'Twas the night before eclipse 2017!

I had waited too long!  A few days before the big eclipse, I decided that I needed some eclipse glasses.  I searched amazon and heard on the news that some of the glasses were pulled off Amazon for not meeting the required standards.  There were few left in stock and many said 1-2 days for packing.  Searching, I was able to locate one that was packaged and sent by amazon.  I figured that they had to be faster!  I went ahead and paid for faster delivery and I hoped and prayed they might arrive in time. They had an expected delivery date of 8/21/2017, but I was traveling that day and would not get them unless they came real early. I did not have much hope, they still were in not yet shipped status on 8/19.    Then on Sunday morning, 8/20/2017, I checked and the status said they would arrive by 8:00 PM that day!  All day I was checking the status and by 6:00 PM I was sitting and waiting.  I waited and waited looking for enterprise rental trucks and looking at every passing car.  It was getting later and later and was getting close to 7:00 PM.  Now, I was really starting to lose faith!  I looked at the tracking and there was still hope and a reason to believe!  It had updated and showed out for deliver at 6:07 PM!

'Twas the night before eclipse 2017, when all thro' Baltimore

Not a vehicle was stirring not even a car door;

The tracker was watched with care,

In hopes that Amazon soon would be there;

The buyer sat nestled and snug in his chair,

As visions of the eclipse appeared in the air

And Mama watching TV,

While SummerSlam I stream -

When out on the street there was a small clatter,

I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter,

Away to the window I tripped to the floor,

Lifted my body, and threw open the door.

The sun over top the garbage below,

gave off a smell that made me feel low;

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

but a miniature Toyota in reverse gear,

With a little young driver, looking like Don Juan,

I knew in a moment it must be Amazon.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And he scan the package; then turn'd at me like I'm some kind of  jerk,

And laying his finger aside his smartphone

And giving a nod, down the steps with a groan.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight‍—‌

Happy Eclipsing to all, and to all a good night.

The glasses had arrived!  I was very excited as I opened the envelope and tested by looking inside a light bulb!  I think that's as close to meeting Santa Claus I'm going to get!  The glasses were great and they come with a nice pamphlet and sticker.  See the glasses in action below:

How to Safely Watch Solar Eclipses - No Glasses? No problem!

How to Safely Watch Solar Eclipses
By Bucky LaFountain

On August 21st North America will witness a solar eclipse. A total eclipse will be visible across the United States from West to East in a straight line starting from Oregon, going through Kentucky all the way to South Carolina. Barring any potential cloud cover, anyone in this path will be able to see the awe inspiring view of a total eclipse of the sun. A partial eclipse of the sun will be visible to all those who are outside of this path.

Generally speaking, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun and its shadow is cast down on earth. A total eclipse occurs when the moon completely covers the sun while a partial eclipse occurs when it partially covers it. To view a solar eclipse a person needs to be directly located in line with the moon and the sun. To safely view an eclipse it is important to note that observer needs to take certain precautions to safeguard his/her eye health from the harmful rays emitted by the sun during the eclipse. These may not be obvious to the observer but there nonetheless.

Exposing your unprotected eyes to the sun during a solar eclipse can cause solar retinopathy (retinal burns); also known as "eclipse blindness". This exposure can temporarily or permanently damage or destroy cells in the retina. The damage can take up to a few days to be fully expressed with symptoms including loss of central vision, altered color and blurry or distorted vision.

The only time that you can potentially risk looking directly at a solar eclipse is during the totality of it when the moon completely covers the sun., However since it is difficult to estimate its duration or detect the moon's breach of totality this can also be the most dangerous time. After all the moon only covers the sun for a short period of time and if you are still observing it as the moon moves away it could cause retinal burns and damage to your eyes. Take the following measures to safely and properly view the eclipse:

• Welder's Glasses: To reduce harmful rays and safely watch the eclipse wear number 14 welder's glasses.
• Pinhole Projection: Use this method to watch the solar eclipse safely and inexpensively. Make a pinhole on one side of cardboard paper to allow the sun light to shine through onto a piece of paper on the other side of the cardboard. This method allows you to watch the entire event unfold on the paper without risking any harm to your eyes.
• Online or Television: The safest way to watch the solar eclipse is probably via television or online. Subscribe to be reminded of the event and come back to this site on the day of the solar eclipse to watch it live.

An eclipse is one of those events that a person should experience at least once in their lifetime. Like many experiences in life it is important to prepare for the event and make sure that the proper precautions are taken to avert damage to the retina and ultimately one's overall vision health. By taking the steps above one will be able to observe this event while remaining confident their eye health is protected.

Bucky LaFountain

Marketing

blafountain@contactlensking.com

Contact Lens King Inc.

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Using the Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Grower - 3 Great Tips For Success!

Using the Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Grower - 3 Great Tips For Success!
By Lisa Sliwa

If you enjoy experimenting with cool gadgets and creative gardening methods, the Topsy Turvy upside down tomato grower is one planter you should have in your collection. Since your friends probably won't expect to see a tomato plant growing down from the rafters rather than up from the ground, hanging one of these planters near a patio seating area is sure to be a conversation starter - even more so if your plant is loaded with ripe red fruit! However, there are a few tricks to growing great tomatoes in a Topsy Turvy. Read on to discover 3 tips to using an upside down tomato grower successfully.

1. Don't underestimate how heavy wet dirt can be! Once you fill up your planter, it has to be lifted and hung high enough to give your tomato plants room to grow down - at least 5 to 6 feet. You may want to enlist a friend to help you get your planter situated overhead, and you'll want to use a sturdy hook and a solid support for hanging, as the bag will only get heavier when it is watered. The pretty and popular iron hooks that stake into the ground will probably not be strong enough to hold your plant without toppling. An arbor, pergola, or porch overhang would be a better choice.

2. Do lighten the load by mixing perlite or peat moss into your potting mixture and only filling the bag part way. This is also a great strategy for helping your plant retain water, as the effects of wind and sun on the planter bag may hasten the evaporation of the water in the bag.

3. Do remember that when you water your plants, they will drip a bit, and be mindful that you have not hung your upside down tomato grower where the runoff will cause any staining of whatever is underneath. Although the water itself is generally not an issue, minerals from the dirt will run off with the water and may discolor cement floors or outdoor fabrics and furniture.

Growing tomatoes upside down will be a novel experience for most backyard gardeners. Many people are delighted when they realize that a lot of the tasks associated with growing tomatoes in the ground, like weeding, are not required when growing tomatoes overhead. On the other hand, learning to use this new method can be confusing at first. If you follow the tips listed above, this easy method may quickly become your preferred way of growing tomatoes at home.

While experimenting with your planter, you will realize that tomatoes are not the only thing you can grow upside down. You can also try cucumbers, squash, and green peppers in your upside down tomato grower. There are also planters made specifically for growing strawberries and hot peppers! You can find these innovative products along with more great growing tips here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lisa_Sliwa/553635
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5 Great Tips For Upside Down Tomatoes

5 Great Tips For Upside Down Tomatoes
By Donald S Short

You may think that planting tomatoes in a pot or in a garden is the only way to grow them but you're mistaken. Surprisingly, there is another way of growing tomatoes. You can actually grow them upside down! This may seem unusual and odd but it actually works and has a lot of advantages. One advantage is that you won't have to bend down for digging and weeding. Another is that since the plant is hanging above the ground, they will be protected from contracting ground based pests, soil based fungi and diseases.

Intrigued? Well, if you are and you want to try your hand in growing upside down tomatoes, follow these tips:

Tip 1: Not All Plants Are Created Equal

There are certain types of plants that grow best upside down. Tomato plants that grow well in pots also grow well upside down. The popular types for pots are the Bragger, Brandywine, Celebrity, Delicious, Early Girl, Fantastic, Floradel, Husky Gold, Oregon Spring, Stupice and Walter. Indeterminate and cherry tomato plants are also an option just make sure you are prepared for the length since you do not want to stumble around your floor.

Tip 2: Water Is Essential

If you decide to grow tomatoes upside down, you will need to consider the manner in which you water them. Obviously, you can't water them the way you water potted tomato plants. These tomatoes will be suspended above the ground so you will need to use a hose pipe or a water wand extension to reach high places. This will make watering easier and hassle free. Water them once a day or twice if necessary during summer.

Remember to water them regularly since the roots of your upside down tomato plant can't absorb the same level of moisture as the roots of tomato plants planted in the garden.

Tip 3: The Denser The Better

A good soil makes or breaks your tomato plant. The roots of your plant absorb nutrients from the soil so it is important to give them a good and enriching soil. For tomato plants grown upside down, the denser the soil the more it retains moisture and stops excess drainage which is a problem for upside down tomato plants. Regular potting soil is find but if you really want your soil to be dense, use garden soil mixed with peat moss and vermiculite.

Tip 4: Start Them Young

To prepare your tomato plant in growing upside down, plant them in a small pot. This ensures that the root ball is small enough to fit into a hole note bigger than 3 inches in diameter.

When you're ready to transplant, help them to get used to the idea of plying upside down by laying the plant on its side outdoors for a few days. This makes sure that the underside of the leaves of your plant will get used to receiving sunlight.

Tip 5: Location Is Everything

You tomato plant will need lots of sunlight for essential nutrients so it is important to position your plant well within the range of sunlight. Your upside down plant will need 6 or 8 hours of direct sunlight. Be wary though, sunlight may be important but shade is too. Too much heat and it can reduce the moisture in the soil so make sure to keep most of the root bag in the shade.

A great technique to employ is to hang your bag next to a wall that will receive sunlight because the reflected heat will help your plant.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Donald_S_Short/986030
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Is the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter Right For You?

Is the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter Right For You?
By Christine Pinkston

The Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter is a revolutionary way to grow a vegetable garden but is it right for you? Let's start with the basics. The Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter is used for any vegetable that you could want to grow. They say that because it hangs upside down more of the nutrients go into the vegetables themselves, producing larger more abundant vegetable, but will it work for you? Do you have limited space? Where the Topsy Turvy really shines is in its ability to save you space. If you have a limited space to work with or if you just want to grow more vegetables then your garden holds this is a way that you can do that. Because it hangs off of the ground, you can hang it up basically anywhere whether that is in your yard, on your deck, or even in your house. Just be aware that if you hang it inside or on your porch that you will need to place a container underneath the planter when you water it to collect all of the excess water that it drains out.

Do you have a good spot to hang it with a good support system?

Because the Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter hangs in the air you will need to have a good support system in place. At the hanger's peak weight, including the dirt, water, and the plant, it can weigh upwards of seventy pounds. If you don't have the proper support it will come crashing down and possibly destroy your crop.

You can make sure you have the proper support by buying stronger hooks that will hold up to eighty pounds or by building a quick wooden frame to hang your planters on.

If you have a good support system the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter will save you a lot of time, space, and energy while allowing you to grow a plentiful crop of vegetables you might otherwise not have.

Is the Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter Right For You?

If the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter would make the perfect addition for your gardening needs this year click Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter [http://www.best-online-deals.net/best-deals-on-the-topsy-turvy-upside-down-tomato-planter.php] to get the best deal online.

Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter

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