Tonight, March 9, 2020

For whatever reason, Nyel and I were completely unprepared for yesterday’s time change.  “Spring Ahead” had not entered our thoughts.  So when Nyel awoke at 6:15, according to his cell phone, and said, “I guess I forgot to set the alarm…it’s late,” it wasn’t all that late at all.  In fact, by the old time, we were fifteen minutes early.

The day here in Oysterville was gorgeous — blue sky, fluffy clouds, bright sunshine — but just a tad chilly.  Even so, it seemed like Spring to me — and the robins apparently thought so, too.  Nyel spotted several out on the lawn checking out the worm supply.  So… those  cheerful red-breasted fellows are harbinger-ing already, even though the official first day of Spring isn’t for another ten days.

A Welcome Visitor

As for the worms, they and the soil conditions must be right on schedule.  On this very night Earth will host the Super Worm Moon — the full moon which (according to the “Old Farmer’s Almanac”) refers to the fact that earthworms and grubs tend to emerge from their winter dormancy at this time of year, marking a sure sign of spring! 

The “super” part of tonight’s full moon is because it coincides  with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit. Super .moons make the moon appear a little brighter and closer than normal, although the difference is hard to spot with the naked eye.

Reading Material for Farmer Nyel

What isn’t one bit hard to spot with the naked eye is the evidence that there is a rat in our chicken coop. YUCK!  It’s a first for us — in the coop, that is.  We had mice and rat problems of our own in our laundry room last summer.  DOUBLE YUCK!  So, here we are in the Year of the Rat according to the Chinese calendar and, apparently, not finding a welcome at the main house, they’ve moved in with the chickens.

Never mind that the astrological rat, according to the Chinese,  is a clever and quick thinker, successful but content with living a quiet and peaceful life.  Sharing the coop with our chickens is a big problem — as in what is a safe way (for Big Red and his girls) to get rid of the four-footed food thief?  Farmer Nyel is researching… Stay tuned.