July 1-7, 2019

Heard today the first cicada, quite faint, as if its first attempt. Frogs every morning. Where are they? Not far. They are the voice of summer.

-Harlan Hubbard

On July 2, the Milkweed Beetle Mating Moon becomes the Finches in the Thistledown Moon at 2:16 p.m. It enters its second quarter at 5:55 a.m. on July 9. This dark moon passes overhead near the middle of the day and evening, favoring that time for angling and feeding children, especially as the weather system of July 4-6 approaches.

Lunar perigee (when the moon is closest to Earth) occurs on July 4, increasing lunar influence over weather and moods in people.

Weather trends

The cool fronts of deep summer normally cross the Mississippi River around July 6, 14, 21, and 28. Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, or prolonged periods of soggy pasture are most likely to occur within the weather windows of July 3-7 and 18-23.

New moon on July 2 (followed by perigee on July 4) and on July 31 and full moon on July 15 should increase the chance of tornadoes in the South and Midwest, and the landing of a hurricane in the Gulf region near those dates.

The natural calendar

July 1: Venus and Mars lie along the western horizon after sundown. Both planets may be difficult to see due to their proximity to the sun. Jupiter is the most reliable evening companion and can be found in the southern sky after dark. Below and a little east of Jupiter, Saturn rides Sagittarius in the center of the southern horizon at dusk.

July 2: The Dog Days of deep summer are named after Sirius, the Dog Star, which moves to the center of the sky at midday. Sometimes you can even see it shining through the sunlight.

July 3: Aphelion, the point at which Earth is farthest from the sun, occurs today. Throughout the month, the sun moves steadily from its solstice declination of 23 degrees, 26 minutes to a declination of 18.5 degrees. That distance is approximately a fourth of the way toward autumn equinox.

July 4: Lunar perigee today increase the power of the new moon, and brings higher tides and more difficulty with pets, livestock, and ornery family members.

July 5: The behavior of raccoons, opossums, and groundhogs becomes erratic in the Dog Days heat, and road kills often increase.

July 6: Blueweed flowers are at the top of their stems. Lamb’s ear season closes as the first giant burdock blooms along roadsides. Blackberries are August-size this week, but still green. Milkweed pods emerge; they will burst at the approach of middle fall.

July 7: Red seedpods hang from locust branches. Tufts of seeded meadow goatsbeard float across the fields.

Field and garden

By this time of the summer, first-cut alfalfa is often almost complete, and the second cut has started. Oats are heading up, and the summer apple harvest gets underway as the earliest sweet corn comes to farmers’ markets. Potato leafhoppers reach economic levels in some alfalfa.

Select varieties of vegetables for midsummer planting that are able to grow well even as the days shorten. For frost-sensitive vegetables like beans, try to use varieties that ripen quickly. Fall onions as well as late plantings of sweet corn and squash can be sown, too. Greenhouse tomatoes seeded today should be producing by October.

Consider marketing lambs and kids for Independence Day cookouts this week, especially if your county fair is over. High heat and humidity may make it difficult for animals and humans to sleep; keep your livestock’s (and your family’s) bedding fresh and clean.

In the countdown for summer, it is:

•One week until sycamore bark starts to fall, marking the center of deep summer

•Two weeks to the season of singing crickets and katydids after dark

•Three weeks until ragweed pollen floats in the wind

•Four weeks until blackberries are ready for jam and brandy

•Five weeks until aster and goldenrod time

•Six weeks until the season of fall apples begins

•Seven weeks until the hickory-nutting time gets underway

Almanac literature

Old-Time Outhouse

By Grace E. Sly

Fayette, Ohio

There were as many varied sizes and styles of outhouses as there were families that used them. There were big ones, little ones, ramshackle ones, and some with low seats for the small folk. Our one neighbor had papered the wall with pictures from calendars and magazines, which was interesting.

Ours was a three-holer. Two of the three seat lids were round slabs of wood that were cut a little too large and did not fit well. The middle one was a perfect fit for the hole.

Now, one can admire fine craftsmanship, even in something so lowly. The two larger lids could be picked up easily, but the middle one required just a little pressure on one side to tilt it up.

My brother Joe had enhanced our toilet further by drilling a hole in the side at eye level. This enabled anyone sitting there to marvel at the cars going by. He drilled another hole in the door, so anyone coming around the shed could be seen.

Since “around the shed” wasn’t a high-traffic area, when I needed to use the facility, I left the door open. We had quite a few white cats, so I would invite one in so I could pet it.

One day when I finished my business and was adjusting my clothes, I sat the cat down on the middle seat. The cat must have moved just the right way, and the cover flipped open. No cat.

I was so amazed that I picked up the cover to observe the fate of the cat. Well, it was not in a good humor! And a white cat rocketing out from below a toilet seat is not a pretty sight – it sounded like Roowrah! Fzztt! And out the door it went.

Then I had to tell my mother. Did I get a jawing! Of course; the outhouse needed cleaning because of the mess. Dad never said much, and I think there was just a hint of a smile when he told me not to allow a cat in the outhouse again. Believe me, I didn’t!