Duck, Duck, GOOSE!

I went on a nature walk the other day and saw lots of ducks and geese. Here are some pictures.





I thought these two were beautiful. The picture doesn't really show it, but the male's colors are so vibrant.



This one was hanging out all by herself. I'm not really sure what is going on with the feathers on her head, but I think she's cute.



Even though they are noisy and messy, I love the Canada Geese.



I love mallards, too.





These two got a little too close for my comfort.



Notice the crumbs on their mouths. I was feeding them some bread and they really gobbled it up.



This duck has escaped from somewhere. He doesn't seem to notice or care that he looks nothing like the others.

Silas Marner. Read it.

I finished reading George Eliot's Silas Marner a few days ago and have nothing but good things to say about it. It is the story of a miserly, hermit of a man who has his fortune stolen, only to be replaced by an orphaned little girl.

I have always put off reading Silas Marner because my only other experience with George Eliot's writing is Middlemarch, a super-long, and at times super-boring novel. I am happy to report that Silas Marner is not boring or long, and has a very happy ending, which was a nice change from the two downers I read the past two months.

Pick it up and read it sometime when you looking for a short little gem of 19th century literature. You won't be disappointed.

Welcome, Spring!

Autumn arrives in early morning, but spring at the close of a winter day.
~Elizabeth Bowen

I don't know who Elizabeth Bowen is or was, but she certainly has the right perspective on spring. This was the view from my windows yesterday, the day before the official arrival of spring.





Luckily, I was able to stay in out of that snowy mess. Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that was the last snow of the season. Today the sun is shining and everything is melting. Spring is making her presence known!

Erin Go Braugh!

Up until a few years ago, I believed I had Irish ancestors. Believing so always gave me a feeling of superiority on St. Patrick's Day because I was more authentic than everyone else pretending to be. I could say, "Kiss me, I'm Irish" and it was the truth. Then my aunt told me that we are actually Scottish and that was the end of that. Anyway, I still like St. Patrick's Day and in honor of the holiday, I thought I would make a list of some of my favorite Ireland inspired things.

1. Celtic Music - For the record, I was into this long before everyone else was. Plus, I really like the phrase Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral.

2. Irish Tipsy Cake - Chocolate cake soaked in a mixture of butter and Irish Whiskey.

3. Lucky Charms - They're magically delicious.

4. Pierce Brosnan - I think this one is self explanatory.

5. Irish Brogues - Very pleasant to listen to.

6. Guinness - Another self explanatory one.

7. Leprechauns - I know they don't really exist, but it's fun to imagine.

8. Stepdancing - Love the costumes, love the wigs.

9. Four-leaf clovers - I found one once. I think it brought me luck.

10. Chasing rainbows - You never know when you'll find the pot of gold at the end.