I hate winter. The reason is because a big part of my life I worked outdoors year-round. To this day I feel sorry when I see someone working outdoors in winter time. If you’re dressed well it seems no big deal, but it does take a toll on your body. In winter, time seems to drag, while spring and summer pass in a blink.
I have talked about how my dad, who was a truck gardener and farmer, would sit down right after New Years and order seeds for next year. The greenhouse at Hicksville would raise six flats of tomatoes. We would take the seed to them in March, and May 10th pick up the plants. My dad had done it for so long that he had his own scheme for getting a new crop of sweet corn every week. This is quite a trick because there is 60 day corn and 90 day corn, and the early corn sold for the most money, but the later corn got bigger ears.
I have always been fascinated why the days are so much shorter in winter time than summer. I have figured length of days with data from an almanac but now your phone knows everything. There is nearly 6 hours, 5 hours and 55 minutes, difference in the length of hours in our day from shortest to longest
Our shortest day, December 20, Fort Wayne has 9 hours and 13 minutes. Our longest day has 15 hours and 8 minutes. How much could you do in six extra hours of sunshine. I calculated the length of day for each 2 weeks.
After December 20th the days get longer slowly, but then pick up speed. From January 1st to January 15th the days get 17 minutes longer and from January 15th to February 1st the days get 33 minutes longer. The spring equinox, March 20th, has 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Wow, that’s some long stuff.
Today is as gloomy as can be, it’s even raining. I just realized that today is Groundhog’s Day. I always thought if a Groundhog didn’t see his shadow, winter was over. I wish it was that simple.
We’re going to have a big party the first day it hits 60, and the first day it hits 70. We’ll probably have a couple more cold spells but I will enjoy seeing it get warmer. I can hear those tulip bulbs growing 6″ long roots.
“I met a girl up in the hills
That gave my lonely heart a thrill
We planned on getting married in the spring
We thought that spring would never come
And every gloomy winter day
I heard the Blue Birds sing”
—James Neuhouser
