Note to Self

There's a lot to remember when you're taking care of 3 ducks. One is, keep an eye on the cat. Peanut has been acting a bit needy since he's not the center of attention. I didn't want him to feel left out, so I crossed my fingers and let him follow me into the Duck Room. He checked out all the new smells, and then put his paws up on the edge of the tub and checked out the ducks. He heard them peep, but it didn't seem to trigger any predatory urges. Still, I keep the door locked when I'm not around. What I forgot was to check whether the cat was in or out of the room before I locked it. Thank goodness I didn't leave him in there long enough to get really hungry.

Another thing I forgot was not to fool around adjusting the heat lamp when the ducklings are standing right under it. They have very quick reflexes! As soon as it came hurtling toward them, they dashed for their water dish and huddled there until their clumsy human got the sun back up into the sky.

I am amazed by all the survival skills these little girls are born with. (Apparently I'm going to test them all.) One afternoon they were splashing around in their water bowl when suddenly they squatted, became silent, and exchanged glances I interpreted as worried. Then I also heard the sound--the very faint cry of a large bird--maybe a crow or a jay. How could they know what that meant? Getting to know these wise little creatures is a humbling experience.

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