This 'n That Thursdays: Life in the Time of COVID-19

Meet the enemy - the COVID-19 virus magnified
(from Cedars Sinai)

Our nation is in the grip of a very serious pandemic, and we must all do what we can to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  We can do this, everyone, as long as we are careful and try to follow all of the recommendations as well as we can.  Here is how my little New Mexico family is adhering to the rules:

Please do try to at least look happy about this, girls!

1) Sheltering in place: We are lucky that our home in Santa Fe is located in a remote rural area.  I only go into town once a week for essentials, and I am going to try to decrease that to once every two weeks.  The rest of the time I am at home, but I can go out on to our property any time, and I can still walk my dogs on our road twice daily.  It is quite easy to practice the second recommendation:

I think my girls take this recommendation to extremes -
they are way more than 6 feet away from me and each other!

2) Social distancing (approximately 6 feet apart): We rarely encounter our neighbors when we walk, but when we do it is not hard to practice social distancing.  This is a very important rule to follow for humans, but one that my girls do not understand at all - except when it comes to me!  They gladly run right up to any other humans and their dogs, but prefer to wander as far away from me as I will let them!

Ruby kindly agreed to pose despite not really caring for this procedure.

3) Frequent paw hand washing: I do this diligently, especially after my weekly trip to town, but the junior members of the family are not enthusiastic about this rule.  Luckily they do not go into town or otherwise expose their extremities to virus-infected environments!

Patient resignation from Ruby as she tolerated posing for a rule
that does not even apply to her.

4) Work from home: This rule does not really apply to us, but we do whole-heartedly endorse this recommendation because it does apply to my family members in other states.  I wish my doctor brother could do this as well, but he must go to his workplace, so I hope that PPE supplies for those putting themselves at risk become more readily available as soon as possible.

Madison posed for this one, even though she vastly prefers close personal
contact (is that a touch of disgusted disbelief I see in those eyes?).

5) Keep in touch virtually with loved ones: Even though we must distance ourselves socially, we can still keep in touch and support one another via phone calls and texts, plus a vast array of social media and other internet connections (my husband is a recent convert to Zoom, and I suppose I should check it out).

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Recently I found the first spring blooms on our property.  Our weather is now much milder, and spring is definitely in the air!  Even though it looks as though the sheltering in place recommendation here in New Mexico will be extended until the end of April, the girls and I are happy to comply.  We will enjoy our first spring here and wait patiently in hopes that all of the rules we are asked to follow will help to bring COVID-19 under control.  Stay safe and healthy, everyone, and stay optimistic that we will come through this and get back to a more normal world sooner rather than later.
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Out of this World Events

A couple of cosmic occurrences caught my attention recently, which I thought I would share in today's post.  First, did you know that our planet currently has a new mini-moon?  This newcomer is only temporary, but apparently an asteroid less than 12 feet in diameter, known as 2020 CD3, was pulled into the earth's orbit about three years ago.  Its presence was officially announced by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Minor Planet Center this week.  The only other time such an event has been verified was in 2006, when another object, probably an asteroid (but just possibly space debris?) was discovered orbiting earth.  2020 CD3 is only expected to stick around until April of this year, so while you will not be able to see this tiny asteroid in the night sky, you may want to look up and give it a wave of acknowledgement before it breaks free and heads off to new adventures!

From CNN

And speaking of the night sky, be sure to look up tonight, especially if it is clear, to see the planet Venus (which will look like a very bright star) adjacent to a thin crescent moon.  I actually noticed this phenomenon last evening at dusk - both objects are so bright that the sky does not need to be completely dark to observe this duo.  I may even try to take a photo this evening, and if it is a decent image I will add it to this post.  Happy viewing, everyone!

Update: Here is the best photo I was able to take of Venus and the crescent moon:

               

This 'n That Thursdays: Eating for Brain Health

From The Health Bowl

The benefits of the Mediterranean diet made the news again recently.  According to a new study, eating the Mediterranean diet for just one year changed the gut microbiome of elderly people in ways that led to increased longevity as well as increased brain function.  The evidence seems to be overwhelming that this diet is as close to ideal as one can get.  If you want some tips on how to switch over to this healthy lifestyle change, read this article.  And for recipes ideas, this site has some excellent suggestions.

If you are particularly focused on increasing brain function, AARP recommends five foods that are closely linked to better brain health - leafy greens, berries, fish, nuts, and (hooray!) cocoa (one more food you might want to consider adding to this list - mushrooms!).  Read the article for more information and ways to incorporate these foods into your daily diet.  Who wouldn't want to switch to a diet that encourages the consumption of chocolate?

From HealthWayRI

             

This 'n That Thursdays: Sunflower Pollen Has Health Benefits for Bees!

From New Mexico Beekeepers Association

Gardening season is almost upon us here in Georgia - I may even plant some cold-hardy seeds this weekend.  When it comes time to plant more sensitive varieties, I will definitely be planting some sunflower seeds this year, thanks to a recent study which found that sunflower pollen can be beneficial to bees.  A recent study published in the September 2018 issue of Scientific Reports concluded that "...sunflower (Helianthus annuus) pollen dramatically and consistently reduced a protozoan pathogen (Crithidia bombi) infection in bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) and also reduced a microsporidian pathogen (Nosema ceranae) of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), indicating the potential for broad anti-parasitic effects".  The scientists do caution, however, that an exclusive diet of sunflower pollen is too low in protein and some amino acids, so additional food sources should be provided as well.

While most people immediately think of the European honey bee when considering ways to protect plant pollinators, there are many other bee species (as well as other insects and birds) that pollinate plants.  According to a Discover Magazine article, the best strategy the average person can choose that will help all pollinators is to replace as much lawn as possible with a wide variety of flowering plants.  Most people who garden seem to do this anyway!  It would not hurt and it just might help pollinators if gardeners include some sunflowers in their mix of flowering plants, so why not plant some sunflower seeds on your property this year?

🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝🌻🐝

From The Micro Gardener

From SF Gate

             

Weekend Wonders: Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), the Snorkel Snout!

From National Geographic

It has been ages since I posted a Weekend Wonders animal description, so it is high time I added another.  Meet the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)!

Never heard of it?  Neither had I until a few days ago when my husband left me a magazine clipping describing this little semi-aquatic insectivore and its imperiled existence.  Pyrenean desmans inhabit the mountainous northern region of the Iberian peninsula and the French Pyrenees Mountains.  They spend most of their time in cold mountain lakes, rivers, and streams where they forage for aquatic insects and crustaceans.

The Pyrenean desman is well-adapted for aquatic life, with large webbed feet, a long tail vertically flattened at the end to serve as a rudder, the ability to close its ears and nostrils underwater, and a long, flexible snout covered with sensitive vibrissae that can be held above water like a snorkel or used as a probe while foraging.  These mammals are solitary, nocturnal, and monogamous with no known natural predators.  However, threats including habitat fragmentation and pollution, the introduction of invasive predator species, and climate change all appear to have led to a precipitous decline in the population.  The IUCN lists the Pyrenean desman as vulnerable, which means it is likely to become endangered unless the threats to its survival are reduced or removed.

This innocuous little creature should not be allowed to disappear just because so few people are even aware it exists, so I hope that more of us will learn of its plight and do what we can to help save it!

From Encyclopedia of Life

             

This 'n That Thursdays: The World's Oldest Color

From Branding in Asia

Scientists from The Australian National University have discovered 1.1 billion-year-old bright pink pigments buried deep beneath the Sahara desert, making pink the world's oldest known color in the geological record.  The pigments enabled these researchers to confirm that ancient marine ecosystems were dominated by tiny photosynthetic cyanobacteria which fed on microscopic algae.  When the cyanobacteria began to die off, the algae started to spread rapidly, leading to more complex ecosystems and the emergence of larger and more diverse fauna.  So much information from a bright pink pigment!

Pink still seems to be a prominent color in nature - just take a look:

Flowering pinks (from BHG)

A flock of pink flamingoes (from ThoughtCo.)

Pink dragon fruit (from Tasteful Space)

Rosy maple moth (from Wimp)

Pink sunset (from Pinterest)

Pink quartz mountain range (from Lakpura Travels)

The pretty but poisonous pink crab Liomera rugata (from Guam Reef Life)

Take a moment to celebrate the color pink - after all, if it weren't for this lovely pigment, we humans might not even be here today!
               

This 'n That Thursdays: Two Fascinating Facts I Learned at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Towering orchid display at the 2018 Orchid Daze exhibit
(from The Orchid Column)

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden to see the Orchid Daze display before it ended.  As happens more often than not, I forgot to bring my camera, but that did not stop us from enjoying the Garden.  We went on a Thursday hoping that it would be less crowded than on a weekend, and except for a few school class trips there were indeed fewer people, although it was still an impressive crowd for a weekday.  One of the perks of a less crowded day is that the docents have more time to answer questions, which is how we got to learn two fascinating tidbits of information that were new to us.

Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)
(from Atlanta Botanical Garden)

The first fact involves tropical frogs.  You may not know that the Atlanta Botanical Garden has a facility for keeping and raising rare and endangered tropical frog species from Central and South America.  Several frog exhibits are located near the entrance to the Fuqua Conservatory where the orchids are housed.  One of the species on display is the Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis), whose deadly skin secretions were used to poison the tips of blowgun darts.  The garden volunteer at this exhibit told us that the frog poison comes from the insects that the frogs eat, and that these insects in turn get their toxins from the plants that they ingest.  The most interesting fact she mentioned, though, is that if the frogs are raised on nontoxic insects, then the frogs themselves are nontoxic as well!  And by the way, all of the Golden Poison Frogs in the Garden's display, which were raised at the Garden on nontoxic insects, are not poisonous.

Flowering Coconut Pie Orchid (Maxillaria tenuifolia)
(from Orchids Forum)

We then moved on to the orchid center, where we learned our second new fact of the day.  We first explored the Orchid Daze exhibit, and then went into the Orchid Display House in the Fuqua Orchid Center to see what orchids were flowering there.   We like to see the vanilla orchid vines in flower, and I am always on the hunt for any fragrant orchids.  We asked a volunteer which of the orchids in flower were fragrant, and she mentioned several, but one in particular that we had never heard of before captivated us.  It turns out that there is a species of orchid with a distinctive coconut scent, and it happened to be flowering when we were there.  Known as the Coconut Pie Orchid (Maxillaria tenuifolia), it also has long spiky leaves, prominent pseudobulbs, and small but pretty speckled red flowers.  The aroma of this orchid is heavenly, and so strong it smells more like coconuts than the real thing!

We were told that these orchids are not too difficult to keep, and that it was possible to purchase them online.  When we got home I had to do a search, and actually found a great source on Amazon!  Unlike most sources, this supplier sells good-sized plants already mature enough to flower, although they do not ship them in flower.  (Unfortunately, my source is currently out of stock, but there are other suppliers on Amazon, and this one may be worth trying as the seller gets good reviews).  I immediately ordered one just before Easter and it arrived the following Tuesday, well wrapped, healthy, and undamaged.  It now sits in our most plant-friendly window, and if we are lucky we may get it to flower one of these days.  I hope so, as I look forward to having that luscious coconut scent wafting through our house!

The next Garden event I am awaiting with anticipation is the Imaginary Worlds display which opens on May 5th (aren't those camels fantastic?).  There have been two previous mosaiculture exhibits at the Garden, and they are so unique and impressive that the Garden has actually kept a few of the previous displays as permanent features.  I had never even heard of mosaiculture before I saw these exhibits.  You may want to check out any botanical gardens located near where you live (or visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden if you are in the area), because you never know what fascinating facts you may learn!
             

This 'n That Thursdays: The Eating of the Greens (and Mushrooms) Is Good for You!

Stir-Fried Collard Greens with Mushrooms
(from Season with Spice)

Two recent articles (here and here) have advocated the health benefits of adding more leafy greens and mushrooms to your diet.  Apparently vegetables such as collard greens, spinach, and the now ubiquitous kale help to protect the brain.  A study published in the journal Neurology found that healthy seniors who ate daily servings of leafy green vegetables had a significantly slower rate of cognitive decline compared to those who ate little to no greens.  These vegetables are packed with a range of nutrients and bioactive compounds, which may explain their positive impact on the maintenance of brain function.

Mushrooms are a healthy addition to the diet because they too contain a number of beneficial nutrients, including beta glucans which help to fight inflammation.  In fact, some types of mushrooms are now being studied for their potential in mitigating human health issues such as cancer, diabetes, and even obesity.  As yet there are no definitive studies on the benefits of mushrooms for medicinal purposes, but adding them to your diet is a good idea for nutritional reasons alone.

In our first world society it is far too easy to over-consume processed foods and neglect eating more sensible choices.  And yet one of the easiest ways to lead a healthier lifestyle is by making dietary changes.  Even small changes can lead to big health benefits.  If you want to boost your immune system, decrease inflammation, and increase your chances of living a longer and healthier life, it certainly can't hurt to add more greens and mushrooms to your diet.  Best of all, there are numerous recipes on the internet for greens and mushrooms dishes, so all you have to do is find the ones you like and give them a try!

Gnocchi with Spring Greens and Crimini Mushrooms is a recipe I will try
(from Teaspoon of Spice).

           

This 'n That Thursdays: The Last Remaining Wild Horses Are Not Truly Wild After All

From Smithsonian.com

Recently some sad news was revealed for those of us who specialized in equine studies.  Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalski), an equine species thought to be the only truly wild horse still in existence, turns out to be feral (a domesticated species which has returned to the wild).  Recent genetic testing has shown that the horses currently roaming free on the Mongolian steppes are not the wild ancestors of Asia's domestic horses, but are instead the result of domestic horses escaping captivity thousands of years ago and establishing themselves in the wild, much as the American mustang has done quite a bit more recently.

Also known as the Mongolian or Asian wild horse (or takhi to the Mongolians), the Przewalski's horse was named after Russian explorer Nikolay Prehzvalsky, the first known European to describe it (Prehzvalsky was an outspoken racist, BTW, and not worthy of having anything named after him, in my opinion).  Once considered to be a separate species, the Przewalski's horse is now classified as a subspecies of wild horse (Equus ferus).  Two other subspecies are recognized, the domesticated horse (Equus ferus caballus) and the tarpan or European wild horse (Equus ferus ferus), both of which are now extinct in the wild.  The domesticated horse has successfully adapted as feral in many locations, while several attempts have been made to recreate the physical characteristics of the tarpan by selective breeding.

From Yalakom

As the Przewalski's horse was long assumed to be the wild ancestor of modern domestic horses in Asia, much effort has been directed to its preservation, including captive breeding programs around the world and the release of these captive-bred animals into Mongolia.  It is for this reason that the latest study on Przewalski's horse genetics is such an unfortunate revelation.  According to the published article, the modern day Przewalski's horse is descended from horses domesticated by the Botai people of northern Kazakhstan about 5,500 years ago, which means that they are feral rather than truly wild.  However, they have been feral for thousands of years, which was enough time for them to significantly diverge genetically from current domestic horses of the region.

Should efforts continue to protect their free-roaming populations?  This is a questions that will probably be debated by scientists as well as the government and people of Mongolia in the near future.  These equids are perhaps even more a symbol of their country's history than the feral mustangs here in the United States, which are protected for now by the controversial Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 and managed by the even more controversial efforts under the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse and Burro Program.  We will have to wait and see what ultimate decision will be made about the fate of Mongolia's wild/feral horses.

From Daily Mail

               

This 'n That Thursdays: Invasion of the Female Mutant Marbled Crayfish

Marbled crayfish or Marmorkrebs (from Providr)

I know my post title sounds like that of an old 1950s science fiction movie, but this story is all fact, not fiction!  The marbled crayfish or Marmorkrebs (Procambarus fallax forma virginalis) is a mutation of an obscure American crayfish species called the slough crayfish (Procambarus fallax) found in a limited area of Georgia and Florida.  It became very popular as an aquarium pet in Germany, either before or after it somehow mutated into the new and distinct parthenogenic (self-cloning) form in the mid-1990s.  While still informally classified as a variation of the slough crayfish, a recent study concluded that it meets the criteria for classification as a new species.

All of these mutated crayfish are female, and they are extremely prolific, reproducing and multiplying at a rapid rate.  And unfortunately, the marbled crayfish escaped captivity and proved to be quite adept at exploiting new habitats.  In addition to Germany, this newcomer has been reported in the wild in several other European nations, Japan, and especially Madagascar, where it is widespread and threatening to drive the native crayfish species to extinction.

From The New York Times

So don't let the peaceful-looking crustacean above fool you - there is a high probability that this new species could wreak havoc on global aquatic ecosystems in the near future.  However, I doubt that we will have to deal with any situation similar to the one shown in this poster of an aborted SyFy Channel movie effort:

From Dread Central

For some odd reason, this SyFy Channel idea for a giant crawdad movie never came to fruition.  How could that be - perhaps because they were focusing on the wrong gender?  Maybe the network will reconsider now that Marmorkrebs has reared her marbled head, or should I say claw, to the world!
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Will Chocolate Go Extinct?

From Concept News Central

Please say it isn't so!  According to an article in Business Insider there is a good chance that suitable habitat for cacao plants will all but disappear by the year 2050, thanks to increasing temperatures and drier weather conditions.  Cacao trees only grow in rain forests within a limited latitudinal range, and most of the world's chocolate comes from just two African countries, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, which could no longer be suitable for cacao plants in just a few decades.  The trees may be able to grow at much higher elevations, but just imagine the impossibility of land owners trying to move their cacao plantations to land that they do not own, or the lag time needed to clear and prepare new land as well as get plants established and producing, not to mention the negative ecological impacts of such a move!

This dire prediction has worried chocolate producer Mars, Incorporated (maker of Snickers bars and M&Ms) enough that they are now in collaboration with scientists from The University of California Berkeley attempting to develop hardier cacao plants that will be able to survive future hotter and drier conditions in current plantation locations.  The company is investing $1 billion in a variety of ways to decrease their carbon footprint.  If the Berkeley scientists are successful in developing a hardier cacao tree, there will be no need to consider moving cacao plantations to land currently being used mainly for wildlife preservation.  New technology called CRISPR, known primarily for its potential to eliminate genetic diseases, is being used to genetically tweak the DNA of cacao plants (see a more simplified explanation of CRISPR here).

Basically, CRISPR is a form of genetic editing rather than genetic modification.  This technology has led to a whole new set of questions over the safety and advisability of tinkering with DNA, whether in humans or food crops, so even if it is possible to develop altered cacao plants it may be difficult to get growers and consumers to accept them.  As if the world does not have enough problems, now we have to worry about the possibility that one of our favorite comfort foods may be doomed to disappear!

Pod-laden cacao trees (from Confectionery News).

           

This 'n That Thursdays: Two Animated Films Worth Watching

From Entropy

Recently I watched two excellent animated films that I highly recommend.  They are very different from each other, but both will make you think.  First up is this very short science-based video:

"Why Dogs Have Floppy Ears: An Animated Tale" (2018) offers a theory to help explain a scientific phenomenon known as "Domestication Syndrome".  Domestication syndrome is the observation that domesticated animals species, both pets and livestock, tend to have certain physical characteristics in common that are distinctly different from their wild ancestors.  These traits in mammals include the titular floppy ears as well as other attributes like shortened snouts and multicolored coats.

If you love animals you will most likely find this film fascinating even if you have absolutely no interest in genetics or science in general.  The subject is explained clearly and simply, and since the film is only a few minutes long you do not have time to lose interest!  Should you wish to delve deeper into this topic, check out the NPR article here, and you can read the journal article here.  If you liked this short science video you can check out other films by Skunk Bear here.

The next animated film could not be more different from the first one, but it is equally thought-provoking:

"Grave of the Fireflies" (1988) is a feature-length animated movie from Studio Ghibli, the same company that gave us films such as "Spirited Away" (2001), which is my favorite animated film, and "My Neighbor Totoro" (1988).  All of Hayao Miyazaki's productions seem have a bit of sadness to them, but this particular film is truly heartbreaking (you have been warned!).  It focuses on the effects of war on a young brother and sister in Japan, who lose their mother during an air raid and struggle to survive on their own (if you watch the YouTube video above, remember to turn on the English subtitles unless you are fluent in Japanese!).

I first learned about this movie from an article entitled "10 Deeply Disturbing Movies That You Need To Watch, But Only Once".  I had never seen any of these movies, but after watching this one, which is probably the gentlest of the ten, I am sure I will never watch the other nine!  This film reminds me so much of "When the Wind Blows" (1986), another animated movie I described in an old post that also chronicles the tragic effects of war in a gentle but terribly sad way (you can watch this one here).

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Sometimes I feel that many people, in particular certain world leaders, often forget about the very real and devastating consequences of war on the lives of everyone involved, including ordinary citizens.  I realize that at times war becomes the sole choice left in certain situations, but surely only after all other options have been exhausted. The article I mentioned above about deeply disturbing movies had this to say about "Grave of the Fireflies":

"Perhaps if all the pro-war leaders were bundled into a room and forced to watch Grave of the Fireflies on a merciless, endless loop, the blissful prospect of eternal world peace may be a little closer than it's ever been before."

And I say amen to that.
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Colors of Jupiter Living Room Style Board

Images from New Atlas

Images of Jupiter from the JunoCam have been processed by Gerald Eichstadt and Sean Doran into colorfully artistic creations, as seen above.  Coincidentally, I have been noticing a recent interest in the pairing of copper and slate blue, two colors found in these Jupiter images:

Inspired by these two colors, I came up with a style board featuring them in a contemporary, slightly space-age/retro style living room, brought down to earth a bit with a more traditional rug.  Take a look:

Clockwise from top: Brayden Studio Mapamundi Copper Painting Print on Wrapped Canvas; Cyrus Modern Sofa in Dusty Blue; Patina Vie Large Asymmetrical Glazed Ceramic Decorative Bowl; Trinity Round Side Table in Copper; Pandora 14-inch Copper Table Lamp; Edloe Leather Lounge Chair in Copper; Rochelle Lee Throw Pillow in Royal Blue Copper; Center: Boca do Lobo Eden Copper Leaf Center Table; Center background: Safavieh Evoke Vintage Damask Distressed Rug in Blue/Orange; Background top: Metallic Effect Mural Wallpaper in Burnished Copper; Background bottom: Glidden Premium Satin Interior Paint with Primer in Mountain Slate Blue.

🚀🌎👽🚀🌎👽🚀🌎👽🚀🌎👽🚀🌎👽🚀🌎👽🚀🌎👽🚀🌎👽

I think I love this color combination!  I am particularly entranced by the copper chair and coffee table.  How about you?  Would you welcome an out-of-this-world interior design inspired by space exploration into your home?
                

This 'n That Thursdays: August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

From Astronomy Picture of the Day

This past weekend I got a phone call from one of my brothers asking if he could come stay with us in August when he heads in our direction to view the total solar eclipse.  Naturally my response was "What solar eclipse?" (because I am always so well informed - not!).  After he updated me on this momentous event I told him he was welcome to come as long as I was included in the expedition.  Apparently optimal viewing is less than two hours from where my husband and I live (unfortunately, my husband will be out of the country that day, so he will miss out).  My brother and I searched for a few prime viewing locations that will hopefully not be too crowded, and he is in charge of acquiring the protective glasses (recommended for anyone intending to stare at the eclipsing sun for an extended time without damaging their vision).

The path of the solar eclipse will take it pretty much straight across the continental United States, something which hasn't been seen since 1918!  And here it is happening only a few months hence practically in my backyard!  While I don't consider myself much of an astronomer, even I can get excited about an event like this one.  If you too happen to live in the path of the eclipse, you may want to plan a viewing yourself.  Should you need more information about where and when the eclipse will pass through your vicinity check out this map on the Eclipse 2017 website.

I am really looking forward to seeing this phenomenon, and just hope that the weather will be clear so that we experience the maximum effect (supposedly the skies will darken considerably when the sun is fully concealed by the moon).  The last time I remember hearing about an eclipse in my vicinity I was a small child, and we were told not to look at the sun, so I did not (I can't remember if the day darkened much, as I am not sure if this was a total or partial eclipse).  The next total solar eclipse across the United States will not happen until 2023, and I am getting on in years, so this year is probably my best opportunity to see one and I am not going to miss it!

Phases of a total solar eclipse (from MrEclipse).