From Sea to Shining Sea

Today marks a very cool happening, a total solar eclipse. (Unless you've been hiding under a rock or playing WAY too many video games, I know you know this!) The eclipse will be visible across the entire contiguous United States from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean... From Sea to Shining Sea! The last time a total solar eclipse was visible across the ENTIRE contiguous United States was in June of 1918! Imagine! Most of us walking about will NEVER have shared this event! THAT is pretty cool!

What to do?

Well, be careful! DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT stare directly at the sun without protective eyewear and even then be careful and make sure they are the correct "protective" eyewear! Eyesight is something precious to be treasured, don't be silly and damage your eyes by staring at the sun. It takes mere seconds for damage to occur! The eyewear should be ISO 12312-2 compliant. At this stage it will be difficult to purchase them but there is hope, some libraries are offering them and you can also make an eclipse viewer with a cereal box quite easily so get snacking!

Now that your peepers are taken care of, what about your tummy? I know you're full from all the cereal you just ate so you can make a viewing box but there's always room for pizza and cookies. Grab a frozen pepperoni pizza (the one we all have in case of emergencies) and move all the pepperoni to one half. Voila! You have just made an "Eclipse-Themed" pizza you clever you. How about making a quick batch of black and white cookies? (Don't roll your eyes at me!) Use a mix or a pre-made silly! You could use a slice and bake, a dry mix or an off the shelf and dip those little guys in chocolate! Since, classically, black and white cookies are made with a sugar cookie base, just dip one side. How about popping into a donut shop, buying a few cake donuts (or even jelly donuts) and dipping those? There is also the option of dipping circle-shaped rice crispy treats. That would be fun. Put your "thinking cap" on and see what you have in the house. Let the kids help with the dipping. Right about now the kids are all sugared up anyway from the all the cereal, donuts and rice crispy treats, so let them burn off some of that energy! 

Ok, now you need a drink. There is actually a drink called an "Eclipse" but depending upon when you see the solar eclipse (for me it's early afternoon and I have to work) the Eclipse may be a tad strong for the kids... Here is another idea, pour orange juice into a glass. Use the back of a spoon to carefully and slowly pour a little cranberry juice cocktail on top, so it floats. DONE! No-one needs to know yours has vodka! Remember, no judging!

Please share your photos of the eclipse in the comments section! Remember, your phone's camera needs protecting too! Use the eclipse glasses over the lens so you don't ruin your phone!
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Our daughter Mia took this image of the solar eclipse yesterday. What a fun experience to share!

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