My First Total Solar Eclipse

     So yesterday I saw my first total solar eclipse.

     When I first heard about it I thought it would be kind of nice to see, especially since we were so close to the totality area. But trying to make a trip to see this phenomenon at sort of the last minute seemed daunting.

     All the local hotels were booked solid so we started looking to just travel a little way from home for the viewing. Fortunately, we live only about an hour from totality so it should be easy, right?

     Well, two days before the event we started hearing about all the traffic coming into the eclipse area and we were worried that instead of seeing an eclipse, we'd see a parking lot, so  we seriously thought about staying home if we had no other choice. After all, 98 percent totality ought to be pretty good, right?

     But we decided to go for it. Who knows how much longer we'll live anyway, might as well try to see it.

     We got up early, packed a lunch and headed out expecting massive delays. But one thing we thought to do was take the back roads to our destination  and avoid the highway. Turns out that was the right move. We passed over the highway a couple of times and saw nearly bumper to bumper traffic while we were moving right along.

     We got to the park in Cornelia Georgia at 11:20 to see no crowds at all as we settled down to eat. Now, I gotta tell you that was a sweet experience!

     We hung around for a few hours, saw the spectacular eclipse then went home without a hitch.

     Everything worked out perfect and we couldn't have been happier.

     Now we can't wait to see the next one in 2024. Coincidentally, it's on my birthday April 8th. What a gift!

     Oh, and I gotta tell you, when it comes to eclipses never settle for less then 100 percent.

My Favorite Sweater

     They say that the first step to curing an addiction is to admit that you have a problem. Well, I have a problem with sweaters.

     Maybe it's because I'm always cold. Maybe it's because of my love affair with yarn. Whatever the case, I have an insane amount of sweaters.

     I have sweaters in yellow, red and purple. All colors of the rainbow. In fact, I even have a rainbow colored sweater. Thin sweaters, thick sweaters. Sweaters made with fine yarn and sweaters made with chunky yarn.

     I even make my own sweaters. Kind of sad, huh?

     I think one reason I love Fall so much is that I can finally wear my sweaters.

     It's kind of funny, though. My favorite sweater is really nothing special. It's second or maybe third hand. My mom gave it to me and I'm sure someone gave it to her.

     It's plain black with black buttons and the slub yarn it's made from makes it look like it's pilling badly. But it has pockets, and I'm crazy for pockets. It's exactly the right length, width and thickness. 

     When I'm sitting around the house getting cold, and that's a lot, it's the one I go for every time. 

     I'm not sure what I'll do when my sweater finally falls apart.  I've got plenty of back-up but they won't be the same.

     So here's to the old, worn, raggedy sweaters everywhere. Long may they live.