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”.
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
I so enjoy your reminiscences. The song was great too. 🙂
Thank you! I love that song:)) I think it’s adorable.
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 🙂
Me too Jennifer. Maybe the moon woke us up?
Love your writing! Ha! I’m older than you!! Can’t wait to read more.
Thanks:) I hope you’ll stick around…
I love a full moon in the winter. Not much to obscure our view.
So true!
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”
haha funny:)
That big ‘ol moon is always fascinating to me! I do believe it affects my sleep, however.
I think it affects my sleep too.
I love gazing at the stars at night and the sky… makes you feel so humbled.
Humbled indeed.
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. 🙂
Thank you April!
Enjoyed this and I could even hear the song. Loved it. I have never been able to listen to your songs until now.. Yay.
I’m glad you can finally hear the song. You have a lot of songs to listen to.
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.
I often think the same thing. You are seeing the same moon I’m seeing. I think it connects us all. Thanks Jane.
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
Thank you! It was huge AND it kept me awake most of the night…
Love your memories Talya.
Thank you!
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!!!
Yes you did the same assignment. Want me to tell you how your’s looked? LOL. I loved Mr. Ring. He was crazy entertaining.
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!
I had a terrible time sleeping last night. Wide awake at 2 am.
I had a terrible time sleeping last night. Wide awake at 2 am.
Loved it, my immediate circle’s eyes glaze over when I say “waxing or waning gibbous”!
haha:)) Thanks Bryan.
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.
Thank you Kim. I find the moon comforting too. Thanks for reading!
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!? 🙂
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!
That is fascinating! I didn’t realize there was such a thing as a full wolf moon. Cool!!
Thanks for sharing, Talya!!!
– Brooke –