This is my second draft of a post because the first was a tirade about the Dystopian nightmare that I feel I am living in. I keep looking up to the skies for a plague of locusts or frogs to accompany the Pandemic and violence. Ultimately, I decided that there was no point in adding my angry comments and opinion to the melee. Instead I retreated to my containment pond where the water is full of ducklings from both the Muscovy and Whistling Ducks.
I have been sitting on the edge of the culvert, frightening the green heron because I walk so softly and delighting in nature. The dragonflies, of every hue, come close to me and land on my head. Teddy has counted over 30 species of dragonfly in that pond alone. We watched their very active mating and then saw a female dip her tail, with the fertilized eggs in the pond. By August, it feels like you are in fairyland with a rainbow of dragonflies fluttering around you. They stick close to humans to catch the mosquitoes that bite us.
So far in 2020, Teddy has rescued a really large Turtle who was stranded upside down and yesterday I found a tiny little one, about 2 inches across, who was dropped by a predator in the grass. I lifted him up and we were able to take a close look at his cute little face. He was hot and bothered so I delicately popped him in the pond and off he swam having lost one of his nine lives (or whatever turtles have). Today I stopped on the path as Mama Muscovy and her eight big babies walked up the bank and onto the grass for shade. Mama kept on walking with a trail of ducklings waddling, with me at the tail end. They have become used to my presence so know no fear.
The Whistling Ducks have tiny little spotted ducklings and they are a little more wary. There are at least 8 pairs of ducks with a variety of little ones. The ducks have a really cute squeak but I haven’t heard them whistling yet. The frogs that bleat like sheep are back – and it is quite unnerving. I keep looking for a flock of lambs to no avail. There is a GIANT carcass of an Armadillo in the grass. It is about the size of a large cat. I guess it was run over and then the predators had some tasty lunch.
I mentioned before that Muscovy Ducks are called Backyard Ducks in Mexico where they originate. That means they are a tasty lunch in Mexico… While I was sitting at the pond I spotted an older Mexican couple who were gardening at one of the houses. They were taking quite an interest in all the ducks and I watched them with trepidation. ‘You can’t eat these ones – they have names!!’ I was overreacting because they just wanted to ooh and aah over the ducklings like all of us. In Baja, Teddy and I had the most delicious duck and pomegranate tacos but I didn’t name those ones… What a hypocrite I am, especially since I have eaten many interesting animals in our travels across the world. Alligator is chewy, BTW, as is camel.
As much as I still enjoy my pond and its critters, I realize that I live in an idyll far removed from many Americans. In our township, you are not allowed to discharge a weapon for any reason, especially not to hunt. There are no fireworks allowed at any time and a million other regulations. As frustrating as our quarantine has been, I can only imagine what it is like in crowded public housing with no job to go to.
May we exit this pandemic in peace and live more equitably with compassion for every member of society.
All these photos are taken by the marvelously talented Teddy who has a new exhibit for his photography.
Lovely blog and pics of birds and insect dialogue. You can see her breakfast LMAO I had tears rolling down my face. It is one of those phrases that would not necessarily have too much impact but for your mother saying it with her generation just bridged that gap and since I am a cochon I roared.
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Bwa, ha, ha! I first remembered my Nana using that expression about a girl in a supermarket in the 1960s. Her miniskirt was very short. It took me years to figure out what she meant… You are my favorite Canadian Cochon – and as you know I love all critters! 🐖❤️ I imagine she is turning in her grave right now that my breakfast is all over the WWW. 😁
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Dare I ask why “breakfast”? Seems like an odd… uh… nickname.
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It is a crude expression about showing one’s private parts – I shall explain more in person. LOL!
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Lovely photos
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Thank you, Liben. Teddy is very talented! Hope you are well.
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There’s nothing better than being in nature surrounded by bird songs, blooming wildflowers and animals. I had no idea there are turtles in your part of the world that seems to be bursting with a fantastic variety of animals! We mainly see rabbits, frogs, donkeysherons and, of course, plenty of sheep in Sligo. Due to the coronavirus, we missed out on the basking sharks and puffins, but we are happy and healthy and that’s all that matters. I hope all is well with you and your family, Kerry. Warm greetings from Ireland 😊 Aiva
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I am so glad to hear that you are happy and healthy, Aiva! This area is subtropical and humid so there are turtles everywhere. They are usually red sliders. We got married in Chester and had our wedding meal in Corwen in Wales. Teddy had basking shark for his meal in a Vietnamese sauce. Never eaten puffin though…😁 They are such pretty little birds and we used to walk along the cliffs in Scotland to see them. Aren’t we lucky to live where we do? The only thing that would make me happier is for bears or wolves to move in.
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Love this post, Kerry! Teddy is such a talented photographer. So much wildlife in your area… I’m jealous, but I’m happy not to have mosquitoes. I don’t understand your Nana’s comment??
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Nana was referring to one’s nether regions…😁 According to Google the crude phrase comes from Ireland or Glasgow. I bet you are even less glad that you don’t find half dead cockroaches in your slippers, as I did this morning. Gah!
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I got that, but what does one’s breakfast have to do with the nether regions? Never mind. 😁
Cockroaches?!! Aaaah!!!!!
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A fresh warm positive read!
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I am glad that is how it turned out, Marilee. Hope you are well. K x
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Hi. Nature is relatively undisturbed where you are. A beautiful place. In re dragonflies, I had no idea there are so many different kinds of them. Take care. See ya.
Neil S.
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Thank you, Neil. We have spent the last 16 years finding all about dragonflies – who knew there were so many? My cousin in Maine is an entomologist so he helps us out. K x
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You have your own little Shangri-La. Treasure it. 🌟✨💫
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Thank you so much, Gail. K x
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I love the pictures. Tell Teddy to keep snapping – he is good! I think you’d be great at it, too.
I hope you’re feeling better today… sending hugs!!
Love, light and glitter
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Thank you Eliza! Teddy sells his photos on Getty Images, so he is really a semi-professional photographer. I am an enthusiastic photographer who has no patience… Hugs right back. K x 💖
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That’s so cool! Maybe one day I’ll want to do such a thing. How much can you get for an amateurs pictures?
Love, light and glitter
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I think Andy was invited to sell his images on Getty from his Flickr website. His camera is worth thousands, though…🤑
Why not start on Flickr or something like that and see how it goes?
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What is Flickr? Excuse my ignorance….
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It’s like WordPress for photographers but perhaps it isn’t common in the UK.
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You watched unorthodox, right? I was brought up with no social media so don’t know much about anything… I should check it out. I opened an Instagram account and blog that’s not anonymous for my pictures (though haven’t been writing the posts lol)
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That never occurred to me, Eliza, despite watching Unorthodox. I don’t like social media (apart from WordPress) so am also unfamiliar with much of it. Instagram sounds like a great place to start. Have you ever thought about writing a memoir – I would love to know more about your culture? I published mine free on Kindle – didn’t make much money but got a few nice reviews. Kerry isn’t my real name nor is Teddy my husbands…shhhh! 😉
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I’d love to read it.
Not really, no. Maybe when I know more about what I want from my life…. I’ve no idea where I’m heading etc.
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Completely understand, Eliza. I didn’t write my memoir until I was almost 50. Hugs to you.
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Love, light and glitter
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❤️
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That is some super power, being able to distinguish species of dragonfly. (I thought there was just one type.) And indeed, best for mental serenity that we don’t get caught up in all the turmoil.
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I shall have to send you a link to his dragonfly photos on Flickr or Getty Images. It is astonishing the diversity – some are leopard printed, Neon Red, White bodies with black wings etc etc. Thank you Roy – life is so strange right now that we need to enjoy the small pleasures.
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The stuff I don’t know is astonishing 😦
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Here is a link to my husband’s Flickr site to see a variety of dragonflies and other bugs.
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I think it was a good time to take a retreat to the pond, tell Teddy great pics! Yes, may we come out of all of this in a much, much, much better and more understanding place.
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Thank you, MB. I will tell Teddy and I hope there is a silver lining to this moment in time. K x
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What a blessing to have all that wonder in the containment pond. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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You are most welcome, Peggy. The ducklings let me come within inches now – apparently ducks are good at recognizing folks.
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Such beautiful photos! There’s something magical about dragonflies. They seem not to fear us, and the colors are gorgeous. Good on you to save that turtle. If I see one trying to cross the road, I’ll pull over and carry it across.
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The big turtles are really heavy, eh?? Thank you, Rob, and yes dragonflies are just like fairies. K x
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Especially snapping turtles! They get huge.
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I don’t think we have them hereabouts but ours seem to reach the size of a turkey platter.
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So love the nature photos Kerry 🙂 Ducklings make everything right in this world
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Thank you – there is just something adorable about ducklings. I want to go see them but it is so hot and humid. They are probably in the middle of the rushes or in their tree nests.
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a very peaceful beautiful post Kerry! Teddy did wonders with the pics and I am impressed with how you turned your mind set around 🙂
Always loved dragonflies but didn’t know they ate mosquitoes … even better!
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Thank you so much! I adore dragonflies – one of my favorite Texan inhabitants.
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another blogger just sent me a pic of one, I had no idea they grew that big 🙂
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how are you?
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I am up and down, Kate – thank you for asking. I do like social distancing but need to keep myself active with something. I cleaned off the algae on my deck, porch and path and that was therapeutic. We are all feeling a bit strange right now, I guess. ❤️
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here our restrictions are easing so many are going a bit wild … hopefully it will calm down again 🙂
Take care Kerry and keep doing those chores!
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Groceries today – we have run out of coffee!!!
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then please run quickly, could bring untoward disaster 😎
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Got it!!!
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phew, now drink to your hearts content ❤
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Lovely. Your post was very soothing. Thankyou for sharing
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You are most welcome, Sruti.
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Lovely post and I should mention that pictures amazingly beautiful ..💯good read👍🏻
http://Lafamina.home.blog/
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Thank you so much, I appreciate you!
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You’re welcome friend 😊 👍🏻
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