EXTRA! MUST-MAKE MAPLE RECIPES - A BIT OF "LIGHT" READING DON'T BE OFF YOUR ROCKER! - The Old Farmer's Almanac
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EXTRA!
FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC
MUST-MAKE MAPLE RECIPES
A BIT OF “LIGHT” READING
DON’T BE
OFF YOUR ROCKER!
THE POWER OF
ONE SMALL THING
JANUARY 2023 PHOTO: EASYBUY4U/GETTY IMAGES
O
O CONTENTS
O
FEATURES
FOOD
Must-Make
Maple Recipes WEATHER
FORECASTS
AMUSEMENT How We Make
Don’t Be Off Your Our Predictions
Rocker!
January U.S.
GARDENING and Canadian
A Bit of Weather Forecasts
“Light” Reading
Weather Update
LIVING NATURALLY
The Power of
One Small Thing DEPARTMENTS WIT
Humor Me
CALENDAR Grins and groans
January Holidays, from the Almanac
Full Moon Names,
WHAT’S NEXT
and More
See what we have
ASTROLOGY in store for our
Best Days to February issue!
Do Things
Gardening by the
Moon’s Sign
ASTRONOMY
Sky Map
for January
FOLLOW US:
O
O CALENDAR
O january
Holidays, Full Moon Names, and More
calendar this ’n’ That
In parts of Germany on
New Year’s Day, the Neujahrsbrezel
(a sweet, unsalted pretzel) is a
symbol of good luck when eaten at
midnight or breakfast.
Holiday Happenings
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day
Jan. 6: Epiphany
Jan. 7: Orthodox Christmas (Julian)
Jan. 8: Elvis Presley’s Birthday
Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr.’s
Birthday, observed
Jan. 17: Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday
Jan. 22: Lunar New Year (China) Eye on the Sky
JANUARY’S FULL
MOON NAMES
Wolf Moon, Center Moon,
Frost Exploding Moon
MOON PHASES
Full Moon: Jan. 6, 6:08 p.m. EST
Last Quarter: Jan. 14, 9:10 p.m. EST
New Moon: Jan. 21, 3:53 p.m. EST
First Quarter: Jan. 28, 10:19 a.m.
EST
TAP FOR MORE ABOUT MOON PHASES
TAP FOR MORE ABOUT JANUARY’S
Keep up to “date” in 2023! Order your FULL MOON
calendars at Almanac.com/Shop.
PHOTO: PIX ABAY
Take your pick:
Get Your 2023 Almanac
Calendars Today!
ORDER NOW!
O
O ASTROLOGY
O
BEST DAYS TO DO THINGS
These January dates, deemed to be propitious in astrology, are based on the
astrological passage of the Moon. However, consider all indicators before
making any major decisions. –Celeste Longacre
PERSONAL Cut hair to discourage growth: 13, 14
Advertise to sell: 1, 2, 28, 29 Cut hair to encourage growth: 1, 2,
28, 29
Ask for a loan: 15–17
Entertain: 8, 9
Begin diet to gain weight: 2, 25
Get married: 13, 14
Begin diet to lose weight: 7, 17
Have dental care: 10–12
Buy a home: 1, 2, 28, 29
Move (house/household): 3, 4, 30, 31
Color hair: 1, 2, 28, 29
PHOTO: PIX ABAY
O
O ASTROLOGY
O
Perm hair: 22, 23 Purchase animals: 5–7
Quit smoking: 7, 17 Set eggs: 3, 4, 12, 13, 30, 31
Straighten hair: 18, 19 Slaughter livestock: 15–17
Travel for pleasure: 8, 9 Wean animals: 7, 17
Wean children: 7, 17
OUTDOORS
AROUND THE HOUSE Begin logging: 20, 21
Bake: 5–7 Go camping: 18, 19
Brew: 15–17 Go fishing: 1–6, 21–31
Can, pickle, or make sauerkraut: Set posts or pour concrete: 20, 21
15–17
Demolish: 15–17 IN THE GARDEN
Dry fruit, vegetables, or meat: 8, 9, Destroy pests and weeds: 26, 27
18, 19
Graft or pollinate: 5–7
End projects: 5
Harvest aboveground crops: 1, 2,
Lay shingles: 8, 9 28, 29
Make jams or jellies: 24, 25 Harvest belowground crops: 10–12
Paint: 1, 2, 28, 29 Mow to promote growth: 24, 25
Start projects: 22 Mow to slow growth: 15–17
Wash floors: 24, 25 Pick fruit: 10–12
Wash windows: 26, 27 Plant aboveground crops: 5, 24, 25
Plant belowground crops: 15–17
ON THE FARM
Prune to discourage growth: 8, 9,
Breed animals: 15–17 18, 19
Castrate animals: 22, 23 Prune to encourage growth: 26, 27
Cut hay: 26, 27
O
O ASTROLOGY
O
GARDENING BY THE MOON’S SIGN
Use the January dates shown in the Moon’s Astrological Place
calendar below to find the best days for the following garden tasks:
TAP FOR PLANT, TRANSPLANT, AND GRAFT: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, or Taurus
MERCURY IN
+ RETROGRADE HARVEST: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius
DATES
BUILD/FIX FENCES OR GARDEN BEDS: Capricorn
TAP FOR
JANUARY CONTROL INSECT PESTS, PLOW, AND WEED: Aries, Gemini, Leo,
MOON Sagittarius, or Aquarius
PHASES
PRUNE: Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. During a waxing Moon, pruning
encourages growth; during a waning Moon, it discourages growth.
THE MOON’S ASTROLOGICAL PLACE IN JANUARY
1 Taurus 9 Leo 17 Scorpio 25 Pisces
2 Taurus 10 Virgo 18 Sagittarius 26 Aries
3 Gemini 11 Virgo 19 Sagittarius 27 Aries
4 Gemini 12 Virgo 20 Capricorn 28 Taurus
5 Cancer 13 Libra 21 Capricorn 29 Taurus
6 Cancer 14 Libra 22 Aquarius 30 Gemini
7 Cancer 15 Scorpio 23 Aquarius 31 Gemini
8 Leo 16 Scorpio 24 Pisces
PHOTO: PIX ABAY
MERCURY IN RETROGRADE
Sometimes the other planets appear
to be traveling backward through the
zodiac; this is an illusion. We call this
illusion retrograde motion.
Mercury’s retrograde periods can
cause our plans to go awry. However, this
is an excellent time to reflect on the past.
Intuition is high during these periods,
and coincidences can be extraordinary.
When Mercury is retrograde, remain
flexible, allow extra time for travel,
and avoid signing contracts. Review
projects and plans at these times, but
wait until Mercury is direct again to
make any final decisions.
Mercury’s 2023 retrograde periods:
January 1–18, April 21–May 14, Au-
gust 23–September 14, and December
13–(January 1, 2024).
–Celeste Longacre
Celebrating its 46th anniversary in 2023, the
best-selling Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening
Calendar is filled with beautiful art, helpful
tips, insightful quotes, and an easy-to-use
grid with holidays and Moon phases. Order
yours today at Almanac.com/Shop.
O
O ASTRONOMY
O
The Brightest Sky of the Year!
T
he combination of crisp, clear winter nights and a
southeastern sky filled with celestial wonders makes it
well worth bundling up and scanning the heavens in
TAP TO GET
A PRINTABLE January.
JANUARY Orion, the Hunter, is not the largest constellation, but it
SKY MAP is unquestionably the brightest. It’s home to a pair of the
TAP TO sky’s Top 10 brightest stars, ruddy Betelgeuse and blue-
FOLLOW white Rigel. Star colors are notoriously difficult to discern,
OHIOAN JEFF but on a clear night, the differing hues of Betelgeuse and
DETRAY’S SKY
ADVENTURES
Rigel are plain to see at Orion’s right shoulder and left knee,
respectively.
Somewhat less luminous are Bellatrix at the Hunter’s
left shoulder and Mintaka, Alnilam, and Alnitak, which
comprise Orion’s Belt. Saiph, at his right knee, would be a
noteworthy star in any other celestial neighborhood, but it
doesn’t even crack the Top 5 in mighty Orion.
O
O ASTRONOMY
O Above Orion stands Taurus, the Bull, his long horns jutting to the left and
one baleful eye represented by the reddish star Aldebaran. Nearby lies a group
of stars that make up the Hyades star cluster. The members of the Hyades lie
fairly close together in space, but despite its apparent proximity, Aldebaran is
not a part of the cluster. It is much closer to us than the Hyades (one reason
that it appears brighter) and just happens to lie along the same line of sight.
This is one of countless examples where celestial objects appear near one
another from our point of view, but vast differences in distance mean that
they are actually far apart.
Above the Hyades are the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, which
are among the most famous of star clusters. This cluster is so distinctive and
its location so prominent that dozens of ancient cultures found a place in
their mythologies for the Pleiades. Most people with good vision can spot five
stars when they gaze at the Pleiades. However, if your eyesight is especially
acute and the sky is wonderfully clear, you may see seven or even more. If you
do, you have “the eyes of a warrior,” as ancient lore decreed.
Off to the left is the five-sided figure of Auriga, the Charioteer. The star
Elnath is shared between Auriga and Taurus, making it one of the few stars
that belongs to two constellations.
Swinging downward, we find Gemini, the Twins. Their names are Castor
and Pollux, with stars of those names representing the heads of the reclining
twins. They lie holding hands, their legs and feet stretched out toward Orion.
Continuing counterclockwise around the sky, we reach Canis Minor, the
Lesser Dog. Its only bright star is Procyon, a name meaning “before the dog.”
This refers to the fact that on any given night, Procyon rises above the horizon
a few minutes before the bright star Sirius, whose nickname is “the Dog Star.”
Thus, Procyon rises “before the dog.”
We’ll skip over the dim constellation Monoceros to reach Canis Major, the
Greater Dog. This figure is home to the aforementioned Sirius, which just
happens to be the brightest star in the night sky—almost twice as bright as
any other! Sirius appears so bright to us because it is both extremely luminous
and relatively nearby.
Enjoy the January sky—the brightest of the year!
–Jeff DeTrayCreated for enthusiasts
of all experience levels
ORDER TODAY!FOOD
Must-Make
Maple Recipes
Many of us are inclined to associate maple syrup only with pancakes and
French toast, but it is indeed a versatile (and delicious) ingredient in
other types of dishes, too. Here are some recipes to get your entire family
requesting maple syrup for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.
PHOTO: BECK Y LUIGART-STAYNERFOOD
Maple
Granola
PHOTO: SOUTH_JULS/SHUT TERSTOCKFOOD
MAPLE GRANOLA
3-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 cup raisins, dried cranberries, and/or dried cherries
Preheat oven to 225°F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with
parchment paper.
In a bowl, thoroughly combine oats, maple syrup, coconut,
almonds, oil, and sesame seeds. Spread on prepared baking
sheet.
Bake until granola is golden brown, up to about 1-1/2 hours; stir
mixture several times so that it toasts evenly.
Transfer warm toasted granola to a large bowl. Stir in dried
fruit and let cool. Store in a tightly sealed container at room
temperature.
Makes about 6 cups.
PHOTO: SOUTH_JULS/SHUT TERSTOCKFOOD Maple Barbecue Ribs PHOTO: HLPHOTO/SHUT TERSTOCK
FOOD
MAPLE BARBECUE RIBS
1/4 cup maple syrup, preferably grade A
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
4 pounds pork or beef ribs
1 tablespoon salt
If cooking in an oven, preheat oven to 350°F. (For grill, see
instructions below.)
In a bowl, combine maple syrup, mustard, vinegar, ketchup,
and cayenne (if using).
Cut ribs into 4- to 5-inch lengths. Sprinkle lightly with salt
and roast 1 to 1-1/4 hours. Pour off all fat. Baste with sauce
and roast for another 30 minutes, basting and turning every 5
to 6 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes. Baste one last time and serve.
If cooking on the grill: Set it up for moderate indirect heat,
set the ribs away from the heat source, and cook, covered,
for the times indicated.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Looking for more great recipes? Get a copy of our best-selling
cookbook with recipes from you, our readers. The Old Farmer’s
Almanac Readers’ Best Recipes is filled with tried-and-true
recipes that keep folks coming back for more, plus the stories
behind them! Store.almanac.com/cookbook-readers-best-recipes/
PHOTO: HLPHOTO/SHUT TERSTOCKFOOD
Bacon Maple
Cream Pie
PHOTO: BECK Y LUIGART-STAYNERFOOD
BACON MAPLE CREAM PIE
2-1/4 cups whole milk
2-1/4 cups maple syrup, preferably grade A, divided
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 baked 9-inch single piecrust, cooled
1-1/4 cups whipping cream, chilled
1 tablespoon sugar
4 slices thick-cut bacon
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
In a saucepan, whisk together milk, 2 cups maple syrup, and egg yolks.
In a bowl, sift together flour and cornstarch. Gradually whisk flour
mixture into milk mixture. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Heat to boiling,
cooking for 8 minutes, or until very thick, stirring constantly.
Pour into prepared crust. Refrigerate.
In another bowl, whip cream with sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of
vanilla. Spread over chilled pie. Refrigerate.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Set a cooling rack on foil. Arrange bacon slices across rack in rows, not
overlapping.
Whisk together remaining 1/4 cup of maple syrup and mustard.
Generously spoon over bacon. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Turn over
bacon slices and baste again. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes more, or until
bacon reaches desired crispness. Remove from oven and sprinkle with
pepper. Set aside for 5 minutes. Coarsely chop cooled bacon. Sprinkle on
top of pie.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
PHOTO: BECK Y LUIGART-STAYNERAMUSEMENT
Don’t Be
Off Your Rocker!
Expert tips on how to choose and enjoy a rocking chair
PHOTO: STEVECOLEIMAGES/GETTY IMAGESAMUSEMENT
F
rom infants of the porch and the your head better than
to the elderly, hearth anymore, they a flat headrest would,
anyone who do have to withstand and slightly curved back
experiences the pleasure the fluctuations of posts will prevent the
of a rocking chair pretty temperature and chair from sitting you up
quickly succumbs to humidity caused by too straight.
the calming effects of central heat and air Runners: Many fine
its forward-and-back conditioning. The two rockers also have steam-
motion. Here are some drying procedures allow bent runners, which
considerations to help one type of wood to some say give a better
you in choosing a rocker tighten around the other. “rock.” Even if the
that will last a lifetime— Backs and seats: runners are not steam-
and longer. Most people find a cane bent, look for a reverse
seat and back the most arch at the back of the
MATERIAL CONCERNS comfortable because runner, which makes the
Wood: Solid hardwood cane is cool in summer chair more resistant to
is best, with red oak and more forgiving to tipping over backward.
preferred because it your bottom and back Stretchers: Make sure
seems to make the than wood. If you choose that there is an adequate
most durable rocking cane, make sure that it is number of stretchers—
chair. Ash and maple real cane and not rush, usually two on each of the
are good but not as which is just twisted four sides—and that they
strong as red oak, which paper that is harder and are of a size that seems to
also bends better—an less comfortable. be in proportion to the
important feature in the rest of the rocker.
manufacturing process. CONSTRUCTION Caned seating:
If a rocker says “oak AND DESIGN Examine the seat to see
finish,” this refers only Headrest and back if it is caned to the chair
to the stain on the wood; posts: Ideally, the head on all four sides or if
it does not necessarily rest and back posts it’s a dropped-in type; a
mean that it is solid oak. should be steam-bent, a seat that’s caned to the
Drying: Ideally, process that curves the chair by hand is said to
the wood should be pieces gently for comfort last longer. Also, as the
a combination of and makes them more handwoven cane dries
air- and kiln-dried. durable than they would around the cane rounds,
Even though rockers be if they had been it shrinks, further
don’t usually travel sawed by hand. A steam- tightening the chair.
between the extremes bent headrest will cradle The rounds themselvesAMUSEMENT
should be slightly to hold the angles true elevated or dropped.
elliptical in shape—fatter over time, but the nails Now try to get up. The
in the middle than at should not be noticeable. arms should be wide
the ends—so that they A fine chair also will enough to assist you,
can withstand the pull of have the front post and you should be able
the cane as it dries. The hand-wedged to the arm to get up easily without
cane should be double- (for a natural expansion scooting out to the edge
woven for strength and joint) and a shaft of of the seat.
durability. The more steel running from the If you are buying a
cane per square inch, the back post to the arm for rocker that will be used
sturdier the seat. added strength. Look for by several people, choose
Sanding and staining: carriage bolts, preferably one that is slightly larger
The chair should be brass, in the runners. than is most comfortable
sanded and stained by The bolts allow you to for the smallest adult.
hand, then lacquered. tighten the runners to Test the pivotal
If the chair is to be used the front and back posts balance point, which is
outdoors, it should when the wood shrinks. critical for a secure and
be painted with an long-lasting chair. Sit in
industrial-strength THE RIGHT FIT the chair and stick your
enamel or marine-grade Sit all the way back in feet out straight in front
polyurethane. the chair and make sure of you. The chair should
that the seat is not too remain steady and not
THE WELL- deep. Your back should pitch you forward.
FORTIFIED ROCKER be well supported by the Get up and give the
If the angles of a rocker chair’s back. The headrest chair a push to make
are out of whack, it will should be curved for sure that the rockers
“walk” across the room comfort and wide enough are even. If they are, the
rather than stay put. All to catch your head. chair will rock back and
rockers need something The seats of most forth several times. If
to keep the angles rockers are usually 16 to they’re not, the chair will
straight. Some glue is 18 inches from the floor. rock only one time.
used even in the best When you sit in the chair, Finally, rock in the
chairs, but glue should your feet should rest on chair. All chairs rock
not be the main element the floor so that you can differently, so try out
holding the pieces alight easily and quickly. several—you’ll soon
together. An exceptional Your shoulders should figure out which one
rocker will be fortified by be supported on the arms suits you best.
nails in strategic places in a natural position, not –Mary LeeGARDENING
A Bit of “Light”
Reading
Some illumination on starting seeds indoors
PHOTO: ZYABICH/GETTY IMAGESGARDENING
A
ny gardener to transplant, growing grow houses. However,
who can vegetables to maturity, or HIDs need to be changed
successfully providing extra light for more frequently, use
start seeds indoors can houseplants. electricity (watts)
grow just about any Compact Fluorescent inefficiently, and give off
vegetable variety, thus Lamp (CFL) Lights: heat.
gaining liberation from Common household Light-Emitting Diode
the popular but common fluorescents provide (LED) Lights: These are
varieties offered as relatively low levels efficient for growing large
seedlings in nurseries of light (around 800 numbers of plants; full-
and garden supply lumens) and are an spectrum LEDs provide
stores. In many cases, effective supplement to the best results. They
proper lighting will even natural (window) light use less power (wattage)
bring vegetable plants for houseplants. If you’re to produce more light
to maturity and harvest starting seeds, use a “full- (1,000+ lumens) than
indoors, too. spectrum” fluorescent CFLs and produce very
One secret to this bulb; these are made little heat. LEDs are
success is lighting: specifically for fruiting more expensive than
You need grow lights. or flowering plants. As fluorescents, but the LED
Each grow-light type the name suggests, these lifetime is far longer. To
has an array of power give off a full spectrum of compare LEDs with other
requirements, brightness color temperatures, from bulbs, read the package
levels, and color warm white light (3,000K) label; the equivalent
temperatures. If you’re in to daylight (6,000K). wattage is always given.
the dark about all of this, High-Intensity
read on. Discharge (HID) Lights:
Full-spectrum HID grow GETTING GROWING
W
lights are powerful and hen
LIGHT TYPES bright (2,500 to 3,000 arranging a
E
ach type of grow lumens). They’re ideal for grow-light
light has pros maturing edible plants or system, calculate how
and cons. Your growing large houseplants many bulbs you’ll need
choice depends on your and are widely used in based on the number of
purpose: starting seeds nurseries and large-scale plants that you want toGARDENING
illuminate and the area • Fluorescents should or removing volumes as
that they will occupy be no more than 12 inches needed.
under the light(s). above the tops of the
Most houseplants, herbs, plants.
leafy greens, and root • LEDs, 12 to 24 inches. IT’S ABOUT TIMING
P
crops require 600 to 900 • HIDs, 24 to 48 inches. lants under grow
lumens per square foot to Plan to alter the lights need more
thrive; fruiting plants, such distance between the hours of light
as cucumbers, tomatoes, light(s) and the plants indoors than the same
peppers, and squashes, as the plants grow. For plants do outdoors. Grow
need about 1,000 to 1,200 example, suspend the lights should be on for
lumens per square foot to lights from chains and at least 14 but no more
produce a harvest. adjust the length of the than 18 hours per day;
To be most effective, chains. Or, stabilize even indoor plants need
each light should be a the light(s) and raise or a minimum of 6 hours of
specific distance from lower the plant(s) on a darkness each day.
the plants: stack of books, adding –Benjamin Kilbride
T H E G L A R I N G FAC T S
Watts (W) are a measure of electrical energy. The greater the wattage,
the more electricity the bulb uses.
Lumens are a measure of brightness. A key chain flashlight might provide
5 lumens; a car’s high beams might produce about 3,000 lumens.
The Kelvin (K) scale measures the color temperature of light, which is
calculated in degrees Kelvin, from 1,000 to 10,000:
• Light in the 2,000K to 3,000K range is warm white.
• 3,100K to 4,500K, cool white.
• 4,600K to 6,500K, daylight.
The 6,500K range provides enough light for most seedlings, root crops,
leafy greens, and herbs. Fruiting plants (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers,
squashes) require a period of high-range warm white light as seedlings
before exposure to the high-daylight range.L I V I N G N AT U R A L LY
The Power of
One Small Thing
PHOTO: ILDO FR AZ AO/GET T Y IMAGESL I V I N G N AT U R A L LY
I
’d describe most One of my former it. This requires a lot
of the meaningful colleagues, an outreach of small changes to the
changes in my life worker for a nutrition- affairs of everyday life.
as quantum changes, education program, tells The difference is, once
seemingly sudden the story of a young, you turn the quantum
transformations when morbidly obese client. corner, you usually don’t
I felt as if I’d fallen At their initial meeting, turn back. The change
asleep in my old life and she learned that he was takes hold. The trick
awoken into an entirely drinking two six-packs of with taking small steps
new one, seemingly sweetened soda every day. is that you have to keep
without effort or even A believer in the remembering to take
intention. power of small steps, them.
After some period my colleague suggested When trying to
of adjustment, I’ve that the man begin by describe to myself the
always welcomed substituting a glass of power of small, I think
these transformations. water for just one of about the seeds that I
Intractable problems and the sodas each day for a planted last season in
impossible challenges week and put the money my 7,500 square feet of
faded away, while new, that he would have spent vegetable gardens. If I
previously unforeseen on that soda into a jar. had poured them out of
possibilities swam into After 6 weeks of their packets, all of these
view. weekly visits and seeds, including the
But when I’ve wanted conversations with my big ones like those for
and known that I’ve colleague, the man had beans, peas, and winter
needed a quantum stopped drinking soda squashes, would have
change, I’ve never learned entirely, made a few fit handily into a gallon
how to make one happen. more small changes measuring container,
I’ve been in his habits, lost 15 with room to spare.
reintroducing myself pounds, and saved The crops that grew
to the concept of small, enough money to pay from these seeds have
intentional changes— that month’s electric bill. fed us since late April
micro-changes—and As I’ve thought more and now fill our root
wondering if they might deeply about it, I see that cellar, two big freezers,
trigger a cascade that even the aftermath of and several rows of
precipitates lasting, quantum change means canning shelves.
quantum change. taking and staying with I stumbled acrossL I V I N G N AT U R A L LY
James Clear’s 2-Minute psychological value of That next small step
Rule a while back, and one small step: “The is part of the bargain.
find that its two steps journey of a thousand Ralph Waldo Emerson
speak directly to the miles begins with a single emphasized this:
power of small steps: step.” “All great masters are
• If something will take Applying something chiefly distinguished
less than 2 minutes, do similar to the Two- by the power of adding
it now. Minute Rule, I’ve begun a second, a third, and
• When you start a attacking the long- perhaps a fourth step
new habit, it should take dreaded and seemingly in a continuous line.
less than 2 minutes to do. impossible task of Many a man had taken
Can all of your goals be mucking out decades of the first step. With every
accomplished in less than stuff that’s accumulated additional step, you
2 minutes? Obviously in my house and enhance immensely the
not. But every goal can outbuildings by selecting value of your first.”
be started in 2 minutes three things each day That big and awful
or less. And that’s the to toss into the trash, chore seems impossible.
purpose behind this recycle, give away, or You’re not ready?
little rule. If a task takes begin using immediately. Step into it. It’s only
less than 2 minutes to “What saves a man is to for a moment.
complete, then follow the take a step. Then another
rule and do it right now. step. It is always the same TAP TO READ MORE
OF MARGARET BOYLES’S
Ancient wisdom step, but you have to take
POSTS IN HER “LIVING
and traditions have it,” wrote Antoine de NATURALLY” BLOG
long recognized the Saint-Exupéry.
PHOTO: ALBERTO MASNOVO/GET T Y IMAGESEverything you need to
stay on track in 2023!
ORDER NOW!O
O W E AT H E R F O R EC A S TS
O MARCH IN JANIVEER, JANIVEER IN MARCH, I FEAR.
How We Make Our predictions
We derive our weather forecasts from a secret formula
that was devised by the founder of this Almanac, Robert B.
Thomas, in 1792. Thomas believed that weather on Earth
was influenced by sunspots, which are magnetic storms on
the surface of the Sun.
Over the years, we have refined and enhanced this for-
mula with state-of-the-art technology and modern scien-
tific calculations. We employ three scientific disciplines to
make our long-range predictions: solar science, the study of
TAP TO FIND sunspots and other solar activity; climatology, the study of
OUT THE
WEATHER
prevailing weather patterns; and meteorology, the study of
HISTORY OF the atmosphere. We predict weather trends and events by
THE DAY comparing solar patterns and historical weather conditions
LOVE ALL
with current solar activity.
THINGS Our forecasts emphasize temperature and precipitation de-
WEATHER? viations from averages, or normals. These are based on 30-year
TAP FOR THE statistical averages prepared by government meteorological
WEATHER
FOLKLORE agencies and updated every 10 years. Our forecasts are based
OF THE DAY on the tabulations that span the period 1991 through 2020.
We believe that nothing in the universe happens haphaz-
ardly, that there is a cause-and-effect pattern to all phenom-
ena. However, although neither we nor any other forecast-
ers have as yet gained sufficient insight into the mysteries of
the universe to predict the weather with total accuracy, our
results are almost always very close to our traditional claim
of 80 percent.
CELSIUS–FAHRENHEIT TABLE
–40 –20 O 20 37 60 80 100
°CELSIUS
°FAHRENHEIT
–40 O 32 80 98.6 160 212
Water freezes Body Water boils
temperature
PHOTO: PIXABAYO
O W E AT H E R F O R EC A S TS
O U.S. Weather Regions
15
9 1
12
13
6
3
2
10
16
7
14 4
8
11
5
17
18
canadian Weather Regions CLICK HERE TO
FIND JANUARY
WEATHER
PREDICTIONS
FOR THE U.S.
AND CANADIAN
6 REGIONS
Y.T.
NUNAVUT
7 N.W.T.
N.L.
B.C.
ALTA. QUE.
SASK. MAN.
1
ONT. P.E.I.
Southern Atlantic
5 British 2 Canada
Southern N.B.
Columbia 4 The Prairies 3 Southern
Ontario
Quebec
N.S.O
O W E AT H E R U P DAT E
O
When La Niña Hangs Around
T
he New Year will get off to a stormy start across much of the eastern
United States. Snow is expected across New England, with a rain/snow
mix across the mid-Atlantic and Appalachians and some rain across
the Southeast. Some lake-effect snow is possible through the Great Lakes.
The sunniest weather across the U.S. will likely be in the nation’s midsection,
although 2023 will be off to a cold start in that region. Much like the East
Coast, the West will be stormy as well, with some rain and mountain snow
around. Up north, while this looks to be a sunny period in the Maritimes,
there will be pockets of snow and rain elsewhere throughout Canada.
In the U.S., National Static Electricity Day arrives on the 9th—which is quite
appropriate since the phenomenon is certainly most common during the winter
months, when indoor locations get quite dry. Folks will get the most charge out
of things across the Plains and in the eastern U.S., where a cold, dry air mass will
set up shop. The western U.S. will be milder and possibly see some storminess,
too, which should cut down on the static a bit. Across Canada, the greatest cold
will be cutting into northern and eastern areas.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 16 looks mainly dry and cold across
PHOTO: PIX ABAYO
O W E AT H E R U P DAT E
O
the Northeast and in the mid-Atlantic region. There will be some showers
in the Southeast, while some snow is expected from the Central Plains to
the Great Lakes. Pockets of heavier snow are a possibility across the Rockies,
while much of the West Coast looks to be dry and sunny.
Temperatures throughout the month of January are expected to be below
average for much of the U.S. from the Plains eastward, although New England
will likely turn out to be above average, as will also be the case for the western
contiguous U.S., as well as Alaska and Hawaii. In Canada, temperatures will
be warmer than normal from Yukon and the Northwest Territories across
into the Maritimes, while most southern areas will experience a cold January.
Precipitation is expected to be near or above average across much of the
U.S. in January, although Hawaii will be drier. Much of Canada will likely
experience above-average precipitation as well, although southern British
Columbia may end up drier than average as the potential storm track sets up
more to the south across the western U.S.
Looking at our forecast for the winter, one element that has changed
somewhat has been the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) pattern in
the Pacific. When we were putting together the Almanac forecast (ENSO is
one of many factors that we use), the pattern was forecast to switch to either
neutral or a weak El Niño. However, in recent months, it’s become apparent
that the most likely scenario is La Niña holding on throughout the winter.
Having La Niña 3 years in a row is a very rare occurrence that has not
happened since 1998–2001. The only other “triple dip” La Niña since 1950
occurred from 1973–1976. The 2000–2001 winter (the third winter in that
La Niña cycle, and the weakest La Niña of those 3 years) looks pretty similar
to what we have forecast, as it turns out—it was a stormy winter across
California, although drier in the Northwest. There were also waves of frigid
air that impacted much of central and eastern parts of Canada and the U.S.
The bottom line is that not all La Niña years are created equal. This being
said, if this winter ends up being more of a “traditional” one, the weather may
turn out to be a little drier than we forecast in the Southwest, and the East
might not be quite so cold. The jury—and La Niña—is still out on this one.
–Bob Smerbeck and Brian Thompson,
Old Farmer’s Almanac meteorologistsO
O WIT
O
humor me
grins and groans from the almanac
Sheepish were one of the first to County asked one of
He: “You know, after come across.” his neighbors down in
studying them, I think “Yes, well, yesterday the county, “Did you
that sheep must be the grocer told me that know that T. C. Steele
the dumbest creatures they are now the last to sold the picture that he
alive.” come across.” painted on your farm?”
She: “You don’t say, The farmer made no
my lamb.” Artfully Said reply to this, but then
One of those country the country gentleman
Not Accountable gentlemen who lives told him the price that
“Yesterday, Dinwiddie in Indianapolis and Mr. Steele had gotten
told me that his family only spends weekends for the canvas.
is a very old one. They on his farm in Brown “I just wish that I
ILLUSTR ATION: DR ANTE/GET T Y IMAGESO
O WIT
O
had known that the for a hard-earned rest. “Yes.”
feller liked the place Ten minutes—20— “Had any experience
well enough to pay that half an hour, and still in acting without
for a picture of it,” the she was wondering audiences?”
farmer said. “I’d have when her husband A flicker of sadness
sold him the farm for would be returning, shone in the visitor’s
$200 less than that.” when all at once she eyes as he replied:
heard the soft, stealthy, “Acting without
Self-Explanatory pit-a-pat of feet. Nearer audiences is what
Air show enthusiast: came the steps, and brought me here!”
“Don’t the spectators then a little white-
robed form, with a tiny
tire you with the
finger at the lip, stood
Timely Speed
questions they ask?” When a lady who was
Aviator: “Yes. What in the doorway.
“burning up the road”
else do you want to “Hush, hush,
on the boulevard was
know?” Mama,” she said. “I
overtaken by a traffic
finally got Father to
officer and motioned
sleep.”
to stop, she indignantly
Mission asked:
Accomplished Audience of None “What do you want
It was time for “baby Sweeping his long with me?!”
girl” to be in bed, but hair back with an “You were going
no amount of coaxing impressive gesture, the 40 miles an hour,”
could get her there. At young man faced the answered the officer.
last, her father offered proprietor of the film “Forty miles an
to lie in bed with her studio. hour? Why, officer, I
until the Sandman “I would like to haven’t even been out
arrived. Off to bed she secure a place in for an hour,” said the
went, piggyback, and your moving picture lady.
the tired mother leaned company,” he said. “You can go ahead,”
back in her chair with “You are an actor?” said the officer. “That’s
a sigh of content, ready asked the film man. a new one on me.”O
O
O
WHAT’S NEXT
LIVING CALENDAR ASTRONOMY
NATURALLY Moon phases; February Explore with
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Plantar Warts names; George Washington’s
real birthday
AMUSEMENT
GARDENING State Song Hit Parade,
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of Compost It’s Muffin Time! 26 state tunes
Plus: • Weather Update • U.S. and Canadian Weather Forecasts
• Gardening by the Moon’s Sign • Best Days to Do Things
• Humor • and much more in the February EXTRA!
CELEBRATING THE ALMANAC’S 232ND YEAR!You can also read
