Eclipsed

57°f this morning, about 17°C, I think? Overcast after late evening rain and thunderstorms. Expecting a high of 72 today.

Well. After saying I didn't get all the hype about the eclipse, what was I doing 10 minutes before it was to start in my area? Digging around in my sock drawer for my eclipse glasses from 2017! The rubber snake was in my underwear drawer, the fake poop in my bra drawer (quite a nasty surprise to come upon that unexpectedly), and ta-da! Eclipse glasses at the back of the sock drawer!

So, after all, there I was, gazing heaven ward and coaxing Larry to come out and have a look, which he did. In 2017 I took photos with my camera, but although I tried with my phone I had no luck. 

I am glad I stopped to experience it now. We had 95% totality, and I was surprised at how light it actually still was, a testament to the power of the sun. Imagine, 93 million miles away, and still so powerful.

Our pets were not impressed by it all. They wouldn't even put on the glasses! They were patient with my foolishness, though.

They slept right through it, and so did Larry after his quick look (well, he had been out roaming the hills looking for morels after returning from town so he was tired). I stayed out in the yard and on the porch,  paying attention to the shadows, the changing light, and the birds. 

About as dark as it got here

Only our resident cat bird continued singing right up to the point of most darkness, then he too fell silent. 

Interestingly,  it had been quite breezy all day, but during the eclipse the wind laid down and it was completely still. We were fortunate that there were only scattered clouds, but when one moved in front of sun and moon it really did get quite dark.

As I watched, I thought about all those thousands of people looking heavenward at the same time I was, and I wondered, what was everyone thinking? Which also made me wonder if the collective power of so many people thinking the same thought could influence change in some way? Still thinking about that this morning.

So, for someone who thought she didn't really care, here I am still talking about it a day later, fickle woman that I am.

Once Larry woke up, we got to work spreading mulch. We did another 20 bags in the bigger flowerbed,

before stopping for dinner and firepit time--burning stuff that fell during the big storm last week. It was a good end to a nice, unusual day.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.