Total Eclipse in Leon Valley

  Unfortunately, it was very overcast first thing in the morning, but that's common enough at this time of year in Leon Valley. The clouds and gloom usually burn off by mid-morning. I noticed a vine in bloom out in my back yard, and debated about setting up the telescope for projection of the eclipse. Had it been bright, clear and sunny, I thought maybe I'd take the telescope to the library porch or the park and share the view. But the sun was playing hide-and-seek at best.

Vine flowers at 12:19pm

  Later in the morning it seemed even   
                                     more overcast, so I was resigning myself
to noting the environment and maybe catching views of the sun if possible, but setting up the 'scope was pointless.
Couldn't see the sun at all with the solar eclipse glasses on, even when it did peep out--so many clouds filtering the view.  So I decided to take photos every 10-20 mins. of the pumpkin (or whatever it is) flowers. While the flowers had been wide open at the crack of dawn, they'd wrapped themselves up after dawn so I wondered if light had something to do with that.

 Vine flowers at 12:43pm

Vine flowers at 1:03pm

Vine flowers at 1:23pm

     When totality time approached, my sis and I went outside--still couldn't see a thing with the glasses on, but every now
and then the eclipsed sun would pop out for a second or two (still covered with at least some clouds). I tried to take pictures with my phone since there didn't appear to be any great danger with all the cloud cover. The vine flowers stayed firmly furled, but I took shots to see how the light changed. 

Sky at 1:29pm

Sky at 1:30pm

                                                                                                                 Vine flowers at 1:31pm

      It got darker, like a storm does. A 
mockingbird began singing loudly,
several large raptors flew over, and a
flock of night swifts (which regularly
come out at dusk) danced overhead.
The automatic lights in the area snapped on. I didn't really notice a temperature change since it was pretty humid.

                                            Vine flowers at 1:32pm

Kept trying to look up with the glasses on but finally gave up; could catch quick glimpses of the eclipse without them but not see a thing through them. Then my sis said "Look, look!" and we saw the totality. Just for a microblink of an instant--a bullet-hole through the center of the sun. Just as quickly it vanished beneath the moving clouds and didn't appear again until several minutes had passed. I didn't get to see any of the stages I wanted so much to see, Bailey's beads, the diamond ring, the details of the corona--did see the streams on TV (Channel 12, CNN and National Geographic)...though not quite the same as seeing with one's own eyes. Only the curve of the moon's shadow...then the clouds got thicker and the sun stopped peeping out for a long time, so we finally went back in the house. Automatic lights in the neighborhood went back off, returning to an ordinary overcast day.

Sky at 1:34pm

Automatic lights at 1:34pm 

    
Vine flowers at 1:34pm           

Vine flowers at 1:36pm

But at least I did get to see, no matter for how short a time, the total eclipse. Totally cool!!

Automatic lights at 1:36pm

                                                            
                                                                Vine flowers at 1:39pm

 ANNULAR "RING OF FIRE" ECLIPSE

        Saturday, October 14--roughly from 10:30ish through 1:30ish, there will be an "annular" solar eclipse--where the moon appears to be in front of the sun but doesn't quite cover it, so there is a bright ring around the dark disk of the moon for a few minutes. Here in Leon Valley we get to see it about as full-on as it gets, and then in six months, a total solar eclipse (April 8) will occur!  

        The area within the red lines on the map shows the course of the eclipse and the area of totality--outside the lines there is still an eclipse, but it would be partial.

 

        The maximum "ring of fire" effect will be about 11:54am here, lasting a little over four minutes. You do not want to look at it directly without some sort of solar lens protection, though, as it might be the last thing you look at! You can project the light of the sun through a pinhole and watch the projected sun disk change shape, or you can watch the event online, or you can look at it with a good pair of solar eclipse sunglasses. Just don't look directly at it with unaided eyes or it may french-fry your retinas.

Here is a list of interesting websites to check out to find out about the eclipse(s):

Information tables about when & where the eclipses will be:
https://www.scigames.org/eclipse/#total-table

Interactive map--see how the eclipse will appear in Leon Valley or another city by playing around with the sliders:  https://eclipse2024.org/eclipse_cities/statemap.html

More information about Leon Valley and the annular eclipse:
https://eclipse2024.org/2023eclipse/eclipse-cities/city/40208.html

Leon Valley and the April total eclipse:
https://eclipse2024.org/eclipse-cities/city/39200.html?searchqry=Leon+Valley+Texas%2C+USA

and some nice videos about the topic:

"Ring of Fire" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLKgT2rR_ZU

"Total Eclipse Of The Sun"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=181RpmRtFYo&list=PLAJ3J5OEZMuJsxT8o7IbOJfi0atidkXd8&index=3

"All About the April 8 2024 Total Solar Eclipse" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_AT01RUzr4

We've been celebrating the eclipse at the library with a short series of programs and activities.  Check out our calendar if you're interested! 

In the meantime, watch for shadows! 🌚

 

 

 

 

 

Share Your Home Projects!

So what have you been up to over the 2022 summer, where temperatures and prices have been soaring?
Here's a little project I suddenly found myself doing... my relatively new office chair's lovely vinyl seemed to be sliding off in unpleasant ways. I had a bag of library card frames (plastic frames library cards used to come in, we'd pop out the cards and then there was a little frame left over) that I started crocheting odd bits of yarn around, and after getting a good look at my chair, decided they were just the right size and consistency to make a wonderful chair cover.

                                (before)

                                             So I did.

                                    (after)

                  Flashy, huh?  But fit just perfectly!

 

The Practical Practice of Plarn

What's plarn?  "Plarn" is a jammed-together term meaning "plastic yarn" whereby you make "yarn" from cutting up plastic bags--shopping bags, bread sacks, newspaper wraps, some balloons, packaging, whatever has the right consistency to allow one to use the plastic as a yarn or thread.

Why would I want to make plarn?  For one thing, it's pretty much a free resource.  Plastic bags are all over the place.  Even if you don't happen to have any, someone nearby is likely to be overflowing with the things.  And of course it is a very "green" ecological thing to do, to reuse plastic.  It also has its advantages merely by being plastic; waterproof, light, cheap...

Plastic bags

What do I do with plarn after I make a bunch of it?  Here is where the creativity comes to play.  Basically whatever you can do with yarn, you can do with the right kind of plarn.  Crochet, knit, weave, macramé, etc.  Google "plarn" and you'll find a whole world of ideas.

So how do I start?  First, naturally, you gather up (clean) plastic sacks (etc.) and cut them into strips.  Some people slip the strips together (here is someone's example) so the strips will become one continuous strand. 

AllFreeCrochet's instructions on making plarn strips

I personally take the item and cut it into one immensely long strip, round and round, as if peeling an apple continuously.  Longer strips are easier to deal with than short ones, but if you are crocheting, you probably don't need to slip or knot the strips together.  The size (width) of the strips depend on what your source is, what you are crocheting/knitting/etc. with or what you are ultimately doing.  Generally somewhere between 1/4" and an inch is a good size, you just want to make sure it is fairly flexible and not too thin (breakable) or thick (hard to work with).  Roll as you go, or you'll be the meatball in an enormous wad of plastic spaghetti.

Balls of wrapped plarn

Anyway, there are all sorts of fantastical things you can make, especially if you sort your colors as you go (like above). 

Here are a few things I've put together:

Plarn dinosaur, granny square and teddy bear

 A bit of standard crochet (granny square), a dinosaur (I always think it's extra funny to make a dinosaur out of a petroleum product) and a fluffy teddy bear (I wanted to see if I could fill the holes with a bit of rug-hooking).

Plarn granny square

Here's the granny square up close.  You can use up a lot of different colors with these things.

If you keep going, you can have a blanket before you know it.  I made one to use as a mattress waterproofer for a while.  (now it's doing time as a pet house accessory)  Does take some time to get something that large made, but hey, it's free and no big deal to toss when necessary.  They can also be (hand) washed up to a point, being plastic (but you don't want to toss them into a washer with piping hot water...!).

Big plarn blanket

There is at least one group who meets to make plarn and crochet bed pads (easy to roll up and carry, making a warmer insulation layer between a person and the ground) for homeless folks.  It can be a very helpful substance...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7KpQZJWPfE

Plarn Bedrolls

 And here's my silly stegosaurus.  Little toys are fun to make.

Plarn dinosaur

              Plarn dino looking the other way

Plarn on plaid, stegosaurus

Plarn on plaid stegosaurus sitting the other direction

The teddy bear started out a different way, but I got curious about how plarn might work as a rug-type material.  So after I crocheted the bear shape, I took little scraps of plarn (3-4" each) and hooked them all over the beastie, then gave him a haircut to make it look neat and fluffy.

Plarn teddy bear (even the eyes and nose)

Plarn bear (yellow collar and mylar back)

 I used not only regular shopping bags, but lots of newspaper sacks and some dead-deflated mylar balloons (metallic-sparkly!).

 Anyway, if you find yourself fascinated, maybe we can do something with it at the library...and if not, it's still a useful tool to stick in one's idea-box.

Some plastics won't work too well for this...many are very biodegradable so don't last long while others are too thick to bend well.  On the other hand many will last for ages and are washable, so you just need to experiment.  Which is half the fun... Standard shopping bags, bread bags and newspaper bags are definitely suited for this sort of activity!

Fluffy plarn teddy

Useful Origami: FANCY LITTLE ENVELOPE

 

And the little envelope, useful for small gifts, splashes of color in decor, table places, parties...this one is nice because it doesn't require glue to keep it shut, can be used for keeping many a small thingie in line, and is easy once you make a couple.  It opens like a flower (or cardboard box, depending on how you like to view things) and is kinda impressive in its own way.

So here are my written instructions (good luck):

And now if you prefer, you can watch me muddle through making one of these small wrappers.

Lovely little letter luggage.

Useful Origami: FUN BOAT

 

One of my favorite things to fold up quick...it is very easy but has a trick ending, so to speak.  Still, it comes in quite handy.  I like to return change, keep pens or glasses in such boats.  And they do float.  Well, maybe not if you make it out of mesh or absorbent towels, but for the most part...

Here's a video on folding a utilitarian paper boat:

And included for the price, the written instructions:

Sail Away!!

 

Useful Origami: HANDY CUP

Now a VERY simple trick...a cup!  How often have you needed a small cup for a quick sip or to pop something into and the best you could come up with was your hands (for the sip) or a crumpled napkin (for a small container)?  A couple of brown paper towels in a pinch, or a page of notebook paper (which actually works pretty well, since it has a thin clay coating that keeps the water in for a while) will do nicely when you're out and about.  Or perhaps, a bit of pretty wrapping or construction paper would make some bright party favors, etc.
                             Here's how:

And again, for those who prefer the video form of learning, here's the 3D version of the instructions:

 

The Cup.

Useful Origami: EASY BOX

 

I thought I'd share a few easy bits of origami that can actually come in handy, especially around holidays but also for all kinds of daily occurrences.  The first I'll tell you about is the box.  I think it was one of the first items I learned to make, as a preschooler.  The box can be used for quickie stashes of stuff, or made in a very beautiful way for presents and decorations, or created with thin cardboard for use in organizing.

Different types of paper and different sizes will result in all manner of boxes.  But here's the gist of it:

With any luck, you can make this out (or enlarge or print it out).  Here's a slightly different version (made another time):

In short, you fold a grid, cut the side slits open, fold up the sides and fold over the middles and there you have a neat little box.  

In the meantime, here's a short video of how to fold one, if 2D instructions aren't your style.

And, tada, BOX!

 

Hotspots!

"Hey Howard!" Bob said.
"Hiya Bob!  Where's your mask?" replied Howard.
"Where's YOURS?  I guess I don't have one, but we're social-distancing," Bob admitted.
"I don't think we're six feet apart, Bob," Howard smirked.
"No, but we're only two inches tall, Howard," Bob reminded Howard.
"Oh.  I guess that makes a difference," Howard said thoughtfully. 
"A bit.  So, how have you been, Howard?" Bob inquired.

Howard sighed. "Well, not so good.  I can't get online to pay my bills and do my studies but they don't want me to roam far from the pond, either."

"Why can't you get online, Howard?" Bob pried.
Howard pouted in a duckly way. "Well, I don't have internet, and the library is closed when I need to do stuff.  So what can I do?"

Bob smiled, "You can check out a hotspot."

"A Whatspot?" Howard queried.
"A HOTSPOT!" Bob repeated emphatically.

Howard looked confused.  "Why would I want to check out a hotspot?  This is Texas.  Hotspots are everywhere!"

Bob explained, "Not that kind of hotspot.  A 'hotspot' is a little gizmo that lets you connect to the internet."
"I told you I don't have internet.  And I already have a laptop," Howard quacked, exasperated.

"No, a 'hotspot' IS internet.  You connect it to your device and there you go, you're online." Bob bobbed his head.

Howard looked up.  "NO!  Are you kidding?  That's...magic-talk."

Bob chuckled.  "Nope.  And you can check them out from the library!"

Howard did a double-take.  "You mean, like a book?"

"Pretty much.  First you have to sign an agreement form, though," Bob added.

"Always a hitch," Howard muttered.

"No, no," Bob clucked, "it's just that a hotspot is pricey and the library wants to be sure you will be responsible and take care of it.  You know, don't take it in the pond with you or throw it in the book drop."

Howard pondered a moment.  "Oh, I guess I can understand that."

Bob assumed a pedantic pose. "All you need to do is call up the Leon Valley Public Library and say you'd like a hotspot, and the staff will set a form out on the porch for you to fill out when you can get there.  After that, if a hotspot is available, you can check out one, just like a book."
Howard paused.  "For free?"

Bob detailed, "For free if you are a LVPL member in good standing, of course!"
"WOW."  Howard soaked that in for a minute, flabbergasted by such astounding news.  "Then what?"

Bob inhaled, "Then you can take it home, or wherever you want to do your internetting, and connect it to your device to get online."

"On anything?" Howard slitted his eyes somewhat in disbelief.
"On anything that can connect to wi-fi, or can get online and has a USB connection, I'm pretty sure," Bob informed.
"So like, a laptop? A tablet? A phone? A desktop?" Howard listed.

"Yup, all those things," Bob agreed.  "But just one hotspot per household, so you might not want to do them all at the same time!"

Howard shrugged.  "Well, it's just me, so..."

Bob snickered. "I never know with you, Howard."

Howard gave Bob a look, then started, "How do I connect, then, Bob?"

Bob waved his little clipboard around in the air. "When you check out a hotspot packet, you'll have all this:  A hotspot (with a battery), a charging/connection cable, a charging block (wall plug thingie), a little instruction guide, and a plastic baggy to carry it all in."

Howard ogled the device. "Ohmigosh, Bob, the hotspot is HUGE!! 
How will people use THAT?"

Bob rolled his beady eyes. "Remember, we're just two inches tall, Howard."
"Oh, yeah," gurgled Howard.

Bob attempted to educate Howard. "The first thing you'll want to do is to make sure the battery is charged.  You can go ahead and start charging it, or turn it on to see if it seems to be working ok."

"How do I do that, Bob?" Howard wobbled around the hotspot.

Bob cleared his throat.  "To charge the hotspot, you just connect the tiny end of the charging cord to the hotspot jack, and connect the USB (fatter) end to the charging block, then stick that plug in a wall plug or the like.  Or you can just use the USB end, if you have something that charges USB things."

"To turn on the hotspot, you just press that On-Off button, the circle towards the bottom, for about 3 seconds.  The helpful finger will show you exactly where it is," Bob elucidated constructively.

Howard shook his feathers.  "I think I've got it, Bob."

Bob thought he heard the slightest bit of annoyance in Howard's reply.  "There is the little instruction booklet, Howard, if you would rather just read how to do it."

"Naw, I'm very happy to let you demonstrate, Bob," Howard grinned.

Bob stamped around for a moment.  "OK."  Bob preened.

"Now the button is a little tricky and sometimes you have to try again, but if the battery has juice, the little icons on top of the hotspot will turn green when the machine is on."  Bob beamed.

"It needs juice?"  Howard turned about.  "Orange or grape?"

"Electricity, Howard.  Battery juice," Bob said patiently.

Howard licked his bill.  "I don't think I've had that kind.  Sounds spicy."

Bob went on. "Ahem.  Anyway, green icons, more or less."

Howard nodded.  "Gotcha.  Green=on.  Then what?"

"If you have a wi-fi enabled device, you turn it on and go to the section in your internet stuff that shows you which networks are available.  If you need to, turn on your wi-fi first, of course.  If you don't have a wi-fi gizmo, like an ethernet-connected desktop, then connect the hotspot with the charging cable to a USB jack," Bob stated matter-of-factly.

Howard stared.  "Like, what?"

Bob demonstrated.  "Like this: 

"Find the wi-fi settings stuff.

"Look for the list of networks.  After a minute or two, CoolpadSurf_xxxx should show up in your list of options.  (xxxx is a number, the last four digits of the device's number/barcode)."  Bob continued.

"That's the network your little hotspot is offering.

"So you select that network."

Howard inspected the screens and followed the helpful finger. "Fine so far, Bob.  Turn everything on, find the CoolpadSurf network.  Gotcha."

"Good," expressed Bob with delight.  "The next box will ask for your password.  That's the eight-digit number next to HSPW on the barcode sticker, which is on the back of the hotspot."

"Oh, I see.  HSPW is Hot Spot Pass Word!"  Howard wriggled in gleeful understanding.
Bob tittered.  "Yup, just enter that number and Connect." 

"That's it?" Howard seemed a little dumbfounded.

"That's it!" Bob confirmed.  "Just remember to turn it off when you aren't using it.  It turns off pretty much the same way it turns on, though it looks like everything is on and green for a minute, then shuts down."

Howard flapped in exultation.  "Awesome, Bob!"
"I thought you'd like it, Howard!" Bob puffed, quite pleased.

Howard began waddling off.

"Hey Howard, where are you going, you just got here?" Bob yelled.

Howard didn't even look back.  "I'm going to check out a hotspot.  I've got stuff to do!"