We had a good eclipse! We headed out to the back yard about 2:15pm with some wine, weed, and snacks. We put Alexa in the window and asked her to play “eclipse songs” which she did.


We could clearly see the eclipse with our special glasses on, but we discovered that it was very difficult to get a picture of it, even with the glasses covering the camera lens, but we tried.

The temperature dropped noticeably as the sky darkened more and more. It was strange.

We could still clearly see our shadows, but the light was eerie. A sunset from above.

We decided to shut off Alexa at the point of maximum coverage (about 94%, I think). The last song she played was “Walking on the Moon” by The Police, which was perfect (a GenX classic). The animals got really quiet too. But then suddenly, a Barred Owl hooted really loudly. It startled us. And then another owl answered. It was pretty wild. I pointed my video camera towards the woods and I caught the sound when it happened again. Listen:
The owls really added to our eclipse experience, making it quite magical and mystical. I thought about how this is a time of transition for us.
All in all, a fun afternoon. Something different. It was also fun getting pics from the rest of the family in various locations and seeing all the posts online.
My daughter and her boyfriend managed to get this nice pic about an hour southwest of us:

About an hour after the eclipse, our woodchuck appeared for the first time this season. He’s been living under our shed for several years now. Hello friend.

![A logo for "50 Happens," [a site dedicated to Gen X women with children and grandchildren] [who embrace life's challenges with humor and resilience], [featuring a modern and uplifting design] [that embodies strength and positivity] [with an elegant and playful style] [and a harmonious blend of colors like pink, fuchsia, purple, and blue].](https://50happens.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img-5uorrxvwartomopcpuhjfjd0.png?w=300)
Had to Google Wood Chuck. I want one! Cute.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are! One year there were adorable babies too.
LikeLike
So much life. Perfect! ❤ I'd never listened to a Barred owl!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Stephanie 🦉😀❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank YOU!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you had a great once in a lifetime time. Here in Southern Michigan it looked like a deep summer storm as all got really dark, quite a cool time. Thanx for posting this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it in Michigan too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it was genius to ask Alexa to play eclipse music. The owls are great. I was thinking they must be pretty large to make that loud of a sound. I saw on the news the mixed reaction of animals at the zoo. Some confused it for nighttime, others seemed a little jittery. It seemed to drive your wood chuck out into the sun. That must be a good sign!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, yes, Alexa was on her best behavior, though she messed up and played a country song and would not skip to the next one! You’re right, I think the woodchuck is hopeful. Made it through another winter!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Even the woodchuck was caught up in the hype!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyed reading your description of the eclipse. Memorable afternoon, that’s for sure. Clif and had drinks on the patio as we watched. I will be writing about it for my post on Monday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laurie. Can’t wait!😄🌖
LikeLiked by 1 person
so cool! Even the wood chuck was wondering what’s up, ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, right! Thanks for reading and commenting. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting! Especially the owl and the woodchuck. We saw a total, cloudy eclipse from upstate New York and the local geese got really loud during totality, for just about a minute and a half.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting about the geese. My son was in Ithaca. He said it was cloudy up there. Too bad!
LikeLiked by 1 person