Solar Eclipse 2017

Did you see the eclipse?
Were you in the path of totality?
If you were, tell me about it!!


We, of course, were not.
I would have loved to have joined in the astronomical fun, but it would have required
a very long drive....many states away.


Here on the farm the light faded a little bit.
At the same time as the eclipse, a few clouds moved into the sky...
but the sun definitely dimmed a bit.


I received a lot of questions about how the animals reacted.


They were completely unaffected...


and went about life as usual.


Interestingly, though, both of our chrysalis(s) opened and butterflies emerged.
And....
I missed them both.
Rats.
This was all I found...


Tyler spent the day with us.

Check out this tiny nest in his hands...


We find these horse hair nests on the ground after storms.
They blow out of the big old pine tree by the barn.
They are so very tiny...too big for a hummingbird, but too small for much of anything else.
Perhaps a sparrow?

I am always fascinated by the patterns made by fungus.
I found this one on one of the tree stumps near the barn.


Isn't nature fascinating??

Comments

Kim said…
I was in the path of totality in Idaho. I have seen a few partial eclipses over the years but never a total eclipse. I work nights so woke up special just to see it because hey it will probably be kinda neat. Well let me tell you it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. You can take off the glasses and the moon is a huge black disk with the suns corona sparkling behind it. It looks like a mysterious tunnel into space. I gasped when totality hit. Like I said I thought it would be neat but I was not prepared for exactly how stunning it was. I am now really mad at myself for not preparing with a better camera. A partial eclipse is still special but not even remotely the same experience as a total eclipse. The eclipse in 2024 will bring the path of totality through my home town and it will also be much closer to you as well so mark your calendar. ;)
GeorgiaHoneyBee said…
We expereinced about 90% coverage, but if we had driven about an hour north, we could have seen the total eclipse. Now, I wish I had!! My son experienced it, and he said it was awesome. But, my family sat outside together and we watched the entire process. So amazing. Makes you feel very small. I have resolved that we are driving to wherever we have to to see the total eclipse when it occurs again. :-) Beautiful nest! I love it when kids interact and love being in nature. There is so much to discover and explore!
Moggie said…
Sorry you missed the butterflies emerging, that would have been a sight to see. Beautiful, perfectly round nest...how do they do it? And I really never thought of fungus as anything but, well, fungus...but that picture is amazing with its texture and dimension.

Thanks for showing things that I'm too busy to see as I rush off to work every day.........gotta go!
We were not in the path of totality here (only 75% partial eclipse). But I did see the 1979 total eclipse. Very eerie and awesome experience. It was like Beholding the Hand of God, LOL! A partial eclipse is very underwhelming by comparison.
daisy g said…
We experienced only a slight dimming, almost haze-like coverage here in NC. We noticed a change in the temperature, but not the humidity. So cool to be part of something SO big!

That shot of Tyler holding the nest is stunning! A frame-worthy shot for sure!

There will surely be more chrysalises for you to admire!
Unknown said…
Here in the Nashville area it was just amazing. Day truly became night and the night time bugs came out. Downtown all the lights came on like it was night.
We bought Krispy Kreme Eclipse donuts and ate those during the time of totality. They were awesome too! It definitely felt like a God moment in time. Lisa G in TN.
Lynne said…
Yes indeed, nature gives us a magnitude of things to discover, talk about, enjoy . . .

I did see a sliver on the back side of the eclipse . . .
Volunteer day at the hospital and the "hype" was strong!
I borrowed a pair of glasses and stood outdoors, looked to the sky . . . and
I was stunned . . . unbelievably awesome . . .
Joyce F said…
Not quite total here 100 miles from the path of totality, but still neat. Just a sliver of the sun left but I think I was amazed that it was still pretty bright out. Didn't really notice a temperature drop. One thing I noticed that it was quiet - birds weren't singing, nor cicadias which have about driven me nuts this year with their noise!
C-ingspots said…
We were in the path of totality here, NW Oregon near Salem. Awesome, really! The moon blocked the sun entirely, causing it to appear as a black disc with the sun's corona peeking out all around, even displaying some solar flare type things. Very cool, more than I'd expected even. But what was the most intriguing for me, were the changes in the light. The light was amazing, and darkness was equivalent to dusk, it seemed more quiet and the temperature drop was very apparent. I was so involved in watching, I didn't take a single picture! Throughout the entire thing, our dogs frolicked and played, seemingly oblivious to it all. :)
jaz@octoberfarm said…
it was very cool here! we were in 81% but it was still wonderful. teddy could have cared less. however, crickets were chirping very loudly. i am looking forward to the next one!
Thefarmerswife said…
We were in the path of totality here in east Tennessee. Several family members gathered at our barn. One of the most amazing things I've ever seen. As the darkness began, our chickens started back to their pen to roost. The goats got up from their midday naps and started grazing. They normally don't stir til the heat lets up. Our donkeys were on high alert with their ears up and looking around at the darkness, but nobody panicked. And in 2 1/2 minutes all was back to normal. Chickens came back out of the pen, goats went back to sleep, on-guard donkeys stood down. Just like nothing happened. Oh but it did.