One of the hopeful observations of late is how much longer each day is getting. When I get out of work at 5 PM, it’s no longer dark, and often by the time I am home, there are still some hints of light.

Indeed, tonight the sun will not set until 5:23 PM. In contrast, on January 7 I tweeted that the sun will set at 4:39 PM, almost an hour earlier.

Daylight in coming weeks will grow an accelerating rate through March 21, when growth will slow as we head to the climax of daylight on June 21, the first day of summer.

The growth of daylight means warmer days are ahead. It may not feel that way in the depth of winter’s depression, but signs of spring are all around.

The chickens are laying more, the birds seem to be out more. The average high is now a few degrees above freezing, and when this cold spell ends, snow will start to melt away and signs of spring will become clearer.