For Cleveland, Ohio located in the Northern Hemisphere – winter officially arrived on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 4:48 p.m. EST.

 

It turned out to be a partly sunny and fairly pleasant day with a high of 46 deg. F. Nothing unusual was observed!

 

The lead photograph shows a view of Jefferson Park taken from the attic of our house on Cooley Avenue -- on the south side of the park.

 

The previous evening (last day of autumn) – I had filled the bird feeder in our backyard and also left out raw peanuts for the squirrels. The second photograph shows birds munching at our feeder and a squirrel enjoying the seeds falling down on the concrete slab. Earlier, the squirrel had enjoyed a meal of raw peanuts.

 

I was a little late in going out to the tennis courts. On my way, at the corner of Cooley and West 133rd Street – I saw a golden background from the setting sun (nearly 93 million miles away) as shown in the third photograph.

 

In the evening, I played solo tennis for half-an-hour (fourth photograph) with nine balls – one ball for each of our planets. I played without the nets – they were removed after Thanksgiving. Without the nets – every short is an ace.

 

There was no shortage of planes going overhead – see fifth photograph.

 

Rain had been predicted for the afternoon and evening – however the rain never came. Anyhow – I am always prepared and carry a folding umbrella in my bag – rain or shine. The sixth photograph shows golden streaks lighting up the early evening sky over the tennis courts with leafless sycamore trees in the foreground.

 

When I returned home -- Smokey and Gingy – mother and son – our two outdoor cats and my constant companions – were waiting for me as shown in the seventh photograph. When I am home – working in the front or back – they follow me all around.

 

I leave the light on in our front porch from sunset to sunrise – all year long. The color reflects the season – green for spring, blue for summer, yellow for autumn, and red for winter. The bulb was changed from yellow to red – shortly before I left for the tennis courts. The last photograph shows our porch lit up for the first day of winter.

 

The park was abandoned. I did not see too many residents walking their dogs at the time I was out. I met a few yesterday (last day of autumn) – and wished every one a happy first day of winter.

 

On the first day of winter -- The sun rose at 7:51 a.m. and set at 5:02 p.m. -- giving us a nearly 9-hour and 11 minutes long day of sunlight.

 

The days will now keep on getting longer -- with nearly 12-hours of sunlight starting on the first day of spring (March 20, 2023) -- and 15-hours of sunlight starting on the first day of summer (June 21, 2023). Then the days will start getting shorter -- until we reach the first day of winter (December 21, 2023). Then the days will start getting longer and then shorter again ------ in an endless dance in a mysterious universe.

 

Enjoy the winter – stay safe and let’s hope it is a pleasant one despite the severe weather predicted for the next few days!