Oh yes, the scorching heat, unabating drought, and dogs gone mad.
All of these are characteristic of "the dog days of summer".
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Have you ever wondered why the days between July 3 and August 11 are called "the dog days of summer"? Some say it because it is so hot it is not fit for a dog. Others have believed it is because it is a time of plagues, floods and, yes, dogs going mad.
Actually, the phrase was coined during ancient days when it was believed the "dog" star, Siruis, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, was responsible for the extreme heat, flooding and other heat related disasters and illnesses. The "dog days" stretch from July to mid August when Siruis (scorching) rises with and is nearest to the sun. Some believe (or believed) Siruis is actually hotter than the sun, and the two being so near one another is the reason for the extreme summer heat in the western hemisphere. However, Geminus, a first century astronomer and mathematician, wrote, "this is an error, for the star merely marks the season of the year when the sun's heat is greatest."
Are we nearing the end of this year's heat wave? There are some who believe that because of precession, "the wobbling of the earth on it's axis", the dates are now July 23 through August 22.
The Egyptians once believed Siruis was responsible for the Nile's flooding. Shall we blame the "dog star" for our recent weather anomalies?
I do not know! I am but a mere collector of random information.
Willie is going to spend a bit of time napping and pondering the subject.
*****
Update: Do you remember this post..... Oops? We might actually find the missing valve box. Yesterday I walked out the front door to find the stone path, running through the garden, flooded. Presently, we are without water; it was Starbucks for coffee this morning. The plumbers are here digging up one of the front gardens. It doesn't sound good.... a portion of the driveway will need to be cut out, the roses and a maple will need to be relocated, another garden destroyed. Days of turning the water on and off at the water main with a tool that is a little intimidating. This is a really big oops. Oh my!
I think I'll blame the dog days of summer, go hide and play with my watercolors.
Actually, the phrase was coined during ancient days when it was believed the "dog" star, Siruis, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, was responsible for the extreme heat, flooding and other heat related disasters and illnesses. The "dog days" stretch from July to mid August when Siruis (scorching) rises with and is nearest to the sun. Some believe (or believed) Siruis is actually hotter than the sun, and the two being so near one another is the reason for the extreme summer heat in the western hemisphere. However, Geminus, a first century astronomer and mathematician, wrote, "this is an error, for the star merely marks the season of the year when the sun's heat is greatest."
Are we nearing the end of this year's heat wave? There are some who believe that because of precession, "the wobbling of the earth on it's axis", the dates are now July 23 through August 22.
The Egyptians once believed Siruis was responsible for the Nile's flooding. Shall we blame the "dog star" for our recent weather anomalies?
I do not know! I am but a mere collector of random information.
Willie is going to spend a bit of time napping and pondering the subject.
*****
Update: Do you remember this post..... Oops? We might actually find the missing valve box. Yesterday I walked out the front door to find the stone path, running through the garden, flooded. Presently, we are without water; it was Starbucks for coffee this morning. The plumbers are here digging up one of the front gardens. It doesn't sound good.... a portion of the driveway will need to be cut out, the roses and a maple will need to be relocated, another garden destroyed. Days of turning the water on and off at the water main with a tool that is a little intimidating. This is a really big oops. Oh my!
I think I'll blame the dog days of summer, go hide and play with my watercolors.
Oh my, solving the missing valve box sounds like a daunting task. I can't wait to hear more news. Good luck indeed!
ReplyDeleteOh Lynne, the news just continues to get more complicated with each step. Thank you for the well wishes. I am thinking...a hotel sounds perfectly comfortable for a few days.
Deleteas i read your entry i was reminded of the childrens books "where's waldo".....i think you should just keep willie company ;))))
ReplyDeleteyour watercolor is beautiful!!
Debbie, Thank you! I am like one of my school children...I love to play in water.
DeleteSo, are you trying to say that Sirius is NOT responsible for everything bad in July/August? Heresy! I think the water emergency in your garden says otherwise.
ReplyDeleteAm so sorry you have to re-do all that work. What a pain!
Oh Webb, I shall not cast aspersions and blame dear Sirius (I did misspell it earlier). I will keep smiling....with the help of a little medicinal vodka...for the nerves, of course;) I'm thinking a condo is looking really good right now.....
DeleteReally interesting information!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about the valve and flooding. What a mess. I wish you well...hope it's over quickly.
Jill, you are so sweet. The mess is really yet to come, and yes, I too, hope it is over soon. Thank you!
DeleteBonnie, this is definitely a time to get out of town. Besides the mess, watching your gardens being pulled up and destroyed has to be very difficult. Go to a beach for a week and return when everything is fixed and put back as best it can be. I feel so bad for you.
ReplyDeleteOh Arleen, I did think of leaving for the weekend, but I have things I need to do here. I have the landscaper on hold to help with the digging up the roses, holly bushes and the J. Maple. Some I will just have to replace. It will give me a chance to do a little redesigning:)
DeleteHello Bonnie:
ReplyDeleteIt is 'random information' of the kind which you include in this post that we positively revel in and which, between the two of us, and with absolutely no disrespect intended, we often refer to as 'mindless information'!
The dog days of summer continue here with temperatures around 35C and the occasional thunderstorm doing little to clear the air.
Dear Jane and Lance, No offense taken....I have to laugh, because I often hand out trivial information and end it with, "I have no idea why I know this, but I do."
DeleteI do love curious information.
With no running water, I am praying for a thunderstorm or even a little sprinkling.
I love a little trivia :) I always thought it was because these days are "for the dogs", as in not good enough for humans.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your water issue and the garden damage. Hope you figure it out and fix it really soon.
julie
Julie, Thank you! All will work out...I will find a silver lining in this adventure even if I must design it myself:) Good to hear from you.
DeleteWere my grandmother alive, she's blame our nasty weather on the moon landing! How terrible about your water woes. It's always sad to destroy a part of a garden. Being without water isn't so great either. Hope it all gets sorted out quickly.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering how you've managed to get the "reply" on your "comment" area. I've tried to search out how to do it but no luck.
Best,
Bonnie
Bonnie, Go to settings, post and comments. You will see "comment location". You needed to move your setting to embedded. That should do it.
DeleteMy landscaper is going to help remove some of the plants like the J. Maple and roses. I will loss some of the perennials and maybe an azalea or two. I'll just think of redesigning. Bonnie
Done! In fact, I made a reply to you. I never know how to respond to a question in comments. Do I go back to the commenter's blog? Do I e-mail them? Now I have a way. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
very interesting about the dog days...I did not know this...ow I will impress the dinner crowd of kids tonight with my blogland information!
ReplyDeletegood luck with all that is going on.
Oh, do have fun, and if you ever need trivia to wow just let me know;)
DeleteI had wondered about Dog Days but had never had time to look it up. Very interesting. That poor star gets blamed for a lot, it sounds like.
ReplyDeleteAngela it is so nice to meet you. Thank you so much for joining me. I be over to visit you shortly. Bonnie
DeleteOr maybe I'll be over.....editing is everything;0
DeleteOr maybe I'll be over.....editing is everything;0
DeleteHow hot has it been, Bonnie? It's awful here when it gets over 40 degrees in summer - about 110 Fahrenheit - so I know what it's like to feel you're melting. We've had a beautifully temperate, if chilly winter, with good rain, some normality, at long last.
ReplyDeleteFaisal, I think our hottest day only reached 112F. It was 107F in June which is really unusual for us. The days are averaging 108F, unusual as well. We will have to wait and see what August, our hottest month, has in store for us. Hopefully your winter rains will help with keeping your summer temperatures down a bit. (We had an unusually warm and dry winter.) Have a wonderful weekend.
DeleteHi Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post about the dog days of summer. Hope Willie is staying cool...So sorry about your plumbing problem, but at least you got to play with your water colors.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Aha, that's why Sirius Black in Harry Potter takes the form of a dog! Never made the connection before, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've just been reading about the biblical Wormwood star which fell into the rivers and poisoned them. Fascinating stuff.
I will do a little research on the Wormwood star.... So glad I could clear up a mystery for you. Bonnie
Delete