Goodbye to late-afternoon sunshine

Today is the last day that we will be able to do anything outside after work. At 5 o'clock this afternoon, there will be plenty of light for yard work, neighborhood walks, running or just sitting on the deck to watch the sun go down. On Monday when we leave work at 5 o'clock, the sun will have set, and the darkness will be spreading through the neighborhood like a fresh coffee stain on carpet.

The darkness will inhibit walking or running without a reflective vest or a light to catch the attention of vehicular traffic. Darkness will make leisurely walks less appealing and runs more hazardous. We will lose more than an hour of light as we "fall back" Sunday morning, we will lose the opportunity to do things — chores such as grass mowing or leaf raking, leisurely things such as pleasant walks, outdoor concerts, a game of catch or hoops, or simply sitting and taking in the view.

And then there is the cold. It's not here yet, but you know it's coming. Shorter days bring less of the sun's radiation and less warmth. Autumn's cool breezes are welcome after August's heat, but those breezes will soon turn angry and frigid, and we will huddle indoors in the artificial light. What sunlight there is will be low and harsh.

Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend. The artificial extra hour in the evening will be gone, and our clocks will more closely follow the sun's path. The "spring forward" of six months ago gave us an unrealistic concept of time, and we will be forced back into reality Sunday morning. Goodbye to late afternoon outdoor activities, until the day when we "spring forward" to capture an artificial extra hour of sunlight.

 

Announcing the autumnal equinox

Last night's bright, almost full moon in a cloudless sky seemed designed to announce today's autumnal equinox. Tonight, the sun crosses the equator, heading south, and today's daylight and night will be evenly divided.

The early morning chill, which we welcome into our homes with open windows, hints that fall is upon us, despite daytime temperatures approaching or into the 90s. The midday heat may be more like August than late-September, but the evenings and early mornings are refreshingly cool. Already, the oaks around our home are shedding their leaves, and soon I'll be up to my knees in leaves as Saturdays turn into raking days.

The lack of rain has turned yards and flower beds into desert-like dust bins, and a rake stirs up little sandstorms of dry debris. Without a change in the clouds, this fall will be tinder-dry, and the threat of forest fires and grass fires will loom over each day, like a torch poking at a kerosene spill.

As the daylight grows shorter and the night grows longer, the unseasonable temperatures will abate, the cool evening gradually conquering the day's heat. Soon, the night will arrive early, helped along by the change to standard time, and the darkness will envelope our off-work hours. Winter's chill will follow in time. Don't be surprised if this winter brings temperatures low enough to balance the summer's harsh heat. And we would welcome some rain or snow to dampen the thirsty dust.

On this day of equality between daylight and dark, we will enjoy the daylight that remains, knowing that it is slipping away silently into dark winter nights.

Two weeks before Christmas, the house glows

Two weeks before Christmas, the house sparkles with lights and cherished Christmas decorations. The Angel Tree is up, covered by angel ornaments collected over the years and gleaming like the Milky Way on a clear night. The "main tree" is up and decorated, too, with the help this year of a grandchild. The Santa figurines are on display. Garland wraps the banister. The Christmas mugs and plates are in use. Christmas cards are on display. A batch of wassail is in the refrigerator.

The only thing missing is the excitement that used to fill the house like an orchestral prelude to Christmas. There are no little children to get giddy at the sound of Christmas carols or the sight of gifts beneath the tree. December is still a workaday world for us adults. The days end in early darkness that envelopes the house even before we arrive home to flip the switch that makes the trees sparkle and the candles glow from each window.

This is no holiday. There is much remaining to be done. Gifts remain to be purchased and wrapped. The house must be cleaned before guests arrived. Food and drink must be prepared for the guests as well. The yard suffers from the neglect of early darkness.

In two weeks, we'll find the excitement. The holiday tasks will be done. The family will gather and bask in the warmth of kindred spirits. In 10 days, the daylight will halt its shrinking and imperceptibly grow once more. The light will overcome the darkness. The window lights and tree lights that had scattered the darkness will be taken down and stored away as we confidently await the lengthening of the day and the warming of spring to come.