Autumnal Equinox 2017

Trees snapping and cracking in the autumn indicate dry weather.

If, in the fall of the leaves in October, many of them wither on the boughs and hang there, it betokens a frosty winter and much snow.

Spring rain damps;
Autumn rain soaks.

Of autumn’s wine, now drink your fill; the frost’s on the pumpkin, and snow’s on the hill.

–The Old Farmer’s Almanac, 1993

Another Summer is about to fade into history at 4:02 PM ET when the when the earth is perfectly angled sideways to the sun, so day and night are roughly the same length all over the world. It’s autumn when the sunrises exactly due east and sets exactly due west.

We leave behind beach days, cook outs, long days and warm Summer nights. It’s time to think about raking leaves, Halloween and Thanksgiving, getting out the warm blankets and putting on a sweater when we head outdoors. It’s time to harvest the last of the summer vegetable and rescue the tomatoes that are not yet ripe. While other flowers fade mums and asters burst into bloom as pumpkins and winter squash are adding their colors to the garden. Our cuisine changes from salads and grilling to simmering stews, hearty soups, and roasts with steaming vegetables. The baseball season is coming to it’s conclusion to make way for football games and tailgating with family and friends.

This year’s Harvest Moon will rise on October 2 at 2:40 PM ET. As per the Old Farmer’s Almanac, The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal Equinox. While it most often is in September, this year is October’s turn. For several nights the moon rises soon after sunset, it provides an abundance of light so farmers can spend more time harvesting their crops. Thus the name, Harvest Moon. In Wiccan and Pagan lore, this is known as the second harvest.

Again we have had a really warm Summer and the temperatures here in the Northeastern tri-state region where Stars Hollow is located will still be in the 80’s with cooler days not expected until sometime next week. The coastal areas are still under flood watch and there are warning to boaters about rough seas due to Hurricane Jose whose remnants still linger off our shores. Our thoughts go out to our neighbors in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean islands that have been devastated by hurricanes Irma and Maria and to our neighbors in Mexico who have been hit with massive earthquake. If want to donate and aren’t sure about which charity to give, Vox.com has a great article and suggestions on the best charities to make your donations.

The seasons change and the world continues on it coarse through time and space. Take some time to notice our home, Earth.