"I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand;
that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man
an opportunity to make a living".
John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937)

Mid-Atlantic Regional Weather Watch: Fair, very warm, and humid (1,2) with showers and STORMS in the southern part of the region (3,4,5). Fair and mild (6,7,8,9,10,11,12) turning cooler and showers (13,14). Fair, warm, and humid again (15,16,17,18)with some remnants of a tropical storm (19,20,21). Fair and cooler (22,23,24,25,26,27) with showers and mild temperatures (28,29,30).

Tornado Watch: No tornado activity is forecast for the Mid-Atlantic Region for September.

Full Moon: September's full moon is most famously known as Harvest Moon. However, in 2009, it does not occur in September. It is always the full moon that falls closest to the Autumnal Equinox at a time when the moon rises soon after sunset on several successive days. According to tradition, the extra light from the moon during that period gave the farmer more time to finish up his chores and bring in the harvest. This year, the Autumnal Equinox occurs on Tuesday, September 22nd. The closest Full Moon to that date occurs on the 4th of October and is therefore, the Harvest Moon of 2009. It has also been referred to as Full Wort Moon. The word "wort" originates from the Old English word, wyrt, which refers to plants, particularly herbs. Witches and natural healers would gather herbs at this time of year, stocking up for the Winter months ahead.

Special Notes: Friday, September 11th marks 8 years since the tragedy in New York City. Our world was changed forever. Remember those who lost their lives that day and be sure to say an extra prayer for the many fallen firefighters, police, and EMT personnel who willingly gave their lives trying to save others. We all owe them and their families a huge debt of gratitude. Remember that every day our lives depend upon these skilled, courageous, and committed individuals, many who are volunteers, to help keep us all safe and sound.

Holidays: In 2009, Labor Day falls on the first Monday, September 7th and Citizenship Day is on Thursday, September 17th. Religious holidays observed this month include Rosh Hashanah on Saturday, September 19th, and Yom Kippur on Saturday, September 28th.

The Garden: As nights get longer, your lawn gets hungry as it prepares for Winter. Feed with appropriate fertilizer for your region and water if necessary. Now is the time to reseed thin areas in bluegrass, tall fescue, and other cool-season lawns. Gently rake off leaves when they fall. Young, sprouting grass plants need all the light they can get. Cover that woodpile with a tarp to keep it dry.

J. Grubers' Thought for Today's Living:

"No one is as tired as the one who does nothing"