FROM THE PUBLISHER: Memories of baling hay make dog days seem cool

The dog days of summer are here. Many believe that the name dog days comes from the star Sirius, which rises and sets with the sun. The ancient Egyptians called Sirius the Dog Star and along with the ancient Romans argued that it was responsible for adding heat to the day. The period of time from 20 days before to 20 days after the star’s conjunction with the sun were called “the dog days of summer.”