Another Solstice celebration has come and gone, and per usual, it was a fine one. Due to heavy clouds we saw no sunrise or sunset, though we did get some sun during the day. However, by the time it would have been for viewing the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, it was raining. Oh well, perhaps the next one in 400 years or so will have better weather. All was not lost, however, as we had great views of them on Sunday evening (Monday was closest approach). Saturn, much dimmer than Jupiter, was sitting just above the brighter planet, and could see seen easily with the naked eye, and of course with binoculars. This was no Star of Bethlehem, as some media outlets proclaimed, just the two biggest planets lining up in their orbits from our viewpoint. Venus is a much brighter object whenever it is up. But being able to see both in a telescope at the same time is very unusual. We did not set up the scope, as we had been observing both planets all summer and all autumn, just not in the same field of view.
As to Solstice day, we enjoyed a wood fire indoors from 8 am (our sunrise) until nearly 9 pm. There was all day music, lots to eat and drink, and with Deb and I actually sitting in the same room, instead of apart working on our own projects, there was some conversation, too. We put up the decorations last Friday evening. On Saturday we baked almond cookies, and on Sunday we baked two loaves of spiced pumpkin bread. With a full moon coming up next week, as well as New Year's Eve, the partying will not likely stop for long. Weather wise we are in another mild spell, but the season's first really frigid day is due on Friday. But it quickly returns to normal temps right afterwards.
On Dec. 26th the entire province of Ontario goes into grey lockdown, the most severe form the government has come up with. Even Sudbury, which is in the green, has to bypass yellow, orange, and red, moving directly to grey. Anyway, things continue on as ever here at Lone Mountain Homestead. I've been rereading my 38 trip logs to New Mexico lately (I'm currently rereading Trip #22), and putting all of our NM tent sites on my Google Earth page. I really miss that place, and can't wait to get back there.
We have been watching and enjoying an older British TV series called Walking Through History, presented by Tony Robinson (of Black Adder fame). He devises long distance walks based on historical events. In Season One he walked along the south coast tracing WW 11 sites; next he walked the South Downs tracing some of Henry V111 history; then he went to Scotland to trace the clan rebellions against the British. We are just watching the first episode of Season 2, about prehistoric Britain, namely Avebury, Silbury Hill, and Stonehenge. It's a really good series, even if you are not a walker, and Tony does a great job.
In movie news, the two most recent flics watched were selected by Deb, both from the "leaving Dec. 31st" list. First up was a Noir that neither of us had ever seen, called The Big Combo. From 1955, it stars Cornel Wilde, Brian Donlevy, and Richard Conte. It had guns, dames, an underpaid cop and an overpaid crook. The cop wants to bring down the gangster, and is also in love with his girlfriend. There are several nice little moments in this story, and plot twists that catch us by surprise. I'd have to watch it again to decide if this is a Noir classic, but it is worth watching, even twice.
Just about now, I could use the image of An Arcadian Landscape to decompress. If I had this picture in my closet (which I sort of actually have, thanks to the internet and art museums who put their art up for viewing online) I would take it out and look at it with hope and promise of better things to come. Though everyone has been trashing 2020, it started out just fine, at least. 2021 is going to be starting out on a very bad footing, and has a long way to go before it will be remembered as a year that things got a lot better. I'll believe it when I set foot again first in Detroit, then in New Mexico. Until those times, I will expect the same old same old from 2021. But I will look at lots of pictures and movies, and listen to much music and read many more books, before better times arrive. On top of that, a Canadian winter is about to begin.
Arcadian Landscape, 1794, Luwig Philipp Strack, German 1761-1836; oil on canvas 34" x 47.5". Collection Detroit Institute of Arts.
Mapman Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment