Hard to believe, another month gone. If we are lucky, we live to see a thousand months in our lifetime. I am not going to calculate how many of mine have already vanished.
We finished on a high note yesterday, with a trip to Fulton, Missouri for Harry to give a talk at William Woods University. It was a beautiful day, but the light goes quickly at this time of year. I was excited to get some duck pictures before the talk in Dulaney Auditorium began at 5 PM.
Gayle Lampe invited Harry, and she is also famous for her appreciation of ducks. Her passion is passed to many of the students, who can sometimes be seen near the lake, with ducks sitting on their laps. The ducks have right of way crossing roads. This respect for creatures nurtures artistic, intelligent people, I believe.
Gayle Lampe is a fascinating person, renowned in the horse world, and a force of nature at William Woods. She arrived with food for her ducks, a collection of different breeds, each bird individually named. There is also a Canada Goose with a bad wing permitted to join the flock. Bonnie and Clyde, the Muscovy ducks, flew in. They can get frostbitten feet, but this pair seems to be uncommonly hardy and has been on the lake for two seasons.
Here comes another magnificent creature…
Harry’s speech was well attended, and very entertaining, of course. Afterwards, we went to a delicious dinner at the school dining hall, in a private side room to gather with friends. Then, we had a fascinating trip to the art department, with a stunning exhibition of student art. We met a couple of freshmen art majors, interesting, talented young people who gave us some hope for the world.
This morning, we were up before dawn, a reward for which was a spectacular sunrise. A further gift came mid morning, with rain. November is ending with a gray, damp, iconic day for which we are grateful.
I had the good luck, a few days ago, to see a heron by a pond near here, and I had my camera with me.
Eddy continues to bring joy and laughter. He is gradually becoming more civilized and settled.
The horses were quite a shock to Eddy at first, but he has quickly accepted them as part of life. Riding has been sporadic with too many distractions and too few goals. Jane and I are becoming real fair weather riders. The horses don’t mind at all. Life is good.
Be safe, be well. Slava Ukraini! Peace.
Oh gosh I love this! I’m with Weedy, she is an amazing woman. Thanks for the splendid pictures. Good to see Eddie settling in. Is he a little wolfhound?
So nice to hear that life is good.
Slava Ukraini
Peace
PS
The artist is looking like a cover model so sorry to miss the talk.
Duck pictures are almost as interesting as horse pictures. Good to see Gayle looking well, with all her ducks in a row!
Awesome blog and photos today!! Absolutely awesome. Years ago my Nipper, a JRT, grabbed a duck from that pond on our way to the X-C course. Horrors! Gayle would have had me suspended if it had been one of hers, luckily it was mallard, not an exotic. Off he went, duck in mouth and gone for about 45 minutes. He came back muddy. Weedy and the ducks, Harry and his talk, Eddy moving in so fast, and the horses fine with just hangin’, all good, all happy, all fruitful and loving. Thank you!!
Those are some very lucky ducks! We are always on the lookout for wildfowl as we travel the roads but I so envy anyone who can interact with them. I did once at Slimbridge where I was able to feed Nene geese. Love the chap with pom-poms on his head!
Great pictures of that heron too.
Eddy looks a happy fellow too! Always so nice to see smiles and happy creatures of all species!
Thank you so much for all the duck photos!!! They were terrific! I especially like the head study of Lucky. It was so greats having you both of you at William Woods University once again. You must keep coming to see us! I loved having you both, along with so many of your friends, at dinner. We must do this again soon!