| The Hidden Almanac for Monday August 18th, 2014 |
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| Episode 146 |
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| Previous episode: 2014-08-15 |
| Next episode: 2014-08-20 |
Summary[]
Today we recall the rain on a stone. It is also the day Thaddeus Mackelwhite caught something else. It is the Feast Day of St. Dantos, and in the garden, there is rosinweed.
Be Safe, and Stay Out of Trouble.
Transcription[]
Welcome to the Hidden Almanac, I’m Reverend Mord.
Today is August 18th, 2014.
It was on this day fifty years ago that a pattern of raindrops fell on a gray stone, spelling out one of the lost names of God. The name persisted for a few moments, before being washed away by the rain. The stone has been lucky ever since, and several people owe their success in life to having sat on it, all unknowing.
And it was on this day in 1906 that Thaddeus Mackelwhite caught a skeletal grunion while fly-fishing in a tributary of the Echo River. “Poor thing was clearly lost,” said Mackelwhite. “They’re salt-water fish. I mean, they were, before they died. I suppose freshwater doesn’t bother you as much when you’re dead.” Mr. Mackelwhite’s catch was confirmed by the Echo Fisheries Association as the only skeletal grunion ever caught in the river. He received a small certificate and a beer. The grunion was turned over to naturalists, who documented it and released it back into the ocean where it belonged.
And it was on this day, in the Year of Withered Grass, that everyone in Echo Harbor woke in the night for just a moment, convinced that someone else was in the bed with them. A great number of these people were correct, but it was a long time before they got back to sleep afterwards.
It is the Feast Day of Saint Dantos, patron of old buildings. Dantos reportedly would not dwell in any house less than two-hundred years old, claiming that buildings did not get a soul until that age. He is featured on the seal of the Historic Register. A prayer should be uttered whenever an old building is torn down, thanking the building for its service and commending it to the protection of St. Dantos, although this habit has somewhat fallen off in these less civilized times.
In the garden, the standing stone is now a laying stone. Unfortunately, while we were moving it to the curb for trash pick up, the interns broke out of their shed and are attempting to defend the stone with garden tools. This is not terribly alarming when they are armed with bulb planters, but the two with cultivator forks are looking a bit menacing. We are considering how best to proceed.
In other news, the starry rosinweed has flowered. This cheerful yellow composite can reach eight feet tall and is passionately beloved of tiger swallowtail butterflies. It can become aggressive in good garden soil, but is more restrained than its close relative, cup-plants.
The Hidden Almanac is brought to you by Red Wombat Tea Company, purveyors of fine and inaccessible teas. Red Wombat --- “We Dig Tea.”
Also brought to you by the Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Cucumbers. It is the height of the pickling season. Thousands of innocent cucumbers are being chopped and slapped in brine. Just say no to cucumber docking. A cucumber is perfect just the way it is.
That’s the Hidden Almanac for August 18th, 2014. Be safe, and stay out of trouble.
Outro[]
Out of Character
The Hidden Almanac is a production of Dark Canvas Media, and is written by Ursula Vernon. Our exit music is Red in Black and our into music is Moon Valley, both by Kosta T. You can hear more music from Kosta T at the Free Music Archive. The Hidden Almanac is copyright 2013-2014, Ursula Vernon.