenings, but when the sun lights up my bedroom at 5 am it's a problem! I try to get 40 more winks, as Ennis would say, but my cat has other ideas!

And when it's light in the evening, I try to get just a little more yard work done. Yesterday, I was tearing out grapevines, hops vines and wisteria vines until 7 pm. Those vines are so vigorous that You can't even see what's under them.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #72 on:** June 23, 2024, 04:28:00 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on June 23, 2024, 10:32:33 am

I hear you, friend! I don't mind the long summer evenings, but when the sun lights up my bedroom at 5 am it's a problem! I try to get 40 more winks, as Ennis would say, but my cat has other ideas!

I woke up before 6:00 this morning myself. I didn't need to be up until sometime between 8:00 and 8:30.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #73 on:** June 23, 2024, 04:30:40 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on June 21, 2024, 03:40:41 pm

I heard tell today that the current full moon is called the Strawberry Moon. I didn't hear why.

I saw the Strawberry Moon from the house on Friday. I was surprised and pleased to be able to see it from my condo last evening.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #74 on:** June 24, 2024, 09:31:56 pm »

Today is Midsummer Day, also known as Ste.-Jean-Baptiste day (Nativity of St. John the Baptist).

serious crayons · « **Reply #75 on:** June 28, 2024, 06:53:15 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on June 21, 2024, 03:40:41 pm

I heard tell today that the current full moon is called the Strawberry Moon. I didn't hear why.

I?d imagine because it?s around peak strawberry season.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #76 on:** August 19, 2024, 01:06:37 pm »

Sunrise is still a bit early at 6:15 am in my area. Sunset is just right at 7:50 pm. I notice it starting to get dark at about 7 and it's time to come in from the garden. Tonight is a special treat after dinner...the full moon!

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #77 on:** August 19, 2024, 04:30:32 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on August 19, 2024, 01:06:37 pm

Sunrise is still a bit early at 6:15 am in my area. Sunset is just right at 7:50 pm. I notice it starting to get dark at about 7 and it's time to come in from the garden. Tonight is a special treat after dinner...the full moon!

I've been hearing it called something like a Super Blue Moon, but I don't get it. It's not a blue moon.

serious crayons · « **Reply #78 on:** August 20, 2024, 03:12:00 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 19, 2024, 04:30:32 pm

I've been hearing it called something like a Super Blue Moon, but I don't get it. It's not a blue moon.

Apparently it's a blue seasonal moon, which is when there's four moons in a three-month season. Even then, it's confusing. I guess they're figuring summer began June 21, which was a full moon, and continues through Sept. 22, with a full moon on Sept. 17.

It was pretty super, though. And next month will be super, too, I guess. And of course another seasonal blue moon. Blue moons just aren't that interesting if they're not in the same calendar month, and hardly even then.

One of my neighbors last night argued that the moon didn't look at all blue. Well, no.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #79 on:** August 20, 2024, 05:28:47 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on August 20, 2024, 03:12:00 pm

Apparently it's a blue seasonal moon, which is when there's four moons in a three-month season. Even then, it's confusing. I guess they're figuring summer began June 21, which was a full moon, and continues through Sept. 22, with a full moon on Sept. 17.

It was pretty super, though. And next month will be super, too, I guess. And of course another seasonal blue moon. Blue moons just aren't that interesting if they're not in the same calendar month, and hardly even then.

One of my neighbors last night argued that the moon didn't look at all blue. Well, no.

Of course when all was said and done, I couldn't see it anyway. After several clear nights, when I had a nice view of the waxing moon (you could see it getting larger from night to night), last night it was cloudy.

Maybe I'll be able to see it from the house tonight.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #80 on:** August 25, 2024, 09:52:49 pm »

I'm calling the kitty to come in a full hour earlier than at the height of the summer. It is very enjoyable to hear the crickets rev up their song and to enjoy "l'heure bleue" or twilight beginning at around 6:30 pm. I was coming home from the church picnic then, and quite a few cars had their lights on already. That's going too far IMHO.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #81 on:** August 28, 2024, 09:42:43 pm »

Today I noticed a tree that had begun to drop its leaves.

I also saw a news article that indicated we will have a warmer than "normal" fall here.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #82 on:** August 29, 2024, 01:35:28 pm »

I've noticed that the berries on the dogwood trees at the house are beginning to turn red.

Yesterday I saw a tree in Philadelphia that had begun to drop its leaves.

serious crayons · « **Reply #83 on:** August 29, 2024, 04:31:59 pm »

The Farmer's Almanac predicts we're going to have a colder, snowier winter than normal here. Last winter was great -- warmish (for the season in MN), only 14" of snow until a late spring snowstorm added a few more (the pervious year it as 90" -- I think both broke records).

Anyway, though, the spring and summer have been hellish -- rains practically ever day, often *extremely* hard rains where there's hardly any space between the drops, the kind you'd normally only have once a summer. Gardens aren't doing well, the electricity in my building has gone out four times. So if this is the price we're paying for a mild winter, I guess I'd rather have a normal winter. Kind of bummed, though, because we're going to be required to go into the office three days a week

starting in mid-September.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #84 on:** August 29, 2024, 08:38:17 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on August 29, 2024, 04:31:59 pm

Kind of bummed, though, because we're going to be required to go into the office three days a week starting in mid-September.

That must suck when you get so much snow during the winter.

serious crayons · « **Reply #85 on:** August 30, 2024, 03:56:05 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 29, 2024, 08:38:17 pm

That must suck when you get so much snow during the winter.

Well, up until recently that's just how it was. Especially as a newspaper reporter, if there was a big snowstorm they wanted people to come into work anyway to cover it.

But now I'm used to not having to worry about it. For the past three winters I haven't had to drive in snow or shovel snow. And since I now park in a heated underground garage, I don't have to get into a cold car as often.

I'm sure if there's a big storm they'll be fairly flexible about letting people stay home, though. They never were before, but now we all see that reporters can do most things from home. And editors can do all things. Photographers, unfortunately, have to venture out.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #86 on:** August 30, 2024, 04:35:47 pm »

All summer long I would occasionally see a single squirrel munching on seeds underneath the bird feeder. This afternoon there were three at one time. I wonder if this could be a sign of the impending change of seasons?

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #87 on:** August 30, 2024, 06:51:39 pm »

If you refuse to observe the Labor Day weekend as the end of summer, does that mean that summer never ends? At least until September 21?

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #88 on:** August 30, 2024, 09:59:26 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 30, 2024, 04:35:47 pm

All summer long I would occasionally see a single squirrel munching on seeds underneath the bird feeder. This afternoon there were three at one time. I wonder if this could be a sign of the impending change of seasons?

I'm sure this doesn't signify anything, but after I wrote this I saw four blue jays in the backyard at the same time. I'd never seen that before.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #89 on:** August 31, 2024, 11:13:17 am »

Quote from: serious crayons on August 30, 2024, 03:56:05 pm

Well, up until recently that's just how it was. Especially as a newspaper reporter, if there was a big snowstorm they wanted people to come into work anyway to cover it.

But now I'm used to not having to worry about it. For the past three winters I haven't had to drive in snow or shovel snow. And since I now park in a heated underground garage, I don't have to get into a cold car as often.

I'm sure if there's a big storm they'll be fairly flexible about letting people stay home, though. They never were before, but now we all see that reporters can do most things from home. And editors can do all things. Photographers, unfortunately, have to venture out.

I think offices are having a difficult time getting people to come into the office to work now, especially since everyone found out just how much of their jobs can be done at home.

My company has asked people to come in twice a week. Some are upset by this, the way I look at it, before Covid we were going in 5 days without complaint, I can give them two days.

I go in every Monday and Tuesday.

serious crayons · « **Reply #90 on:** August 31, 2024, 03:36:22 pm »

Quote from: CellarDweller on August 31, 2024, 11:13:17 am

I think offices are having a difficult time getting people to come into the office to work now, especially since everyone found out just how much of their jobs can be done at home.

True. At least in the case of my company, which is right in downtown Minneapolis, some suspect they were feeling pressure to return to the office from downtown businesses -- the places people go for lunch or to pick up a few things -- maybe through the Downtown Business Council. Many downtown places closed during COVID including, sadly, my favorite sushi-bowl place.

I've been going in most Tuesdays. The lunch places I frequent always have long lines because I think Tuesday is the most popular day to go in. There are a couple of other sushi-bowl places, but their lines tend to be long and I don't like them as well as the old place.

serious crayons · « **Reply #91 on:** August 31, 2024, 03:45:07 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on August 30, 2024, 06:51:39 pm

If you refuse to observe the Labor Day weekend as the end of summer, does that mean that summer never ends? At least until September 21?

A while back, I heard that meteorologists think of summer as June, July and August. September, October and November are fall; December, January and February are winter; March, April and May are spring. I guess I'd rather coordinate with the equinoxes and solstices, as we do, but their way is how a lot of people treat the seasons anyway. Schools get out in early June and starts in early September. Those of us in snowy climates start shoveling and keep doing so through about February. In temperate climates, trees start budding and plants start growing back as early as March.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #92 on:** August 31, 2024, 05:06:06 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on August 31, 2024, 03:45:07 pm

A while back, I heard that meteorologists think of summer as June, July and August. September, October and November are fall; December, January and February are winter; March, April and May are spring. I guess I'd rather coordinate with the equinoxes and solstices, as we do, but their way is how a lot of people treat the seasons anyway. Schools get out in early June and starts in early September. Those of us in snowy climates start shoveling and keep doing so through about February. In temperate climates, trees start budding and plants start growing back as early as March.

I've heard that about the "meteorological seasons" before. By now it shouldn't shock me, but it still does, when I hear about schools starting in August, before Labor Day. In all my growing up years, I never had any school open before Labor Day until I got to college. I think schools opening after Labor Day must have been much more common at one time. That even figures in dialog in one of my favorite movies, Auntie Mame (with Rosalind Russell, not to be confused with Mame, the musical, with Lucille Ball). Auntie Mame is reminded that school starts the day after Labor Day.

But it's funny, I was thinking just recently that when I was a kid, summer vacation wasn't as long as I seemed to think it was. I'm sure we were still in school for Flag Day, which is June 14, or the middle of that month, and we went back to school the day after Labor Day. so that makes a vaction of--what?--about ten weeks?

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #93 on:** August 31, 2024, 05:23:38 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on August 31, 2024, 03:45:07 pm

A while back, I heard that meteorologists think of summer as June, July and August. September, October and November are fall; December, January and February are winter; March, April and May are spring.

But that makes spring and fall be as long as summer and winter, when in fact, they are shorter, aren't they? It's an artificial construct, anyway, because here we have a day of summer followed by a day of winter in the spring.

Quote from: serious crayons on August 31, 2024, 03:45:07 pm

Schools get out in early June and starts in early September. Those of us in snowy climates start shoveling and keep doing so through about February. In temperate climates, trees start budding and plants start growing back as early as March.

Here, schools start in early August. It's something the teachers' union pushed through so all could have two-three weeks off during the holidays.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #94 on:** August 31, 2024, 10:41:54 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on August 31, 2024, 05:23:38 pm

But that makes spring and fall be as long as summer and winter, when in fact, they are shorter, aren't they?

I'd say not. There are three months from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox, three months from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice, three months from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox, and three months from the autumnal equinox to the winter solstice.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #95 on:** September 01, 2024, 10:08:50 am »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on August 30, 2024, 06:51:39 pm

If you refuse to observe the Labor Day weekend as the end of summer, does that mean that summer never ends? At least until September 21?

I stay in summer mode until the Autumnal Equinox. I've always heard of Labor Day referred to as the "unofficial" end of summer.

serious crayons · « **Reply #96 on:** September 01, 2024, 09:00:27 pm »

Quote from: CellarDweller on September 01, 2024, 10:08:50 am

I stay in summer mode until the Autumnal Equinox. I've always heard of Labor Day referred to as the "unofficial" end of summer.

Here, it does feel like someone flips a switch after Labor Day. Almost immediately the days are noticeably shorter and high temps are lower. I realize the transition is at least theoretically more gradual than that. But next week we have a couple of days with highs in the mid-60s. Brrrrr ....

CellarDweller · « **Reply #97 on:** September 02, 2024, 12:37:26 am »

Quote from: serious crayons on September 01, 2024, 09:00:27 pm

Here, it does feel like someone flips a switch after Labor Day. Almost immediately the days are noticeably shorter and high temps are lower. I realize the transition is at least theoretically more gradual than that. But next week we have a couple of days with highs in the mid-60s. Brrrrr ....

sounds like heaven to me!

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #98 on:** September 06, 2024, 09:21:03 pm »

I seem not to be adapting well to the shortening of days. Once it's dark, I keep feeling that it should be about an hour later than it actually is. Right now I feel like it should be 10:20 p.m., but it's only 9:20 p.m.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #99 on:** September 07, 2024, 07:11:47 pm »

I went out at about 5:30 pm and started pruning my cherry tree. Many suckers have come up from the ground so, in no time at all, I had a pile of trimmings higher than me. I also cut down a stand of Northern oat grass that had grown so tall that I couldn't even see my pond. What good is a pond that you can't even see? It was a relief when night fell and I could go in. Whew!

serious crayons · « **Reply #100 on:** September 08, 2024, 04:11:03 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on September 06, 2024, 09:21:03 pm

I seem not to be adapting well to the shortening of days. Once it's dark, I keep feeling that it should be about an hour later than it actually is. Right now I feel like it should be 10:20 p.m., but it's only 9:20 p.m.

I am starting to think I react worse to the loss of light than I do to the loss of warmth.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #101 on:** September 08, 2024, 08:34:20 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on September 06, 2024, 09:21:03 pm

I seem not to be adapting well to the shortening of days. Once it's dark, I keep feeling that it should be about an hour later than it actually is. Right now I feel like it should be 10:20 p.m., but it's only 9:20 p.m.

I do that sometimes too. I'll look at the clock and think, "Oh, is that all it is?"

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #102 on:** September 08, 2024, 09:08:08 pm »

Quote from: serious crayons on September 08, 2024, 04:11:03 pm

I am starting to think I react worse to the loss of light than I do to the loss of warmth.

That's pretty much how I feel.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #103 on:** September 08, 2024, 09:10:15 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on September 07, 2024, 07:11:47 pm

I had a pile of trimmings higher than me.

I hope that's not going to cause you problems with the neighbors, (I ain't jokin'.)

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #104 on:** September 09, 2024, 12:34:25 pm »

They're in the back yard for now, out of sight. In about a week I'll be dragging them up to the front and piling them in a certain seafoam pick-up truck for hauling to the chipping yard.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #105 on:** September 09, 2024, 08:57:01 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on September 09, 2024, 12:34:25 pm

They're in the back yard for now, out of sight. In about a week I'll be dragging them up to the front and piling them in a certain seafoam pick-up truck for hauling to the chipping yard.

More wood chips?

(You mean that old thing still runs?)

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #106 on:** September 09, 2024, 08:57:51 pm »

The ripe berries are falling from the dogwoods at the house.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #107 on:** September 11, 2024, 09:09:43 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on September 09, 2024, 08:57:51 pm

The ripe berries are falling from the dogwoods at the house.

They are very red and really falling, yet were are apparently in for more summery weather.

These evening I had a great view of the moon at first quarter as it tracked across the southern sky.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #108 on:** September 12, 2024, 10:57:07 pm »

We also seem to be approaching, if we are not there already, that sort of mystical time of year when the sun and the moon are visible at the same time.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #109 on:** September 13, 2024, 11:43:16 am »

Thought I'd slot this in here.

I'm very sad to learn that the almanac I've enjoyed for many, many years is probably going to cease publication after the edition for this coming year 2025. The almanac was first published in 1825--that's 200 years ago--so I think that makes it even sadder. The editor included a message in the catalog that arrived yesterday that they are no longer offering five-year subscriptions. Postage rises twice a year with no predictability, and most of the information they include is now available for free on the internet.

Still, I cannot imagine looking this stuff up and reading it on a tablet. $:-\$

I enjoy the lists of monthly moon phases, moveable feasts, significant days, and the solstices and equinoxes.

What I like best, though, are the monthly calendars that include the times of the rising and the setting of the sun. It's fun to be able to track the days getting longer and then shorter through the course of the year. I'm sure I could find the time of today's sunset on the internet, but it just wouldn't be as much fun as having the times through the whole month right in front of you on one page, so you can track it.

The future does not look promising.

It's called Baer's Agricultural Almanac & Gardener's Guide, "Carefully calculated for the Meridian of Pennsylvania and the adjoining States."

serious crayons · « **Reply #110 on:** September 13, 2024, 04:01:07 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on September 13, 2024, 11:43:16 am

I'm sure I could find the time of today's sunset on the internet, but it just wouldn't be as much fun as having the times through the whole month right in front of you on one page, so you can track it.

Actually, you can get the whole month's sun/moonsets and sun/moonrises on the same page on the internet. But I understand your affection for a print form, especially one that's 200 years old.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #111 on:** September 17, 2024, 01:28:55 pm »

The Old Farmer's Almanac has been published for 225 years so maybe yours just wasn't up to the competition. TOFA is available in both print and online.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #112 on:** September 17, 2024, 04:26:09 pm »

Quote from: Front-Ranger on September 17, 2024, 01:28:55 pm

The Old Farmer's Almanac has been published for 225 years so maybe yours just wasn't up to the competition. TOFA is available in both print and online.

The competition is the internet, not TOFA, especially when you consider that Baer's is keyed to this region, and the bad guy of the piece is the USPS that keeps raising mailing costs unpredictably.

Though I have wondered if Baer's has considered going on line.

News:

Author Topic: Happy Longerdays! (Read 31913 times)