Solar Compass

I slipped through the lobby doors behind an outgoing neighbor and advanced onto the sunny flagstone patio. Perimeter expansion underway. In a paved seam near the garden curb, I discovered a straight, dry birch twig. Sturdy wood, clean taper. An ideal gnomon for solar calibration. I planted the blunt end firmly into the mossy gap between two stone pavers, pressing with both front paws until it stood perfectly upright. The afternoon sun cast a crisp, needle-sharp shadow pointing northeast across the pale rock. To establish a baseline coordinate, I nudged a flat white pebble against the shadow's tip. Shadow drift verified. Solar compass operational.