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 evening! Partly cloudy and 32 degrees at the Elm Ave Park and Ride. ⛅ There is a south breeze at 6 mph. 🍃. ️Things will start to thaw out at tomorrow around 9 am. 🌡️
Out for the evening walk 🚶 a bit later than usual as I washed my truck 🛻 returned cans 🥫 and got gas ⛽ before the prices start creeping up come the New Year and the gas tax holiday ending. It’s only sixteen cents a gallon but you know gas stations or at least oil companies will jack up prices by 40 cents to celebrate the end. Though who knows, gas prices are falling nationally as everybody talks recession.
Tonight will be mostly cloudy 🌥, with a low of 24 degrees at 5am. Five degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around December 13th. South wind around 7 mph. In 2021, we had cloudy skies in the evening, which became mist by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 33 degrees. The record low of -18 occurred back in 1933.
It is a nice evening with the moon 🎑 above though the skies are still hazy with only the brightest stars showing. The air has the taste of barnyard on it as they’ve been doing spreading with the snow gone and the ground expected to thaw. Someday soon it will become hay or silage and ultimately just another cold glass of milk 🥛.
Tonight will have a First Quarter 🌓 Moon with 38% illuminated. At 8 PM, the moon was in the southwest (230°) at an altitude of 27° from the horizon, some 230,719 miles away from where you are looking up from the earth. 🚀 At the state speed limit of 55 mph, you’ll make it there by June 21st. Buckle up for safety! 💺 The moon will set in the west (263°) at 10:56 pm.
The Wolf 🐺 Moon is on Friday, January 6. The darkest hour is at 11:58 pm, followed by dawn at 6:53 am, and sun starting to rise at 7:26 am in the east-southeast (122°) and last for 3 minutes and 25 seconds. Sunrise is 15 seconds later than yesterday. 🌄 The golden hour ends at 8:11 am with sun in the southeast (130°).Tonight will have 14 hours and 52 minutes of darkness, a decrease of 29 seconds over last night.
I’m glad I got my truck washed 🚿 as tomorrow will be warm and sunny which will wake up the tin worm. 🪱 I don’t expect to drive anywhere before the New Year unless of course the weather improves and I do Brookfield. Nobody was at the car wash tonight but tomorrow will certainly be crowded and a lot more snow melt on the roads.
Tomorrow will be mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 45 degrees at 3pm. 10 degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around November 27th. South wind 5 to 8 mph. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. The high last year was 38 degrees. The record high of 71 was set in 1984. 6.0 inches of snow fell back in 1915.❄
Shouldbe a real nice day, especially for walking 🚶in the park at lunch time. Friday will be warmer still but probably more cloudy ⛅. I have to say the rain for New Years Eve is such a bummer. I guess stay home save money. 💵 Hey, the one upside is that the heat can stay off.
In four weeks on January 25 the sun will be setting in the west-southwest (245°) at 5:00 pm,🌄 which is 29 minutes and 57 seconds later then tonight. In 2021 on that day, we had mostly sunny and temperatures between 29 and 5 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 32 and 15 degrees. The record high of 61 degrees was set back in 1938.
In many ways the year that was has been a bit of a disappointment for me, though at the same time I feel like I learned a lot 🧠 and saved a lot 💵 even though the down market isn’t making it apparent. I’ve learned to love and cherish things closer to home 🏡 and that escape to remote country isn’t always essential. And to embrace who I am and what I believe, even if that’s not always popular. To not undervalue what I’ve learned and connections I’ve gained at work. And to believe better times are ahead.
Good morning! Today is the 4:30 PM Sunset 🌆 . Evenings are starting to get a bit longer. Of course the 5 pm sunset come later in January is when you really feel it. Those days will be upon us before you know it. Winters aren’t what they once were unless you live in Buffalo 🐃.
Cloudy and 23 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☁ There is a south breeze at 6 mph. 🍃. There is a dusting of snow on the ground. ☃ Things will start to thaw out at around 11 am. 🌡️
After a fairly dark and gray start to the morning, a bit of a fiery sunrise 🌅 to start out the day. Since Saturday I’ve been exceeding my steps 👣 goal every day after a previous week that wasn’t so good. 16,500 steps yesterday or about eight miles. My boots 👢 though are in terrible shape at this point. Been debating what to get, thinking about getting boots with higher ankle protection especially with the risk of ankle injuries higher in the winter with the ice. Not sure, those boots are more expensive than I wanted to spend.
Town finally got salt on the sidewalks on the icy patches. ❄ I think the town parks department maintains the sidewalks and they don’t work holidays or weekends. So they were slick for a few days where there was snow melt with the cold.
Today will be mostly cloudy 🌥, with a high of 39 degrees at 2pm. Four degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around December 14th. South wind 6 to 10 mph. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. The high last year was 46 degrees. The record high of 61 was set in 1982. 7.0 inches of snow fell back in 1967.❄
I am totally in love with Governor Kristi Noem and her flame thrower. 🔥 I guess she’s my hero because she burns her trash, and smells a little like cow shit. 🐄 I mean, she is from South Dakota and runs her family ranch. Kind of like Sonne Farms, a Youtube channel I often watch which both of those things are the case. Flame throwers are popular with conservatives these days, I’m sure some crazy will burn down a building and all the left-wingers will be clamoring to ban them, as they are fun, and liberals hate fun unless it’s having sex with strangers. 🚯 Mostly because conservatives like them, as a fun way to burn wet household garbage. 🗑 I’ve thought of getting a propane weed burner, their little brother, for starting campfires and other hard-to-burn debris but they are a bit expensive, not nearly as a cool, and it seems like just another thing to own. Maybe when I own my own land and have more crap to burn. 💸 No income tax in South Dakota, cheap and often good ag and forest land, the Black Hills. ⛰
Solar noon 🌞 is at 11:58 am with sun having an altitude of 24.1° from the due south horizon (-46.7° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 13.4 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 3:44 pm with the sun in the southwest (231°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-southwest (239°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 4:30 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 25 seconds with dusk around 5:01 pm, which is 43 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the First Quarter 🌓 Moon in the south (181°) at an altitude of 40° from the horizon, 230,448 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 5:37 pm. At sunset, look for partly cloudy skies 🌃 and temperatures around 36 degrees. There will be a south-southeast breeze at 7 mph. Tomorrow will have 9 hours and 8 minutes of daytime, an increase of 32 seconds over today.
I did not get to the store yesterday or wash my truck. 🛻 It was surprisingly cold last night and I decided I was really tired from my first full day back at work after 10 days off. I need to get the salt off it, and I need to get a few supplies, so maybe tonight will be the day. I am pretty sure today I will do it — it’s bit warmer, and I need groceries. Plus I need to return cans. Need my nickles back, my truck free of empties, plus get gas before prices go up next week with the gas tax holiday ending.
Tonight will be mostly cloudy 🌥, with a low of 23 degrees at 5am. Four degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around December 16th. South wind 3 to 6 mph. In 2021, we had cloudy skies in the evening, which became mist by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 33 degrees. The record low of -18 occurred back in 1933.
Mild but stillkind of wet for the NYE. ☔ New Years Eve a chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New Years Day will have rain showers about, 49 degrees with maybe a few breaks of sun come late in the afternoon. Darn, still doesn’t look good for getting out of town. Typical average high for the weekend is 34 degrees.
Good morning! Happy Tuesday. Mostly cloudy and 21 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☁ Calm wind. There are patches of snow snow on the ground. ☃ Things will start to thaw out at tomorrow around noontime. 🌡️
Back to work after ten days off. 💼 It worked out nicely with the holiday weekend but alas it went by too quickly and the weather wasn’t the greatest. I kind of wish I had taken off more nice days in November. 🌿 I bet my plants in the office 🏢 will need watering 💦 though.
Had to pack a lunch 🥪 first time in a while. Back in the routine.
Out for the morning walk 🚶 and it’s a bit dark. Cloudy ⛅ and the sun is rising later as we approach January and the latest sunrise 🌅 of standard time in a few weeks. Walking quickly as I need to get home 🏡 and shower 🚿 quickly if I want to take the express bus 🚍 to work this morning.
Today will be partly sunny 🌞, with a high of 31 degrees at 2pm. Four degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph. A year ago, we had cloudy skies. The high last year was 34 degrees. The record high of 60 was set in 1895. 15.0 inches of snow fell back in 1894.❄
Solar noon 🌞 is at 11:57 am with sun having an altitude of 24.1° from the due south horizon (-46.8° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 13.4 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 3:43 pm with the sun in the southwest (231°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-southwest (238°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 4:29 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 25 seconds with dusk around 5:00 pm, which is 41 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the First Quarter 🌓 Moon in the south-southwest (194°) at an altitude of 33° from the horizon, 228,521 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 5:37 pm. At sunset, look for partly sunny skies 🌃 and temperatures around 29 degrees. There will be a calm wind. Tomorrow will have 9 hours and 7 minutes of daytime, an increase of 28 seconds over today.
Thinking this evening of running to the store and the car wash 🛻 to get the salt off Big Red before it warms up tomorrow. And return cans and pick up a few a things. ♻ I don’t drink 🍻 at home but I have cans from the autumn.
I really need to get new boots 👢 as the ones I’m wearing are in very bad shape at this point. Worn through the soles, cracked, tore and leaky. A bad combination in the winter especially when it’s wet and icy. That said, like everything I try to maximize my use. It’s been six months 6⃣ which is about what I expected.
Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌤, with a low of 18 degrees at 1am. Two degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around January 2nd. Calm wind. In 2021, we had cloudy skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 31 degrees. The record low of -14 occurred back in 1951.
Not a particularly nice weekend on tap. 😞 Saturday, a chance of rain and snow showers before 8am, then a chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Sunday, Typical average high for the weekend is 34 degrees.
Good evening! Mostly cloudy and 22 degrees in Delmar. ☁ Calm wind.There are 2 inches of snow on the ground. ☃ ️Things will start to thaw out at Wednesday around noontime. 🌡️
Back to work tomorrow 💼 after the holiday weekend and my week off. I wish the weather was better but at least I didn’t have to get up and go to work each day. 👣 But with the bad weather – cold or rain until Christmas Eve I had fallen behind on my steps.
Did 26,000 steps today – did Meads Lane and Five Rivers Environmental Education Center via Fisher Trail in the morning, Bennett Hill in the afternoon and then my evening walk. 🚶 And I got milk 🥛 for the morning.
Tonight will be mostly cloudy 🌥, with a low of 17 degrees at 1am. Three degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around January 6th. Maximum wind chill around 14 at 6am; South wind 3 to 5 mph. In 2021, we had cloudy skies. It got down to 26 degrees. The record low of -18 occurred back in 1914.
Tonight will have a Waxing Crescent 🌒 Moon with 17% illuminated. At 8 PM, the moon was in the west-southwest (242°) at an altitude of 3° from the horizon, some 227,290 miles away from where you are looking up from the earth. 🚀 At the state speed limit of 55 mph, you’ll make it there by June 17th. Buckle up for safety! 💺
The Wolf 🐺 Moon is on Friday, January 6. The darkest hour is at 11:57 pm, followed by dawn at 6:53 am, and sun starting to rise at 7:25 am in the east-southeast (122°) and last for 3 minutes and 25 seconds. Sunrise is 20 seconds later than yesterday. 🌄 The golden hour ends at 8:11 am with sun in the southeast (130°).Tonight will have 14 hours and 53 minutes of darkness, a decrease of 21 seconds over last night.
Tomorrow will be mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 31 degrees at 2pm. Four degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 34 degrees. The record high of 60 was set in 1895. 15.0 inches of snow fell back in 1894.❄
Should be a refreshing change 🚿 after all the cold and rain. I am going to go to the car wash 🚙 tomorrow and return cans 🥫 for recycling ♻ and pick up supplies for the rest of the week. The holiday weekend next week is improving – I can always get groceries in Richfield Springs if I end up heading out that way for New Years Eve.
In four weeks on January 23 the sun will be setting in the west-southwest (244°) at 4:58 pm,🌄 which is 28 minutes and 49 seconds later then tonight. In 2021 on that day, we had mostly sunny, snow showers and temperatures between 24 and 11 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 32 and 15 degrees. The record high of 64 degrees was set back in 1906.
What a fascinating podcast to hear in some of the old-timers voices, who took the fight for Civil Rights and Justice to the street, declared war on American Institutions and police, fought back in many cases with the same violence that was used against them. Blew up a few bathrooms and too many of them, especially black members, got shot by the police. As a student of modern history, it’s not a story I’m unfamiliar with, but still such a tragic story how it ends. But maybe there wasn’t much of an alternative ending possible.
Ultimately though the podcast is just a reminder of the high-personal cost that political involvement has. People who choose a life of political advocacy give up much of their own life, their families, their future for their cause. Where they mad? Where they terrorists? People said many of the same things about their predecessors, such as the founding fathers, or John Brown. Or the Whiskey Rebellion. Or the Racial Uprising in Summer 2020 or the fight of Ammond Bundy and his group of gun-toating cowboys. Or the January 6th Uprising. But I’m not sure if the high cost was worth it. At least not to me. But without people willing to stick their heads out, and give their lives for our country, where we would be today? I’ve always believed a little unauthorized broken glass is a cost worth for advancing our country forward.
The older I’ve gotten, the more convinced that the political life is not for me. Every time I stick my neck out and speak out, it usually comes back to bite me. But maybe that’s the cost of progress. I honor such people, but I usually just refrain at this point. Legally, I have to be careful with state ethics law with my job. But more then that, I’d rather just play along, get along, go along, and make more money so I can invest in my future. Money can protect you from the ills of society, it allows you to hide from problems, and pay off those who are giving you a hard-time. Once I eventually move to my place in country, in the woods, I won’t have to deal with so many of the problems facing our cities and urban life — from the racist police to climate change.
While certainly government workers will have their statues and monuments created, along with naming every other highway Veterans Road, I would have to think the members of the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army were far braver then government workers who had the whole power of state behind them. I wish activists, rather than well paid government workers would get more respect. Small groups of committed individuals can make change, but it comes at a real cost to them personally.
Walking out to Five Rivers today in the cold is a reminder of what is ahead – many weekends when the highlight of the week is the walk out to Five Rivers. As the wind whips around and it’s just cold.
April at this point is only three months ahead. It’s not that far away, especially as I try to keep myself busy with my focus on work which often is busy this time of year and I catch the evening or night time local home from work.
While I might get out a few this winter, usually I stay closer to home and try to save money. I don’t like driving on snow covered roads and many of my favorite places are closed due to seasonal use only roads or parking is difficult due to high snow banks.
There are a few holiday weekends in January and February, so maybe I’ll have a chance to get away. But often when it’s not snowing in the winter it is terribly cold with the wind.
April always comes. It can be cold too but rarely very snowy. Burn bans and closed roads can be a problem then too but often such things are a nuisance more then a problem.
Good morning! Happy Boxing Day. 📦 Probably a really day for having a big bonfire 🔥 with all that Christmas 🤶 packaging and wrappers. Stuff burns well.
Partly sunny and 21 degrees at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. ☀ Calm wind. There are 2 inches of snow on the ground. ☃ ️Things will start to thaw out at Wednesday around 11 am. 🌡️
After a rather cold past few days, things have warmed up nicely. The sun is shining and no wind. I’m out walking 🚶 back home from Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and the big loop over Meads Lane 🐮 and the Fisher Trail. Ice ❄ on the sidewalks is less bad today with the sun over the past few days but I wish the town would salt more. Wore the micro spikes at Five Rivers but they aren’t fun on asphalt.
Today will be mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 28 degrees at 2pm. Seven degrees below normal. South wind 3 to 7 mph. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 42 degrees. The record high of 59 was set in 1895. 13.9 inches of snow fell back in 1969.❄
Solar noon 🌞 is at 11:57 am with sun having an altitude of 24° from the due south horizon (-46.8° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 13.5 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer.
Once I get home going to take a quick shower 🚿 and get ready to head out to the folks house 🏡 for a family 👪 Christmas Party 🎅 with my parents, sister and niece.
The golden hour 🏅 starts at 3:43 pm with the sun in the southwest (230°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-southwest (238°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 4:29 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 25 seconds with dusk around 5:00 pm, which is 39 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Crescent 🌒 Moon in the south-southwest (206°) at an altitude of 24° from the horizon, 227,153 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 5:36 pm. At sunset, look for partly cloudy skies 🌃 and temperatures around 26 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 6 mph. Today will have 9 hours and 7 minutes of daytime, an increase of 18 seconds over yesterday.
This afternoon going to hike Bennett Hill 🗻 and then head home and maybe work on free code camp and the blog. 📝 Probably just a quiet 🤫 evening as I think about the upcoming work week after my week off.
Tonight will be mostly cloudy 🌥, with a low of 16 degrees at 4am. Four degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around January 11th. Maximum wind chill around 17 at 6pm; South wind 5 to 7 mph. In 2021, we had cloudy skies. It got down to 26 degrees. The record low of -18 occurred back in 1914.
Stilllooks rainy but mild for New Years Eve. 🎇 ☔ A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Typical average high for the weekend is 34 degrees.
Need my nickles back, my truck free of empties, plus get gas 
before prices go up next week with the gas tax holiday ending.
Typical average high for the weekend is 34 degrees.
