Moonshine

Last night, just as we were going to bed, MM went out to take a last look-around--or more like a "listen-around" to assure us that all was well, something farmers do, just to "make certain" especially on a night when the full moon could have "implications." 

April's full moon is rather benign, though.  No howling wolves or ghosts.  Called the Full Pink Moon, the name comes from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is--apparently-- one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for this month’s celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, (I got 15 eggs yesterday) and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.  I can relate to all of those.

At any rate, MM, having gone out, suddenly reappeared with loud instructions to "Get your camera, and hurry.  HURRY!"  I ascended the stairway as quickly as I could, coming back from the edge of dreamland....discovering forthwith, (as with all emergency photos we are commanded to make) that I was ill-prepared:  the card that stores images, was still in the reader, I had the wrong lens for the project on the camera which necessitated my changing it...all the while I am hearing an escalating pitch of voice below:  "HURRY!!" (as if I wasn't trying!)

I managed a quiet, "I'm doing the best I can..." remark, which did calm things down a bit.

When I finally made it outside, MM directed my attention to this orange (not pink!) pumpkin-in-the sky.  Naturally the focusing on the tele-lens was irritating and stubbornly refused to kick in.  So, by braille, I managed to find the focus button and flipped off the auto onto manual, stumbled around in the dark until I located a sturdy platform (the tractor) to double as a tripod, and set about trying to find a meaningful image.

By that time the moon had managed to race above the refraction zone which made the size a little less spectacular that it was originally when MM saw it, poised just above the horizon and huge.  Nonetheless, the color alone made the shot somewhat worthwhile...but I do apologize for the less-than-stellar result!  I just wasn't ready!



 I look forward to May's full moon Full Flower Moon.  In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. Thus, the name of this Moon. It's also called the Corn Planting moon, which seems about right. Maybe next month I'll be a little better organized.

BTW, the dark markings in the image are the tops of pine trees.