GET READY FOR THE SOLAR ECLIPSE ~ Sky Watch Part THREE

A great SKY watch that IF I get pictures I will share another week

SKY WATCH PART THREE

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check it out some awesome photos from around the WORLD

~~

Enjoy the reflections on a glass table top near Sarah's Pond SOLAR ECLIPSE Consider it an overture. This morning in Iran, Mohamad Soltanolkottabi photographed the Moon tantilizingly close to the rising sun. "I went to Naghsh-e Jahan Square and took this picture in front of the Sheykh Lutfullah Mosque," he says.

Check this site for the PHOTO it is amazing. http://spaceweather.com:80/ On Friday, August 1st, the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun producing a total solar eclipse. The narrow path of totality stretches from arctic Canada through Greenland, Siberia, and Mongolia, and comes to an end in China, where millions of people will witness the event. Even more people will see the partial eclipse, visible from almost all of Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia and a corner of North America. The action begins at approximately 09:20 UT (5:20 am EDT) when the Moon's shadow first hits Earth in northern Canada and begins its rapid sweep toward China.

~~~~~~~~

Less than 24 hours from now, the sun and Moon will meet, converging to produce a solar eclipse. The narrow path of totality stretches from arctic Canada, across Greenland and Siberia, to millions of waiting eyes in populous China. NASA TV will broadcast the event beginning Friday, August 1st, at 6 am EDT. Don't miss it!

live webcasts: from China, from China, from China, from Russia, from Norway

maps and timetables: #1, #2

previous eclipses: March 19, 2007; March 29, 2006; Oct. 3, 2005;

Submit your images

Science@NASA: Partial Eclipse, Total Fun

Then there ARE Lilys and even House Lilys

Lily and her Owner

Not a clear picture of HOUSE but a good ACTION Shot

OK where is the SQUEAK coming from?

Ummmmm thought it was here!

So that is a BEE!

TAG Lily is IT

OH he has TREATS YUMMMO

;)

ENJOY Lilys, House and Lily

Remember Lily the pup is Liver and White & House is the Black & White

Stargazer Lily

Botanical Name: Lilium "Stargazer"

In ancient mythology and in folklore from around the world, the lily has appeared as a deeply spiritual and philosophical metaphor. The lily family has traditionally represented innocence and purity. These motifs appeared as far back as ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and reappeared in biblical traditions. Stargazer lilies have come to be associated with these meanings, but they've taken on additional meanings as well. White stargazer lilies, in particular, have come to characterize a sense of purity and are often used as an expression of sympathy. The pink varieties are also considered symbolic of wealth and prosperity, as well being as a sign of aspiration.

Time lapse video of stargazer lily

Class VI / the New River Gorge

The new SKY WATCH Blog Part 2

Tom Sandy Imac AKA TSI CHECK IT OUT The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel-arch bridge, in Fayetteville, West Virginia, USA. With a length of 3030 feet (924 m), it was for many years the longest in the world of that type.[1] Its arch extends 1700 feet (518 m). Part of U.S. Highway 19, it is crossed by an average of 17,000 motor vehicles per day. Its construction marked the completion of "Corridor L".

~~~

History

What a wonderful day trip we had last weekend. Meeting up with some new and old friends is always a pleasure.

~~

Their View

The best white water rafting in West Virginia is one thing we have lots of! Like a box of chocolate covered truffles, there are a variety of whitewater rafting experiences for all ages and experience levels to choose from. With the largest number of white water rafting packages to choose from, Class VI can match your budget with the vacation best suited to your level of comfort and adventure. Best of all, you will not find an area closer to your home that has so many different stretches of water to paddle which run year round. West Virginia white water rafting is renowned as “America’s Best Whitewater”! The Adventure!!! ~ The river flows through a rugged canyon up to 1300 feet in depth exposing rocks as old as 330 million years while passing through an area rich in coal mining history. History, scenery, and lots and lots of rapids are what a Lower New whitewater trip is all about when you go rafting with Class VI. A trip down the Lower New is a great way to spend a vacation in a day, and we'll prove it. For more than 30 years, Class VI has been "In Quest Of Too Much Fun". It's an experience we want to share with you on our home river, the Lower New. In the morning, you'll meet at Class VI Base and get introduced to everything you'll need for your trip, from check-in to helmets to guides and everything in between. Once at the river, each guide will help show you how to get the most from your river trip, emphasizing teamwork and fun. Once the rapids begin, you'll be ready. Passing old mining towns, ferry sites, and coal camps as you wind your way down the river, the feeling of history in the gorge is hard to escape. When the rapids start to come, you won't be thinking about history as much as your immediate future as you paddle your raft through the waves and over the ledges that make up the world class whitewater of the New. There's plenty of floating and swimming to do in between the rapids, along with stops at Jump Rock and a huge gourmet deli-style riverside lunch. In the afternoon, head back to Class VI to watch the video of your trip on the big screen in Chetty's Pub. The Lower New is an amazing river experience, a trip that makes lifetime memories, and we want you to come see it with us! My View I chose NOT to join the white water rafting for two reasons. First I had done it in 1972 when White water was rather young in the state. I remember the thrill and the aches and pains the next day, not to mention the nasty sunburn.

Secondly I literally had a 24-hour respite from the three pups…YUP “ME TIME”!

I toured some neat shops in the near by town, had a fabulous breakfast in a darling Café…got my Sweetie some dehydrated foods for his Canada trip. Got our youngest son a goofy T-shirt and for MOI a silly cap that I wear when I garden or work outside.

Every now and again quality “ME TIME” is so invigorating. Even the spider bite on my right temple has its moment of humor…now I know what Botox could do for one side of my face! It has healed and my right side is back to BEFORE…

Enjoy the beauty of one of West Virginia’s amazing adventures. Also Check out our Outfitters. Fabulous place and the food was Marvelous! Dining on the Deck at Smokey’s on the Gorge

Smokey's On The Gorge, was featured on the Food Network's "The Best Of" television show in the summer of 2004 and is now featured in their brand new book "Food Network: Best Of The Best Of". Smokey's is one of four West Virginia restaurants featured, and we are especially proud to be among the Top 10 places they enjoyed most!

The Return

OUR TIME

ONE BLOOMING Night/(Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

Three blooms all in one night this year! Always a JOY to see this plant put forth blooms. My plant is 20 years old…and I never tire of the beauty it gives only once a year.

Yup that is a Cicada in the first shot, actually it is the shell. That time of year as well! Night-blooming cereus also spelled sirius, also called Queen of the night or Reina de la noche, are names of several genera and species of nightblooming cactus, ~~~~~~~~ This plant is grown as a houseplant, but prefers a trip outdoors for the summer months. Place the container under a shade tree where it gets filtered light, but not direct sunlight in the afternoon. With a flower so showy, you may think it is difficult to grow, but the opposite is true. It basically takes care of itself. The only thing that would be a problem would be waterlogged soils. It prefers a well-drained soil with organic matter added -- a half-and-half mixture of sand and commercial potting soil should do. The sandy mix is preferred, since this is a cactus. Feed it monthly during spring and summer with any water soluble. You don't want to miss the flowering display, because each bloom only lasts for that one night. By sunrise the flower is spent. I have cut a bloom and put it in a vase of water in the refrigerator where it did last for an extra day, minus the fragrance, but it made viewing somewhat constrictive -- you had to have your head in the icebox to see it!

If you can find someone with a plant, ask for a cutting. They root extremely easily. Take a section of stem roughly two to four inches in length, put it a sandy potting soil, and moisten it. It should be rooted with three to six weeks. It will usually take two to three years before you have a plant that begins blooming, but then stand back and enjoy. Some people find that their plants bloom every year, once blooming begins, while others have an alternate blooming cycle.

Check this Video out!