Rinse and Repeat

Our dogs have always taken to water.  Our big black Lab famously liked to swim in the big pond before the ice was completely out.  The blonde Lab wouldn't stay out of the creek; and if she got close to a lake it was all over.  Our field red golden retriever has continued the tradition embracing mud season with such gusto that she's earned the nickname: Swamp Collie.

The best part of it is now that it's warmed-up last month we hauled-out her pool and set it up on the patio.  If she returns from a walk all muddy and gross in the pool she goes!

Rinse and repeat.  

 

 

 

Swamp Collie

It's a good thing that doggo likes water as there's no shortage of it around here.  Even though the the extraordinary high waters of the April 14-15 flooding have largely receded, standing water in the form of large muddy puddles remain in the trails for four-legged friend to splash-through and wallow-in.  Wallow, you say?  Yes, just like a pig.  I'm going to take a picture before too long so nobody accuses me of being a liar. 

Anyway, there are plenty of trail camera captures of our wet and muddy sweetheart; and judging from the smile on her face you get my drift.

Swamp Collie.... 

 

Spring Is Sprung and Mud is Made

I am told that it is meteorological spring here; where I live half-way between the equator and the North Pole.

In the Northern Hemisphere this is defined as the three-month period of March, April and May - commencing on March 1 and ending on May 31.  It is used by meteorologists and climatologists to align seasons with annual temperature cycles and to simplify the collection of weather data instead of using the varying dates of the astronomical equinox like the rest of us nerdy stargazers do.  But I digress.

What I know for sure is that when you score a 60F day you take your canine sidekick out for a run and let her explore the melting edges of the ice-covered pond and creek.

For sure it is Mud Season after all...  

 

 

Scratching Your Druid Itch

 

06.08.24 Stonehenge

The ancient Druids did not build Stonehenge.  As a matter of fact, as a consequence of a timeline mismatch they had nothing to do with it.  This monument was constructed during the Neolithic and Bronze Age and predates them by more than 1000 years.  This was long before the Celtic Druids appeared in Britain.  Any association is a 17th-century myth, although ancient Druids may have used the site for rituals just as modern-day Druids do.

As the sun grows warmer we notice small signs of life beneath our feet.  First are the crocuses and daffodils, followed by the bluebells and wood anemones. Many of us view these emergent plants as mere greenery.  Druids see life in all living things including springs, creeks, rivers, rocks and stones.  In Druidry all life is sacred.

One of the great mysteries is the Druid's egg.  Life-giving, it is the egg protected by the hare, which is the symbol of Alban Eilir, - the Festival of the Spring Equinox which means The Light Of The Earth.  As Christianity supplanted pagan festivals Christians today celebrate Easter with eggs courtesy of the Easter bunny.

Happy vernal equinox.   

The astronomical arrival of spring is a consequence of the earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits around the sun.  Equinox from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) means the the earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally.  On this date the sun rises exactly due east and set exactly due west with sunlight striking both hemispheres of the earth equally.   Night and day are approximately equal in length. 

As you observe the movement of the sun across the sky each day you will note that it is shifting toward the north.  Birds and butterflies begin their northward migration as a response to this change in daylight following the path of the sun.

 

It would be premature to pack-away your winter outerwear, return the snow shovels to the shed or plant a garden.  Nevertheless, this is a harbinger of the arrival of astronomical spring for those of us in the northern hemisphere.  

 

The official start time will be tomorrow, March 20, at about 9:46 AM CST (give or take). 

Astronomers base season cycles upon the position of the earth in relation to the sun.  The beginning of Astronomical Spring or the Vernal Equinox marks the time when the sun passes directly above the equator.  Meteorological spring is based-upon annual temperature cycles.  Your weatherman will tell your that meteorological spring begins March 1 and goes thru the end of May.

 

No matter how you slice it the days will grow longer, the temperatures warmer and mud season is in full swing.

Fake Spring

Three days in a row of spring-like weather with sunshine, melting snow and outdoor temps venturing into the mid-50s.  There is even rain in the forecast.

Hmmm.... 

Sure feels like spring; but I've been to this rodeo before and I am no fool.  We're gonna see a drop in temps, a return to snow and maybe even a blizzard or two with possibilities of such nonsense extending into April.

This ephemeral meteorological phenomenon is what is known as Fake Spring.

For the present what we know for sure is paw prints covering the porch confirm that Mud Season has commenced.  Consequently, a freshly-laundered supply of dog towels are on the rack above the janitor slop sink in the garage.

  

Dog Patch

Ruby in the rain garden

It's mud season around these parts and if you're a dog owner like me you know the struggle is real.  The good news is that it's warm enough and easy enough to hose-off the pooch after the daily walk reducing the amount of actual real mud added to the supply of dirty dog towels.

 

Astronomical Arrival Of Spring

Happy Vernal Equinox.   

The astronomical arrival of spring is a consequence of the earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits around the sun.  Equinox from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) means the the earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally.  On this date the sun rises exactly due east and set exactly due west with sunlight striking both hemispheres of the earth equally.   Night and day are approximately equal in length. 

As you observe the movement of the sun across the sky each day you will note that it is shifting toward the north.  Birds and butterflies begin their northward migration as a response to this change in daylight following the path of the sun.

 

Stonehenge View West

 

It would be premature to pack-away your winter outerwear, return the snow shovels to the shed or plant a garden.  Nevertheless, this is a harbinger of the arrival of astronomical spring for those of us in the northern hemisphere.  

 

The official start time will be today, March 20 at about 4.01 AM CST.  Where I live at mid-northern latitude today the amount of daylight added to each day peaks at three minutes.

 

Astronomers base season cycles upon the position of the earth in relation to the sun.  The beginning of Astronomical Spring or the Vernal Equinox marks the time when the sun passes directly above the equator.  Meteorological spring is based-upon annual temperature cycles.  Your weatherman will tell you that meteorological spring begins March 1 and goes thru the end of May.

 

No matter how you slice it the days will grow longer, the temperatures warmer and mud season is in full swing.

Spring Has Sprung

Today marks the vernal or spring equinox – the astronomical first day of spring here in the northern hemisphere. 

On this day both of earth’s hemispheres receive equal amounts of night and day.  In case you are wondering this is the earliest arrival for this event in more than a century.  For those of us in the northern hemisphere our days will continue to get longer and our hopes for spring continue to grow stronger as spring green-up is about to begin.   

Hubba Hubba. 

There is a long-standing claim that you can stand an egg on its end ONLY during the vernal equinox.  Popular support for this myth is that not only are day and night equalized but gravity is equalized between the earth and the sun on this day.  Alas, it is but fiction.  You can stand an egg on end any day of the year.  Nevertheless, if you wish to engage in a friendly game of deceit I recommend that you let the egg set in the carton with the big side down so that the yolk (and the center of gravity) settles in the wider end of the egg.  To stand the egg on its end, try using a rough surface or an egg that has a bumpy end for better balance.  Bon Chance!  Go forth and fleece someone.  Make sure there's money involved..

In closing I would like to remind my readers to take careful note of the location of today’s sunrise (true east) and sunset (true west).  These compass points mark the celestial equator and the cardinal directions.  As you observe the movement of the sun across the sky each day you will note that it is shifting toward the north.  Birds and butterflies begin their northward migration as a response to this change in daylight following the path of the sun.   

Spring officially begins at 10:06 PM CST. 

The Red Rocket

 

Newton's First Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Inertia, states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Our Red Rocket is further evidence of this immutable truth…

Spring Tease

45F on our walk today.

In just two weeks we've gone from snow to taking a dip in the creek.

False spring?

Scratch Your Druid Itch

As the sun grows warmer we notice small signs of life beneath our feet.  First are the crocuses and daffodils, followed by the bluebells and wood anemones. Many of us view these emergent plants as mere greenery.  Druids see life in all living things including springs, creeks, rivers, rocks and stones.  In Druidry all life is sacred.

One of the great mysteries is the Druid's egg.  Life-giving, it is the egg protected by the hare, which is the symbol of Alban Eilir, - the Festival of the Spring Equinox which means The Light Of The Earth.  Christians today celebrate Easter with eggs courtesy of the Easter bunny.

Happy vernal equinox.   

The astronomical arrival of spring is a consequence of the earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits around the sun.  Equinox from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) means the the earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally.  On this date the sun rises exactly due east and set exactly due west with sunlight striking both hemispheres of the earth equally.   Night and day are approximately equal in length. 

As you observe the movement of the sun across the sky each day you will note that it is shifting toward the north.  Birds and butterflies begin their northward migration as a response to this change in daylight following the path of the sun.

 

It would be premature to pack-away your winter outerwear, return the snow shovels to the shed or plant a garden.  Nevertheless, this is a harbinger of the arrival of astronomical spring for those of us in the northern hemisphere.  

 

The official start time will be today, March 20 at about 4:25 PM CST (give or take). 

Astronomers base season cycles upon the position of the earth in relation to the sun.  The beginning of Astronomical Spring or the Vernal Equinox marks the time when the sun passes directly above the equator.  Meteorological spring is based-upon annual temperature cycles.  Your weatherman will tell your that meteorological spring begins March 1 and goes thru the end of May.

 

No matter how you slice it the days will grow longer, the temperatures warmer and mud season is in full swing.

Spring Has Sprung

Technically-speaking it is officially spring here in the northern hemisphere if you are speaking meteorologically. Meteorological seasons are defined by temperature cycles instead of the position of the sun and are used by weather scientists for purposes of comparing seasonal and monthly statistics.

By definition, the seasons begin on the first day of the months that include the equinoxes and solstices:  Thusly, spring runs from March 1 to May 31; summer runs from June 1 to August 31; fall (autumn) runs from September 1 to November 30; and winter runs from December 1 to February 28 (February 29 in a leap year). 

 

The astronomical definition uses the dates of equinoxes and solstices to mark the beginning and end of the seasons:  Spring begins on the spring equinox; summer begins on the summer solstice; fall (autumn) begins on the fall equinox; and winter begins on the winter solstice. The beginning of each season marks the end of the last. 

 

Because the timings of the equinoxes and solstices change each year, the length of astronomical seasons within a year and between years also varies.   

 

If you want to keep it simple - the arrival of the male redwing blackbirds to stake out their breeding  territories is a harbinger of spring and marks the official start.

 

It is also the beginning of mud season.

Astronomical Arrival of Spring

Happy vernal equinox.   

The astronomical arrival of spring is a consequence of the earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits around the sun.  Equinox from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) means the the earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally.  On this date the sun rises exactly due east and set exactly due west with sunlight striking both hemispheres of the earth equally.   Night and day are approximately equal in length. 

As you observe the movement of the sun across the sky each day you will note that it is shifting toward the north.  Birds and butterflies begin their northward migration as a response to this change in daylight following the path of the sun.

 

It would be premature to pack-away your winter outerwear, return the snow shovels to the shed or plant a garden.  Nevertheless, this is a harbinger of the arrival of astronomical spring for those of us in the northern hemisphere.  

 

The official start time will be today, March 20 at about 10.33 AM CST (give or take). 

Astronomers base season cycles upon the position of the earth in relation to the sun.  The beginning of Astronomical Spring or the Vernal Equinox marks the time when the sun passes directly above the equator.  Meteorological spring is based-upon annual temperature cycles.  Your weatherman will tell your that meteorological spring begins March 1 and goes thru the end of May.

 

No matter how you slice it the days will grow longer, the temperatures warmer and mud season is in full swing.

Spring

Happy vernal equinox.    

The astronomical arrival of spring is a consequence of the earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits around the sun.  

Equinox from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) means the the earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally.  Night and day are approximately equal in length.  As you observe the movement of the sun across the sky each day you will note that it is shifting toward the north.  Birds and butterflies begin their northward migration as a response to this change in daylight following the path of the sun.  

From a meteorological point of view the first day of spring is March 1.  Meteorologists split the year into quarters for purposes of cataloging and comparing/contrasting seasonal and monthly statistics from one year to the next. These meteorological seasons are based on annual temperature cycles rather than on the position of Earth in relation to the Sun.  Moreover, they more closely follow the Gregorian calendar.  

Because the dates corresponding to the astronomical equinoxes and solstices vary from time to time and as a consequence would create a problem comparing statistics year over year.

Mud season commenced on March 1.

Spring is Sprung

It is officially spring here in the northern hemisphere meteorologically-speaking.   

Meteorological seasons are conveniently divided into tidy calendar months.  The seasons begin on the first day of the months that include the equinoxes and solstices:  Thusly, spring runs from March 1 to May 31; summer runs from June 1 to August 31; fall (autumn) runs from September 1 to November 30; and winter runs from December 1 to February 28 (February 29 in a leap year).   

The astronomical definition uses the dates of equinoxes and solstices to mark the beginning and end of the seasons:  Spring begins on the spring equinox; summer begins on the summer solstice; fall (autumn) begins on the fall equinox; and winter begins on the winter solstice. The beginning of each season marks the end of the last.   

Because the timings of the equinoxes and solstices change each year, the length of astronomical seasons within a year and between years also varies.       

If you want to keep it simple remember this and this alone:  The arrival of the male redwing blackbirds to stake out their breeding territories is a harbinger of spring and has always been my benchmark for the official start.    

If you have sporting dogs in your household this also marks the beginning of mud season.  It is time to hook-up the hoses and turn-on the water supply to the outdoor hose bibs.

Afternoon Update

The monsoons have finally abated and the sun emerged in all of its spring glory today.  It was terrific to get out after been cooped-up indoors for a couple of days.

Starting in the early hours of Sunday and extending thru most of Monday we received almost  five inches of rain.  The result is that things are soggy around these parts and mud season has returned with a vengeance.

Silver Creek is at flood stage too.....

 

Life With Labs

It's bad enough that the dogs have to be rinsed following our daily walk.  Such are the tribulations that come with mud season.

Her Highness was on the receiving end of a complete shampoo following today's walk.

The poo rolling has got to stop.....

Porch Setting

Following our daily walk the girls got their daily bath and underbody flush.  

And the sun came out!


Porch setting and bird watching with the Dowager Retriever.

Spotted were:  goldfinch, chickadee, robin, redwing black bird, brown creeper, hairy, downy and red bellied woodpecker.

More Signs of Spring

From our walk today we found evidence of this in the understory of the forest...

Pinus Strobus

Picea Glauca

White pine and white spruce.

After planting 40,000+ trees two and a half decades ago - we've noted lots of natural regeneration in the past half-dozen years.

The ash are doomed and spring arrives with more reasons to be hopeful.
 
Incidentally, it happens to be mud season here at The Platz.  The girls got a pre-rinse in the creek on the return leg home. 

 

Daily Recap

From our walk today we cleaned out 15 nest boxes including several that are going on their 23rd year of service. Built with pride by my two hands three houses ago.  Two additional boxes came home for a workshop rebuild before they’re returned afield.        

We put the seat down on the outdoor shitter. The stump and the hole are filled with water so it is officially a flusher.       

My first deer stand is not fixing itself and if it wasn't for all the green treated lumber would quickly return to the earth.         

And the girls will tell you they love mud season and kicking-up doodle birds.                 

Jill and I logged 2.2 miles - the Labs mileage is anybody’s guess. 

And I may dodge Covid-19 by complying with the quarantine but have likely contracted Hantavirus evicting white footed deer mice from bird boxes.        

Yee haw!