Goosey, Goosey, But No Gander

Yesterday Edmund came hurrying into the house carrying one of the geese in his arms. He began a convoluted story of how he was going to gather the eggs, when he was waylaid by our tyrannical rooster, Angus. As he turned to run he noticed that something was amiss with one of the geese. She had somehow gotten her leg entangled in some fishing line, and the line was threatening to cut off the circulation to her foot. A chase ensued around the pond - Edmund running after the goose, and Angus after Edmund. Providentially, the dragging fishing line snagged on a stick bringing the fleeing creature to a halt, thus enabling Edmund to tackle her.

Unfortunately, Mummy was sick and in bed. So, into the bedroom Edmund brought the goose. As I inspected her leg, Joey ran to get a scissors. I struggled to cut the line free with shaking feverish hands. Out of one eye I watched the goose's bill come closer and closer to my ear. She was making sniffing sounds. Very ominous. (Edmund later sniffed me and said I smelled good and that was why she was so interested). I think she wanted to bite me. I was finally able to slip the tip of an embroidery scissors between the fishing line and her skin, and with one snip, she was free. She seemed to know the worst was over and began beating her wings and kicking her large, muddy, webbed feet all over the white coverlet.

Later, Edmund and William climbed into bed next to me with a pile of Beatrix Potter books. We spent a good part of the afternoon naming our ducks and geese after characters from her books. The rescued goose is "Ginger"; the other two "Cecily" and "Parsley" as one can't tell them apart. Three of the ducks now have names: Mr. Drake Puddleduck, Jemima Puddleduck, and Rebeccah Puddleduck. We're still deciding on the other two.

After several attempted catnaps in which one of the cats wakened me each time (is life ironic or what?), Joey came in to the bedroom for help with an essay. We worked and discussed great things, and got a good second draft going.

That evening, feeling better, I helped Mary make cherry jam. I can't tell you what a joy it was to teach her this skill. Perhaps one day she'll make jam for her own family.

All in all, these unexpected and precious moments with my children made up for the fact that I was unwell. It was a very good day.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

I walked to the upper garden today and was dismayed at the state of affairs. The onions seem frozen in time - the bulbs small despite the muck they sit in. The beans are struggling along. It's the squash, however, that are truly a heartbreak. This year we decided to plant Blue Hubbard for its versatility and long storage. We carefully nurtured them through the cold months of March and April and felt we had a good head start on their growth. Then came the rain and the cold. Rain and cold.

As I wandered through the garden and stared at the squashes, I marveled at the moat of water six inches deep around the hills. Small bubbles of air percolated up from the clay beneath as if the ground was struggling to breathe. Mary helped me dig up one of the hills of squash and transplanted them down near the swings. We had to cover them with a milk crate and then floating row cover to keep them safe from the curious geese. I will have to make sure to uncover them to encourage pollination by helpful insects. Papa thinks transplanting may set the plants back a month or so, but at this point they have already been so badly stunted that I can't believe more trauma will do any more damage. It's always worth a try.

On the positive side, the green beans that I planted four days ago in the kitchen garden are sprouting already. I planted them in a raised row, thus the soil is warmer and drier. I also planted summer squash in the cold frame bed where the garlic had been, but have yet to see a sprout. Tomorrow is supposed to be hot so perhaps there will be green seedlings by the end of the week!

Quiet Sunday Afternoon

I am alone this afternoon. The rest of the family are away climbing mountains and playing baseball. The silence is broken only by the familiar humming of washer and dryer, and the tapping of computer keys.

After the beautiful sunny day yesterday, today is again grey and misty. I weeded the onion patch in the kitchen garden and planted more of the French speckled lettuce seedlings. I have been making frequent plantings from seeds I had saved from last year. The seeds sprout well in the controlled light and warmth of the grow box that Will and Edmund built for science class. I currently have a tray of basil seedling beginning to show their true leaves. What we need is sun, sun, sun! If the rain holds off, I will pick some more blueberries and cherries.

I watched the geese from the window "chase" a couple and their two dogs who were walking down the road. The geese appear quite startling with their outstretched wings and raucous honks. But they are all honk and no bite. Walkers are not quite sure how to respond to them. One visiting camper took photos of them. Out-of-staters think us very quaint, I think.