Ken Lassman has been keeping this almanac for over a decade, He invites you to share your observations and photos in the comments section. You can find his book Wild Douglas County at The Raven Bookstore in Lawrence.
Frost on the Inside of Lodge Moon – January
January is a Roman reference to the god Janus, the god of gates. This god has two faces, one looking forward and the other looking back, as we do at the beginning of a new year. While this sets the tone for this season, the vivid image of frost on the inside of the lodge is equally appropriate, particularly if you notice frost on the inside of your car or house windows on a cold morning. The Osage also called this month Moon that Stands Alone, which speaks for itself if you decide to take a brisk walk in the countryside this time of year.
This is the month when you can see bald eagles flying in the Kaw Valley as well as deer and other wildlife more easily due to the lack of leaves. Listen to the rustle of wind through the drought-shortened tallgrass prairie grasses, and look for rodent trails in the thatch, which become tunnels when it snows. A dry year means that water has become a wildlife concentrator, with more species taking visibility risks to grab a drink in drought-lowered ponds, creeks and rivers that are made even more inaccessible by the presence of ice. Putting out water next to the bird feeders is more important this winter than most for this reason.
Enjoy the deep blues of the sky this time of year, whether it is duplicated in the subtle blues found in freshly fallen snow or not. While admiring the sky and looking for eagles and migratory waterfowl, keep an eye out for sun dogs and other daytime optical treats caused by the presence of ice crystals in the sky that refract and reflect the sun (and moon) light into circles, spots and other geometric forms. After dark, bundle up and enjoy the striking winter star constellations that can take your breath away especially if you know where to look with a pair of binoculars or a telescope.
Kaw Valley Almanac 
Ken: I am so glad that Linda Evans told me about this post that you do every week! One question: on the moon info, what does “Moon south” mean? Thanks for your good work! -Nancy Hawkins ________________________________________
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“Moon south” refers to the moment the moon is at the southernmost point in the sky. Like the sun, the moon rises in the east and sets in the west, and like the sun, “noon” is the southernmost or half way point in the path it takes across the sky from rising to setting. If the sky is clear, it’s easy to know when the sun is at its southernmost point/noon, but the moon’s “noon” moves later almost an hour each day in relation to the sun’s “noon.” But it’s also the time when the moon is highest in the sky, so if it’s a decent time of day, it can be a good time to look for it. Right now, with the moon just past full, I love to watch it setting in the west in the morning. By the time it gets to last quarter moon (next week), it’s a good time to look to the south and see the shrinking moon hanging high in the south during the morning times listed in next week’s “Moon south” column. Let me know what you think!
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