A Duckling’s Curiosity

 

With Mama Duck near,

Duckling is curious and

Comes to check me out.

 

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Such a cutie!!

This little duckling….foraging for food and sipping water in the puddles, along with its sibling and mama duck.

At one point it saw me with my camera and decided to come on over to say hi.

MADE MY DAY!! Hahaha! Wish I’d had something to feed it.

Ah well. I said hi.

There were some other water fowl in this nature reserve, which is a park area with a good-sized pond and being part of the grounds of an old historic building – called The Stone House – in this part of New Zealand.

 

 

 

Last night’s little visitors

 

Lightly effortless,

Suspended in calm stillness,

Nocturnal visit.

 

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There were a few tiny cute visitors congregated outside the front door and along the window yesterday evening.

What a wonderful surprise greeting us!

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These three were gathered higher up at the entrance, while one frog remained independently alone near the bottom….also attached to the window glass.

 

 

About 2 centimetres in length….and I enjoy marveling at their amazingly strong legs and their well-adapted tiny fingers and toes.

 

 

Upside-down…..and

 

 

…..right side up.

 

 

Third one’s the charm

 

Quiet and watchful,

Curious, cautious, patient;

A brief encounter.

 

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As I was driving along the back roads yesterday, I was thrilled to see a couple of wild turkeys on the road shoulder and three deer at three other different spots.

As I spied the first two deer, and they me, it was they who decided to leave the scene abruptly.

However, the third deer – the one in the photo – was not as skittish and even let me back up the car, stop, and catch a better glimpse.  We looked at each other for what seemed a few moments.  And then the deer, satisfied, turned away and leaped further into the woods.

Such an encounter always has me feeling so lucky and happy.  ❤

 

 

 

 

Go ahead and Try Some!

 

Isn’t it grand to have friends who share something new they’ve tried and encourage you to take a sample?

Yesterday I had gone to the home of my friend, Susan, in order to do some cleaning work there.  As is her customary “greeting” for me, I found one of her daily inspirational books opened to yesterday’s post, an envelope addressed to me, along with something delectable and new to try…..in this case, Sweet & Sour Tamarind

In the past I have enjoyed eating samosas and dipping them into a classic Indian tamarind sauce.  So, I was curious to see what tamarinds actually look like.

 

 

The outer shells are of a light, brittle texture and fall apart easily.

Haha!  At first, I mistakenly thought that the outer shell is to be eaten as well.

 

 

It wasn’t until I was working my way through the bites and pits – that she had forewarned me for – that I realized that the reddish dried and chewy part inside that tan-coloured outer shell is the tamarind and inside that are the blackish pits.

 

 

I nibbled my way through two of those pods from her box.

I rather enjoyed this new and different taste sensation!

 

Hello, Deer!

 

I was being watched

With curious interest;

I returned the gaze.

 

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On my drive home after finishing work this past Sunday afternoon, I drove with the windows opened a smidge to let the relatively  warmer  outside air blow into the car.

Also savouring the sunshine-bathed view as I looked around, at one point I noticed there was a brownish shape standing among the dried up corn stalks in one of the fields.

Realizing what it was as I drove by, I continued a bit further and then pulled around to go back.  I wanted to have a better look at these four-legged beauties.  There were three of them – two of which you can see in the above photo.

So, I stopped the car, put it into idle, and took my time watching the deer.

Until they moved further into the field.

That was my gift from nature, and I felt grateful.  

 

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A few more photos….

 

 

 

Two Can Be Curious

 

Turns his head and looks,

His mouth opens a bit….smile?

We are eye to eye.

 

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During our homeschooling years, my kids and I participated in a variety of activities and events.  One homeschooling family hosted a parrot “show,” and my youngest son and I attended, along with a few other families to learn more.  A representative from Rainforest Adventures came to the house and brought along several different parrots to show us and describe their habitats and diets and some of their behaviours in the wild.

I took a bunch of photos of this macaw.  In addition to his vibrant rainbow-coloured plumage, I was fascinated with his face and mannerisms.

A handsome fellow!

 

Another Admirer of Flowers

 

Flowers in a vase,

Quietly my cat arrives;

Just light little sniffs.

 

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After several hours of gardening work – mostly hoeing and weeding – one day last week, I put together a tiny little bouquet of flowers to put in a vase as a little cheery reward.

When I took the vase of flowers outside to take some photos, out of nowhere, our cat, Hemingway, showed up and in her gentle way decided to check out what all was in that vase.

It was fun to watch her.

And I wondered……is she just being curious and sniffing to see what is…..or is she appreciating them as a pleasant thing?

 

 

The Leaning Tower of….Elm?

Looking so askew,

The result of a big storm?

It’s persevering.

(Upon my return from my trip, I went for my usual walk and noticed this tree.  I don’t recall it leaning so much before.  Did it happen while I was away?  Curious….)