Mally Quack Quack - The Story of an Orphan Duck

What do you do with a duckling that has hatched but it's mama was eaten by a fox two days prior? Why you bring it into the fold.

That is what I did about 5 weeks ago, when the wild mallard that was sitting on her nest outside my office was killed by what we think is a fox, leaving her nest unprotected.  No one thought her eggs would hatch without help but it is against the law to move the eggs.  So they set there in one of our potted plants.

Luckily, they were close to their full gestation period, and two days after Mama Mallard was killed a duckling hatched. Turns out she would be the only one that hatched.  Being that is was Friday at 4:45 and no one wanted to leave her to fiend for herself, I was called upon.  Because I have "sucker" written across my forehead and I live on a farm. :)

MQQ only an hour old.



MQQ only a couple of days old.

The only room in my house that I can close off is the bathroom, so Mally Quack Quack is now residing in my bathtub.  I remember from previous ducklings how messy they get and the tub cleans up quickly. This is how Mally Quack Quack came to live in my bathroom.



MQQ 2 weeks old.

MQQ started out swimming in my sink and she has since progressed to a galvanized tub and a swimming pool. Because she is living in my tub, each day when I take a shower she gets to swim in the sink.  In the beginning she couldn't touch the bottom and was able to swim about, now her feet touch and she really can't go anywhere.  It is hard to believe that she has gotten so big so fast.

She will soon move outside to her own pen with access to a baby pool. It is almost complete so she will be able to spend her days enjoying the outside world.  But for now she is still living in my tub and splashing in my sink.


MQQ loves sitting on my shoulder at 3 1/2 weeks old.

I hope to release her back to the wild where she can join a flock.  For now I am enjoying her sweet company. I will keep posting as her story and adventure continues.

MQQ splashing in the sink at 4 wks old.

Happy Fourth of July

All This Rain Has Made the Flowers Grow

With all of the rain we have been getting in Lexington our grass has been growing wildly out of control.  Even though our grass becomes jungle-like within days of mowing, I'm still happy to see rain falling from the sky.  This is because of all of the other plants that are happy when the rain comes. 

 

Our flowers have had a banner year in the garden.  Everything is growing and blooming; roses, lilies, hollyhocks, begonias, larkspur, geraniums, inpatients, petunias, cone flowers, and the list goes on and on... My strawberries have even been giving me big, beautiful red fruit in adundance.

 

The riot of color with a lush green background has this wonderful calming effect on me, especially when a small breeze makes the tall stalks gently sway as if conducting the garden orchestra. 

 

So when my life seems to be constantly on "GO", I am able to "stop and smell the roses" I appreciate that my view is one like this and that the rain has brought me so many flowers.

 

Not So Patiently Waiting for Breakfast

 

Breakfast couldn't come soon enough for these three mischievous amigos. You can tell that they are starving by their round bellies. :)

Blooming

Spring jumped out of nowhere and came on full force this past week. It smells heavenly on the farm; the lilacs and cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The tulips are up. My bleeding hearts and lilies of the valley all have flowers on them.

Expectant mothers are around every corner. The birds have built their nests and are sitting on their eggs. The geese at the pond have an egg they are eagerly waiting to see hatch. Baby bunnies and baby mice have been seen scampering around.

Even the young snakes have been seen.

Yep, spring is here...now I'd just wish the weather would realize it! I have another frost alert tonight, so I'm covering plants and wearing a sweater!

But I'm trying to appreciate this cooler weather because before too long its going to be hot and I'll be longing for the cool temps of April.

Beauty

I've decided I want to showcase how wonderful my sister is with words.  She paints a picture with her words.  And when I ran across another one of her poems I had to post it. I can't help but be proud of her!

 

Her inspiration for Beauty was a single pink rose.

 

 

Beauty

Pretty is a small word

Describing how I look.

It’s something like a photo

A picture in a book.

There’s so much more to me

Than what the eyes perceive.

It’s not about my face,

But more what I believe.

So when the wind begins to whip

And the freeze comes with the rain

When the temperatures all drop

And cold sings its refrain

You’ll find me standing tall

An inner strength will show.

I don’t easily wilt

I will always grow.

 

By: Casey Barnett

 

 

A Misty Road

A Misty Road

 

My stride pounded the road,

Never breaking pace.

Tiny clouds of dust I never saw

Created patterns of intricate lace.

The flora and the fauna

I know were in my sight,

But I hardly notice them

Along my daily flight.

Then one day the trees

Screamed from up above,

“Don’t forget to say hello

As you walk along our cove.

We strive each day to keep you

Safe from sun and rain.

We always give you music,

A rustling refrain.

Please don’t forget to say hello,

We love to hear your voice,

And don’t forget to smell the roses,

And each and every day rejoice.”

Now many think I didn’t

Hear the trees that day,

But they’ve forgotten what it’s like

To watch the flowers play.

Dancing along the wind,

Resting on the breeze,

As the mist weaves through the leaves

Of those wise old trees.

I’ll not forget the lesson learned

Along that familiar road.

The fog had cleared and I can see

More of my own abode.

 

-Casey M. Barnett
 

 

 

This poem is written by my sister from a photo that I took one misty morning driving to work in Kentucky.  (I tried to upload the photo but the computer and I are having a disagreement.  I will upload once we have worked it out.)