The Solar Eclipse

The Solar  Eclipse  at Upper Canada Village near Morrisburg, Ontario was absolutely stupendous. It is the first time that I have ever been in totality and it was truly an unforgettable experience perhaps especially at 78.5 years of age. It was cloudy on the way to Upper Canada Village but there were signs of thinning of the clouds and even blue sky patches. Set up just below the monument to the Battle of Crysler's Field on a slight incline which did prove to be workable. The skies were clearing beautifully as the start of the eclipse began and could be clearly seen through the eclipse glasses as the moon slowly started to cover the sun. The pinhole viewer proved to be an excellent tool to measure progress as well. As the moon slowly moved across the face of the sun to totality it started to darken and amazingly the world went silent (except for the chatter of people). The horizon slowly turned a light pink as totality came closer and closer and the temperature dropped. Then the diamond ring appeared so clear to the eyes. I did not see Baily's beads but totality with the corona was spectacular. My pictures somewhat dreadful; should have brought the tripod but I do tend to use memory more than mechanical pictures. We, all of us on that hill created from the Battle of Crysler's Field were in awe at the wonder. A sold out parking lot with all the lucky people who really got to see the total Eclipse of the Sun yesterday from beginning to end. A lot of cloud in Ontario although we were not the only ones with such a good view and that is wondrous to have so many have this opportunity of a lifetime. Thank you God. 

That was pretty much the entire day getting ready to go, driving there and then waiting for this spectacular treat in my old age and the trip home very long; long lineups of cars returning to Ottawa which was just outside of totality. I suspect everyone had a good time in spite of the clouds and the traffic. Just being there as the world grew dark for just a short period and then the sun came back. What a marvelous experience. 

Cleaning day today and it is the basement to start - just a half day of cleaning. Must organize the two loads of black earth this week and plan the gardening for the summer. Those are amazing words from me actually as I have little interest in gardening but a lot of interest in greening the planet! I must admit though picking spinach, carrots, tomatoes is also a nice event in one's life. It is the small things in life that mean the most I rather think. 

Perhaps a little work on Blake today; continuing to work on the Blake Pedigree Chart and the Blake Family Chart. Both are tremendous assets to the various Blake lines that can flow back to them but making corrections is always a top priority to me. Why is that anyway? I think it is just my nature to try and get it right if possible. Having it wrong doesn't help anyone actually and getting history wrong can be a huge mistake. Our ancestors learned that especially during World Wars I and II and the time in between those two wars. There is no one on the face of the earth that can be an albatross with their head in the sand. We are all part of this world and it can only flow well if we all co-operate and work together to make God's world as perfect as we can. 

The economic side of me loves a good challenge and that is a much better playing field than the field of battle. People are killed in battles, economies are destroyed by battles and in the long run no one actually wins because a dictator will always have enemies; people who want to rid themselves of dictators always arise simply because the human spirit itself must be free to express itself and when that is hindered revolutions follow. 

My Latin lessons have become a passion for me as I work away at them usually three working periods a day and I have inserted some French lessons now although it will be fall before it becomes a regular routine. I have now reached the point where I am thinking sometimes in Latin - amazing really and certainly looking at these ancient documents has become easier but still a long way to go to become fluent. 

Teatime and Latin and then breakfast.