Different atmospheric conditions – different kinds of weather- are, precisely different moods. Wind, rain, snow, fog, hail, open skies, heavy overcast – each…affects the relation between our body and the living land in a specific way, altering the tenor of our reflections and the tonality of our dreams. — David Abram, Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology

The Moon Meteors and Planets

The Crow Moon waxes until it becomes completely full on January 6. Two days later, it reaches apogee, its gentle position farthest from Earth. Rising in the afternoon and setting before dawn, the full moon is overhead in the middle of the night.

The Planets: Find Venus and Saturn in Capricorn, low on the western horizon just after sundown. 

The Stars: In order to tell the time of year, you can watch the Big Dipper travel around the North Star. In January nights, the Dipper is high in the northeastern sky. It gradually turns counterclockwise throughout the winter, lying directly overhead after dark when daffodils flower in April. 

Weather Trends 

High-pressure systems are due to cross the country on or around the following dates: January 1, 5, 10, 15, 19, 25, 31. If strong storms occur this month, weather patterns suggest that they will happen during the following periods: January 1-2, 6-12 and 19-24 (the transition time to Late Winter). Full moon on January 6 is expected to chill the first week of the month, and new moon, combined with perigee on January 21 will almost certainly bring a bitter edge to the January thaw period. On the other hand, the weaker lunar phase at the end of the month will favor a strong Groundhog Day thaw before February 3.

The Natural Calendar

In the greenhouse, the season of jade tree bloom is over as camellia season spreads across the Deep South and black bear hibernation season ends in Southern forests. Throughout much of North America, fox mating season and coyote mating season take place as owl nesting season develops. Pine pollination season adds pine pollen to the south winds. Sparrows become even louder as sparrow courting season follows the lengthening days. 

Now is the time to start a daily check of the pussy willows. Their opening keeps time for the year; each cracking catkin tells of spring’s approach. If you see the green tips of snowdrops emerging from the garden, measure them before they are covered with snow; then, measure the approach of March as they slowly grow.

Owls are nesting now, preparing to lay their eggs at the beginning of Late Winter. They warm the nest about a month, and the owlets hatch in the uncertain weather of February or early March. By then, the cardinals that announce the close of Deep Winter around the 25th of January are in full song.

In the Field and Garden

Dig any root crops still in the garden. Plant live Christmas trees soon, and mulch heavily. After full moon, take out suckers, dead and crossing branches as the moon wanes. Don’t prune what will bloom before June, and wait for July or August for the maples. 

Inspect young trees for rodent damage throughout the winter. Test a sample of old seeds for germination. Order supplies for February pasture seeding, spring oats and barley. 

Try to keep the water for your livestock between 50 and 60 degrees throughout the winter, and pregnant animals should be drinking more as their young develop.

Mind and Body 

Pine trees have started to pollinate, and that means allergy season begins, presenting challenges to people susceptible to colds and flu. Since the full moon is associated with an increase in physical and psychological challenges, don’t be surprised at sickness or erratic behavior in friends and family. 

Countdown to Spring

• One week until the tufted titmouse begins its mating calls and pines start to pollinate

• Two weeks until owls mate

• Three weeks until the traditional January Thaw time

• Three and a half weeks until the beginning of late winter

• Four weeks until cardinals start to sing before dawn

• Five weeks until doves join the cardinals, and maple sap is running

• Five and a half weeks until the first red-winged blackbirds arrive in the wetlands

• Six weeks to the very first snowdrop bloom and the official start of early spring

• Seven weeks to major pussy willow emerging season

• Eight weeks to crocus season

• Nine weeks to the beginning of the morning robin chorus before sunrise

• Ten weeks to tulip time

Almanack Classics

“The Laugh Was on Them!”

By Fanny Lindsey, Greenwich, OH

We lived in Northfield in 1965. We lived in a small house quite a way back in the field. We had a real nice wood and coal cook stove and a pump in the kitchen. Our bathroom was outside. It was hard and we loved it. 

We had one dog and a Billy goat which was real mean when he wanted to be. One day, (it was November 14), my husband had gone to the store and to visit with his mom. I was baking cookies. I had about four dozen sugar cookies made. I put them on the table, and then I went to the outhouse.

I was shocked when I got back to the kitchen!. I could not believe my eyes. The children had let the goat and dog in the house. My cookies were all over the floor. The goat was eating the flour, and the sugar was all over. I got the broom and opened the back door and started chasing the goat out the door, but he came back in the front door. 

I’ll bet I chased that goat a half an hour before I got the door closed so he could not get back in. None of the nine kids would tell me who did it. But, guess what? They had to clean it all up, and so the laugh was on them!

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S 

SCKRAMBLER

RDUOGHT DROUGHT

OPTU POUT

URTO ROUT

CTUSO SCOUT

HUOST SHOUT

NSOTU SNOUT

TPOUS SPOUT

TRSPUO SPROUT

OTUTS STOUT

TUROT TROUT

EEAOUTBRH HEREABOUT 

THIS WEEK’S RHYMING SCKRAMBLER

KETAS

HEAKS

AENKS

AETK  

OAUEPQ

TKSMIAE  

AKELS  

OEAKLFNRC

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ARKED

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In order to estimate your SCKRAMBLER IQ, award yourself 15 points for each word unscrambled, adding a 50-point bonus for getting all of them correct. If you find a typo, add another 15 points to your IQ. Yes, you are a genius.

Poor Will’s Almanack for 2023 is still available. Order yours from Amazon, or, for an autographed copy, order from www.poorwillsalmanack.com. You can also purchase Bill Felker’s new book of essays, The Virgin Point: Meditations in Nature, from those sites.

Copyright 2023 – W. L. Felker