The Struggle of March
30
03, 2022
28
03, 2022
The Story of the Pussy Willow
Long ago, when we lived on the east coast, one of my favorite trees was the pussy willow. I loved the puffy little buds on the bare branches that popped up in early March.
Living on the Texas Gulf Coast now, we don’t see pussy willows anymore.
That doesn’t stop me from pulling out my artificial stems with fuzzy catkins, sticking them in a vase, and remembering the legends.
One Native American story tells of a rabbit that climbed to the top of a willow tree one particularly snowy winter. Tired after his climb, he nestled into the treetop and slept the winter away. He woke with the spring thaw and bits of his fuzzy tail clung to the tree. From that day on willow buds feature a tiny bit of fur in honor of spring bunnies.
Another popular fable is the Polish tale of riverside willows saving a family of drowning kittens.
When I taught I shared the stories with my students, then had the kids create catkin cotton balls on sticks and draw pictures of kittens on willow branches.
Whatever the true story behind the little catkin buds, I do miss seeing them. Pussy willows were the first sign of winter’s thaw and always welcomed.
23
03, 2022
21
03, 2022
Disappearing Spring
Spring 2022 officially arrived on March 20 at 11:33 a.m. EDT for the Northern Hemisphere.
Traditionally, March 21 has always been considered the first day of Spring. Now astronomers and calendar manufacturers set March 20 for the season start.
That little fact had me chasing down the rabbit hole to find out why. What I learned was a surprise.
Why the change?
If you’re not into astronomy, the answer is a bit complicated determined by the direct rays of the Sun shining down on the equator and producing the effect of equal day and night.
The cycle repeats as the earth completes its rotation around the sun. Never going further than the Tropic of Cancer in the north and Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere.
What causes the date to move?
Seasons are defined as beginning at strict 90-degree intervals, these positional changes affect the time the earth reaches each 90-degree location in its orbit around the sun. But that isn’t a stable position.
- Our years have a varying number of days which means the dates shift.
- Add the Earth’s elliptical orbit that causes a variation in the strict 90-degree position and the pull of gravity from the other planets on the position of the Earth’s orbit.
- Days and nights are never actually equal. The Farmer’s Almanac charts show that daylight is technically longer by several minutes due to the atmosphere of the earth.
The BIG surprise…Springs are getting shorter.
According to The Farmer’s Almanac current season lengths for the Northern Hemisphere are:
Summer — 93.641 days
Autumn — 89.834 days
Winter — 88.994 days
Spring — 92.771 days
Spring is currently being reduced by approximately one minute per year and winter by about one-half a minute per year.
Summer gains the minute lost from spring, and autumn gains the half a minute lost from winter.
That was a disappointing fact I hadn’t expected because I’m not a big fan of hot weather. An extra minute of summer is not a good thing for me.
Knowing I’m losing the beauty of Springtime weather does make me want to enjoy every second of this Spring.
16
03, 2022
14
03, 2022
Nothing like Irish music to Put Ya in a St. Patrick’s Day Mood
St. Patrick’s Day brings all things Irish out around my house, even more so than usual. We feast on Irish stew and soda bread and start our day with scones. The air rings with Irish music.
But traditional Irish music isn’t limited to St. Paddy Day. You’ll often see a bit of toe-tapping going on around here. I could listen all day. And often do.
Music is the heart of Ireland. Whether the fiddler on a corner in Dublin or the man on the country lane blowing his Irish whistle or a late-night session at the local pub, you’ll find toe-tapping, hand-clapping music everywhere. Our visits to the pub sessions were the highlight of all our trips to Ireland.
One night, as a session broke up a native Irish speaker leaned over to me and said, “Ah, I tell ya, it was great music, ‘twould make the water stand out in ya eyes.”
And indeed, tears did sparkle in my eyes that night. Nothing is more wonderful than the combination of traditional music and dancing.
Every visit to Ireland should include an Irish evening of traditional music, song, and local dancers. We still talk about our long-ago visit to Bunratty Castle’s Irish Evening at the Corn Barn.
Here’s a commercial video describing the event. I promise it will put you in St. Patrick’s Day mood.
11
03, 2022
Teacher skills
A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
A teacher must have a wide variety of skills, especially when teaching Pre-K or kindergarten. I have already mastered the “tying shoes while the child is moving” and “zipping 22 jackets before the class is out the door.”
This year I have added to my skills. I can now “catch the snot before it hits the floor.”
The most prized skill this week has been remaining positive when you are more than ready for Spring Break.
For that, I pull out my magic hat!
9
03, 2022
7
03, 2022
The Gonk Has Returned
Don’t know what a gonk is? Meet Gonk.
The Gonks’ signature features are a small, spherical body and two googly eyes. A gonk is not a gnome or a leprechaun though there are family resemblances.
Gnomes have a pointy hat and face full of hair. Gonks don’t. 
Leprechauns sport green hats and orange beards. Gonks don’t have orange beards or stovepipe hats.
Gonks are the creation of English inventor Robert Benson. They were quite literally the first toy craze in England post-World War II. Endorsements by Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers aided in their popularity.
Gonks also appeared in the 1964 movie Gonks Go Beat. The film is a take-off on the Romeo and Juliette theme. Two musical communities, one who likes rock and roll and one who likes ballads, become reunited through a couple who love across their communities.
With the publication of this 1960s Simplicity pattern. Gonks became homemade toys. Children loved them and they could be made from almost any material and any size.
The Gonk-guy below was created from the pattern by hubby-dear’s sister, seamstress extraordinaire.
Her Gonk creations were much desired and cherished.
Around our house, we have many of Nita’s Nitawork needlework creations including Mr. and Ms. Santa Claus, a holiday door wreath, and a Texas State Fair First Prize-winning wall-hanging of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Sadly, our University of Texas gonk met his demise years ago.
That’s why I was so delighted to discover this round, cuddly guy with a great message on his shirt when helping Nita’s son clear out his sister’s apartment.
A treasure that brings back fond memories.
4
03, 2022
New Beds
A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
We recently bought two new beds for the dogs. There is a larger one intended for Max and a smaller one intended for Coco.
Cooper, the Australian Shepherd has his own enormous bed in Rachel’s room.
Coco loves her new bed.
So does Max. Fortunately, he doesn’t mind sharing with Coco.
Cooper, on the other hand, will not share with anyone.
Perhaps we should have purchased three of the same bed.