Eclipse~~~

Was rather surprised to learn that the Eclipse would be at 83% in this area.
Too late to get glasses, so I did the next best thing.

Turned the aperture all the way down on my camera and with the white balance all the way to black, aimed the camera at the sky and captured these.

In the above picture, can see the reflection of the eclipse. Little yellow crescent shape to the left of the sun.

At 2.44 right at sort'a full eclipse, 

the clouds covered everything up. 

All I saw was impressive 

Black rays in the sky and in the clouds.

Of course I had to take a photo of the hummers, too.

Hummers and Plants~

 Going to try, one more time with a normal Rose. 

Between the climate, bugs and diseases in this area of VA,  my green thumb seems to of turned brown.

 No matter where we live, DH loves feeding the Hummers.

Every spring, I buy a cheap hanging flower basket so the house finches can raise 3 batches of offspring safely.

 The cheap $6.00 crepe Myrtles I bought last year.
So far, they are doing well. 

Will see how they handle next winter.

Below is a French Crab Apple tree.
Supposed to be able to survive this climate.... 

only time will tell.

My Mini Indain Fantail pigeons

 Just a few photos of my Mini Indian Fantail offspring.
And their parents.

 So far, she is the nicest my parent pair have produced.

 My Favorite Fantail offspring.
Very early one dark morning, she decided she would 

show me she could land on the garden stake 

instead of the perfectly good perch above it.
She folded her wings in, and just sat there watching me. LOL

 Astra, the mother of all the offspring bringing nesting material back to her eggs.

 

 Astra and Theo her mate, enjoying a cool morning in the flight cage.
After having a bath.

Creme Lucerne pigeons ~

First 3 creme Lucerne offspring enjoying their flight cage.

Japanese Maple and Indoor Plants~

 Growing this Japanese maple in the house. 

As it really won't take this climate well.

I bought this one with the xmas money my parents sent, to replace the super rare one one DH , bought me after my accident.
We planted the original one in the ground in NW Oregon and couldn't bring it with me.

Japanese Portland Garden has a sale once a year. Like being in a candy store!!
Anyway....
So now I have a beautiful replacement. 

Next to it is the $3.00 Jasmine I got a couple of years ago.

Slowly getting my green thumb back. LOL

 One photo is of the Tangerine tree, which is still doing well. And the $1.00 each, discounted plants I have found.
Everything does much better in Terra Cotta pots.

Mindian Fantails ~~

Above is Asta.  

Beautiful and small mini Indian Fantail.

 Asta and her mate Theo.

Once a pair is mated, they should be able to go into

 a loft with other pigeons.
Theo however, has different ideas. 

He thinks ALL the Pigeon hens should be his.
He's adorable, but a twit.

 Getting some flight exercise.
He even bothers the bantam hens.
Heavy sigh ~~

Below Theo enjoying the snow.

Need room to raise out some of my teen 

chickens this time of year... so he had better behave.
Good thing he is small and cute.

 

Belgian d'Uccles and hatching eggs ~

Hatched out 8 Belgian d'Uccle chicks.

 Will either be Buff, Buff Mottled and I think one will be a Blue Millie, if it runs the same way as the past chicks. 

One was a fighter, still pipping the next day. So I helped, had wry neck so I gave it vitamins and a couple of hours... Poof!  All better.

Gave them the Mareks vaccine the next day.

Keep fingers crossed for the shipped eggs. My Postal person tossed the box over the gate. 

Marked eggs are the ones I had shipped.

Cleaned out the incubator and put in the d'Anver eggs Kristen sent me and some more d'Uccle eggs.

Also picked up 4 Splash Marans chicks from a friend.

So the top of my double deck brooder has the d'Uccles, bottom part is for the Marans. I will have to shift the Marans out in a month.... big breeds just get too large and messy to be in the house long.