Tonight's full moon is going to be the closest, biggest, and brightest of 2025.
Known as the Beaver Moon, this full moon rises just 221,818 miles (356,980 kilometers) from Earth - close enough to qualify as a supermoon.
Because it's at perigee, the point in its orbit where it comes closest to Earth, the moon looks unusually large and luminous in the sky. If you step outside just after sunset, you'll likely notice it looks bigger than usual - and it is.
The Beaver Moon gets its name from traditional North American sources, marking the season when beavers prepare for winter and trappers set their last lines before the freeze. It's long been a symbol of seasonal change and survival.
Supermoons can look up to 14% larger and nearly 30% brighter than a typical full moon, especially when low on the horizon. That's also when the "moon illusion" kicks in, making the moon appear enormous compared to objects on the ground.
It's the third and final supermoon of 2025. And the conditions tonight - cold, crisp autumn air and early sunset - make for perfect viewing. Clouds permitting.
I got tired of carrying booze, fuel, and medicine and got the bright idea to see if a strong enough whiskey might not serve all three purposes.
#WhiskeyStoves #BoozeForFuel #PocketCooking #ThePracticalWoodsman #PleasantHillbillyPickle
For centuries, families across Britain slept in what was known as a box bed, a wooden bed built into the wall or enclosed with doors, designed to keep out the bitter cold of winter.
Far more than a place to sleep, the box bed was a practical solution in cottages where space was limited and every bit of warmth mattered. By enclosing the bed, families trapped precious heat, reduced draughts and gained a little privacy in homes where several generations often lived under one roof.
These humble beds witnessed every stage of life. Children were tucked into them at night, babies were born in them, and loved ones spent their final hours there, surrounded by family. In many cottages, the box bed even formed part of the wall itself, helping divide the living and sleeping areas of a single-room home.
To modern eyes they may seem cramped, but to those who lived through harsh winters with little comfort, the box bed was a warm, secure refuge, a simple piece of craftsmanship that helped ordinary families ...
