Eliza Daley ~ Wordcraft & Musing on Home & Hope
Today is the Festival of Ops, the Opalia. Ops was the consort of Saturn. She may have been associated with fertility at some point; her holidays are tied to grain harvesting. But she is better known for presiding over abundance more generally. Her name gives us the word "opulence", which pretty much sums up how… Continue reading The Daily: 19 December 2023
I am almost caught up with all the things that need doing. I have to send out one box, but since my family does the full Twelve Days, it doesn't need to get there immediately. Which is good because the main thing that I need to ship in that box is not here yet. I'm… Continue reading The Daily: 18 December 2023
Lucy Light Shortest day, longest night —traditional English proverb Before Pope Gregory tweaked the Julian calendar and caused a great deal of confusion, 13 December was celebrated as the winter solstice in Scandinavia. The poem by the late 16th century English writer, John Donne, “A Nocturnal upon St Lucy’s Day, Being the Shortest Day” shows… Continue reading The Daily: 13 December 2023
The Winter Sleep Moon goes dark today at 6:32pm. Tomorrow, the Midwinter Moon is a thin crescent in the evening sky. In my part of the world, sunset is as early as it's going to be. At the end of this week, the sun will set a minute later than it does today. The change… Continue reading The Daily: 12 December 2023
I never used to be afraid of the weather. Weather happened. Sometimes it was uncomfortable. Sometimes it could be destructive and scary. I've lived through hurricanes and tornados and blizzards and heat waves that set the bosque on fire. For all those things, I made sure to be as prepared as possible. Open the window… Continue reading The Daily: 11 December 2023
In this culture, holidays are exhausting. Even when there isn't a grand production of a gathering, there is still a decided lack of sleep. There is often travel as well, since few of us get to live near our loved ones. And then there are all the tasks that needed to happen for the week… Continue reading The Daily: 29 November 2023
There were things that were supposed to happen here today. A surprise foot of heavy snow, fallen trees, and no power for over eight hours derailed my plans. There are still chain saws making noise out there several hours after nightfall and eighteen hours after the storm moved out of the state. Unfortunately, there is… Continue reading The Daily: 28 November 2023
This weekend, Jupiter and the nearly full moon are together in the eastern sky. They will be high in the sky around midnight. If you're really lucky you might see the remnants of 2023's Andromedid meteor shower which peaked earlier in the month but will last until early December. This debris field is associated with… Continue reading The Daily: 24 November 2023
Last weekend, it was cold and wet outside, with blowing snow and ice. The porch wind chimes were never silent. So despite having a bit more garden work to do before winter really settles in, I did the only sensible thing and began the holiday cooking. The cranberry sauce is done. I baked my usual… Continue reading The Daily: 21 November 2023
Cut asparagus plants to the ground now. — Old Farmer's Almanac planner for 14 November My lunar year begins with the new moon that falls between 1 November and 29 November. The full moon in this first moon cycle of the lunar year falls between 15 November and 13 December. I call this month the Winter Sleep Moon because to… Continue reading The Daily: 14 November 2023
By My Solitary Hearth 