My Sundial and the Winter Solstice (05)

My Sundial.

Constructed during the summer of 04. It uses odd's and ends of left over wood. Indicator arm is 2 8 foot 1x4's separted by about 3/4 inch. The hour indicators are Indiana field rocks. It has been in my mind for many many years to build a large sundial. It has been a lot of fun. And is neat to explain it too people and go down and check it out often.


Here are the results of my winter solstice rock which I added last summer.
The cross bar shadow from the indicator arm should be on top of the rock, at local apparent noon at winter solstice. It looks like I had the rock sitting out about 2 inches (out of about 3 feet) too far. Oh well maybe next year, spring, I will go back over my calculations/measurements. A friend has suggested that it may be caused by my not taking astmospheric refraction into account. I will take a look at this also.

The picture was taken at high noon, local apparent time. Adding 46 minutes for longitude adjustment and subtracting about 2 minutes for the equation of time, resulted in the time being right on, 12:44 PM est.

Now, as the days get longer, the shadow will move back toward the equinox rock reaching it on March 21. Which is where it left last Sept 21. Will the snow be gone then. Time will tell.

As an additional comment. This sundial is not subject to the whims and whines of 'Indiana Time'. Just add the right correction.

If you would like more information about My Sundial email me at tomfortytwonatkconlinecom. fortytwo in numerals, symbol at, dot before com

The Old Bread Wrapping Paper Roll & Hoarding

The saga of the ‘old bread wrapping paper roll’ and ‘Hoarding’.

Sunday morning (12/4/05) on "The Infinite Mind" (NPR) one of the subjects was ‘hoarding’. This is one of my better ‘skills’. It reminded me of a story which came into focus in the last few weeks. I thought, it might warrant telling.

People visiting the farm house probably remember, before we messed it up with remodeling’ in the back porch entrance, on the right hand side, behind the washer and dryer, on the self above the basement stairs wall, just before the sink - there was a long roll of old bread ‘waxed’ wrapping paper, mounted on a roller. If you needed a piece of this 'wax' paper you just pulled off a piece and you were in business. I have no idea when dad (probably dad) bought it. But it was always there as long as I can remember. When we were remodeling, cleaning out stuff, I debated heavily, should I throw this away? . Puzzled over it for days (probably did not get to the spread sheet decision process though). . . Finally decided out it goes.

In the past few years, I have thought about it a few times and maybe could have used it but not critical.

However

The last couple of weeks I have been working on a large map laying out the rails to trails pathway from Winamac to (near) Logansport. Printed out it was about 10 pages. I needed to tape these sheets together on a long sheet of paper. How I wished that I had kept that long roll of 'bread wrapping paper'. It would have worked perfect. I would not have had to used a roll of Christmas wrapping paper.

So there you see. . . hoarding pays.

Now the question is- does anyone know the story behind this roll of bread wrapping paper?
(From brother Earl a few days later)

The saga of the bread wrapping paper. One of the first families that befriended us after moving to Winamac was Burl and Zela and their boys. This would have been in the early 50;s. Of course, we met them at church. They lived along the Tippicanoe River going into town. They, in turn, introduced mom and dad to their neighbors...Art and Myrl who were actually nearer mom and dad's age. They became two of our folks' best friends. They loved coming over to the farm and the folks loved spending time at their place along the river. As I recall, Art and Myrl were flooded out of their home shortly after they had met. Mom and Dad did not hesitate to have them stay with us until the waters receded. That firmly cemented their relationship. Also, as I recall, the tree in front of the house (still standing) was transplanted from the Art and Myrl’s along the river. It's a poplar isn't it? I think you mean the sycamore /TomEA.

Oh, the paper. Well, Art and Myrl owned and operated a couple bakeries in Valporaiso. They gave the folks that huge roll one time. It was gigantic when new and was used for various things for years.
Never should have thrown that away Tom!! /Yes I agree Earl after reading your story /TomEA
So now you know the rest of the story.
Brother Earl