Watermelon

Well, it is officially summer. Even if you aren't a teacher, or you don't have school aged kids, the Alabama heat and the growing grass elude to the fact that yes, it is summer. Along with the horrible heat comes the delicious fresh fruits and vegetables our hard working farmers supply us with. My favorite just happen to be squash and cucumbers. The babies all agree that their favorite is watermelon.

On the farm, when we used to have domestic geese, they loved watermelon. We would just put a half of it at the edge of the pond and the white geese would drench themselves in the pink juice until they looked as if they were recovering from a horrible battle.

I bought some watermelong last week, really for myself and some friends, but I just thought I would give it a try to see how they would like it. It took them a few minutes to take to it, but once they did, they discovered how much they loved it. It is now something they eat several times a day, mainly because I love how friendly it makes them. They devour it from your hand in seconds, often lingering to peck at anything in your hands that looks pink, or even the nearby painted toenails that resemble watermelon pink.

They act more like peruanas than sweet little ducks, the way they swarm and peck at the juicy fruit. Of course though, even when they miss and hit my fingers, it doesn't hurt, it only tickles.

I cannot express to you how much I have enjoyed these little ones and what delight they have brought me each and everyday. I am only sad, because like any parent, I see them growing much too quickly.

I have now had them for a week and a half. On the one week "anniversary" of them being with me, I decided I wanted to somehow show how much they had grown. So, I tried to get them back into the box that they came to me in. Remember, one week prior, all 15 had arrived with plenty of room to spare in this small box. Now, look at them...

These little ones do know me, and they do look to me, and I believe would follow me around if we actually had a long way to travel. As it is right now, there are distractions such as the swimming pool that often divert their attention, however sometimes they do follow me. Just like the other day when I ran into the kitchen to get them some more watermelon and turned around to see them standing in my den.

At the least the watermelon and I have not spoiled them...