New moon: In Aquarius, Feb. 2
Full moon: In Leo, Feb. 18 (Snow Moon)
Visible constellations: Canis Major, the Great Dog; Columba, the Dove; Gemini, the Twins
Astrological sign: Aquarius, Jan. 20 to Feb. 18; Pisces, Feb. 19 to March 20
Astrological element: Water
Gem stone: Amethyst
Flower: Violet
Born this month: Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States (1809); Painter Norman Rockwell (1894); Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks (1913).
Harvard history snippet:
“Commercial agriculture, still the largest industry in town in the mid-1970s, had declined steadily since World War II. There were three large applegrowers left, along with two dairy farms and one beef catlle operation. The town’s one goat farm was sold in 1976 for back taxes.”
—from Directions of a Town, by Robert C. Anderson (1976)
Household tips:
- Spread a thin layer of finely ground nuts on the bottom crust of a pie to keep it from becoming soggy.
- Leave an inch or two of ashes in the fireplace when you clean it out; it makes a good base for a new fire.
- To quiet squeaky floorboards, sprinkle talcum powder over the source of the noise and sweep it into the cracks between the boards.
Going green:
- Stop using plastic bags for groceries. Buy reusable bags or make your own.
- Buy a reusable bottle for water and forgo buying bottled water.
- Turn off your computer completely at night.
- Pay as many bills as possible online.
What to do in the garden:
- Prune grapes and blueberries
- Place seed and plant orders
- Bring in some forsythia branches for forcing
Trivia tidbit: In 1947, the temperature at Snag, Yukon Territory, hit -81 degrees F., the coldest reading ever recorded in North America.
According to folklore: For every thunderstorm in February there will be a cold spell in May.
Thought for the month:
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
—Thomas Edison, American inventor (1847–1931)
Do you have an almanac tidbit you’d like to share? E-mail to editor@harvardpress.com.