Nature & Science
There has been a collection of 1960s songs going through my head, so when Wendy Weldon called to say she and James Langlois had found a stranded bird, could I come and tell them what it was and what to do with it, my mind snapped and starting playing Jim Dandy to the Rescue.
In the coming week, the moon will appear beside the brightest planet. Venus is high in the southwest in the early evening. There is no mistaking this lovely bright planet against a backdrop of the colors of twilight.
Love is in the air — way up in the air.
Beyond the atmosphere, and somewhere between the Earth and Mars, Eros circles the sun. 433 Eros is an asteroid named for the Greek god of love.
The genesis of Eros the god is disputed. Some believe that he was the son of the goddess Aphrodite, while others insist that he was a primordial god, one that had no parents, coming into existence after the gods Chaos, Gaia (earth) and Tartarus (underworld).
Last weekend’s cold snap finally brought home the reality that winter is really here. I turned into such a sissy, and did some serious whining about the cold. Honestly, how quickly we forget. It has been nothing short of fabulous for the month of December. My quince is blooming as well as both my pink and white hellebores. They were shocked into reality last Saturday morning.
The gibbous moon appears near the bright red planet Mars tonight, and tomorrow night. Both are in the zodiacal constellation Virgo.
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
Jan. 6 40 27 .00
Jan. 7 53 39 .00
Jan. 8 56 39 .00
Jan. 9 45 29 .00
Jan. 10 41 27 .07
Jan. 11 45 28 .00
Jan. 12 44 33 .71
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 45º F.
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.