Well, here we are on the warm side of the most recent rollercoaster of temperatures. January has certainly shown many faces. If you just look at the temperatures and precipitation from one Friday to the next, it’s an amazing contrast. The first Friday in the month was so cold that schools were closed and it was dangerous to venture outside. The next Friday brought balmy, tropical air moving into our valley. It was a welcome warmup, but somehow felt ominous and unreal. Of course, we all knew that winter would return, and so it did. This past Friday was more in line with seasonal averages, and it seems perhaps the next week or so will have a much narrower range of temperature change. The part of the forecast that I find depressing is the promise of rain. The gloomy gray of a January rain is one of the things I like least.

One of the delights of this sort of weather, however, is pulling out a jigsaw puzzle and “working” it while Old Man Winter does his worst. I have found that I can tolerate winter very well with a good puzzle and an audiobook borrowed from the library! There are, of course, more productive uses for my time, but it’s fun to indulge occasionally.

The International Space Station (ISS) orbits the earth 16 times a day, at an altitude of about 250 miles. This week and next, it will be passing over our area shortly after sundown. While it does not have running lights like an airplane, when the setting sun’s rays reflect off the station’s outer shell and its solar array, it is the third brightest object in the sky, with only the moon and sun outshining it. While it is not hard to spot as it glides across the sky, you need to be aware of its path and the time of its transit. Most evenings it will be visible for fewer than four minutes. NASA has websites and phone apps that allow you to get advance notifications so you can plan your time outdoors and enjoy this awesome sight. It amazes me each time I watch it! Being able to see it and knowing it is in orbit outside our atmosphere, make it almost surreal.

High school winter sports teams have passed the midpoint of their seasons, but there are plenty of opportunities remaining for you to attend a game or match and cheer for the Spartans! If you prefer games during daylight hours, there are elementary basketball games on both Saturdays and Sundays at the gym at Ashkar Elementary School on S. Broad Street. Don’t miss your chance to see some great action.

Stay warm, and be careful driving. Ice can form just about any time and on any surface, so be cautious driving and walking.

Hughesville events:

Thurs. Jan. 25 “Wee Make Music” for children aged 12 months to 3 years and their caregivers at Hughesville Area Public Library (HAPL), 146 S. 5th Street, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Fri. Jan. 26 Pre-school Story Time for children 3-6 years and their caregivers, at HAPL, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Sat. Jan. 27 All Together Storytime for all ages, no registration required, at HAPL, 11:00-11:30 a.m.

Tues. Jan. 30 “Wee Build Block Party,” a self-directed activity for children ages 3 and up, at HAPL, 10:30-11:30 a.m.