Here comes the sun.

Posted on May 28, 2013 by tinthia

It’s been cloudy with intermittent rain for the past week. But the sun returned this morning and sex was in the air! Mama and Daddy romped in the shallow water of my beach like a couple of horny teenagers. These two have me so confused. They’ve been inseparable for the past month and NOW they’re getting it on?! I assume foreplay was when they both dove under the water. Next thing I knew, Daddy was rising up out of the water – on Mama’s back! After a few quacks and lots of tail flipping and wing flapping, they came onto the grass for something to eat. Daddy seemed to walk with his head a little higher though.

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And Mama had quite the appetite.

mama eating lunch

Several tree swallows have made my little cove their feeding ground. In keeping with the theme of the day, a pair of swallows did the wild thing. They started with a little courtship dance of flapping wings and lots of chattering. The actual “act” was over as soon as it began. Then off they flew, in search of a cigarette perhaps.

Chris and I watched our pair of Baltimore Orioles mate. Once again, it couldn’t have taken more than a second. “There you go Chris, now you can tell your friends you watched two birds have sex.” He was as enthused as most young men would be. Not!

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At the beginning of the week, Mama2 came by with her ducklings. It was good to see she still had seven chicks.Image

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To celebrate the return of the sun I worked outside. Weeding, weeding, weeding, and planting. While planting my herb garden, the hummingbirds kept buzzing my head. I’m not sure what got them into a tizzy, unless their nest was nearby. If it is, I hope they like lemon balm, chocolate mint (yum!), bee balm, rosemary, lavender, and orange mint.

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After planting the herb garden I worked cleaning out another garden along the front deck. My little piece of paradise keeps surprising  me. I found a trumpet vine and clematis growing among the weeds. Maybe that’s what the hummingbirds were trying to tell me, “Leave this garden and get working on that trumpet vine. It needs sun so it’ll produce nectar.”

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Now it’ll get sun and produce nectar. Everyone happy? I know I am. Blessed be :]

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I won’t be passing out the cigars yet.

Posted on May 22, 2013 by tinthia

I thought I was a grand-mama. Early yesterday morning I was greeted with seven ducklings following Mama in a straight line. I was thrilled! My iPhone was on fire as the texts flew out– Mama had her ducklings and I’m a grandmother!

Following Mama

Well, as the day progressed, I noticed Mama was hanging around without the kids. She was eating, sunning, swimming, chatting with Daddy. Hmmmmm, where were they? A little research and I found out the hen might leave the ducklings for a short time to go off and feed. But this wasn’t a short time. This was a day at the spa. Did the babies get eaten by a snapping turtle? Hawk?

At dusk, Mama and Daddy came by for supper and then went off across the river to bed. Perhaps the ducklings were already asleep on the nest, safe and cozy.

Today, I was up early. Had to get Sparky to the groomer and do a Lowe’s run. Returning home around noon found snoozing babies on the beach with Mama close by.

Resting in the morning sun

Okay, at least I knew the ducklings were still alive and well. Mama seemed to have everything under control, and, since I wasn’t a duck, I decided to leave the worry to her.

About 20 minutes later, Mama came onto the lawn, quacking loudly, as if to say “Where the heck is lunch?” Chris asked, “Where are the baby ducks if she’s here on the grass?” “I don’t know, they must still be on the beach.” Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather, and it didn’t have to be a mallard feather either. There was another hen with the ducklings. These babies didn’t belong to Mama or Daddy! Then the commotion started. Daddy tried to come onto the beach for lunch and Mama2 attacked. They fought like warriors. Finally Daddy headed across the river and Mama2 herded the ducklings into the brush. All the while, Mama ate quietly before swimming across the river to join Daddy.

Now, I’m not an expert on animal behavior or mallard ducks. However, I have done my research and according to many trustworthy sources I’ve learned a thing or two. First, drakes will only stay with the hen until the eggs are ready to be incubated. Then he leaves looking for another nest to feather. So, unless Mama hasn’t even laid her eggs yet, Daddy seems to be hanging around much longer than usual. At dusk I can see him across the river, guarding the nest and keeping Mama safe.

Guarding the nest

I’ve also learned hens allow the ducklings to eat first. Not here. Mama2 squawks at the babies and pecks at their tails to keep them away from the bread. So much for textbook animal behavior.

Feeding frenzy

I’m still hopeful Mama and Daddy will make me a grandmother. Until then, I enjoy Mama2’s gift of allowing me the joy of watching her babies grow. She started with seven and still had seven today. Perhaps nature will be kind to these ducklings and allow them to flourish. I’ll do what I can to help. Blessed be 🙂

Snoozing after lunch

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A small spot on 16 miles.

Posted on May 20, 2013 by tinthia

The Concord River is 16 miles, starting in Concord and ending north, in Lowell. I find the fact that my river flows north very cool. It’s like a miniature version of the Nile and I own a small spot on it.

It’s been a dry and the river is a good five feet lower than when I signed the P&S in February. There was snow on the ground and the trees were bare. But now, in the heart of spring, the river is rich with life. Yesterday a pair of geese stopped by with their brood of goslings. They all enjoyed a snack before heading south, toward Concord.

proud geese with babies

The mallards visit me everyday, even spending time on the retaining wall to sunbath and snooze.

Sleeping pair

The hen, “Mama,” is fat. I wonder when she’ll lay her eggs. Since I see her everyday, I know she hasn’t yet. Once she does, she’ll spend most of her time on the nest, leaving for only brief periods to feed.

Resting Mama

To my amazement, Isis stopped by. She did a little fishing at my beach and I did the paparazzi thing. She is a glorious bird and I marvel every time I see her.

Isis

I’ve taken some time away from the unpacking and painting to work in the gardens. The grounds are in poor shape and need some serious TLC. A garden encircles the deck and while weeding I made a wonderful discovery – a flagstone pathway was buried under the grass! Just like The Secret Garden, my secret pathway has been hidden, waiting to be discovered.

Garden under deck before

second flatstone path revealed

It’s raining right now, a steady gentle rain that produces a peaceful sound. Life is good here on the river. Blessed be :>

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Dusk on the Concord River

Posted on May 16, 2013 by tinthia

It’s dusk and the geese have come in for some bread, along with the pair of mallards that I’ve adopted. The drake and his mate have been coming for the past three weeks, getting bolder with every passing day. This morning they sat on the lawn and quacked loudly for their breakfast. I’m not inclined to hand feed them because I don’t want them getting too comfortable with humans, lest they end up on a spit over a campfire.

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I have a heron who fishes across the river. I’ve named her Isis, although I don’t know if it’s a male or female. Whatever the gender, she is graceful and spectacular to watch.

Life is so peaceful here and I wonder what I did that the Universe should bless me in such a way. Blessed be 🙂

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30 days ago …

Posted on May 15, 2013 by tinthia

view from the river… I bought a house on the Concord River. She’s a little house, not much bigger than 800 square feet but she’s all mine. And she comes with a view that takes my breath away. She is my piece of paradise.

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