Monday Musings

  Tomorrow evening, our satellite moon will provide a celestial treat. The lunar trifecta will include a supermoon, a partial lunar eclipse, and a blood moon. A  supermoon  is defined when the moon’s orbit is within 90% of its closest point to Earth ( perigee ), per astrologer Richard Nolle. The term applies to both new and full moons, but since we can’t see new moons, we turn our attention to the full moon supermoons. A  lunar eclipse  occurs when the Earth is between the sun and a full moon, and the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow.  According to NASA , the peak lunar eclipse will occur tomorrow, September 17, at 10:44 EDT (02:44 UT). The upcoming eclipse will only be partial: only the upper part of the moon (top 8%) hidden behind the  umbra  (the darkest portion of the Earth’s shadow). A  blood moon  is noted when the planet’s  penumbra  (the lighter area of the Earth’s shadow) gives the visible portion of the lunar disk a reddish-brown cast. Native peoples, religious groups,

The nights are progressively cooler; a quilt feels cuddly. Indian summer lies ahead, but for the moment, we are on the cusp of fall, the precipice of winter. The garden has waned. The beans no longer produce green and golden pods; a couple of small cucumbers struggle, and the Sugar Baby Watermelon vines promise only a few more sweet treats. Dill and marigolds still brighten the raised beds filled with withering plants. We’ve enjoyed a prolific zucchini and summer squash crop this summer. A neighbor shared a delicious Summer Squash Gingerbread Loaf recipe. I cheated a bit by blending in both summer squash and zucchini, but the results were tasty, if not foreboding, of the pumpkin spice onslaught ahead. Mums dot the yard with their colorful buttons. As the landscape outside begins to brown, I’ve brought more cheer inside with a bouquet of stunning dahlias from the farmers’ market. True fall is less than two weeks away, on September 22, the 2024 Autumnal Equinox. While it seems I just set

Opportunity  may appear in different guises: overt or covert. The initial impression of the situation may seem like too much work to undertake. Author success means many hours at the keyboard. A pessimist may avoid a situation because it looks too challenging to overcome, while an optimist may charge headlong into the fray because they see a promising outcome ahead. If you take the time to prepare for excellence in your chosen field, you can lay the groundwork for success. When a golden opportunity presents itself, you will be ready to accept the challenge. Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.  ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr. You don’t know if you can succeed if you don’t try. Have you grasped at a possible opportunity or let one get away? You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X  (formerly Twitter).