R.I.P. Quackie

All our knowledge merely helps us to die a more painful death than animals that know nothing. ~Maurice Maeterlinck

Sad news ...

Three days ago, I drove past the duck pond, and saw a pile of loose, white feathers. I *hoped* that didn't mean what I thought it meant and tried to count ducks, but none were there (the past few weeks, there have been three white ducks and about five male Mallards).

The next day, I drove past. Counted. Two white ducks.

Now, Quackie was odd duck out in the white duck flock. The two that came are clearly mated, and they'd hang out, while Quackie stayed a few feet away at all times. The two ducks I saw were stuck like glue.

Sometimes Quackie hides in the water plants though. So I hoped.

The next day I drove past. Counted. Two white ducks and a handful of Mallards.

Sadly, I believe I must report that Quackie was nabbed by a predator of some sort. Breaks my heart -- he made it two years all alone at the pond, and now that he finally had a flock of sorts ... gone.

At least he had friends around him for several weeks before he was taken. He had some happiness before he died. I hope his death was quick and painless and that he's with his mate (who was taken two years ago) in duck heaven.

Nature is a cruel mistress. Beautiful, but merciless.

R.I.P. Quackie. I'll miss you.



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You Are a Lion

You're very self-reliant and apt to do your own thing. You know what you want out of life. You are a total visionary. You have your own idea about utopia, as impractical as it may be. You have sharp senses and a heightened awareness. Very little escapes your notice. Decision making is easy for you. You have a spot on intuition that's been with you your whole life.

What Jungle Animal Are You?

That's about right....

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Animal Tales

It is an important and popular fact that things are not always what they seem. For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much - the wheel, New York, wars and so on - whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man - for precisely the same reasons. ~Douglas Adams, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I have the noisiest cardinal outside my window right now. I don't feed my birds anymore, not since last spring when we had a bear march up to my feeders in the back yard in the middle of the day and take one. I miss my birds. I really found a lot of joy and peace watching them.

My favorite time of year was when the Hairy Woodpecker babies would fledge and mom would show them how to use the suet feeders. She'd fly over, leaving them in a nearby try, get a mouthful of suet and take it to them. She'd do that a couple of times, and then then next time, she wouldn't take them any.

Finally, after peeping and peeping, they'd make their way over. They usually had pretty poor aim, and would miss the feeder the first few times. Finally, though, they'd land and eat. It was a lot of fun. I missed it last year (it broke my heart -- I pulled the feeders right around that time, and for a couple weeks I'd have woodpeckers in my trees peeping and peeping and looking at where they used to be... made me SO sad. Stupid bear.) and I'll miss it this year. I just can't figure out a way to "bear proof" my feeders, not to mention I'd rather not have bears nearby with Dakota and DD outside.

In other animal news, a third white duck has joined the crew at Quackie's pad. All of sudden they're coming out of the woodwork! Two seem to have paired up, and one tends to hang around the edges, but at least it's company. Plus there are still about half a dozen male mallards swimming around there. I hope that at least the white ducks stay -- I'd hate to see Quackie all alone again.

And in sad news, I just saw that author L. A. Banks was diagnosed with late stage adrenal cancer. They're accepting donations toward her medical costs, and I expect the prognosis is not good. Very sad. She's a talented author, and from what I can tell, a good person, too. My thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family.

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You Are Gothic

You can be too moody and impossible to understand. Most people don't have feelings as strong as yours. You are a sensitive, romantic soul. You live to love... it's the most important thing for you. You're quite loyal to those you love most - friends and family. You have a sweet heart. You are a deeply spiritual and wise person. You seek meaning in every aspect of your life.

Which Architectural Style Are You?

Oddly, that's quite close to correct. How'd they get that from the questions they asked? :::scratches head:::

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Has Quackie Gotten His HEA?

The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread. ~Mother Teresa

Last fall and this spring I wrote posts here and here bemoaning the fact that the little white duck (that I call Quackie) who lives in the pond down the road is now alone. Ducks shouldn't be alone, and the past month I've celebrated whenever mallards have come to visit. They seldom stay long (interestingly, they've almost all been males), but when they're there, Quackie always hangs out with them. It's clear Quackie is lonely.

A few days ago, when we drove past and looked, there were TWO white ducks. I couldn't believe my eyes! I thought it was a fluke... I figured the duck was en route somewhere else, but as of last night both ducks are still there (along with a handful of mallards). I found it fascinating that, when Quackie was alone and the mallards came, he hung out with them, but not that there's another white duck, they've segregated: mallards over there, white ducks over here.

I really, really hope that Quackie's found a mate. More, I hope they stay at the pond here, so I can watch. I'm half afraid that this new duck will whisper of the joys of freedom, of flying where you want, when you want, and tell tales of faraway ponds to lure Quackie away.

I wonder, too, if it's the white duck who was odd man out a couple years ago (when the first duck of the foursome was killed and its mate never quite fit in with the other two) and has returned.

Regardless, I really hope this means Quackie has gotten his HEA. Maybe all our positive thoughts worked!

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Tomorrow, DD has a junior agility competition to attend. She's up one level so it will be a little tougher, but they're ready (I hope). Dakota's been having some trouble hitting her contacts on the dog walk and frame and in this competition you can't touch your dog or the obstacle or you get a fault, so we'll see how it goes.

Next Saturday is the craft show that I'm still utterly unprepared for.

Busy, busy...

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You Are Well Grounded

You are cautious and guarded. Whenever possible, you choose restraint and moderation. You create a logical environment in every aspect of your life. Reason rules for you. You are concerned about others and the world at large. You worry a fair amount. You like to think everything through throughly and carefully. You don't make snap decisions.

The Cactus Quiz

That's pretty much correct.

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Quackie's Return

“We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.” - Orson Welles

We drove past our neighboring pond yesterday and, though it's still partly frozen, it has an occupant: Quackie is back.

I have mixed feelings about Quackie's return. I admit to enjoying watching him paddle around and just be a duck, but as noted in my post (linked above to his name -- do give it a read), he's alone and it breaks my heart.

Do I go knock on those people's door and offer to get them more ducks? Do I hope Quackie finds his own mate -- or at least some wild mallard friends? Other waterfowl stop by occasionally on their trips to wherever: Canadian geese, mallards and the occasional heron. But they don't stay. And when they ARE there, Quackie hangs out with them and just seems so happy.

He needs a flock. Birds aren't meant to be alone.

I hope this is the year Quackie gets his HEA.

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You Are a Green Cell Phone

You are down to earth, calm, and practical. You are content with your life. You don't need the latest and greatest toys. In fact, you've sometimes wondered if we're too dependent on cell phones these days. You are happiest when you're out in nature or at home doing simple tasks. Your inner peace really glows. You are community minded and socially aware. You know that it's not just all about you.

What Color Cell Phone Are You?

That's about right.

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Quackie Needs a HEA

With what a deep devotedness of woe
I wept thy absence - o'er and o'er again
Thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain,
And memory, like a drop that, night and day,
Falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away!
~Thomas Moore

This is something that's tugged on my heartstrings for some time now. You see... we have a person up the road with a pond. Several years ago, they brought in four white ducks.

The ducks paired off as animals will and lived happy lives on the pond, swimming and eating duck food and playing duck games.

Then one day as we drove by, we saw one of the ducks had clearly been killed by something. Its body was lying motionless and its feathers scattered hither and yon. The people removed its body, and left only three ducks.

Every time we drove by, two ducks were close to each other, and one duck floated nearby, but excluded. Still, he had his flock.

The next year, the three ducks returned to the pond. We'd hoped that duck number three would have found mate, but he didn't. Then, one day he was gone -- we assume he flew away to go find his happy ever after and were happy for him.

Then there were two.

For the last few years, there have been two white ducks hanging out at the pond. They're occasionally joined by mallards and Canadian geese, and once there was a heron. I love to drive by and watch the goings-on.

Until a month or so ago... when suddenly...

There was only one.

Poor little Quackie was all alone. For several days, I hoped that I was only just not seeing the other duck, but she never reappeared. Poor Quackie was so lonely. Whenever a few mallards would show up, she happily joined their flock. But then they left, and she would stay, alone, at her pond.

Ducks are flock animals. They aren't meant to be alone. And every time I drive past and see poor Quackie floating in her solitude, my heart breaks.

Next year, if and when Quackie returns, I hope these people bring in new ducks. I'm so sad about the whole deal that I might just go and offer to buy them a few new ducks, just so I don't have to watch poor Quackie all alone.

Quackie needs a HEA.

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You Are Simply Fun

You're out to have a blast, and you enjoy almost any activity. You are naturally upbeat. You don't need to have a wild time to live it up, but you don't object to a little adventure either. You don't get bored easily. You can always figure out a way to entertain you and your friends. You are creative and resourceful. You think a lot of things can be fun - it's all about attitude.

What Kind of Fun Are You?

Okay.... and yeah, I'm not going bungee jumping. Just saying.

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