Quack, Quack, Quack!

My 5 little ducklings have grown up. I purchased them when they were a day old along with my 20 day old chickens. They were about the same size and all covered in fuzz. The only noticeable difference was that they had bills and not beaks. Oh, and they had been spray painted colors for Easter. Now they are grown up and the fuzz has been replaced by beautiful white feathers.

They grew up with the chickens so they acted like chickens, ate with the chickens and slept with the chickens to keep warm. They just increased in size much faster than the chicks and soon they were acting superior. They would let the chicks crawl up on their backs to sleep. Now it came time for the separation with the ducks going to our lake and the chickens staying in the coop.

I have spent weeks moving sand from what used to be a volleyball court to make a sandy beach area completely around the lake. Back and forth from the court to the lake, some 250 roundtrips with my tractor. Finally the beaches were done, now for some plants. How about a few reeds and some of those lilly of the nile. All carefully planted at the shoreline.

Now for the catch and release! Grab the ducks and throw them into the lake and watch them being happy and excited in their new home with all of that water. There was just one minor problem. These ducks didn't know a thing about swimming in water, just drinking it. I tossed the first one in and panic set in, as quickly as it could it was out of the water and running to the bushes to hide. The next four did exactly the same thing. So here is this beautiful lake with a floating island and here are my brave white lilly ducks cowarding under the bushes.

I let them be until a few hours later and they hadn't moved. One had dissappeared deep into one of my shrubs. Finally I took action and hearded the four into the water and I am sure they thought they would drown but alas they finally got it and began to swim. I found the other one crouching under a shrub and got it to the water so that now they were all together swimming and enjoying life.

By the next day the lake was theirs and so were the reeds and the lillies. They uprooted the plants, ate the roots and showed me they were now in charge. I am only good for the feed provided and nothing more. For all of the care and concern that I gave to my little ducklings this is my reward.

But then again, I get enjoyment out of seeing them happy and contented and well cared for. Is this how my Heavenly Father looks on me? I think so.

Good Times!