Today's puzzle is a compilation of 2 eclipse photos that I merged together including a silhouette of the back of my house and the eclipse showing the diamond ring effect.
The diamond ring effect, so called because it looks just like a diamond ring circling the moon in front of the sun. I recently sacrificed some old information in my brain about what colour season I am to make room for eclipse lingo.
The image on the left is the eclipse as seen from my backyard. The image on the right is a photo I took of the back of my house just before totality.
The image of the solar eclipse was taken by tilting the camera up and zooming in. The image of the house was taken zoomed out.
Together, they become this.
This was the second composite I did with a foreground. The first one I did (below) I did very quickly for fun but it's different from what I actually saw when I viewed the eclipse.
I prefer this composition but in real life the sun and moon were smaller and further to the right, more like the first photo.
So THAT'S the one we're going to go for, for this week's puzzle, the more realistic version. It isn't a super easy puzzle, but on the other hand, it's hard.
As for The Snacks, I've bought yet another camera to test out (this one a better quality Lorex). While the other camera, a telephoto lens Wyze , was a nicer design, it just couldn't seem to recognize any motion. And therefore didn't record any motion.
The Lorex on the other hand thinks everything is a person. Every leaf, blow of the wind, wave of a branch results in an alarming text declaring THERE'S A PERSON IN YOUR BACKYARD. At one point last night I was convinced there was a foam party or rave going on out back based on the number of alerts I was getting.
All of those people were raindrops.
The Snacks are continuing their confounding behaviour of showing up, making Googley eyes at me for a day, then leaving. This week they've been gone for the majority of it, but last night at about 6:00 a.m. the red snack arrived.
I'm starting to believe that these aren't a couple, but rather 2 males that are both using my box as a mancave. Of course, I know nothing about owls, so please ignore everything I say about them unless I'm saying their confounding or cute.
And now for the puzzle. For maximum fun I would suggest adding the eclipse puzzle piece last.
Tomorrow, a quick video tour of my seed starting station because it is working SO well for me.
Marlene Eastman
3:49!! We live in Waterdown, but headed down to Virgil to a friends place. Pretty much total cloud cover. Just saw a peak of the sun before totality. Probably should have stayed home to see the show, but we enjoyed the company and the wine consumed while we waited, so it was a fun day!!!
Jan in Waterdown
Hey Marlene, I’m in Waterdown too. We went down to Spencer Smith park with a few thousand of our closest friends, and saw a spectacular celestial event. The clouds separated like Moses was parting the Red Sea and the crowd cheered. Then the Skyway bridge and the pier were all lit up and the crowd cheered some more. Plus it was my birthday and my husband had a custom tshirt made so I could share that with everyone. It really was a once in a lifetime experience!
Caroline
Nice photo of the eclipse! Down here in Houston Texas we were right near the optimum viewing area...but had total cloud cover. Was a bummer because we all got stoked for it.
Reference Mr and Mrs Snacks, being members of the raptor family (means "to seize or grasp"), they nest in late winter early spring (Feb-April). I think you might have a pair who have already fledged their young and are just getting on with their lives. It would be really great if they came back and used your nest box for a new clutch next year. I'm only an amateur birder, so I could be wrong though.
Karen
Hi Caroline! These two particular owls have been here for weeks, gone for days, back again, gone again, together and separately since February 20th so I don't see a timeline where that could have happened. But ... they are constantly fooling me so who knows. ~ karen!
Caroline
Maybe you'll be lucky and they will nest. The fledgling are really cute! Photo opps will be terrific!
Deb from Maryland
Such a great picture! Composition is perfection. And it made for a great puzzle. I am a laptop puzzle doer, I can't imagine doing this on a phone! Fingers too big and eyes too bad. lol
Karen
The puzzles are SO much more enjoyable on a laptop. ~ karen!
Randy P
4:43 - and a fun puzzle. The colour (Canadian extra "U") palette truly befits dear Lady Monochrome. The eye of the artist is not diminished by the darkness. Well done.
Karen
4:43 is pretty good there Mr. quick fingertips. ~ karen!
Randy P
Thank a nice HP desktop, wireless mouse and a 32" curved monitor. My 75 yr old eyes need all the help they can get -lol
Mary W
WOW, the photo is great! Good composition and will make a nice October decoration on the mantle. Too bad you didn't have your dog on the roof howling or at least as a silhouette in a dimly lit attic window. Good idea for a window sticker, also. I'm all about telling you what to do so just ignore and keep on being the best!
Karen
LOL. O.K., I will just ignore you unless you're complimenting me. ~ karen!
Terry Rutherford
Spring or Winter. Saved you $450. We were deciphered by the (lovely, fantastic, dear Julia) woman you see on the CBC clip from back in the early 80s, in Toronto. She was one of the first colour analysts there, trained under Carole herself. It was $80 then. And no flight to Korea.
I joke about your result, based solely on your hair colour, btw. The process is fun.
Again, your camera (and all skills) are amazing.
Cathy Vosper
I notice you also captured a solar flare right at the bottom of your diamond ring...good going, that is the prize a lot of people were going for!!
Love your blog, wish I had one tenth of your energy and "go-get-it-ness"! (don't think that is really a word, but you know what I mean...I admire you)
Karen
Hi Cathy, yes! I did get a solar flare and some other stuff around the ring. Everything of course is more visible in my full sized photos here but I'm glad you noticed! ~ karen
Uncle Benny
Karen is the only person to have gay screech owls, because her place is always so fabulous. 💙
Bailey
One of the easiest ever. Under 7 mins. And put moon in last. I do these puzzles on my cell phone so it's hard to sort and separate similar pieces. And I can't see a whole side of the puzzle at once. So it tends to take longer than folks who do puzzles on larger screens. Under 7 is very good time for me.
Nice photo.
Karen
It is a good time! These puzzles really aren't meant for doing on a phone but that's how everyone does them, lol. ~ karen!