Spring in January

     In my last post, I was talking about an old adage that the first 12 days of each year represent the 12 months. We had a mild day on Day 1, so January should be fine. Days 2 and 3 however, brought storms, rain, and high winds. February and March might bring some bad weather. Day 4, today, says that April will be lovely and mild.

Look at that moon!

    When I went out earlier today, the air was warm (about 64 degrees). The sun was shining and the sky was a lovely shade of bright blue. The yard, however, was a mushy mess, thanks to the last two days of storms.  As we left for an errand I was amazed at all the water. Water, water everywhere! Ponds, streams, and creeks were at full capacity. At one point, it was running down the middle of the mountain road!

The branch that runs beside our little road is full today!

It was like an early day in spring when the ice is melting (not that we get much ice) and water rushes down the mountain. Crashing over waterfalls, running through pastures and woodlands, The little branch (which has never had a name, that I know of) courses its way into the valley at the mouth of a holler where it joins the creek.

Even as the sun starts setting at 6pm, outside still looks like spring. It seems you are in the clear, April. Let's find out what Day 5 has to say about May!

New Year- Better Health

 .....And right after that last post I came down with a little nagging something that would not go away. Covid? No. Strep? No...MONO. I'd had it years ago and it came back! My daughter was also diagnosed, later in the fall. She recovered quickly. I am just now getting over it. So let's get on with this blog.

    Yesterday was New Year's Day. It was a beautiful day. According to Appalachian folk beliefs, the first 12 days of the year represent the 12 months. Each month's weather can be predicted by the weather of that corresponding day. Therefore, January should be warm and pleasant, since yesterday (Day 1 of 2023) was fair and pleasant. (Almost spring-like, actually.) And, according to today's weather, February will be a rainy, ugly mess. 

    Here in the south, there are so many beliefs about New Year's Day. You cant wash dishes. No washing laundry either. (You will wash your luck away.) Do not take ANYTHING outside. Not even the garbage (You will be taking your luck outside.). And of course, there is the ubiquitous traditional New Year's meal of pork, black-eyed peas, and greens. Fish is OK, but no bottom-dwellers. Shrimp is ok, but no crustaceans that walk sideways or backward You can't eat chickens, because they scratch backward for their food. The point is to move forward into the new year, with greens representing paper money and peas representing coins. Last of all- don't sweep the floor! (Again, you would be sweeping your luck away.)

    I am so glad to be at home on this dreary day. I did venture out to take my daughter to a friend's house. The fur babies are napping all about the house. Silence except for rain on the roof. I have some oranges with clove and cinnamon simmering on the stove. The house smells so good! Should I clean? Should I work on this old aquarium I am redoing? Should I write? Should I read? Should I create?  Guess I will do a little cleaning first. It never ends. 

    I am definitely starting a pot of chicken and dumplings for dinner. Except, contrary to this version, I am adding a few other things and making homemade dumplings. Stay tuned...

Thanks for stopping by to spend some time in the country. Keep those bird feeders filled and leave a little something for the other critters as well.