It's a small world afteral

 

And full of Surprises

This is Mathilde (Tilly for short) our resident Goose

This is Mathilde's look.  Always on the alert.   

 Mathilde has ruled our pond for more than sixteen years

You might recall the story I told you when Tilly lost her friend Leopold.  She would not eat or drink for days, standing by the greenhouse and hoping that her own reflection in the glass was Leopold and that sooner or later he would come out.

Mathilde could not be consoled, which is strange because when Leopold was still alive Mathilde took every opportunity flirting with every goose that showed up on our pond.  Wild geese, who visited, where told where they could swim and where they could rest under the big elm tree.

source: Snow College

Not long ago I was teaching a "Historic Tiles Painting Workshop" in a remote Forest Service Camp.  The camp had been purchased by our local College and all forest cabins had been beautifully restored.  Among my group of students was a grandmother (not just any grandmother, but the Professor of Music, graduate of the Julliard School of Music, New York),  her two grown daughters and an eleven year old, charming little girl, her granddaughter. 

Because Tilly was grieving so for her Leopold we decided to find her a few pals.  She loved them all but decided that one beautiful, all white little goose, was her favorite and soon they became an item.  This little goose is very special.  Whenever we sat outside she would join us, turning her head this way and that, listening to our conversation.

What makes this little goose so special is that she was hand raised by an eleven year old girl. 

Yes, the same charming and talented little  girl who took my painting workshop.  She had named her little goose Violet. 

When we looked for Tillie's companions we found them at a distant farm.  At the time we only met one family member.   The little girl was too sad to come out of the house because she had hand raised Violet from the day she hatched out of her egg... 

"because she was sickly". 

What a small world after all!  

Violet has found a good home and a good partner.  They have raised many a group of sweet goslings.  

It is Mathilde who is the Father of our little goslings.  

He is the most considerate mate and the most loving caretaker you will ever meet.

TILLY IS A BOY GOOSE 

This we didn't know for almost sixteen years. 

Gina 

partial repost

They have come back

After several weeks

And now they're all grown up.

Salpiglossis, Nemesia and Poppies brighten the flower beds.

First Crop has been cut and gathered.

A new kitchen is getting my new hand painted tiles. 

The house sits quiet and cool under the old trees. 

Take care dear friends. 

Gina 

What happened?

Where are they?

No birds in sight.

Many wild ducks and wild geese brought their newly hatched only a few days ago. 

 The usual Voyeur has taken over. 

Often it looks like this.

Not a duck or a bird anywhere.

I think I know what happened. 

Two nights ago I heard a big ruckus outside.

That usually means that Raccoons are coming by for an easy meal.  

Early in the morning my dog Sadie brought back a dead Canadian Goose.  

The adult goose had been killed hours ago.

(Not by my dog)

Now only our resident geese Clyde and Lola are left.

They can't fly. 

Not hiding in the overgrowth.

The log they like to sit upon ...unoccupied.

Day three.  Are they gone for good?  

How sad that would be. 

I wonder how long it will take for them to come back.

Be strong, be safe my dear friends. 

About spell check in New Blogger.   Highlight misspelled word then right click on it and 3 choices will appear. 

Better than nothing. 

The last one.

You say you can't grow oranges in Utah!

 I can.

 In my little greenhouse.

My Meyer orange tree is just a small one but it grew 6 large beautiful and juicy oranges.
And now it is beginning to grow new buds.

My greenhouse is heated by the sun.

It is where my geraniums wait for spring to come. 

It snowed a little last night.  Must clean off the glass panes so that the heat of the sun can be trapped inside.  

And I can grow kumquats. Do you like kumquats?

I do.  
You have to pop the entire fruit into your mouth.  

The inside is very tart but the rind is sweet and very aromatic. 

This cactus almost didn't make it.  

A tiny cactus grew at the base of a larger plant.  One of my white geese came by and pulled it off.  I found the little piece in the grass.  

I potted it up. The next day the goose had yanked it out of the pot.  Again I found it.

I replanted it and moved it to a safe place. 

That was 2 years ago.  

My geraniums are very old...I love every one of them. 

Finished a new mural and sent it off to Virginia.  

And now I'm going to eat my orange. 

Have a wonderful day, 

Gina

Making the Rounds this morning

Making the rounds.

Early this morning.

Sunflowers reaching for the sun.

Showing off against the blue sky. 

Clyde, Lola and Hansel are happy.

Do you recognize these?

I make the most delicious pancake syrup from them.

Cosmos are the first to bloom in my wild patch.

Chickens are happy that I'm sharing our garden greens.

No wonder this chard is called "Bright Lights".

Can't wait for the fennel to mature, for the basil to grow some more so we can make pesto, beans will be ready in a week, savoy cabbage has been enjoyed for several weeks, Parsley is ready for drying.

Annual Poppies are popping up everywhere.

Sunflowers make fine bouquets.

Even when paired with vegetables.

Or all by themselves.  

Have a wonderful weekend my dear friends. 

Thank you for your visits.  
Each and every one of you is very special to me.  

Gina 

Joining http://www.commonground-do.com/2015/

Love at first sight

You haven't lived until you have hugged a goose!

Recently, Lisa had to say goodbye to many of her friends.  

"All of my geese are rescues. My oldest rescue is 13.   I revived him in my hands after his mother abandoned him". 

Lisa was told that her geese had to be separated and relocated from a county park they had been allowed to call home for many years.  

"It is hard for geese to be separated from their family of geese they know and rely upon for their survival".

It was difficult to find good homes for all of her charges. 

It was very traumatic, for Lisa and her geese. 

"Geese communicate with each other about who to trust.  I am fortunate to have found homes where I can visit them".  


All photographs by Lisa's Sister,  Chris Deneris

That is how Clyde and Lola joined our household.    

Have a lovely week my dear friends.  It is always so nice to visit with you.  

Gina