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The pond is quiet.
Again.
A long time ago (okay, this past spring), when I started free-ranging my chickens and ducks, I released my six Pekins to the pond.
One by one, they began to disappear. I couldn’t capture the last duck. Those ducks hadn’t been trained to come to me. They weren’t sleeping in the chicken house at night, not after I released them. Ducks don’t come back like chickens. Ducks don’t roost. This one lonely duck waited on the pond for her friends to come back, but they never did. And she wouldn’t come to me.
I still had more ducks, though. I had hatched out three ducklings in my incubator from Mr. and Mrs. Duck. This pair of mixed breed ducks came from a farmer friend a few miles away. When I released the Pekins (which came as ducklings from the feedstore), I kept Mr. and Mrs. Duck in the chicken yard, not wanting to release them until their babies were grown. Finally, the three ducklings were big enough and I let them all out together. Mr. and Mrs. Duck performed a mercy mission and went down to the pond, wrapping that lonely Pekin in their feathers. They brought her back up to the farmhouse and the goat yard. She wouldn’t come to me, but she was more than happy to go to them. And so I had six ducks. They had all sorts of adventures, some of them pretty entertaining. Then one day Mrs. Duck disappeared. I wondered if she had made a nest somewhere and was refusing to come home. I worried. I trained the chickens and ducks to come back to the chicken house at night with cracked corn. I felt better. They found the pond. Everyone was so happy!
Then Mr. Duck disappeared, too.
And then, a few days ago, the three ducks hatched from the eggs I incubated from Mrs. Duck disappeared, too. They were in the goat yard all day. A few hours before it was time to round everyone up with cracked corn to go back to the chicken house, they vanished.
Leaving her alone.
Again.
And I don’t have any more ducks to befriend her, to wrap her in their feathers.
I let all the chickens out of the yard for the day yesterday morning. The lonely Pekin waddled out, looking, quacking. Desperately. Lonely ducks are desperate ducks. I picked her up and took her to the porch. I didn’t want her to be lonely.
I thought about taking her inside, fixing up a room for her. Setting her a place at the table.
That didn’t seem quite workable.
So I took her back to the chicken yard and gave her some water and all the scoopings from a pumpkin I was baking. And I promised her I would keep her safe.
And I promised her I would get more ducks in the spring. A LOT MORE DUCKS.
And I promised her that every once in a while I’d take her up to the porch for special goodies and to sit on my lap.
I don’t know what keeps happening to the ducks. I don’t know if they run away to the river. I don’t know if something is getting them in the woods. I just know it never happens to this duck. This duck is mine.
And I’m gonna make her a real pet.
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Poor lil duck. Suppose the others just R.U.N.N.O.F.T?
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Good morning, it is sad not knowing were the other ducks might be.
I am getting ready to make your pie crust and while reading the recipe I thought, why not name her after one one the little church ladies ( notice I am not using the word “old”–does that tell you something about my age?)
Of course a name drawing is the only fair way to make sure no feelings are hurt.
I know I would be honored if I were the duck, she is beautiful, she looks like Mother Goose in her bonnet.
Jo
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I voted!! Keep the rallying going, chicken friends!! Steady and strong……..that’s our motto!
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She looks cute in her bonnet. So does she come to you now and let you pick her up?
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Snapping turtles are a big problem for babies, I am sure your pond has them, even if you haven’t seen any. I hope your ducks find their way back home.
Have a great day.
Cece
6:30
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Have a great day everyone preparing for the GOBBLE GOBBLE DAY!!
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Love the bonnet! It is very cute!
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Have a great day preparing your fixings for Thanksgiving feast tomorrow~
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The one you have left makes me think of Beatrix Potter’s story about Jemima Puddleduck.
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Suzanne, if that pond was in Florida, you could bet it was a ‘gator in that pond!! Preying on the innocent unsuspecting ducks!
I hope you get that fence and duck house up somehow. I remember raccoons and possum’s were bad to get Mama’s ducks at night in our chicken yard.
Now I’m off to vote!
Deb
6:56
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How about — Lucy?
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There are so many predators: Raccoons, weasels, fox, bear, possums, dogs, owls, hawks, man. I’ve been told the Game Commission released Fishers (some form of Martin/Mink-type predator here in Pennsylvania. We even heard them mewling around outside our home in the summer. GREAT!! And I just get chickens for the first time! Needless to say, they are fenced in, netted over, and continually watched just in case.
Best of luck with the remaining duck. Hope she gets friends soon.
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( http://www.busysolitudefarm.com/2009/10/loss-in-yard.html ).
My Ari Duckass has made a good recovery as the sole duck-among-chickens, she even flirts with my rooster, Egglebert. I hope your girl will bounce back. The photo of her from the back, standing alone, was just too much for me this morning.
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The vote is not going our way. Hopefully the comments we have all left on the SamE blog will sway the voters!!!
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I always mix my flour, sugar, salt, dough enhancer together and make sure it’s mixed well before adding the wet sturr. A while ago, I put the flour (in a metal bowl) in the oven to warm it as the Dough Enhancer I put in it was cold. I forgot…DUH!…and left it in a little too long and it was pretty warm. HOWEVER, I sifted it to cool it down and mixed it with the wet yeast mix. POUFFFF! Did that dough ever rise in record time! What started as a mistake turned into a step I now take everytime I make bread. Heat the flour till slightly warm. Even on the coldest day, that really gives the dough a boost!
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Wow….talk about free-ranging imagination!!! I need more coffee now.
8:17
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Two other applicants have interestingly had a huge odd surge in votes – one has gotten over 8000 in two days after a big lull. Hmmmm.
So let’s keep up what we are doing – voting often and legitimately, leaving comments on the Sam-e site, spreading the word and reminding friends daily to vote!
As Cindy posted so eloquently in the forum,
DO NOT be discouraged by the numbers! The vote is only 20% of the determining factors – it’s important, but even more so is the commitment of the CITR family to reading Suzanne’s blog and the COMMENTS that you make which truly shows our presence and loyalty.
I am proud to see that CITR readers aren’t buzzing about 90 ways to cheat on voting numbers. Woohoo keep voting and commenting!
Dede
8:18
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I can’t find a link to vote this morning…..help!!!!
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~Jenny~
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That little duck looks so sweet. Love the bonnet!
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NorthCountryGirl! What a good way to insure a good rise! Have you posted that over on the forum? I’m going to try it on today’s baking!
8:55
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Voted again this morning: 14076 votes.
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Donna
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Beth aka oneoldgoat
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Makes you ready for the rebirth of spring and new ducks.
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I like Scarlet O’Ducky too. It reminds me of the way I name my betta fishes – Names like Fishnest Hemingway and Fishbert Humperdink. Our current betta is named Fishard Dean Anderson
9:47
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Thanks for the shout out on Facebook, Suzanne!
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It’s so hard when you lose your beloved animals…Been through that and it’s a bummer. Could be anything getting them. The worst culprit I ever had was a raccoon….
Ruthie
10:52
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And I’m continuing to vote and to read everyday…I love this blog and all the wonderful supporters!
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Poor Miss Ducky! It is bittersweet that she is alone in her duckness. I know she will be spoiled now that she get special treats on the porch!
I hope Ms. Clover doesn’t get jealous now.
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I’m confident that Sam-e knew they couldn’t completely control human nature even though they tried. Votes aren’t readers or potential visitors to the Sam-e site when one voter armed with 2 home computers, 5 browsers, a netbook or laptop or two, and a phone, visits the library, the coffee shop and one or two or local shops, racking up lots of votes in a relatively short period of time (do the math. It’s astonishing). I don’t even want to think about how many computers anyone on a college campus has access to. (Not saying that either of these things is happening; just that computers being computers and human nature being human nature, they certainly could happen).
But the people at Sam-e must have foreseen that things like that might take place and that the candidates (who may have not even know their voting supporters) wouldn’t be able to control this any more than Sam-e can.
Just saying that all of that is probably why voting is only 20% of final judging. Because the ultimate goal is to bring actual readers to the Sam-e site, to find a dependable candidate who will offer a positive message and whose readers will follow her or him to that site every day.
And you know that we will be there!
Now, back to other fun things! Like duck names. I really love the name Sparkle that someone said her daughter had named their duck (such a fun name)! But, under the circumstances, Scarlett is so fitting. (If she starts quacking “I’ll think about that tomorrow” you know you’ve got your name).
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Happy Thanksgiving Suzanne!
Angela
11:41
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Who wrote that? And what does it mean? LOL What I meant was "who may not even know."
Sorry, I hate when I make mistakes like that. Had to correct it. (I need an editor).
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I’m voting away, Suzanne! Not being swayed by the two ahead! Voting is just 20% this time but we need to keep voting!!
I was thinking about this voting situation last night as I was going to sleep…..one of the contestants doesn’t even really “blog”, from what I gather (and I could be wrong) she does mainly youtube videos. And I agree with the above poster that said, there’s a difference between getting real readers to come to your site each and every day and rounding up votes!
If you end up the Good Mood Blogger at SAM-e I will be reading your blog over there every day too! I think every one that reads your blog here will do the same.
We love you, Suzanne.
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We are all voting for you and will continue to do so. You will always be our favorite list, no matter what!
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Puddle O’Ducky was just too afraid to join them. They’ll be back!
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I VOTED TODAY!!!
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~ see link on #38 above ~ there is now a message posted there:
Lisa Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Hi everyone,
Just a quick note about comments. Your comments are greatly appreciated, and I admire your efforts to support your favorite candidate. That being said, you’ll also probably notice that there are quite a few comments being left on this post, and it does take some time to look through and consider everything you’d like to say.
We’re doing our best, and we appreciate your patience. Take a second to review the Comment Policy (http://www.sam-e.com/info/comment-policy) if you have any questions.
If you don’t see your comment show up immediately, don’t fret, it probably just means that it is in moderation. We should have it up in no more than 3 days.
Once again, we appreciate your patience in sorting through all these comments. However, please keep the good words coming! Your Good Mood Gig candidates appreciate the support, too!
Thanks,
Lisa
4:34
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Your blog is just beautiful! You might enjoy seeing my semi-pet turkey Tilly at http://www.myrubyslipperslife.blogspot.com
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I’m following you now so I’ll be visiting again very soon.
Happy Thanksgiving from Nashville, Tennessee
fondly,
Vickie
http://www.myrubyslipperslife.blogspot.som
&
http://www.yourbellawedding.blogspot.com
4:35
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Sometimes living in the country has its sad moments.
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Now on to business.
I well remember how you nailed that raccoon’s butt to your porch a few months ago, after it got your little lovely hen. If anyone reading this doesn’t remember, Suzanne is a good shot with a .22.
But if the Loch Ness monster is living in your pond and stealing ducks by pulling them down without a sound or a feather for proof, the pond either needs to be dragged, or more easily, make a different pond. Have your menfolk dig a pond in a corner of your goatyard, just as a fishpond is dug in people’s yard. To rent a digger is about $150 here in MN. Or have a dig party. Line it with clay or plastic. Doesn’t have to be too deep. That way your ducks are safe. I just hate predators. A coyote got a lamb of mine once.
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Tell little Miss Scarlett that she will have new friends to boss around come springtime. Until then she can help you draw out plans for a duck compound!!
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Poor ducky. We had two that lived in the chicken pen and would come out sometimes and walk around around the yard. Ducks are cool. And I adore the name Scarlett O Ducky. LOL
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I thought you looked fine on camera. I really think you did a great job on your Sam-e video. I thought you narrated it beautifully and you looked very much at ease in your appearance in the end.
Off to vote – I am up way too late working tonight.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Aside from dredging the pond and then wire-mesh fencing it off which still may not solve the problem as birds can carry eggs on their feet, I can’t offer you much more. Occasionally fox or stray dogs will kill ducks too but usually you find some evidence.