The Night Air

This is the time of year that I enjoy.  The night air is very cool, and I can open the windows in a locked position, and air the house out over night.  Even though the day is warm, the overnight temperatures drop enough to cool the house off.  Some days, the house stays cool enough that the air conditioner does not come on until after noon, even sometimes well into the afternoon, depending on the ambient temperature.

Also, because of the trees in my yard and my neighbor's yard, I have shade for my patio in the early evening. This allows me to sit outside and enjoy the evening air, especially when there is a breeze, because that makes the air temperature very comfortable.

When I first bought my house, and Mack was alive, I felt safe to sit in my back yard until the wee hours of the morning.  Or, I might wake up in the middle of the night, and not be able to go back to sleep, so I would sit in the back yard and listen to music or read. And of course, Mack joined me.  He really liked to be outside in the back yard.  So much so, that I would sit out in inclement weather, just to be outside with him.  I do not do that anymore. I do not have a dog, and the character of my neighborhood has changed enough that I do not feel as safe outside late at night.  Isn't that sad?  But it is real. 

But, I still like the fresh night air. 

 

The Shortest Day of the Year

The shortest day of the year, or winter solstice, was just 10 days ago.  But, already, I am noticing that the days are growing noticeably longer in the evening.  Just a few short days ago, it was dark  enough by 6 PM that I did not want to take the trash out into the alley to the dumpster.  Today, it was not that dark at 6 PM, although getting there. 

There is a second factor involved.  That during the time approaching the shortest day of the year, we had some very cloudy weather that made the evening seem to darken even faster than usual.  But it is the day length that is changing, and I know it is.

That is one of the things that really struck me about Lubbock, when I moved here:  The summer days are so very long, staying light till well after 9 PM in the summer.  And the day length changes very noticeably whenever we pass a solstice or equinox.

I really like the very long summer days. I really like the fact that the short days change very quickly after the winter solstice.  

Dark Early

It gets dark early at night, now that we are in standard time.  Sometimes, the fact that it gets dark so early really is difficult for me.  It is as if the day has ended prematurely.   I am not tired, I am not ready for bed, but I feel cocooned into my house.  That is not totally true, because if I have some place to go or something to do, I will do it. But it is as if I am locked in.

This is the time of year I wish I had a fireplace.  Not only would the warmth be wonderful, but the cheery brightness of the flames would improve my spirit.

I can go out and do if there is something to go out and do.

But, it gets dark early, and I retire in early.  Even if I do not retire to bed early.