Jemima Puddleduck Lives!

A quick update on our wounded duck. After a quiet night, Papa found Jemima waddling around the kitchen quacking loudly. Her injury seemed to hamper her but slightly, and so to her great joy, he returned her to the rest of the flock. They in turn began honking and quacking at the top of their voices creating quite a din. In thanks for the tender care, Jemima left us a beautiful white egg in her grass nest.

Our concern over the fox's return has made us overly cautious perhaps, but keeping the flock in the cow's old pen may make winter quartering easier for us. Joe doesn't seem too concerned about the fox - he thinks that Will's heroic effort in rescuing Jemima has made old Mr. Tod think twice about returning. But I have noticed an almost erie absence of a very large flock of turkeys that used to daily roam the back property line. Coincidence? Only time will tell.

Will and Edmund have taken it upon themselves to "walk the ducks and geese" everday for exercise. They have great fun leading the geese and ducks to the small pond for a swim. After today's heavy rain the streams are swollen to overflowing, and the birds - and boys - had a blast. Both boys were soaked to the skin, and had to deposit their sodden, muddy clothes on the porch and run nearly naked (Mom, don't look!) to the shower.