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January Full Wolf Moon

January 15, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 37 Comments

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, January’s full wolf moon was named for wolf packs that howled outside Indian villages “during the cold and deep snows of midwinter”.

January Full Wolf Moon

My fascination with the moon began in the fall of 1969 when Mrs. Hilliard wheeled the bulky black and white television between desks in our first grade classroom. Instead of doing alphabet worksheets, we watched Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong walk on the moon from high above our spot in Keiser, Arkansas. At the time I had no idea the news clip was a rebroadcast. (I was probably at the lake on July 20 when the giant leap actually happened…)

A few years later, Mr. Ring assigned a month long moon project in science class. I was just weird enough to love month long projects…especially about space.

Each night I stared at the black sky from my location in the backyard between the pump house and the cotton field. On a piece of plain notebook paper, I charted the moon’s positions and phases. In thirty days it waxed from new to full then disappeared again. I began to realize even though it looked different every night, it never changed. It was the same moon, the only moon, the moon that guided Columbus, the moon that had watched over our Earth forever.

By month’s end, my project was detailed and accurate. A work of art.

I’m pretty sure most of my friends threw their reports together without a glance toward the heavens…

Wherever you are, be sure to glance at our Full Wolf Moon tonight.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

“It is a beautiful and delightful sight to behold the body of the Moon.”
― Ptolemy

Musical Pairing:

Mindy Gledhill, Winter Moon

Filed Under: Nature & Seasons Tagged With: Apollo 11, Keiser, Moon, Old Farmer's Almanac, Winter

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Comments

  1. Pary Moppins says

    January 15, 2014 at 4:59 am

    I so enjoy your reminiscences. The song was great too. 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 15, 2014 at 5:04 am

      Thank you! I love that song:)) I think it’s adorable.

      Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    January 15, 2014 at 5:01 am

    I woke up ridiculously early today. I enjoyed a few moments, staring at the great big wolf moon at 4 am. Its been a long time since I’ve just looked and appreciated it 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 15, 2014 at 5:04 am

      Me too Jennifer. Maybe the moon woke us up?

      Reply
  3. Kim says

    January 15, 2014 at 5:07 am

    Love your writing! Ha! I’m older than you!! Can’t wait to read more.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 15, 2014 at 8:41 am

      Thanks:) I hope you’ll stick around…

      Reply
  4. Patti says

    January 15, 2014 at 6:14 am

    I love a full moon in the winter. Not much to obscure our view.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 15, 2014 at 8:41 am

      So true!

      Reply
  5. Megan @ All That Glitters says

    January 15, 2014 at 7:22 am

    My family and I have a fascination with the moon too! My sister and cousins and I always text each other the lyrics to “I see the moon”

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 15, 2014 at 8:41 am

      haha funny:)

      Reply
  6. Colene says

    January 15, 2014 at 7:52 am

    That big ‘ol moon is always fascinating to me! I do believe it affects my sleep, however.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 15, 2014 at 8:42 am

      I think it affects my sleep too.

      Reply
  7. Lora @ Crazy Running Girl says

    January 15, 2014 at 8:07 am

    I love gazing at the stars at night and the sky… makes you feel so humbled.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 15, 2014 at 8:42 am

      Humbled indeed.

      Reply
  8. April @ Angels Homestead says

    January 15, 2014 at 10:52 am

    Visiting from DBB. I love hearing stories from people’s childhoods. I too am fascinated by the moon, and believe it has a huge affect on our bodies. Fun read. 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 15, 2014 at 12:27 pm

      Thank you April!

      Reply
  9. Barbara Tate says

    January 15, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    Enjoyed this and I could even hear the song. Loved it. I have never been able to listen to your songs until now.. Yay.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 16, 2014 at 6:10 am

      I’m glad you can finally hear the song. You have a lot of songs to listen to.

      Reply
  10. Jane Gatewood says

    January 15, 2014 at 7:19 pm

    You know, Goodnight Moon was a classic bedtime book for children my son’s age (born 1980). But, in retrospect, the little bunny and the old lady whispering “hush” were creepy.
    Anyhow, when I was in Colorado about 10 years ago, looking at a full moon from my brother’s deck, I marveled that the same moon was shining upon my home in Tennessee. I called and asked that someone, anyone, go outside and look at the full moon. I begged, “right now.” It was a thrill, to me.
    Thank you for your blogs.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 16, 2014 at 6:09 am

      I often think the same thing. You are seeing the same moon I’m seeing. I think it connects us all. Thanks Jane.

      Reply
  11. [email protected] Tastes Good says

    January 15, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    Thanks for the reminder to take in the beauty and wonder of this world! Loved your story! So glad you shared 🙂 Going out to check out the moon…. ~Marion

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 16, 2014 at 6:08 am

      Thank you! It was huge AND it kept me awake most of the night…

      Reply
  12. Aleshea Dominique says

    January 15, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    Love your memories Talya.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 16, 2014 at 6:07 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  13. Jeff Overbey says

    January 16, 2014 at 5:19 am

    Cool story! I’m very envious of your recall of specific events like this. I’m sure I did the same assignment, but would never be able to recall it. Your mention of our old science teacher did trigger some interesting images and thoughts of him that hadn’t crossed my mind in years. Thanks for that!!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 16, 2014 at 6:07 am

      Yes you did the same assignment. Want me to tell you how your’s looked? LOL. I loved Mr. Ring. He was crazy entertaining.

      Reply
  14. Dorothy Johnson says

    January 16, 2014 at 5:19 am

    I have a love-hate relationship with full moons. They are beautiful but I have trouble sleeping when they’re full. So there’s always a sense of dread when I see that beautiful orb in the sky. I loved your memories, as usual!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 16, 2014 at 6:06 am

      I had a terrible time sleeping last night. Wide awake at 2 am.

      Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 16, 2014 at 6:06 am

      I had a terrible time sleeping last night. Wide awake at 2 am.

      Reply
  15. Bryan Jones says

    January 16, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    Loved it, my immediate circle’s eyes glaze over when I say “waxing or waning gibbous”!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 17, 2014 at 9:20 am

      haha:)) Thanks Bryan.

      Reply
  16. Kim says

    January 16, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    I am also fascinated by the moon, especially when it is full. I love to read about the names for the full moons, and sometimes imagine life back in those Native American camps. I always look up at the full moon and find a sort of comfort in knowing that same beautiful moon is shining on people I love, wherever they may be. Enjoy your writing.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 17, 2014 at 9:19 am

      Thank you Kim. I find the moon comforting too. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  17. Astaire says

    January 16, 2014 at 6:23 pm

    Hi Talya,

    I found your blog through Greenling’s Facebook share of your recipe. ! The baked sweet potato looks delicious! What a great idea to top it with lots of greens-I’ll have to try that!

    I enjoyed reading some of your posts. I’m ‘knee deep in Legos and Barbies’ right now lol! Everyone says this stage goes by quickly, so I’m trying to treasure each moment in the midst of the chaos. 🙂 I’m fascinated by the phases of the moon as well, and the impact it has on some of us physically.

    Isn’t Greenling awesome!? 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 17, 2014 at 9:18 am

      OMG I love Greenling. Received it as a Christmas gift from my husband so yesterday was my second box. Thanks for reading and commenting. I hope you’ll stick around!

      Reply
  18. Kathy says

    January 22, 2014 at 7:26 pm

    That is fascinating! I didn’t realize there was such a thing as a full wolf moon. Cool!!

    Reply
  19. DesignedByBH says

    January 27, 2014 at 2:36 am

    Thanks for sharing, Talya!!!

    – Brooke –

    Reply

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Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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