Leap Year

2024 is a leap year, a calendar year with an extra, "leap day" - February 29th. It takes approximately 365.25 days for the earth to orbit the sun. Someone, centuries ago, decided to round the days down to 365 each year and every four years have a leap year. If leap year was not added we would have what they call, calendar drift. Simply put, after one century without a leap day, summer wouldn't start until mid-July.   

I am one of those people that just takes for granted what happened centuries ago and I just go with it, giving it very little thought. I am not a history person at all, and ancient history is even further down the list of my interests. I am just going with the fact that every four years we catch up. 

I liked the saying calendar drift; I feel we are starting to get calendar drift in every season. It seems like there is a season within a season. For example, January was frigid for a week and then during the last week we enjoyed a splash of spring. How can it change 40 degrees almost overnight? February is an unpredictable weather month anyway. This year it has also offered some winter and spring days. Let's not forget about the days on end of fog, not just a nice fog to produce frost on the trees, but dense can't see a thing fog. Apparently, foggy years happen every 40 years and the last time was 1992. Continuing with my weather recap, let's think about the wretched wind. There is a serious concern about the lack of snow. We have some snow but most of it is in the ditches because of the wind that I have already mentioned. It is not very good for the farmers to have the snow in the ditch. 

For some reason I always enjoy February. As a rule, we come out of January feeling like survivors. We are usually annoyed with the weather, seclusion or whatever problem we have with it. I have no expectations for February, do what you want because you are February. March remains to me the most interesting winter month. It can storm like a beast during the month, then go right into spring. This year everyone will be looking towards the skies for some form of moisture. Historically, March was always a month of calving and housecleaning for me. You know that spring housecleaning that farm wives always thought was necessary, which I realize now, it was not necessary.    

February is an interesting month. We all look forward to it because it is called a "shorter month", making the winter go faster. I like February because it starts with the letter, "F", I feel connected to it.  

February is the rarest birth month and, in the US, only 7% of the population are born in February (I couldn't find any Canadian stats). I don't know a lot of people that have birthdays in February. A close cousin turned 70, and my uncle celebrated his 90th birthday with a grand party. I have a little man in my life who was 6 on Valentine's Day, and my nephew is also a February baby. That is pretty much it. 

I only know one person that was born on February 29th. He was famous on the community birthday calendar, when every four years he had his own date with his name on it. The other three years his name was off to the side. It goes without saying Feb 29th is the rarest of birth dates. 

As you reflect on February, do you like what you did? I seem to make plans in January, and it is February when those plans are implemented. As you are reading this, I am doing way more cleaning than I want to be doing. My renos are complete and I now have new flooring throughout, some new bathroom touch-ups and a massive amount of dust everywhere. In preparation, I painted my bedroom, which I want to say, I hope is the last room I will ever paint for the rest of my life. Realistically, I know there will be more painting in my future because let's face it, one thing leads to another in the renovation world.    

                                                     

I hope February was the month that you were a doer, and you felt accomplished. For some reason, I like the sense of accomplishment, so I assume so do others. Tomorrow is Feb 29th, a bonus day. It is a big day for me, my renovations are wrapped up and I have an appointment for vehicle repairs. Two of my biggest investments will be spruced up. 

In closing, I hope you have plans to make Feb 29th, 2024, memorable. It will be four years before it arrives again and who knows what might happen in four years. Happy "Leap Year Day" everyone!