Although we talk so much about coincidence we do not really believe in it. In our heart of hearts we think better of the universe, we are secretly convinced that it is not a slipshod, haphazard affair, that everything in it has meaning. – J. B. Priestly

The Moon: The Apple Cider Moon waxes throughout the week, entering its second quarter on September 22 at 3:32 p.m. Rising in the middle of the day and setting at night, this moon moves overhead in the afternoon.

The Sun: Autumn equinox occurs (and the sun enters its Middle Autumn sign of Libra) at 2:49 a.m. on September 23. Within several days of that moment, the night is about 12 hours long almost everywhere in the continental United States.

The Stars: As September wanes, the Milky Way moves across the center of the sky at bedtime, Cepheus (shaped a little like a house) comes directly overhead, and the Big Dipper hugs the northern horizon. Summer’s familiar constellation, Sagittarius, has now moved to the far southwest. The less distinctive star group of Capricorn has taken its place due south, followed by gangly Aquarius.

Weather Trends: Equinox usually parallels a drop in heat as well as in averages. Days in the 90s disappear after September 22, and even 80s will be gone in only three weeks. The chances of an afternoon in the 50s or 60s this week double over those odds last week – to 40 percent. The season of light frosts deepens: September 24 and 28 even carry a 20 percent chance of a mild freeze – the greatest chance since May 10. On September 23 and 26, chances of a high below 70 degrees are better than 50 percent, the first time that has happened since May 4.

The Natural Calendar: In the northern half of the United States, the first tier of trees, including the ashes, cottonwoods, box elders, hickories and locusts, turns quickly after equinox. Poison ivy, sumac and Virginia creeper color the fencerows red and gold. Aster blossoms start to disappear. That decline parallels leaf fall, the end of the insect season, the end of the spider web season and an acceleration in bird migration. Crab apples are thinning. Milkweed pods burst.

In the Field and Garden: Put in spring bulbs and divide perennials, shrubs and trees. The sugar beet, pear, cabbage and cauliflower harvests commence near this date in the Great Lakes region. In Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington State, the cranberry harvest begins, berries darkening in the cooler weather.

The first winter wheat is planted in northern counties as the season of killing frosts begins. Tobacco harvest is just about complete as the day’s length falls below 12 hours. Seventy percent of silage corn is typically cut, 10 percent of corn for grain, 15 percent of the soybeans. Fall apples and grapes are half picked.

After equinox, some poultry owners turn on a low-wattage light bulb in the chicken house in order to counter the effects of the shortening days on egg production. Since the best market for fresh eggs occurs between November 1 and the end of February, you may wish to experiment with trying to keep your hens laying.

Mind and Body: If you suffer from seasonal affective disorders, begin your S.A.D. journal now. The day’s length has fallen from approximately15 hours at summer solstice to below 12 hours. Although the transition to winter is gradual, a journal will record subtle differences in your outlook, just like a daily nature journal will reflect the steady changes in the landscape. And if you combine a personal diary with a nature diary, you should get the clearest possible picture of how your moods follow the seasons.

Almanack Classics

The Ancient Roman’s Outhouse

By Naomi Bliss, Switzerland County, Ind.

(Naomi was close to 70 years old when she had this experience. Few senior moments can compare with it).

Back in about 1970, 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 stonemasons.

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 6-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.

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S 

SCKRAMBLER

NASKC SNACK

CAJK JACK

KARC RACK

CCRKA CRACK

AAKCTT ATTACK

AATCRTSB            ABSTRACT

KOCUATB OUTBACK

KIHJAC HIJACK

LODHBKCA            HOLDBACK

KLCUMAJBRE         LUMBERJACK

THIS WEEK’S RHYMING SCKRAMBLER

RANY     ACSYR   

RYRHES     ADIYR     AYRM     NTOCRRYA  

DINROYAR            YSEDTNRYE  

IUIAYPTTR

   RTNLPYAEA  

TILRAYSO    AUIOYRTB

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.

Copyright 2023 – W. L. Felker