Enjoying a Clear Night

 Last evening (03/19/23) the sky was perfectly clear and that's rare for a winter sky in this Miami Valley. It was, of course, the last day or winter so maybe  the advent of spring was having  an influence. I went out about 9 PM and first marveled at Orion, high in our southern  sky, I couldn't help but take a few shots with my phone (a Pixel 4A with 5G):

 First (above) a wide view of the southern sky. Orion is prominent above the largest tree that grows beside our barn.

 And now a little closer view ...

  And finally a crop to bring out the Orion Nebula as much as possible. And the three belt stars (the "three kings, the String of Pearls): Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka.

 Then to the WNW to see if my phone could find the Andromeda Galaxy:

 Andromeda is located just  above the trees. Below is a zoom:

 Andromeda is the almost vertical "fuzz" just right off and slightly below center. Here's a Stellarium view of the same section of sky ...

 The orientation of the galaxy can be seen to agree with my photo.

 Finally I walked to the west edge of my property and took a few shots.

 I could see the Pleiades vaguely with my poor eyes but enough to aim the camera at the  fuzzy smudge to get the shot above. Below is a zoom:

 It was fairly cold (30° at 9 PM as I began) but at least it was calm. I'm pretty amazed that today's cell phones have enough light-gathering potential to document  these night  skies. Of course it is nothing compared to what a decent DSLR would do. And the addition of a telescope would be invaluable. But at least I can  enjoy the sights with the basic tools  I have.

Spring Housecleaning Begins

  Mom was big on spring housecleaning. Well, actually any house cleaning. And it's something she won't let me forget, even though she's been gone for nearly five years.

 In the evening when Tom and I are watching TV, I'm often looking at the curtains and thinking how  dingy they're  becoming. I have to admit it's been two years since I washed and ironed them and in  the years we've lived here (now 35) I don't remember Mom ever going more than a single year.

 Of course when she was alive she helped. I'd wash the windows and  she'd wash and iron  the curtains. It was an important division of labor because we were both doing what we did best.

 When she died, I had my sister-in-law  join me to do the ironing. But I could see that that wasn't necessary. I could certainly iron well  enough, couldn't it? And so several years ago I tried and found the job I did - while not to mom's or Nancy's standards - wasn't that bad and was certainly presentable. It would have to do.

 I've been  thinking about getting started on my spring housecleaning and the windows were at the top of my list. So, before lunch I  started a load of white wash and I added a good quality laundry detergent, a water softener and a cup of bleach. After they all mixed I stopped the machine and let the load soak for two hours while I fixed lunch, ate it and then did dishes.

 Ironing, I feared, was always going to be my weak point. But I've found I can do it reasonably well. I iron each panel one at a time and leave the others in the dryer tumbling. I then take the completed panel into the bed and lay it out uniformly with the others, sandwiching them one atop  the next.

 Eventually I have the entire stack waiting to reinsert the rods.

 I have always confused which side goes in, which goes out. But I think I've got it now. In any case, on the two windows all four panels are hung the same. With my tremor it takes a bit of cussing but I eventually manage to get them all back up, all turned the same way.

 And so the spring housecleaning is underway for another year.

 Does the curtain look white? Is it hung well? I can just hear Miss Mary telling to move that ruffle a little bit to make it more even. She was eventually satisfied - but it didn't come easy. For either of us.

Late Season Snow

  It's still winter so what's to complain about? Eight days to go, the calendar says. And yet meteorological spring arrived a dozen days ago so there's some cause for at least a muted whimper.

 We went to bed with the ground still dark and dry. I woke at some point - I didn't look at the clock - and heard drops of something tapping on the window. The precipitation might have started as rain but it quickly changed to snow, plastering the east-facing sides of poles.

 This morning there was half an inch on the ground.

 A security camera view to the north  shows the yard again bathed in a thin cover of white. And I've been noticing how green the grass was becoming so early in the season. Maybe this will set back the  first mow because I've been thinking it would be needed before March was done.

 And a view of the garage apron. Tom's car is blasted with a light coating of snow and grassy surfaces remain white as the temperature climbs to near freezing.  The low 40's are on tap for this afternoon and winter's late reminder will be a memory.