Balsam Swamp is a sprawling state forest that stretches almost 5.5 miles east-west across 4 towns. The area is very rural, and the landscape surrounding the State Forest is predominantly forested. Balsam Swamp State Forest is comprised of a mix of native hardwood forests, hemlock swamps, and conifer plantations. There are no designated recreational trails on the forest, but there is ample opportunity for self-guided day hikes to explore the diversity of habitats represented on this State Forest. Additionally, the western section of Balsam Swamp State Forest is adjacent to Five Streams State Forest to the south.
The main attraction of this forest is Balsam Pond. The impoundment is approximately 152 acres and is a popular destination for fishing and paddle boat sports. Balsam Pond is a warm water fishery that contains a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish. Tiger muskellunge have been stocked in the past with the last stocking occurring in 1995. However, there have been very few reports of anglers catching any of the adult tiger muskies. A shallow gravel boat launch is suitable for launching small fishing boats.
A small rustic camp ground is also located at Balsam Pond. Camping spaces are available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no running water or electricity. A fire ring, outhouse, and picnic table are provided for each camping space. A sign on Balsam-Tyler Road in Pharsalia designates the entrance to the boat launch and camping facility. This is a carry-in carry-out facility. Please do not litter.
Good morning! What day is it? With a clunk I’ll drop it into third gear and be on my way this Wednesday. Mostly cloudy and 33 degrees in Delmar for the morning walk. ☁ Calm wind. The skies will clear around noontime.
With the clouds some bright red skies. 🌅 Not so cold, I debated wearing the winter coat versus the vest. The winter coat won out but it’s a bit warm. My heat is off inside. Didn’t need the heated blanket last night, maybe it’s after seeing my electric bill earlier in the week. Reheat of the apple 🍏 pancakes topped with mixed berries 🥞 this morning.
So far the week has been going by quickly but maybe because it ordinary 🏢 and well planned. I’m fine with that as I’m ready for spring time and the green up 🌷 which is probably like a month away.
Today will be cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny ☁👉☀ , with a high of 59 degrees at 3pm. 11 degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around April 14th. Spring continues for a few more days before winter comes for the weekend. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 53 degrees. The record high of 81 was set in 2012. 7 inches of snow fell back in 1887.❄
Yesterday I got down to the park 🏞 for a while and walked the Nature Trail and sat for a bit but not long as it got dark quickly. But it’s still March and that’s to be expected. They hardened the trails last summer with road crumb which makes for better walking in mud season. 👢
Had to add some additional holes to my belt last night with a drill because it was getting loose. I think it stretched and I’ve lost some weight as my collars in my dress shirts seem looser too. Brown rice, lentils and tofu with lots of chilli 🌶 powder and garlic for dinner, my breath was garlicly by evening, no vampires 🧛♂️ near me. I wish I had eaten more fruit 🍏 with dinner though as by the evening I was feeling like my blood sugar was very low.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:03 pm with sun having an altitude of 48° from the due south horizon (-22.9° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 5.4 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 6:33 pm with the sun in the west (265°). 📸
Updated the blog theme with some new colors 🎨 with spring coming. Broke some things with the mobile 📱 version though I need to fix. The colors make it easier to pick out individual sections of the blog. I also fixed the aspect ratio on selected maps and videos and re-enabled photo titles. I’m trying to reduce clutter 🧹 while not hiding important information.
The sunset is in the west (272°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 7:10 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 54 seconds with dusk around 7:37 pm, which is one minute and 9 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Crescent 🌒 Moon in the west (269°) at an altitude of 10° from the horizon, 233,893 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 8:11 pm. At sunset, look for partly cloudy skies 🌃 and temperatures around 54 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 8 mph. Today will have 12 hours and 20 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 55 seconds over yesterday.
Almost light enough now in the morning 🚶 to walk before breakfast again. 🥣 This is the order I prefer as it makes my schedule more flexible. Plus it works out well with having to run to the rest room after walking 🚽 and having an empty stomach before breakfast though Id probably eat an apple 🍏 before walking to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
Tonight will have a chance of showers, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy 🌧, with a low of 43 degrees at 5am. 15 degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around April 30th. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 24 degrees. The record low of -4 occurred back in 1875.
Not a particularly nice weekend on tap. 😞 I won’t mind if I have to work this weekend, I could use the comp time for nicer weather. Saturday, rain before 8am, then rain and snow between 8am and 11am, then rain after 11am. High near 40. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Sunday, a chance of rain before 8am, then a chance of showers between 8am and 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Typical average high for the weekend is 49 degrees.
One month 📅 from now will be Earth Day 🌎 when the sun will be setting at 7:46 pm with dusk at 8:14 pm. Good to provide some advanced notice to the coal rollers.
How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man? 🚶
Those where the lyrics that a Freewheeling Bob Dylan made famous a few generations ago. But it’s a question I’ve long had on my mind.
I walk a lot. Over the past sixty days I’ve done a minimum of 5 miles a day, many days closer to 10 or even 20 miles a day. Most days I get out at a little after six o’clock in the morning and do a 40 minute walk than around seven o’clock do another walk.
I’ve long done a lot of walking but it got boosted a lot during the pandemic when I started my morning walk program. Then I installed an app on my phone that counts how many steps I walk every day with friendly reminders how much above or below I am of the 10,000 step goal.
Now there are many reputable websites that will tell you that 10,000 steps a day isn’t necessary, that to he healthy you could do less. Others will tell you that walking doesn’t actually burn that many calories compared to what you can stuff in your face with our sugar and fat rich food that’s everywhere but to he honest it’s not really why I walk so much.
For one it’s that I don’t own a television and rarely have my computer at home which lacks internet, so I have a fair amount of free time to be out and walking. And I’m happier when I’m outdoors. Walking keeps me warm in the cold of winter.
But also I just like walking. It’s better than bicycling or driving as no equipment to break down or fuel and supplies to purchase. Your going slow enough you can stop and look at things, with walking you can easily detour your path as most public places are open for rambling.
It’s just something to do. I can listen to podcasts, while I get in my steps or write a blog post. Listen to music or be transported to a different place at least in my mind listening to a radio program.
Good morning! Cool and clear start to the Tuesday. Partly clear 🌅 and 29 degrees in Delmar, NY. Calm wind. Things will start to thaw out at around 8 am. 🌡️
I’ll be the first to admit that it is a cold start to the morning with the heat off 🌸 but it’s spring and I’m not going to pay for heat if there is no danger of pipes freezing or excessive cold. Indeed this afternoon it should be in the mid 50s. That said, I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my February – March electric and gas bill was only $85. Heating blanket boosted the electric side of things a bit but keeping it at 48 except the coldest days helped a lot. 💵 I was expecting a little bit over $100 for the bill like the January – February bill with the cold we had mid February.
Today will be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny ☁, with a high of 56 degrees at 3pm. Nine degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around April 8th. Light and variable wind becoming west 6 to 11 mph in the morning. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 55 degrees. The record high of 78 was set in 1921. 6 inches of snow fell back in 1905.❄
What can I say, it’s going to be a a nice day. 🏢 Too bad I’m going to be in the office all day downtown. Now if we could only have another pandemic and I could be remote working from my truck at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center like I was three years ago. 🐦 Watching the birds while I wrote the memos 📝 and endless Zoom meetings. Those were the days.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:03 pm with sun having an altitude of 47.6° from the due south horizon (-23.3° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 5.5 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 6:31 pm with the sun in the west (265°). 📸
I cooked up some of the wild salmon I bought on Sunday. 🐠 I have to say it was tasty. And easier to cook than fish sticks or breaded fish filets. Healthier too. I don’t know why I had never done it before, you just take it out of the freezer in the morning, toss it in the refrigerator before work. Then in the oven broccoli 🥦 and also brown rice with lentils and seasonings – chilli 🌶 powder and garlic powder. Being individually vaccum wrapped its more plastic than I would like but I’ve cut plastic out in other ways like not buying apple juice or as much milk and it’s a lightweight plastic bag that should make an excellent fire starter especially with the fish oils. 🔥 Really easy to bale that plastic wrap into a tight ball ⚽. Cost wise, it’s slightly more expensive but the portions are perfect and actually save money by ensuring you only eat the right amount as the rest is frozen and can’t be eaten right away. 💵
The sunset is in the west (271°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 7:09 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 54 seconds with dusk around 7:36 pm, which is one minute and 9 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 The best time to look at the stars is after 8:10 pm. At sunset, look for partly cloudy skies 🌃 and temperatures around 47 degrees. There will be a north-northwest breeze at 7 mph. Today will have 12 hours and 17 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 54 seconds over yesterday.
Last night I went to the Elm Ave Park 🏞 and walked until dusk 🌆 which was nice for the first time after work this year. 🚶 It helps to get in the extra steps 👣 and it’s fun to walk in the woods around dusk 🦉 and see what wildlife is out there. Still though not a lot of evening after dinner but it’s good to get to bed relatively early.
Tonight will be mostly cloudy 🌥, with a low of 31 degrees at 5am. Three degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around March 30th. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 29 degrees. The record low of 2 occurred back in 1875.
Finished my taxes last night, 📝 and while checking the paper forms for my state taxes noticed that I hadn’t reported any Capital Gains on my federal taxes, panicked for a minute and double checked my investment statement and confirmed no capital gains received this past year as the market ended down 📉 so much this past year. I didn’t sell anything this year but in better years I do get some capital gains just from the index funds that sell off parts at times to make sure they are still accurately tracking the market. But not in 2022, as most of the leading stocks were down. Got lots of dividends though but I prepaid enough to cover them. I filed 📂 my federal taxes online but did paper state taxes as the state ones are simple as I’m a renter but not super poor so I don’t have any real state tax credits except for my contributions to my neices education account.
Not a particularly nice weekend on tap. 😞 Saturday, rain likely, possibly mixed with snow, becoming all rain after 8am. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Sunday, a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Typical average high for the weekend is 49 degrees.
I was hoping that the upcoming weekend would be warm and sunny ⛺ for camping at Rennselearville State Forest but I don’t think it’s likely. I was figuring the fire risk would be low if there is snow on the ground. The fire ban applies only to brush burning not campfires kept small and in eye sight. 🔥
Looking ahead, next Tuesday is Average High is 50 🌸 when the sun will be setting at 7:17 pm with dusk at 7:44 pm. On that day in 2022, we had cold weather, partly cloudy skies and temperatures between 27 and 18 degrees. Debbie downer. We hit a record high of 85 back in 1945.
Today’s sunrise was at 6:57 am. The next time the sun will rise later then today 🌄 is in 202 days on Sunday, October 8.
The average high for today is 47 degrees. 🌡 The next time it will be on average cooler then today is in 248 days on Thursday, November 23 when the average temperature will be 46 degrees.
The highest point for the sun today will be 47.2° from the horizon at 1:04 pm. 🌞 The next time the sun will be lower in the sky mid-day is in 188 days on Sunday, September 24.
Today has 12 hours and 27 minutes of daylight. ⏳ The next time the day will be shorter then today is in 187 days on Saturday, September 23.
Today’s sunset will be at 7:08 pm. The next time the sun will set earlier then today 🌆 is in 179 days on Friday, September 15.
The average low for today is 27 degrees. 🌡 The next night it will be on average cooler then tonight is in 258 days on Sunday, December 3 when the average temperature will be 26 degrees.
Good morning! Spring has come back aroundagain. Well maybe not for another 11 hours though it will feel spring like later. Don’t do stupid shit in the mean time. Clear and 24 degrees for the morning walk in Delmar. 🌅 There is a south breeze at 6 mph. 🍃. Things will start to thaw out at around 9 am. 🌡️
Cold but clear start to the morning. 🌅 I was not impressed when the heat kicked on when I got up. I know it’s cold this morning but the thermostat can’t read the forecast. I still haven’t gotten the February bill yet for gas and electric, I’m thinking 💭 it was delayed because of the weather delaying the meter read but I’m curious about it and will have to check the website. I turned off the heat for hopefully the rest of the year. I like it cold but if it gets well below freezing I’ll have to turn it back up. Pretty morning being so clear with the sun rising. And soon it will be fairly warm out.
Today will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 53 degrees at 4pm. Six degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around April 2nd. South wind 6 to 16 mph becoming west in the afternoon. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning, which became light rain by afternoon. The high last year was 54 degrees. The record high of 78 was set in 2012. 7 inches of snow fell back in 1944.❄
I don’t know about you but I look forward to the sunshine 🐸 and the April like weather. And knowing that we are like a week and a half from this being the normal weather. By the number of red winged black birds around its a sign of what is to come. No spring peepers but I know it won’t be that far in the future 🔮.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:04 pm with sun having an altitude of 47.2° from the due south horizon (-23.7° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 5.6 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 6:30 pm with the sun in the west (264°). 📸
The sunset is in the west (271°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 7:07 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 53 seconds with dusk around 7:35 pm, which is one minute and 10 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 The best time to look at the stars is after 8:09 pm. At sunset, look for mostly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 43 degrees. There will be a southwest breeze at 7 mph. Today will have 12 hours and 14 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 54 seconds over today.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 26 degrees at 6am. Two degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around March 17th. South wind 3 to 5 mph. In 2022, we had light rain in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 36 degrees. The record low of -1 occurred back in 1956. Not very negative.
Saturday’s forecast isn’t wonderful. 😕 Saturday, showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Sunday, partly sunny, with a high near 46. Typical average high for the weekend is 49 degrees. One week until April.
Looking ahead in early to mid April, there are 3 weeks until 8 PM Dusk 🌆 when the sun will be setting at 7:32 pm with dusk at 8:00 pm. On that day in 2022, we had partly sunny, rain showers and temperatures between 49 and 36 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 57 degrees. Should be good for going to the park after work. We hit a record high of 86 back in 1922.
Good evening! As they say, stick a fork into calendar winter, it’s done. Partly clear and 31 degrees for the evening walk in Delmar. 🌃 Breezy, ️16 mph breeze from the west-northwest 🌬 . The current wind chill is 20. At least in less protected areas the snow is done at least for now. ️Things will start to thaw out at tomorrow around 9 am. 🌡️
Out for the evening walk 🚶 which will get me up to a little over 12 miles for the day and 22 for the weekend. That’s good I guess. It was tough tromping through the snow in the Pine Bush yesterday though by today who knows how much is left.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 22 degrees at 5am. Five degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around March 4th. Maximum wind chill around 20 at 8pm; West wind 9 to 16 mph becoming southwest after midnight. In 2022, we had thunderstorm in the evening, which became cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 40 degrees. The record low of 2 occurred back in 1967.
Washed my truck and stocked up my pantry for the week. Continuing to buy and eat healthier, 🍏 especially working to cut out processed foods and sugars. I actually bought two pounds of non organic tofu, something I’m a bit horrified about but I’m really looking to lower cost, healthy meats and substitutes. I’d love to work more rabbit into my diet but it’s an expensive boutique meat in America unless you hunt or raise them because adult children in America think they’re cute not dinner. Got some wild salmon too, and lots of spices to add to various foods boost flavor.
Tonight will have a Waining Crescent 🌘 Moon with 3% illuminated. The Pink 🌸 Moon is on Wednesday, April 5. The darkest hour is at 1:04 am, followed by dawn at 6:34 am, and sun starting to rise at 7:02 am in the east (90°) and last for 2 minutes and 54 seconds. Sunrise is one minute and 45 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌄 The golden hour ends at 7:39 am with sun in the east (97°).Tonight will have 11 hours and 49 minutes of darkness, a decrease of 2 minutes and 55 seconds over last night.
Tomorrow will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 51 degrees at 4pm. Four degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around March 29th. Southwest wind around 10 mph. A year ago, we had cloudy skies. The high last year was 54 degrees. The record high of 78 was set in 2012. 7 inches of snow fell back in 1944.❄
Tomorrow should be a good day to kick off calendar spring. 🌷 Mild relatively speaking. I don’t know if I’ll get home early enough tomorrow will the mothership meeting to go down to the park but the evening walk will be nice.
In four weeks on April 16 the sun will be setting in the west-northwest (285°) at 7:39 pm,🌄 which is 32 minutes and 4 seconds later then tonight. In 2022 on that day, we had rain and temperatures between 58 and 37 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 60 and 37 degrees. The record high of 91 degrees was set back in 2012.
Looking ahead, tommorow is , 7:30 PM Sunset 🌇 is in 3 weeks, Average High is 60 🌷 is in 4 weeks, 8 PM Sunset 🌇 is in 7 weeks, Mothers Day 👩 is in 8 weeks, Fathers Day 👨 is in 12 weeks, Average High is 80 🏖 is in 3 months, Last Sunset After 8:30 PM 🌆 is in 17 weeks, 6:30 Sunrise 🌇 is in 25 weeks, Constitution Day 📜 is in 26 weeks, October 🎃 is in 28 weeks, Average High is 65 🍂 is in 29 weeks, Average High is 60 🍂 is in 7 months, 7:15 AM Sunrise ⌛️ is in 38 weeks and Christmas Eve 🎅 is in 40 weeks.
