We are born and placed among wonders and surrounded by them, so that to whatever object the eye first turns, the same is wonderful and full of wonders, if only we will examine it for a while. – John de Dondis, 14th Century

Weather Trends: The strong lunar position at the end of January is likely to delay or negate the Groundhog Day Thaw that often characterizes the early days of February. And Feb. 3 is one of the February days most likely to bring dangerous storms to the Ohio Valley.

The Natural Calendar: The seasonal clock has advanced by the span of two Moons since the last leaves fell to the ground. The first weeds and wildflowers were already rising slowly through December and January: hemlock, lamium, garlic mustard, creeping Charlie, sweet rockets, sweet Cicely, dock, skunk cabbage, wood mint, watercress, mouse-eared chickweed. Now they lie in wait for the strongest thaws. The tips of snowdrops and snow crocus have emerged; they are waiting, too.

Fish, Game, Insects, Livestock and Birds: Cardinals have begun to sing all day. Deer gather throughout the month to feed in herds. Turkeys are flocking now; they will disband and scatter into smaller family groups by April. Bees come looking for skunk cabbage when the temperature warms to 50 degrees. Creatures should be most active a little past midnight with the Moon overhead, or in the early afternoon, with the Moon below the region. Do your fishing at those times, especially as the barometer drops in advance of the cold front due in February’s first week. And if you have pregnant sheep or goats, the Moon’s third quarter (the week after full Moon), is the lunar period most likely to bring early birthing.

In the Field and Garden: Continue frost seeding of pastures and seeding of bedding plants and hardy vegetables. Be ready for possible drought by making sure your soil has sufficient potassium and phosphorus. Prepare flats for planting flowers at new moon.

Marketing Notes: Passover occurs on March 30 through April 7 this year. The Jewish market typically is best after religious holidays come to a close. Milk-fed lambs and kids below 60 pounds are favored for this market. Lamb stew is a traditional Seder dish at Passover Seder dinners.

The Almanack Horoscope: The pollen season, which began with the pollination of pine trees, now intensifies across the South with the blooming of mountain cedar, acacia, smooth alder, bald cypress, American elm, red maple, white poplar and black willow. Bluegrass, which stopped flowering in midsummer, revives and starts its seeding cycle. When warm Gulf winds bring thaws across your land, all this pollen comes along, too.

Journal

Feb. 4, 2017: Clear and 10 degrees: Audrey wrote at 3:35: “A flock of eastern bluebirds appeared in our backyard this afternoon. Four males and at least one female (we were slower to identify the dun-colored females). They were gorgeous! They stayed quite a few minutes on the low branches of our redbuds, on our clothesline and on the neighbor’s fence, flitting a bit among these but also perching quietly.”

Feb. 5, 2017: A mild 36 degrees and scattered clouds, only a slight breeze, I went out around the neighborhood at 7:15, heard the first bird (song sparrow) at 7:21, a house sparrow at 7:25, crows at 7:33, cardinal call notes in the backyard honeysuckles at 7:39, the first dove at 7:41, a distant male cardinal at 7:42. As I walked, I saw the sun shining on contrails, soft gold above the dawn. This afternoon in the garden, a few white pussy willows were open, bright against the deep blue sky. No bluebirds, though.

The ALMANACK LITERATURE 

The Ancient Roman’s Outhouse

By Naomi Bliss

“Back in about 1970,” writes faithful contributor Naomi Bliss from Charlestown, Ind., “I visited the United Kingdom and enjoyed many tours. I saw many walls, roads and buildings constructed by the Romans, who occupied the country from 43 A.D. until the early 400s.

“One day in a small town, the entire tour bus had the same urge, and the guide directed us to a rectangular stone building. He announced proudly: ‘This structure is exactly the same as when it was erected by Roman soldiers.’

“I fell into one of the two long lines that formed, a mixture of men and women in each line. It was apparent the building had two rest rooms. As I neared the destination, I noticed the beauty of the building which acclaimed the super skill of the stone masons.

“I was just behind a man that entered the outhouse in my line. He seemed to have trouble closing the door, and eventually he came out shaking his head, a negative shake.

“I pushed open the wooden plank door and entered a windowless stone room about seven feet by four feet. I glanced about for a light. None existed. With the door still open, I looked for the toilet.

“There it was! A stone slab on the stone floor, about one and a half feet long and a foot wide! It had been chiseled out to form a bowl. In the center was a six-inch hole. On either side of the hole, cut into the stone, were two large footprints. Overhead was a water tank with a pull hanging down. I considered that:

I wore three layers of clothing, the top layer a pair of slacks.

I carried a handbag.

The door did not latch.

I would need to hold it closed.

With the door closed, the room was dark as night.

The waiting line was growing restless.

I tried....

“No, I didn’t succeed, but I was determined to do something. So, I pulled the leather string to the water reservoir. It worked perfectly: a profusion of water was emitted. The small room was sprayed with a flood of water. I was soaked to the hide.

“Wet? Yes. But the urge was gone.”

Copyright 2025 – W. L. Felker