It’s a Grand Life

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

Wow, where did summer go? I realize it is officially still summer until September 22nd, but for many of us, summer ends when schools open, the pools close, and long family vacations end. Living in a beach town, I am ready for there to be fewer tourists so it is easier to find a place to park not only my car, but myself in a chair and toes in the sand. I am also looking forward to cooler temperatures and less humidity, but to be honest, that may not happen until November!

When I do look back, the summer was filled with a lot of wonderful events. Finally being able to venture out more meant the ability to see friends that had stayed in while waiting for the vaccine to take hold and the virus to abate somewhat, before this new variant came along. Hopefully, this one will be short-lived and our lives can go back to some semblance of normalcy. Catching up face-to-face, enjoying lunch out, and sharing pictures of our grandchildren was a true gift.

Summer also meant visits from my Charlotte family. It had been so hard not being together throughout the year. I am not a huge fan of a lot of the modern technology, but being able to FaceTime with them definitely made it easier to deal with being apart -- although, real hugs are definitely better than virtual ones. Thank goodness, there are four grandchildren that live here, so they got extra doses of their Gigi. Having all my family together was something I won’t ever take for granted again. Summer also saw two of my granddaughters and one grandson heading off to camp. My 13-year-old granddaughter had been going to the same camp her mom and aunts went to, for years, but the eight-year-old granddaughter was experiencing overnight camp for the first time. Fortunately, she was attending the same camp as her cousin. Although she was a bit unsure about going, she had a great time. She ended up going to another overnight camp in Idaho where the family was vacationing. It was fun listening to all three of them talk about their experiences. I learned a lot about activities at boys’ camps from my grandson, and remembered so much of what my daughters related when they came back from their time at camp in hearing from my granddaughters.

July brought one of those birthdays that call for a monumental celebration. I have always wondered why certain ages are thought to need more attention paid to it than any of the others. I understand why, when you are a child and turn one, then five,10, 13, 16, 18, and 21 birthdays seem pretty important. Then 30, 40, 50, and 60 are the years you climb the age hill and then go over it. After that, it’s a downhill slide that needs reminding every five years. I must say, even though I had requested a simple family affair, I was overcome by the love, thought, planning, and attention to every detail my daughters and husband put into making my birthday incredibly special and one I will never forget — no matter how many more of those birthdays ending in five or zero I have.

August was another fast moving month. It had a major anniversary for my husband and me. We will celebrate that with a big family trip in October. We also had three birthdays to celebrate. On the 19th, our middle daughter turned — I’m not allowed to say, the next day, our youngest grandchild turned three, and four days after his, another of our grandsons turned six. Lots of cakes, candles, parties, and gifts in six days.

Now, school is back in session. I have two grandchildren starting elementary school, one finishing middle school, and a daughter going for a second degree. The days are different for my daughters, so they are also different for me. I loved the lazy days of summer — the impromptu trips to the aquarium, ferry and boat rides, fishing, and just hanging out. One last annual family trip over Labor Day weekend signaled the official end to summer for us, but it was a good one -- except for the heat and humidity. Now, bring on fall and all its splendor — and please temperatures in the, well anything but the 90s!

Dirty Dozen

Skywatcher to Measure Time and Direction BY LISA S.T. DOSS

Calendars and clocks, the essence of time measurement, began with man first looking up to the heavens and discovering patterns, daily and seasonal. Located within the Milky Way’s Galaxy, our location, the third planet, can enlighten skywatchers to the universe’s movements. Following all the other heavenly observers, you, too, can measure time and direction using a long-proven, scientific approach.

False Dawn

Rising before dawn may be a rare experience, but a worthwhile one. In fall, late September through October, on mornings free of light pollution and the moon’s light, look east for a softly glowing triangle. The zodiacal light reflects from the dust in the solar system, appearing in varying bright colors of blue-purple near the horizon.

What is an Analemma?

Ready to chase the sun across one year? Yes, all it takes is a room with a southfacing window, a mirror attached to a windowsill, and post-it notes. On the first day, place the sticky paper on the wall where the reflection hits. Don’t forget to mark the date. Each week at the same time of day, including the time changes of daylight savings, place a post-it on the wall. At the end of the year, you’ll have a shape termed an “analemma.”

A Likely Guide, the Sun

Without a compass, you can use a stick’s shadow, aptly named “The ShadowTip Method,” to find true North or any other direction. Ensure the object is well-lodged into the ground and vertical, clearing debris to ensure a visible shadow. Mark the first line with a stone; then, wait roughly 15 minutes to assess a second position with another marker. Draw a line from point A to B and extend it about a foot past the second placement. Stand with your left foot at the first rock and look towards North. (Remember, the sun rises in the east, setting in the west. The shadow tip moves in just the opposite direction; therefore, the first shadow tip faces west, while the second marks east.)

TIP: Use the “Shadow-Tip Method” to determine the hour of the day!

Time the Sunset

Ever wonder what time the sun will set? You have the answer by using your hand. With your elbow straight, hold your hand at arm’s length, turning your hand to view all fingers. Begin by lining the top of the index finger with the bottom border of the sun. Next, count the finger widths until reaching the horizon. Since each finger width represents 15 minutes, multiply to determine the hour of sunset. (Example, eight fingers equals two hours.)

Measuring Degrees of Separation

The Celestial Sphere is 360 degrees. Within the circle, arc-minutes divide the sphere into 60 degrees, as in the minutes of a clock. Standing, the spaces above and below you comprise 180 degrees and form the center of the universe. To identify smaller distances, consider learning a unique skill great for adults and children:

Extend your hand at arm’s length, elbow straight, and palm facing outward.

• The width of the pinky finger represents one degree wide.

• The three middle fingers cover five degrees. • The span between the index and pinky finger is 15 degrees.

• The distance between the thumb and pinky finger is 25 degrees.

TIP: Apply the skill to a game, such as finding the constellations or scouting; remember to account for varying hand sizes.

The Star Clock

Whether by land or by sea, adventurers and seamen followed the stars’ path as a directional beacon. Skywatchers used the North Star (the brightest point of the Little Dipper), Polaris (a star in the Big Dipper,) or the “W” (of Cassiopeia) to find their way. Consider designing or printing a moveable two-piece dial to determine the current hour. Users will become experts in finding the Big Dipper’s position with the aid of the star clock!

Gravity and the Moon

Looking up includes tracking our nearest satellite. Did you know the moon’s gravity tugs at the Earth, pulling on the tides, extracting moisture from the Earth, and encouraging a term coined, “the lunacy connection?” The value in decoding the moon’s phases is to help present the truth of this phenomenon.

FACT: Start sowing seeds when the moisture in the earth has been drawn near the surface at the new moon.

FACT: Quarter moons only require one to three-quarters rotation around the Earth.

FACT: The illuminating light of a full moon influences sleep patterns and results in unusual behaviors!

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