Nature | Jendi's Journal

The Nest At Our House

July 8, 2008 By Jendi 2 Comments

This is the nest at our house.

These are the eggs that lay in the nest at our house.

This is the duck that laid the eggs that lay in the nest at our house.

This is the bush that sheltered the duck
that laid the eggs
that lay in the nest at our house.

This is the gander that guarded the bush
that sheltered the duck
that laid the eggs
that lay in the nest at our house.

This is the path that people walked on
and scared the gander
that guarded the bush
that sheltered the duck
that laid the eggs
that lay in the nest at our house.

These are the eggs that started to hatch
beside the path that people walked on
and scared the gander
that guarded the bush
that sheltered the duck
that laid the eggs
that lay in the nest at our house.

These are the ducklings that total six
that came from the eggs that started to hatch
beside the path that people walked on
and scared the gander
that guarded the bush
that sheltered the duck
that laid the eggs
that lay in the nest at our house.

This is the duckling that wouldn’t stay hid
when its momma called quack
to the ducklings that total six
that came from the eggs that started to hatch
beside the path that people walked on
and scared the gander
that guarded the bush
that sheltered the duck
that laid the eggs
that lay in the nest at our house.

This is the corn we gave to the ducklings
including the one that wouldn’t stay hid
when its momma called quack
to the ducklings that total six
that came from the eggs that started to hatch
beside the path that people walked on
and scared the gander
that guarded the bush
that sheltered the duck
that laid the eggs
that lay in the nest at our house.

This is the water tub in the cage
that keeps the ducklings safe
to eat the corn we give to the ducklings
including the one that wouldn’t stay hid
when its momma called quack
to the ducklings that total six
that came from the eggs that started to hatch
beside the path that people walked on
and scared the gander
that guarded the bush
that sheltered the duck
that laid the eggs
that lay in the nest at our house.

All pictures can be viewed larger by clicking on them.

P.S. This is the second nest of duck eggs hatched here this summer. This Mommy Duck is actually the daughter of the Momma Duck I posted about previously.

Filed Under: Daily Life Tagged With: animals, ducks, my house, nature

Waddle-Waddle-Waddle. Quack. Quack. Quack!

June 26, 2008 By Jendi 2 Comments

Remember the ducklings that wouldn’t stay in the fence, had to fight the black birds for food, and loved to play in the water?

They are free to wander in the day now. We still shut them up at night.

This morning they woke my husband and I up at 6:45am. The Mama had flown out and the babies were searching for her. Reminds me of the other day when my husband and I went outside to talk. Five minutes later all 3 kids came running out, “Found you, Mommy!”

I don’t mind them using the truck as shade. I did mind them using our kiddie pool.

It is funny when they are chasing bugs. Sometimes they run/waddle 6 feet with their neck stuck out as far as possible.

$The whole flock? gaggle? It\'s all of them anyways.$

We won’t need a bug zapper this summer!

Filed Under: Daily Life Tagged With: animals, ducks, nature

Wordless Wednesday ~ Telling Secrets

June 4, 2008 By Jendi 7 Comments

For more Wordless Wednesday Participants

visit the Headquarters or 5 Minutes for Mom.

Filed Under: Kid stuff Tagged With: nature, Wordless Wednesday

I’d Stay in the Garden with Him

May 26, 2008 By Jendi 1 Comment

There’s just something about being in a garden that makes me think of the Lord, His creation, and all He has blessed us with.

On Saturday we took a day trip to see the Hershey Gardens.

The roses had numerous buds, and there was the promise of much color to come.

I always enjoy the children’s area at any garden I visit.

We even found most of the answers to the Scavenger Hunt questions.

The butterfly house was small, but neat. Butterflies everywhere you looked.

Creeks are one of my most favorite things. This one in the Japanese Garden area had a delightful sound.

We only saw live ducks and a bunny; but there were a bunch of small animal statutes all along the way.

Down the hill and across the road is Hershey Park. You can see the Kissing Tower towards the left side.

While the garden is peaceful and shows God’s handiwork, it’s noisy, bustling, and very worldly over there.

$Come on - let\'s go!$

That’s my daughter in the pink running with her friend. My other daughter hitched a ride in the stroller.

We were all three worn out, but glad for nice weather to see beautiful things while we visited with friends.

Maybe I will get my husband to take me back when the roses are in full bloom. [Hi sweetheart, I know you read this. You could take lots of pretty pictures! What do ya think?]

Filed Under: Activities/Hobbies Tagged With: fellowship, nature, plants

Keeping the Ducks in The Pen is Hard Enough – Forget a Line!

May 16, 2008 By Jendi 10 Comments

I hope it’s OK to use animals for Show & Tell. Click on the graphic to the left to visit other particpants at Kelli’s.

We have some new additions here. Ten, to be exact!

This mother duck has hatched babies three springs in a row. Usually her nest is just somewhere under a bush and the babies are caught and contained a couple days after they are born. This year Momma Duck was nice enough to lay her eggs right in the little duck house and the babies could be contained from birth – or so we thought.

$You Can\'t See Me. I\'m Hiding.$ We keep them in a cage because of the foxes, hawks, and snapping turtles around the pond where the ducks live. Being a baby duckling is very dangerous!

When my husband went to check on them the morning after the day they hatched the ducklings were NOT in the cage. They were under the shed, behind the duck pool, in a concrete block, out in the yard, everywhere but in the duck house with Momma Duck.

Since he was there Momma Duck went into her house and stopped calling the stuck ducklings. Those baby ducks have the brain of a, well, a baby duck! Dumb!

He would get them in and they’d fall down, get stuck, or pop out again. Those little quackers were small enough to go through the holes in the chicken wire! I’m sure it didn’t help his case that our 3 kids were “helping.” In their pajamas, no less.

It was pretty funny when a dark brown duckling was stuck in their duck pool. He kept bobbing up and down like a bath toy that a baby pushes under water.

It only took about 45 minutes to get things right. He even let our kiddos pet one before he sent them [the kids, not the ducks] inside.

Later that day, I rescued 3 again. Now, 2 days later they are too big to make it through the fence and they are a little smarter. They sure couldn’t have been any dumber!