Granny had to go get her blood checked yesterday. It’s a regular appointment since she takes blood thinners. We hurried back home so that we could see the eclipse.
Once I was back home I set out on the back deck and looked at the sky. It was so cloudy there wasn’t much to see, just a glimpse every once in a while.
Since we weren’t in the direct path the view wouldn’t have been all that spectacular even if the cloud cover had stayed away.
I was reminded of a story Sidney Saylor Farr shares in her book More Than Moonshine.
“In addition to drying and canning apples, Father also made sulfured apples; I shall always remember the first year he did them. It had been a sticky hot day in August with clouds that moved sluggishly and looked like great wads of used chewing gum. Father brought in some barrels and boxes of sulfur from the store. Mother, my sister Della Mae, and I were set to peeling and cutting the apples for him. Father put the barrels in the smokehouse which was empty at that time of the year. The smell of burning sulfur drifted out and the evening air carried it all through the house and yard.
Along about dusky-dark a bad storm came up, with lightning and rolling thunder bouncing from the mountain tops. The storm struck the orchard. Some apple trees were uprooted, others had limbs broken off, and apples, even green ones, blanketed the ground under the remaining trees. We went to bed with the smell of the rain-wet earth and the sulfur from the smokehouse still around us.
Later in the night Father called us from the front porch and we all tumbled out of bed. I thought that daylight had come until I saw how strange it looked outside. Lights-first yellow then blue and red, moved over the hills. Father said it might be the end of the world and Mother leaned against the porch railing praying out loud. After awhile the lights died down and it was dark again. I learned that the strange phenomenon was called the aurora borealis, but people on Stoney Fork spoke of the “Northern Lights” for years. That was the only time I ever saw the aurora borealis in our part of the country. The thunder and lightning, the smell of the sulfured apples, followed by the unearthly lights, all made an impression that will always linger in the recesses of my mind.”
Back in 2017 we were in the direct path of the eclipse that took place in August. Although not as dramatic as Farr’s memory of the northern lights, it was an event that we will always remember since we were home together that day.
You can read the post I wrote about the 2017 eclipse here and read a post Ed Ammons wrote about strange sky happenings here.
Tipper
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Randy, you have my deepest sympathy for your loss. May God give you the strength to continue on and that you will continue in faith and look forward to the great reunion with your beloved and the Lord. Have peace my friend. Jennifer
I am in Cleveland, Ohio and we were able to see the total eclipse with no cloud cover. It was spectacular. People were getting together to celebrate this great event. And there was a lot of cheering when the sun was completely covered. Really magnificent….if you get the chance to see a total eclipse, do it. You will be grateful and thank Mother Nature and the Lord.
I had to drive to Huntsville, Tx while the eclipse was going on. I couldn’t stop and look up. I did notice a lot of humans looking up and all the cows and goats looking down. I guess that the cows and goats were more into eating than wondering what was going on.
I live in Western New York state. We were supposed to be able to see 99 percent of the eclipse, but it was very overcast. When the eclipse was almost full it got really dark out. The street lights came on and it was only around 3 pm. Today there is barely a cloud in the sky. I guess the good Lord didn’t intend for me to view the eclipse.
Patricia, I needed your sermon. I know as a Christian what you said is true. My plans for just being together and doing plain simple inexpensive things in our retirement was not God’s plan, I enjoyed our retirement together for 6 months. I always hoped I would go first. In my and our children and grandchildren’s minds she was a perfect example of the Bible versus of a virtuous women. She was more worried about what me, our son and grandson would cook and eat while she was recovering from surgery than she was about herself and her heart surgery. I am 70 years old and started dating her when she was 16 and I was 17 and we married at 19 and 20, I don’t feel like I will live long enough to get over or past her. I know for certain to me no one else can replace her. I still have my son, grandsons, sister and all of my wife’s family of whom I dearly love to live for, but living it is not the same without her being here. A dear older man at my church tells me “we know our Christian love ones that have died are in a better place but because we are humans, the ones they leave behind are the ones grieving and suffering. Thank you and the others for the kind words.
We got to see the total eclipse yesterday. I am 76 years old and this is the most amazing thing that I have ever seen. Just before it got to totally it got dark really fast. You could see it darkening by the seconds. We seen the corolla and the black moon. There were two stars , even my solar night landscape lights came on. I will never forget it even though I don’t have many years left.
This part is passed down from generations in my family in the 1800s. An eclipse happened in the appalchian part of Kentucky . The chickens went to the chicken house to roost, the stars came out, and people were frightened. People thought it was the end of time. People did not know of eclipses way back then.
The total eclipse of the Sun yesterday was the second I’ve seen. The first was in Raleigh about 1969-70. We were in the path of totality here in central Texas, but clouds blocked our view on and off while it occurred. At the period of total eclipse, the clouds mostly parted and we were able to see it and take a pic or 40. Now to wait for the next one in 20 years when I’ll be over a 100. 🙂
I’ve never seen the Northern Lights which are caused by solar flares. Yesterday, I could see the actual flares for a few moments.
Lest anyone get the wrong impression from my first comment, my wife is deceased. I try to maintain the flowers and shrubs she had planted around the house. She is not here but her beauty remains in the form of her flowering plants. My wife is buried 120 miles from here so I have been unable to visit her grave. One of her wishes in her “will” was to be buried where my ancestors are. I have only pictures of her grave, after my daughter decorates it, and her flowers here to look at.
It’s just an explanation, I’m not looking for sympathy. The plan was for me to go first and for her to follow, but God didn’t look at it that way. It’s His will and I totally accept it! So, she’s gone to a garden where the flowers never fade and I’m still here trying to tend the beauty she left behind.
We didn’t get any of the eclipse here in North Idaho. We made the 3 hour round trip to Walmart for our excitement yesterday. : )
I went to my annual eye exam on Friday and heard my doctor’s exciting plans for the upcoming eclipse…tailgating, two nights in a hotel, and time off work. He said he drove to the Smokies for the 2017 eclipse and it took 10 hours to get out of the traffic and drive back home. I was at the tax girl’s office yesterday at 3:07 PM when it got dark enough for the car’s automatic headlights to come on and the dusk-to-dawn lights were activated. It was an amazing sight I know I will never see again.
We were at our gardens yesterday, planting basil and tomatoes and replacing wheelbarrow handles. We each had a pair of eclipse safety glasses and kept watching the sky. Even though Chattanooga wasn’t in the totality viewing range, it was exciting to watch. The light all around us was different and I believe the birds quieted some. Not as dramatic as 2017, but I’m glad we paid attention.
The eclipse was not the moon passing by the sun, it was a dollar general.
Randy, hang in there, I’m praying for you.
Where I live wasn’t in the path so I saw nothing. Although for a few minutes the temperature dropped a few degrees and the sky became dark. Maybe the next time I’m in Alaska I’ll see the northern lights, but for now I can say I saw the eclipse in August 2017. That’s enough for me!
Have a good day everyone. Blessings to all!
My Dad worked for a company in NC before I was born and one night when he was coming home, he saw the Northern Lights. He/we didn’t know you could see it this far south. It about scared him to death until they figured out what it was, then it was cool. I’ve always looked, but have never seen it, but would love to. We were away from home yesterday and saw the eclipse at about 75 percent…still cool.
Yesterday we had a fair amount of clouds cover in Rutherfordton, NC, but it did darken and the shadows of the trees were testimony to the eclipse taking place.
In 2017 I was in Columbia, SC which was in the path of totality of the solar eclipse. It was a memorable day for several reasons. My brother-in-law was in a hospice with only a couple of days left on this earth. He asked for his children and grandchildren to be with him during the eclipse. I still remember they were with him, laughing and telling stories while outside people were gathered everywhere experiencing the eclipse. The day darkened, the crickets started singing and the birds got quiet, but in that room there was a lightness and love to share one final time.
I feel like his children and grandchildren will always remember that day….especially when there is any celestial event happening. What a special last memory.
We were in the path of totality for the eclipse. It was such a breathtaking experience to witness. The birds stopped singing and appeared to go to roost for the “night”. The darkness happened quicker than I expected as the street lights came on all up and down the street. The temperature dropped 5 degrees in the near 4 minutes of darkness and stillness. Just as quick as the darkness came it began to get light until the brightness of the sun was once again. It was truly an amazing once in a lifetime experience. Our God is amazing!
We weren’t near the path either. The only thing we noticed was the brightness of the sun had changed. It was a beautiful clear blue sky with the sun shining bright. Then around 3:11 pm, the time of the eclipse happened, we only noticed the sun was fading like it does before twilight. About four or five minutes later the sun was shining bright again. We did see it on the live news that had reporters in just about every state in the path. It was a sight to watch on TV, but I have no doubt it was absolutely amazing seeing it as it happened in person. We didn’t even go outside to look since we didn’t have them protective glasses. We were just content to look out our window and watch on TV.
I hope Granny is still doing well and know prayers continue for her and your family.
We here in Virginia didn’t see anything but clouds which looked like it might rain. Nothing different. Same thing happened in 2017. My brother who lives near Cleveland, O said it was “amazing.” He and my 94 yo mother who lives with him saw the total eclipse. The news
people in Cleveland filmed the eclipse and I saw it. I would have like to experience this event but it’s ok. People mentioned that it felt like the temps dropped during this time. A woman filmed it in Ky and said it felt a lot cooler.
I was out behind the house whittling on a stick of wood when the eclipse happened. It was cloudy and I didn’t really expect to see anything but I took my welding helmet in case a hole should suddenly open up and reveal the celestial event. It didn’t but I was able to see a faint crescent shape through the clouds now and then.
Then the strange thing happened! After it was all over I had walked around to the front of the house to see if my wife’s azaleas were ever going to bloom. While examining the buds I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Upon turning around I saw a doe strolling up through the yard. She looked at me, she had to have seen me, but continued her leisurely promenade as if she couldn’t be bothered.
She sauntered on for another 50 yards before she stopped at the edge of the woods and started looking around, again staring straight at me. She stood there for possibly a minute before suddenly jumping, seemingly straight up, then running of through the briars and brambles.
Was she sleepwalking? Had she bedded down for the night only to discover that a nap was all she had been afforded? I don’t know!
We were right in the middle of the line for totality and enjoyed about 4 minutes of it. My dad, stepmom, sister, our youngest daughter, son-in-law and their children were here with us as well. It was one of the greatest experiences we have ever felt and so spectacular to witness this part of God’s creation!
The funny part to us, due to the hype, was how we were to expect floods of people in our community. Sadly for those expecting to make some extra cash, I don’t think that happened. And I have to say, I’m glad we didn’t have huge crowds of people around.
We had occasion to travel to Bampf, Canada quite a few years ago touring with a tour. Coming back across the Canadian Rockys we saw those beautiful lights. Once in a life time for us. Prayers for Granny’s test results and for God’s Blessings on you guy.
We were in totality here. It was really something special and humbling to thing even my youngest will be an old man before one comes around here again and we’ll be long gone. I too couldn’t help but thinking of “the heavens declare the glory of God.” It’s so true.
When I was a kid, probably late 60s or early 70’s, We had a clear aurora borealis in my home state of Indiana. It was so beautiful! When I have told people about seeing the Northen lights in Indiana, they said I was crazy! But no it actually happened.
I went to Alaska in 2012 and don’t remember seeing the lights! Alaska is probably the most beautiful place in the world, at least to me. Next in line would be, of course, North Carolina, Colorado. All mountain places. Where I live now, in Florida, has beautiful coastlines. A different kind of beauty.
good morning friends Jesus is coming don’t know when, it might be pretty soon, I’ll be 63 years old April 16th, I’ve been delivered from drugs but I have not been delivered from smoking cigarettes, I really like to quit, God bless you friends, say a word for me,
Back in the early nineties, I was outside running laps late at night in Chattanooga, when I saw an eerie wavering red glow (to the northeast, I believe). I was terrified, but figured, “what can I do about it, anyway,” and finished my run. When I got home, the weather reports were saying it was an aurora borealis. I was in my 40s, but had no idea the northern lights came that far south. Later, I learned they’d been seen as far south as Mexico City.
My Dad saw it in NC in the early 1960s. He was scared for a minute, too. Like you, he didn’t know it could be seen this far south either. He always enjoyed telling us about how awesome it was. Makes me think of the wondrous sights we’ll see in Heaven.
Glenda, I live in Chattanooga and wish I had seen that, too! I was, no doubt, inside with 3 young kids and missed my chance.
I live in the area of totality in Indiana and it was amazing. It’s the best I have ever seen. This time I had the correct eyewear and was able to actually watch from beginning to end. I also got to be with my daughter, one of my granddaughters, and 5 of my great grands. It looked like we had sunrise and sunset all at the same time. God’s splendid wonder on full display. The gloriousness of His making.
Randy I pray that God will bring you comfort and healing that your joy will return. I continue to pray for Granny all of you, God bless you and yours.
For whatever reason, I’ve never been much interested in eclipses, but find shooting stars and certainly the aurora borealis lights astounding. As the poles keep drifting and the Earth loses more of its magnetic field, the Northern Lights keep drifting farther south. Their beauty is incredible and fascinating as are the stars and comets moving across the universe. I always think how lucky we are to experience the grand vastness around us, eclipses included, to keep us humble and remember God, the Creator of it all.
We were on the line of totality yesterday. I couldn’t help but thank the Lord for His creation! Even the heavens declare the glory of the Lord! It was wonderful!
I would love to try sulphured apples. Momma spoke of them often. I wrote down how they did it, but I am not confident in actually doing it.
Oh to see the borealis! That has always been something I have wanted to see! I’m not a big traveler so I hope one day the Lord blesses our area to see it.
Good morning Tipper. Yesterday, I had to take my mama and dad to their routine doctors appointments too. The eclipse was happening at the same time. Hubby was home mowing the grass and he stopped and used his welding helmet to view it. The skies here in central eastern WV were pretty clear. He said it was spectacular and wished I was home to see. We weren’t in the path for the total eclipse, but it looked like it covered about all of it. It got dark like late evening. Our bees had been out in the sunshine working like crazy, when suddenly hubby walked over to their hive and didn’t see any. He walked up to the side of the hive, put his ear against it, and listened. He could hear the humming sound of all the bees huddled inside like they do at night. As the moon began passing off the other side, the bees were just as suddenly out flying and collecting pollen and working again. I got home as the eclipse was partially over. It was still spectacular to watch.
I saw yesterday’s eclipse and really didn’t think much about it one way or another. I thought the one in 2017 was a lot more impressive. My greatest thought was it will most likely be the last one I see in my lifetime if it will be 20 years before there is another one like it.
Three years years ago today, my oldest grandson turned 21 and my wife and his grandmother passed away. The death certificate says it was the 15th but in my mind it was today while she was on the operating table. Much of my will to live along with my joy and happiness died too. I will soon be going to her grave. If she had lived we would have celebrated our 50 year wedding anniversary this year.
Prayers for you. Always know that God has ‘your back’ so to speak and you guys will be together ‘some sweet day’.
Randy, I am now 22 years into widowhood. I was just beginning to see a reason to keep living at three years – despite the fact that my daughters needed me and I already had two grand babies who don’t remember their grandpa. It took even longer to accept that God didn’t take us home at the same time (which I had wished and prayed for). I did finally understand that it was because I had not finished the work He has for me here on earth. Christ-followers do not get to retire from the work He planned for us and then just wait to die. It took awhile for me to move from “waiting to be with the Lord” to “lead me to what I can do for You today” – but He patiently waited for me. I am now at the age where I thought we’d be sitting on the porch together – retired and watching the sunset, knowing that our time of working for Him on earth would soon be over. Sure – if I could have written my story, my husband would have been miraculously healed of the cancer that took his life, and we be sharing that testimony at every opportunity. God had written a different story and part of the grieving process for some of us (me, for sure!) is to re-learn trusting in His plan. I have been praying for you ever since your wife passed away. Now I pray that He shows you daily why you’re still here and that you experience the satisfaction of fulfilling His plan. Paul expressed this situation so well in the first chapter of Philippians. Please don’t take this as a scolding or a pep talk. Every person’s road through the valley of the shadow of death is different and nobody gets to tell you that your grief clock has expired so “buck up and get on with life.” The loss is profound and will be with you throughout your remaining days here. But as David wrote in Psalm 23, we that we “walk through” that valley, even if we walk slowly. It was never intended to be a place to linger. Faith is putting one heavy foot in front of the other when the grief shadow is so deep you can’t see the road you’re walking.