Total Eclipse of the Sun 2017

One thing I love about retirement is that Brian and I can take advantage of all sorts of adventures.  The latest adventure was to experience the 2017 ECLIPSE.

Brian picked the city we would go to (Orangeburg, South Carolina).  And I picked a campground.  Since all the campground in the ZONE OF TOTALITY were booked, I picked Skidaway State Park in Georgia, a very nice state park west of Savannah.  It was about 3 hours from Orangeburg, SC.   The park had spaceous level pull-thru sites and the bathhouse was clean.  (Oh My, I am sounding like a real camper!)

In addition to being a lovely setting, the park has lots to offer.  Brian and I listened to a ranger's presentation on "Life in the Tidal Creeks".  The information was helpful when I did a 2-mile hike on the Sandpiper Nature Trail.  I saw fiddler crabs and square-back crabs.  The marshes are full of cordgrass and black needle rush, which got it's name because the leaf tips are as sharp as a needle (of course I checked it out).

Another good fact I learned from the presentation is that alligators are not found in the tidal waters because it is brackish (a mixture of salt water and fresh water).  That was good to know for our kayak trip.  Brian and I launched from the Rodney J. Hall Boat Ramp and paddled around the grasses without any worries.

We also spent time at Tybee Beach, a beautiful and popular beach.  There were no shells on the beach that day, so I spent my time watching the dolphins and jumping fish.

Brian and I visited Savannah.  We drove around the historic district, walked around Forsyth Park, and drove through Bonaventure Cemetery.

The GRAND FINALE to our trip was the ECLIPSE.  I almost didn't write this blog because I couldn't get good pictures of the eclipse.  Disclaimer:  I took some of the pictures and some are copied from the web.  But all are what we saw.

Brian picked Orangeburg, South Carolina because it was a small town that we could drive to using back roads.  We left early in the morning, drove the back roads, just in case there were traffic problems (which there were none).  We spent some time at the library, then drove over to South Carolina State University.  The football stadium was open for the event and there was lots of tailgate parties outside the stadium.  The stadium had no shade and as the parking lot started filling up, I realized there would be a big traffic jam getting out.  Next we headed to our final stop...Edisto Memorial Gardens.  The garden was a beautiful setting for the ECLIPSE.  I felt like the three bears, the library was too quiet, the football stadium to hot and loud...but the gardens were just right.

Brian and I found a spot and started watching.  The eclipse started at 1:15 when the moon first started to cover the sun.

 It took an hour and half for the full eclipse at 2:43.  I found it interesting that it was still light outside with just a sliver of the sun exposed.  It shows how powerful it is.  This is what I saw with my eclipse glasses.

Just before the TOTAL ECLIPSE, the street lights came on and a few moments later it was dark!

But the real show was in the sky,  I didn't have to wear my eclipse glasses during the full eclipse.  The corona was beautiful.  Just before the total eclipse, the last bright piece of sun look like a diamond ring.

Newsweek has a great picture of the different stages.

 The next total eclipse for the USA will be in 7 years, April 8, 2024.  Brian and I already have our reservations...at our children's in northeast Ohio.  And we will be able to share it with at least two grandkids...How exciting!

Leaping Lizards, Jumping Frogs

I love watching Florida's wildlife...and there is lots to see.  Some of it I enjoy (birds, manatees, alligators, lizards).  Some I like to avoid (snakes, mosquitoes, giant grasshoppers).

I like watching the small lizards around my house...called anoles.  There are two types of anoles common in my area, the native green anole and the non-native brown anole.  The brown anoles are territorial and invasive...so it is not surprising that I see more brown anoles.  It is fun to watch these little lizards puff out their throat fans (dewlap).  Only the male anole lizards engage in throat puffing.  They puff out their dewlap to attract a female...or because they feel threatened...or sometimes just because they want to.

Sometimes an anole likes to hang out between the screen and windows.  Probably for security from predators.  But it is not always a good idea.  I noticed this guy one day, and then again a few days later.  When I looked closer, I realized he was dead...and dried out.  Just in case he was a ZOMBIE LIZARD, I couldn't bring myself to rescue his corpse from the screen.  Finally I got Brian take him off.

Once I saw he was dead, I had no problem touching him.  In fact, my creative instincts kicked in.  My motto is:

Anything is better with a little SILVER LEAF

My next favorite motto is:

If all else fails, add BEADS

I started out with silver leaf, then added some beads to the lizard.  

No sooner had I finished the lizard, when I found a dried up frog at my front door.  This time, I got out the glitter (I might need a new motto for glitter).    These little guys add some glitz to my plants.

Just think what I could do with this giant grasshopper...glitter, beads, silver leaf...Oh My!