It has been cold here lately. Last night it was in the upper 20's. It is unusual for temperatures to dip that low this early in the season here in central Florida. I came over to the house hoping for a respite from the cold, but found that the heat was out in the house. I called my landlord this morning, and was able to spend some time talking with him while he worked on the system. His family has owned this land for generations. He is an older man, probably in his late 60's. He and his wife still work every day at the storage facility that they own. He has been very restrictive about the dogs, and I thought he did not like dogs, but today I learned that he does not have a dog now, because of a very special dog. He said that he was so attached to that dog, that he could never have another.
I took my dogs over to visit my father, and my special feathered friends at the nursing home.
My parents had many homes on the water, and my father always fed the ducks and geese that appeared in his backyard. The nursing home where my father is staying has two large ponds that are home to many ducks. They even have a visiting duck that is a certified therapy duck. I always bring scratch for the ducks, so they come running when they hear me calling.
These three characters are my favorite. They are always together, and they love people. They eat out of my hand, and talk constantly.
Today, someone had left some new ducks at the pond. They were all huddled together, and I initially thought they were a plastic shopping bag on the ground. They were obviously hand raised, and had no fear of me, or the dogs. Today was the first time I have fed them, but when I came back around with the dogs, they came running up, scaring the dogs. Attack ducks! Run for your life! Doesn't this one look threatening.
As I walk between the two ponds to feed the ducks, there is always a parade of other birds behind me. Today there were even seagulls.
I have decided. I want ducks more than chickens.
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