Walking around Lake Tomahawk

 

On Jan 3, 2021...a nice afternoon.

Some clouds caught on the Black Mountains north of Lake Tomahawk.

Today there were more Mallards in different places around the lake...well, different from yesterday. I'll have to go back a few more times to see where else they might like to congregate!

And just one lonely Canada Goose, nibbling on grass shoots right by the walkway.

Today's Quote:

Try another way of looking.

Try you looking and the whole universe seeing.

—Rumi

Older ducklings

As I walked along one side of Lake Tomahawk the other day, I saw another family of Mallards, with ducklings that were a bit older than the first ones I saw (on yesterday's post).

 Mom Mallard led her 10 ducklings (I think) from the bank of the dam into the water.

 There was a male napping on shore...

 He didn't want anything to do with these kids, and chased this one back into the water, then disappeared somewhere else.

 The sluice that drains the water must have been full of goodies to eat, but I was worried that a duckling might get swept away. They didn't seem to have a care, and neither did mom Mallard.

I didn't watch for long, because I was actually there to capture a photo of the National Guard plane that was about to fly over. I did get some photos of it, and have posted them already.

Today's quote:

We often think that vulnerability is a kind of weakness, but there’s a kind of vulnerability that is actually strength and presence.

RAM DASS

Some ducklings

I had just arrived to walk around Lake Tomahawk the other day. But I put on a mask, and noticed nobody else had on one.  Only one woman was running apparently, and one was dog walking. I stopped and let her pass me by. For the jogger, I moved 10 feet off the path upwind of her. I'm at high risk of catching Covid-19 - so I'm really staying as isolated as I can. (I've heard 15 feet is normal for those jogging to expel their breaths.)

Then there were these little fluffy things floating around with male mallards. I didn't see a female anywhere nearby.

 They were very interested in eating something underwater. Good for them!

Quote for today:

We feel like separate water droplets but we are also ocean.

JANE HIRSHFIELD