hey there! with the official start to fall underway plus the fantastic sunny days we've been having....i can't think of anything i love more to do than tour around some of the back roads of our fantastic state {MINNESOTA!} and take in the autumn colors. which is exactly what we did yesterday once i got my outdoor fall "nest" fluffed. {pics of that soon!}
i hit the trail w/ hubby navigating. he loves to explore off beaten paths...just like the one you see {below}. a road less traveled...and full of beauty!
this guy of mine is like a human GPS. he can take a route once and he never forgets. i on the other-hand...well...let's just say i'm no homing pigeon. but i will talk about "someone" else who is. yep. here we go on MJ again. she's still leaving & coming home on her set schedule. we pondered for {3} weeks about her whereabouts during the day. then a week ago we decided to make a trek on a "road" less traveled. a deer path that led us to a tiny pond not too terribly far from our home. we could hardly believe it when we got to the edge & there on a log...you guessed it...miss MJ! she was as surprised as us...hopped promptly in the water...swam to the edge & scaled up the embankment to nestle in my lap! look hard @ the photo {below} and you will see her!
so with this new knowledge i've been visiting her everyday @ her pond. it's tiny + remote. which makes me feel good about her being fairly safe when not under my close watch of eye. on the flipside of feelings we can't help but be a little sad. we had these visions of her w/ new duck friends. making plans to head south soon. now we are left to wonder what will happen. but i'm ready to give up my parking spot in the garage for her all winter if need be.
another thing i was {and continue to be} VERY worried about is the opening of duck hunting this past saturday. i can't, in fairness to her, restrain her. so after a teary release that morning...i waited for more light of day til i trekked to the pond. when i got there she was happily swimming about...unaware of any potentially threat.
it was chilly so i had on my heavy jacket. and boots. and mittens. bill scolded me to not wear my camoflauge jacket. i knew better. so i threw on a lime safety vest to help me stick out a bit more. the only thing i had on my face was a smile when i arrived and saw her...not a drop of makeup. she didn't care. nor did i.
she hopped up my arm and perched on my shoulder. kinda felt like a pirate. i then remembered i had my phone...which is my camera as well. as was able to snap this picture {below}. guess you could really say SMILE FOR THE BIRDIE!
so there i sat. a protective mama duck...concerned about the best interest of my feathered girl. not that i have anything against hunters. i just wasn't about to let them come around without knowing better. now...keep in mind that i barely combed my hair. but i did throw on some baubles as i wasn't going to go totally unpresentable. that and the little pistol necklace {seen below} made me feel like i still had the upperhand.
when i felt comfortable in the idea of her being as safe as possible....i got ready to leave. i was still snapping away after our touching photo when i caught this one {below} that made me laugh so hard @ my expression. talk about "i love you a bushel and a peck"!
i'm just glad i still have both eyes after that little display of affection! and yes. i am quite proud of the fact i am becoming known as the crazy duck lady. maybe that thought alone will scare off the hunters. and if not i am STILL sporting the pistol necklace as i type. which reminds me i haven't scooted over for a check in today. time to hit that "road" less traveled. hope you enjoy your own journey each & every day!
happy day to you!
