In the dark?

In the dark ... well, we weren't here at Latimers but they were in far North Queensland when they were in the right place at the right time to see the total solar eclipse. And the right time was right ... according to reports, the sky was overcast until just before the "totality" and then the clouds parted to reveal the Moon's shadow obscuring all but the Sun's corona. It would have been amazing to see - especially if you managed to get out of it with your eyesight intact - which you would have if you had followed the instructions about not looking at the eclipse with your naked eye(s). We have come a long way since you were instructed to look at it only "by suggestion" - by poking a pin hole in a piece of cardboard - and then looking at the shadow that cast. People for this one were wearing special eclipse glasses that let them look directly at the sun for a length of time and not be blinded! And it was certainly mesmerising. Even here, where we only saw a partial eclipse, it was very tempting not to look - although, according to Joan, and she was right, the eclipse was visible through sunglasses and the shaded strip at the top of the car windscreen.

Other excitement around Latimers this week, not counting the rain that fell last weekend, was the appearance of the Will Wagtails. At first, I thought that one of them was injured - and that was why the others were making a ruckus to draw us away from it. As it turns out, there is apparently a nest with a chick in it. I haven't seen it yet ... I had a look this morning and couldn't work out where it was so I'll get S to show me on the weekend - and hopefully take a photograph!

The garden continues to grow - with the help of last weekend's rain. I had a fresh cucumber the other night with my dinner and that was absolutely yummy. There's nothing like homegrown produce, picked and eaten. But there's still dirt to move and I keep asking about it and waiting for instruction - and for the new beds to be ready/to be/built. But at least the lawn is long enough to mow again - and M did half the yard the other day - but only on 2.5 because the grass is still a bit dry and brittle, despite the soaking. It might have stayed around longer if we hadn't had strong winds straight after the rain days.

There is now some doubt about whether L will be on his way to Boston at the end of the year to take up his spot at the Berkeley Music institute. It looks as though he may "defer" (although he will need to drop out and re-apply) for the May intake. I don't know the full story - M was filling me in a little on it last night as we dined at The Big House (CSP jackpot total now under $60,000) before she went off to see L's end of year show at The Basement (part of the Gold Coast Arts Centre).