Days of Summer: a ‘sciencey’ Week 7

It’s Day 50, not sure how I got here so fast, but I am here.

“I could never in a hundred summers get tired of this.” – Susan Branch

I am back in school in 19 days, I am under 20 days to a regular schedule, a regular waking time and probably a much earlier going to bedtime, too.

a third summer office – on the deck in full view of the lake, the birds, and the world. Thanks to John at LVPhotoblog for the tip on iPhone photos

Up here at the lake the sunsets much later in the day than at home. We are almost 3 degrees further north and our position relative to the time zone line has a significant impact. Here at the lake, we are in the far western part of the US Eastern Time Zone, it is GMT – 4; and at home we are in the far eastern part of the US Central Time Zone where we are GMT – 5. The east west difference is a little more than 3 degrees longitude.

Today’s sunset will be at 9:08 PM or 21:08 EDT at 298˚ NW by the lake. And, at home it will be 8:14 PM or 20:14 CDT or 296˚ NW. That is a difference of six minutes, adjusting for the time zone change.

Yes, I am aware I went ‘sciencey’ there, but with nineteen days before school begins, I need to start thinking about teaching and making things interesting and relevant for 11–12-year-old. Full disclosure is that I had a science ZOOM call yesterday and we discussed teaching science for almost a full hour.

When I look back at last week’s Instagram posts, I see a lot of science in my posts.

The photo above is a third of my summer offices… on the deck under the umbrella. I can see the across the lake and the lakeshore as well as the bird feeders. I can hear the blue jays calling for me to go back inside, but the hummingbirds and chickadees – a new visitor – don’t seem to mind.

I am reminded of yesterday’s daily journal quote,

“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” – Brené Brown

Day 50, like Days 1 to 49, is going to be an amazing day I know it and I can feel it. The sun is shining; the birds are singing and today is gonna be a great day. I can’t plan on tomorrow being a million and six times better, so, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the days Count one day at a time, one day after another.

Do you ever have ‘sciencey’ moments? What was it?

10 thoughts on “Days of Summer: a ‘sciencey’ Week 7

    1. Thank you! I remember being in northern California and watching the sunset over the Pacific. Awe inspiring. I woke extra early this morning and rose with the sunrise – 5:53 AM. When I got up and poured my first cup of coffee it was just beginning to get light outside. The stillness and quiet of an early Sunday morning has been a joy. Thanks for stopping in and stay well and healthy. Peace.

      1. Waking up with the sunrise is tough for me when I stay up so late, but when my kid played hockey I caught so many sunrises and they made it soooooooo worth it. 🙂 The stillness of the sunrise is different than the peace I feel at sunset. That trips me out. 🙂

      2. I was up way early this morning, I could say that I am in training for back to school and that was the intent, but it would be a lie. When school starts I’ll be setting the alarm for 4:30 to get ready for the day before leaving the house between 6:30 and 6:45 to be ready for the kids when they walk in at 7:50. bedtime will be 9:00 to 10:00 most nights and some nights 7:30! I love the stillness and quiet of the morning. take care and have a fabulous day.

    1. I have jokingly discovered that ‘youth is wasted on the young.’ Meaning that as a young person in a rush to ‘grow up’ and never understood the true purpose of school which is to inspire us to ask questions be curious and full of wonder. I keep learning sometimes more one day than another, but learning. Enjoy the day. Peace.

  1. Not overtly sciency moments. I didn’t have science teachers like you, striving to make the subject interesting,. They thought physics and chemistry was fascinating and couldn’t see why it might be a closed book to people like me. Luckily, as an adult, I can see things differently.

    1. Margaret – thank you. Making learning relevant and accessible is key. The blue sky we had was short-lived as ash from the western wildfires crosses the continent. I do love physics and chemistry and fortunately my high school physics teacher was ahead of her time and made a lasting impression on me. and BTW trees are sciencey! Take care and stay well.

      1. There are parts of biology that I enjoy, but it is not a favorite…. but I find myself pushing to learn about birds and ecosystems. Odd isn’t it? Keep learning and growing. Peace.

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