WELCOMING FIRST DAY OF SPRING, 2022
While we have had a number of spring-like days since March arrived (three weeks ago) with highs on some days over 70 deg. F this year -- spring officially arrived on Sunday, March 20 at 11:33 a.m. E.D.T.
It was a clear sunny day with a high of 55 deg. F. The lead photograph shows a view of Jefferson Park -- taken from the second-floor of house on Cooley Avenue -- on the south side of the park -- about an hour after arrival of spring (12:25 p.m. to be exact) -- snow-free with leafless trees that will soon be green all over.
The second photograph shows Smokey (left) and Ginny (her son), our two outdoor cats and my constant companions when I am out, enjoying the first day of spring lying out in the sun. Galena, our golden retriever with a curly tail, and their dear friend who left for the Rainbow Bridge – around this time last year -- would have lovingly joined them in the welcome.
I went out in the evening to play solo tennis -- I was the lone player in the courts -- the park has eight courts. See third photograph. The temperature had dropped a few degrees -- and there were only a few kids in the playground and the basketball courts. When it is cool -- very few park users venture out. I enjoyed my one-hour play hitting nine balls (one for each of the planets) -- from one-side to the other -- back and forth.
There was no shortage of planes flying overhead. The sun looked like one giant fireball -- shortly before sunset. See fourth photograph.
Enjoyed a vegetarian meal in the evening – after sunset – by eating out in our backyard. While it was 50 deg. F – there was no wind – and I enjoyed every piece of the meal which consisted of tomato and corn soup -- made with frozen home grown cherry tomatoes and frozen corn; salad -- carrots, sweet peppers, a scallion, an apple, and a orange; and two heated slices of multigrain bread, and a sports drink diluted with fresh Cleveland water. See fifth photograph.
The full March moon was on Friday, March 18, 2022. The sixth photograph shows the moon as seen in the late evening – shortly after midnight – over two days later -- as seen through the leafless trees of our neighbor’s backyard. Of course, Smokey (left) and Gingy (her son), our two outdoor cats and my constant companions – were there to keep me company even when the temperature was around 40 deg. F.
The last photograph shows a green light brightening up our front porch on the evening of the first day of spring -- Friday, March 18, 2022. This year I plan to have the lights in the porch reflect the seasons – green for spring, blue for summer, yellow for autumn, and red for winter.
On Sunday, the sun rose at 7:30 a.m. and set at 7:39 p.m. – giving us 12-hour and 9-minute long day – giving us almost equally long day and nights.
The days will keep on getting longer from now until the first day of summer on June 21 -- when the sun will rise at 5:53 a.m. and set at 9:04 p.m. – giving us an over 15-hour long day.
Enjoy the spring – the flowers and tree blossoms will start sprouting in a joyful procession!
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