Visitors From Across The Pond

Our backyard backs up to fairway number 14 on an older established golf course.  Our neighborhood covenants do not allow us to construct privacy fences or any fence over 4 feet high.  I am happy to oblige because no fence means one less thing for us to maintain.... and I like to have my back yard spread as far as the fairway travels with only having to mow our little section.

Yesterday morning he-man hollered from the kitchen to tell me that the ducks were traveling through our yard.  Ducks and geese waddle in to our yard from the pond on the golf course every once in a while.  They don't come very close to the patio but if I can, I tip toe outside to click off a few frames of their duckly escapades.

At first I thought these birds were a flock, but upon closer look, I realized that they were a family.  There were six females and two males.  I was surprised to see that the males stayed in the rear where ever they went.  Mommy duck was out front most of the time, but in the center of the group too.  It was quite obvious that she was the glue and the guide.

At one point I saw who I thought to be Mr. Mallard giving advise to his son.  Do you see him?  He's the one on the right with his mouth open. It looks like his boy is listening to his every honk.

While the men were discussing current affairs, the gals were off on a shopping spree.  They were searching for a parking spot, or a great sale or something that women search for when on a mission.

Soon they all hooked up for a walk up the hill towards the green.  There she is, Mrs Mallard, manning the boundaries, making sure all her family is present and accounted for.

Oops.  There is always a straggler.  I know when we go on a walk Sci-Guy is the one lagging behind.  He walks and sings and talks and dreams and takes note of everything laying on the ground.

One time when our family was out for a stroll he spied a half eaten apple laying on the sidewalk and he said, "Look, Yaya, someone glittered."

Away they go... to the top of the knoll and out of camera shot.

I love living in a place that invites a host of mother nature's family to visit.

Sometimes we have visitors that are not so lovely to watch... like the big black crows who bully our song birds.  But the more I observe the ecological society of nature, the more I am noticing a freedom of habitat that we humans do not embrace.  The sky is open to all who can fly, regardless of size, color or song.  The pond is available to all swimmers, floaters, hoppers and little winged bugs who need drink or dip.  The trees house squirrels, aunts, beetles, birds, butterflies and caterpillars with no zoning requirements what so ever. 

I am grateful for nature's lesson.  I am grateful that I am in this slower season of my life where I take time to observe her patterns.

I hope you see something that warrants your observation today.  I hope all of life gives you cause to pause and take notice.  I hope that you have family or friends or community who cares about where you are going and if you are present and accounted for.