Lunar Datebook

Episode 43- July 31, 2015 This evening's Blue Moon is borrowed time from the Universe.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains how and tells a true story about a lucky hay crew.  She also revisits Bets serving breakfast at Bottoms Up in a story called Sky Dive: ...“Food poisoning, my ass,” I say. “I heard the toilet flush in the background,” Emily says, already scanning the Bottoms Up! phone list for a fill-in that might actually answer a call at 6:45 Sunday morning. ... Moon Astrology:  Full Hay Moon in Aquarius:  Gather together. Maine Farmer's Almanac, quinoa-chevre-shitaki, and broken balers.            

Episode 42- July 1, 2015 Venus and Jupiter unite tonight in a famous planetary conjuction.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains this hook-up and tells a road trip tale about kind Californians.  She also imagines a Honey-do list for the house-sitter in a piece called "Clearly Labeled": "Thank you for house-sitting while we open up our camp.  You’ll find we left a set of keys for you, though we hardly ever use them.  They are for the basement door- we can’t locate keys for the other doors, so if you do lock yourself in- or out- make sure you have this key with you..."    Moon Astrology:  Full Strawberry Moon in Capricorn: work before play. Generous Lovers, the Star of Bethelem and Sweet Home San Diego.  

Episode 41- June 16, 2015 The sixth New Moon is the Strawberry Moon, and love is in the air.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explores Summer's symbolic berry in an Algonquin legend about the original Man and Wife.  She also shares a true story about a wedding nearly derailed, and reads a fictional tale involving an important wedding gift, called "Tootsie".   "Sometimes Tootsie had a hard time reconciling that her parents had once been married, given who they were now.  Her father, Thomas Putnam, Mayor of Everything.  He knows people vote the way their cats think, so he leaves Friskies in a bowl by the horse chestnut year round.  Her mother, Hilary Fox, Landsculptor.  She knows Freewill doesn’t exist, so she gardens...."   Moon Astrology: New Strawberry Moon in Gemini: share. Vitamin C sucked up like a sponge and strawberries shaped like our hearts.  

Episode 40- June 2, 2015 The new age Moon Diet is an eating regimin that incorporates fasting, an age old practice.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explores this fad, also called the Werewolf Diet.  She also tells a true tale about an overpopulated buffet line, and reads a short story about a woman redefining her appearance called "Nadine's New Look."   "The date was next week, but Nadine was ready, or nearly, or could be.  She would wear her black jeans.  Snug, but not inappropriate, with the purple, satin embellishments on the back pockets.  They traced out a hint of butterfly wings without being actually insects..."  Moon Astrology: Full Flower Moon in Sagittarius.  Restless and real.   60% water, 3 square meals a day and the one thing five major religions agree on.  

Episode 39- May 17, 2015 The appearance of flowers on the landscape is the sign of a trustworthy Spring.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth welcomes the fifth New Moon of the year by exploring its namesake's etymology, from pistil to peduncle.  She also shares a skinny-dipping story and reads a short fiction piece from the Back-of-the-House about two dishwashers and a self-induced dare.   "The twins were sweating over the sinks, hands darting like coi in a pond, trying to dismember the dirty dish sculpture rising at the front of their station...."  Moon Astrology:  New Flower Moon in Taurus.  Paw the earth.   Bisexual flora, Fates at the loom and the bullseye that counts.  

Episode 38- May 3, 2015 Moonshine!  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains how hooch came to be named after the moon's glow.  She also shares a song by The Rugged and reads a story about springtime love called "Bishop's Maibaum." "Frau Schmidt had explained to Bishop’s class how young German lovers proclaimed their affections which had been checked under the glare of winter but, come Spring, could no longer be contained...."   Moon Astrology:  Full Milk Moon in Scorpio Moonrakers chasing cheese, Nascar's birth story and visce beatha- water of life.

Episode 37- April 18, 2015 Milk is the original comfort food.  In honor of the year's fourth New Moon, host Jennifer Ellsworth explores milk's importance the world over and reads a story called "White Whale in Free Beer" about a drummer that wants something different.  "...Josh turned off the ignition on his Forester and exhaled.  He wasn't smoking, he was just imagining he was.  Listening to John Bonham always made him think about smoking..." Moon Astrology: New Milk Moon in Aries. The Milk Cure, Heidi was right and a negotiated peace.

Episode 36- April 4, 2015 The Moon travels the Ecliptic just like the sun, only 12 times as fast.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains this mimicry and how to estimate the moon's celestial path.  She also tells a mud season survival story, and reads "Bets' Baby"—a tale about a waitress returning to work.   "...I took my six-week maternity leave, though I was no longer a mother.  Maybe, technically, I was never a mother, since Joseph had died in utero..." Moon Astrology: Full Egg Moon in Libra.  "Take a chance while you still have a choice." An old-fashioned call for help and the sun and moon are in cahoots.    

Episode 35- March 20, 2015 Eggs are a univsersal symbol of fertility, hope and life.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explores this humble food as we celebrate Spring and the New Egg Moon.  She also reads "Moving Day," a story about a man with million dollar songs and not much to show for it.   "...Now that the snow was retreating, the dead soldiers were starting to appear.  Probably three dollars in Busch Lite, Old Milwaukie and Schlitz cans, and another 45 cents in whiskey bottles.  They’d been bagged up once, but good intentions only go so far, and the bag never made it to the bed of Brother Dwayne’s pickup, or the back of Nephew Rocy’s Subaru, or out of the plow’s path...."  Moon Astrology: New Egg Moon is Aries.  Let Spring Begin! Mankind's first food, fertility magic and a 60,000 year old Ostrich egg.

March 5, 2015- Episode 34 Busy, busy, busy.  Calendars date back tens of thousands of years.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth discusses the moon's role in Muslim, Jewish and Chinese calendars.  She also reads a story about Wanda, and this new nurse's first day on the job.   "I was twenty-two when I met the doctor in the lobby at the County Hospital.  He’s not very attractive, and he wasn’t then either.  I didn’t know it at the time, but he’s part Indian.  His grandmother was a full-blooded Wabanaki and they’re short, dark people.  If we were ever standing toe-to-toe I’d be able to kiss his eyebrows.  To be fair, I’m not delicate.  In my younger days I could work the hay crew just about steady with most men, and complain a lot less..."   Moon Astrology:  Full Sap Moon in Virgo: God is in the details.   Halaqims, yin wooden sheep and clouds delaying the month's beginning.   

Episode 33- February 18, 2015 The second New Moon after the Winter Solstice is the unofficial start of Spring.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth salutes the Sap Moon and the Sheep- this year's Chinese Zodiac Animal that begins its reign today- Chinese New Year.  She also reads a short story about two men that have a funny way of showing their affection.  It's called "A New Mailbox".... "...It started with the Valentine expected from Sidney LaMontagne.  Though she was incarcerated down in Windham, Dave started bragging about what was on the way.  Dave and Sidney started writing when he'd been in jail...." Moon Astrology: New Moon in Pisces.  Dare to Dream. Chinese New Year, Reverse Osmosis, maple scented spa treatments and strong sheep.

February 8, 2015- Episode 32 Where did our celestial companion come from?  Host Jennifer Ellsworth investigates the Giant Impact Hypothesis, and what our corner of the Universe looked like 4 1/2 billion years ago.  She also reads an essay about two dramatic daycare providers: "Goldfish at Cedar Street Daycare." "Hank had just had his first round of shots, but I knew I was in trouble if I didn't make it to the Ladies...." Moon Astrology:  Waning toward the Last Quarter in Libra.  Go in peace.   Theia, dust to dust, and our wild beginnings.  

Episode 31- February 1, 2015 How do the Chinese introduce their babies to the world?  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains a traditional Full Moon Celebration and reads a short story about an aging woman with one last battle in her:  "Burdock War." "The war declaration came the first day of February.  I was sitting alongside the wood stove waiting until it was time to make my biscuits, staring down along the pasture to the orchard.  The pasture was scattered with snow-covered people...." Moon Astrology:  Full Moon Tuesday in Leo:  Come Alive! Red egg and ginger party, baby head shaving and a restorative confinement.

January 25, 2015- Episode 30 It's all in the timing when it comes to Moontime.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth discusses the significance of whether a woman cycles with the the New Moon or the Full Moon.  She also reads a short story about a man reentering the Waldo County dating scene:  Nolan's Speed Date. "We didn't break up, she just stopped spending the night, saying her plants were suffering.  Then she stopped calling or texting, saying she needed longer unplugged periods before bed...." Moon Astrology:  First Quarter Moon in Taurus tomorrow.  Paw the Earth. Red Moon Cycle, White Moon Cycle and where all that energy goes.

January 18, 2015- Episode 29 Tuesday brings the first new moon of 2015- the Hunger Moon.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains how surviving this moon helped shape generations of Mainers.  She also reads a short story about a man in the doghouse called A Dream of Jeanie.  "I'm not the quickest carpenter, especially when it comes to our own place.  There's no shame in this.  Every tradesman knows his place comes last..." Moon Astrology: Nearly New in Capricorn.  Put in a hard day's work.   Mixed Husbandry, cooperating farm neighborhoods and Eighteen-Hundred-and-Froze-to-Death.

January 11, 2015- Episode 28 We all know the moon causes tides.  Today, host Jennifer Ellsworth explains the science behind this dependable and elegant water movement.  She also reads a flash fiction story called Rhoda's Towels.  "My old towels could sand off a bunion.  Rhoda's were still soft as kitten bellies when they came to me in an old Reny's bag...." Moon Astrology:  Waning toward 3rd Quarter in Libra.  Weigh your relationships.   Gravity, inertia and one really big wave, Baby.  

January 4, 2015- Episode 27 To make New Year's Resolutions or to not make New Year's Resolutions- that is the question.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth philosophizes about what the moon can teach us about self-improvement and reads a poem called Family Portrait. "In the portrait before the portrait we were a chorus of impatience..." Moon Astrology: Full Moon in Cancer.  Tend to the homefront.   New Year's superstitions, a fortune cookie message and lessons from celestial cycles.    

December 28, 2014- Episode 26 This week host Jennifer Ellsworth reads a short story about a recent widower who rediscovers his faith at Hollywood Casino in Bangor, Maine.   "Cancer sucks.  That was Betty's lesson for us this past year.  In February we'd gone ice fishing just as always.  Despite good sun, she caught a chill and before we'd had even one flag..." Moon Astrology:  Waxing Half Moon in Aries.  Wrap things up for New Year.   A seasonal love story.  Crab rangoons.  Peace be with you.  

December 21, 2014- Episode 25 This year the Winter Solstice welcomes the 13th new moon of the year- the Wolf Moon.  Historically wolves have been loathed by humans, but host Jennifer Ellsworth explores ancient connections between humans and these canines that are worth celebrating.  She also reads a poem about believing in Santa.   "This is what I heard: bells across the rooftop..." Moon Astrology: new moon in Capricorn.  Tackle the to-do list.   Wolf eradication, evolution and our canine education.

December 14, 2014- Episode 24 Some nights you see the moon and some nights you don't.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains the moon's appearance pattern so you'll never be left wondering where she is.  She also reads a poem about a stretching routine that is anything but Yoga.  "Why not play guitar with a screwdriver? Hank's rhythm stampedes..." Moon Astrology: Last Quarter in Libra.  Balance play and work.   Moon locator lesson and a party trick to track her rhythm.