Random Observations and Feelings

 

It is getting hot here in Florida, though this morning was not too bad as I made my way around the lake. The humidity has definitely checked in and the condition of my hair upon returing home will confirm that.   ;-)  

I love walking by the roses that are across the street from the lake. They are so beautiful.  I so appreciate those who take care of them.

I could walk this lake 365 days of the year - and I pretty much do - and still not experience or see or feel the same thing.  Every day there is a new discovery.  Every day there is a new loss.  Every day there is a new miracle.

I have learned when to expect certain blooms to appear.  I have learned when the pelicans from Wisconsin will arrive and when they will leave.  I have learned when the bald eagle will be perching atop her selected tree.  I have learned that it is the female duck that has it the hardest on the lake.  I have learned that just like we humans, some feathered relationships are meant to be forever and some are not.  I have learned that the sun seems to shine down from above on a feathered or human soul at just the right time.  

Papa Goose is going through something.  I am not sure what.  He is physically fine but a bit of his spunk is at rest.  This is the first season of new babies on the lake that I have been observing that no muscovy ducklings have hatched.  We have had baby mallards and baby limpkins and baby coots and baby swans, but no baby muscovies.  There have been several muscovy mamas on their nests and Papa Goose has been on watch, but no babies for him to protect.  Perhaps that is it - the reason for his season of melancholy.

Peeps, the goose raised by Mama & Papa Australian Swan, has been branching out on her own.  I believe she is 3 or 4 years old now, and that is about the time that "swan children" become independent.  And, yes, she believes that she is a swan.  She, too, has nothing to do with the other geese.  I often wish she and Papa Goose would get together.  A perfect match to me, but alas I am not in charge.  When their paths cross, they have nothing to do with each other.  Papa Goose broke allegiance with the other geese when they did not accept him.  Peeps only knows of her beautiful swan parents who raised and loved her.  They are living what they have known.  And don't we all?

The key is to also live the moments.  Those moments then also become what we have known.    :-) 

Little Duck is growing up!  Oh my a truly happy ending slash beginning!  He still has his baby quack and his impish personality.  He loves to go fishing before 7 a.m. in the lily pads and I must brag for him.... he is an awesome fisherduck!  He takes a mid-morning nap with his adopted Papa Duck undereath the same tree.  And I love him dearly.

I see the same "lake people" every morning and that brings me comfort. Some speak, some do not.  Some sit, some walk.  I know some of their names and some of them know mine.   I also see some who are there for a while and then they are gone.  I often wonder where they went and if I will ever see them again.  The lake has its own rhythm - or natural flow of related elements as Merriam-Webster would define.  The key words here for me are "related elements."  I cannot begin to describe how much I know this now to be true.

This morning a sweet man pulled up and parked his old pick-up truck beside the lake where he was not supposed to because he did not know.  I was feeding a swan as he got out.  He saw me and said in a soft voice, "Good Morning."  I replied with the same.  He then said, "I have a box of baby ducks and a Mama mallard."  He got the box out of the back of the truck.  It seems he found them trying to cross a busy highway miles away. He was able to gather them up and thought that by bringing them to this lake they would be okay.  I told him my thoughts.... and what I had personally witnessed with regard to these similar situations.  That was all that I could do - share what I knew.  He listened and you could see his angst and sincere concern for the souls he had saved from the wheels of cars and trucks and how he so wanted to do the right thing.  He then placed the box on the ground and decided to let the mama and babies out.  She immediately went down to the lake and her babies followed her.  The man's eyes literally brimmed with tears.  I told him that he had a heart of gold and that he had tried to do what he felt was best. He thanked me.  He stood there for awhile, long enough to see the mama duck trying to escape a male duck's immediate overtures while her babies were swimming as rapidly as teeny tiny babies can to stay safe and beside her.  You could see the man was now worried that he had done the wrong thing.  I told him that he had cared.  And that was really something to be proud of.

He drove away.  In hindsight  I am glad that he did for I knew that his intentions and heart were pure.  And I also saw what happened after he left that he did not.  

I don't know how deep this lake is.  I am not a "fact" person.  But I DO know that the feelings felt here are so very very deep.  The stories are real.  The lives are real.   Related elements.  So so true.  And as someone recently shared this beautiful wisdom with me....

"God knows every feather."

I am so thankful for that.  Amen.


xo

Comments

[M]

I knew I shouldn't have read all the way through...now I can't see coz of the tears...poor Kim, so much sorrow to hold in your heart...along with the joy and happiness...but .... ♥♥♥♥
hope Papa Goose finds a family soon...I haven't seen Nanny Goose at all this year, but we don't have nearly as many...anythings...on the Lake. I saw some different ducks the other day, but it's hard to capture them, as they move too fast!!! love you!!! :):):)

[Kim]

((((((((Marilyn))))))))

heart to heart.
i love you.

xo,
Me

[G from Ga]

How heartbreaking. We do the best we can and sometimes it isn't enough. Thank goodness for the love and joy to balance the sorrow in life.

I do hope there will soon be muscovy ducklings for Papa Goose to protect. It's hard to think of him being sad. Thank you for loving him and your feathered lake friends.

[Kim]

(((Gail))))

When I put these "things" out there.... it is YOU ALL, my like-minded beautiful friends, who fill in the blanks of life so poetically and as they were meant to be. Thank you.

Love,
Me

[G from Ga]

Kim, I also have to mention the exquisite diamond covered leaf courtesy of the morning dew. You captured it beautifully. You have the eye of an artist.

[Vee]

He must have been so conflicted, but oh that you had to see that. I am sorry.

[Lisa]

I sure love your photography! Softness and brightens my day! Hugz Lisa and Bear

[Rhondi]

Such a beautiful expression of your feelings for the lake and it's inhabitants.

[Chris]

Glad it's hot somewhere. It is in the 40's today in NH and rainy. They promise 70's by Sunday. I certainly hope so.

[Red Rose Alley]

Kim,
It's so nice that you have this place of wonder to go to every day. I love the rose picture with the drops.

love,
~Sheri

[Jenny L.]

I love it that you don't let the cruel part of nature keep you from enjoying the good. What a blessing you are to your feathered friends with a heart that is so loving and strong enough to give them support when the going gets rough.

[linda]

words cant express what I am feeling about this post -
the man who rescued the ducks - he is blessed ........
and you are blessed for all you do kim......................
and im so blessed to have a friend in you........
xo

[Beth K.]

Thank you, Thank you for sharing your words and wisdom. Nature teaches us so much if we keep our eyes open and take time to ponder. I'm sure if God numbers the hairs on our heads, He knows every feather, too. There will be animals in heaven, I'm sure of it.

[Kim]

Thank you all SO much. You are simply the best and you are very loved. Thank you!!

Love
Me

[Sandy]

As is rarely the case, words fail me. I love words. I love learning new words. I wish I could come up with one that expresses how I feel after reading this. Nature. It can be the most lovely. It can also be the most cruel. But somehow, in the end, it all balances. I may not like it but it is what it is. Just knowing that HE knows every feather is comforting. You have a big heart, Kim. Thanks for sharing that heart with us. Blessings to your day.

[maria]

you got that right sister kim, God sure knows every feather - pretty awesome, thank you for sharing -

love ya, maria - cottage feel -
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo