Ducks, Birds and a Recalcitrant Cat

Early summer. You can't beat it -- temps are warming but not hot, sometimes with a breeze. Here in Michigan where we often have cloudy days, the sky has been blue and the days bright. (OK, a little rain, but that's good for the yard!) 

I've been doing a little painting, a little reading, a little walking. Cataract surgery kept me from lifting or bending for a week so I'm looking forward to actually bending over and deadheading my geraniums!

Lizzie then

The cataract recovery has gone well. Debra asked me to talk a bit about it, so if you've already experienced this step in your life, skip a paragraph! Meanwhile, a little cat eye candy!

Lizzie now.

If they tell you it's time for cataract surgery, do it. It's a cinch. No pain and the most frustrating thing is that it takes a bit (so they say) for your eyes to learn to work together as the new lenses settle in so your old glasses may not work for you quite the way they did before. After four weeks, I'll get a prescription for new glasses. But for the most part, I wonder if I'll need them, even for reading, unless it's very small print or very dim. Sometimes before the surgery, you will have to do eye drops (one surgeon had me do this, the other didn't) and the same after. The process itself takes only about 20 minutes. I was in and out, including pre- and post-op/recovery in about three and a half hours. They give you enough anesthetic so you really have zero recollection of anyone messing with your eyes. They tell me I was not asleep but if anyone was chatting with me, I didn't consciously hear. After, you can't lift more than a gallon of milk or bend lower than your waist for a week. You also can't swim or wash your eyes with water and you wear a protective shield over the eye at night for that week. That's it. Pretty easy.

The after effects? I know that some see colors more brilliantly. I can't say that's the case with me -- they were always bright. But I've noticed that the HD on the TV is a lot sharper. And I can actually read more without my glasses, which was a surprise. All in all, a good thing.

So, I've been communing with Lizzie a bit. She's twelve and a half now and apart from her oppositional behavior disorder (my diagnosis) she's a terrific cat. Thank goodness for Costco puppy pads! At $17 for 100, I happily buy in bulk. This is my girl shortly after she came to me.

And this is her now. She's grown up.

Also growing up are the Ditch critters. I haven't seen our goslings but an intrepid neighborhood nature photographer tells me they've moved to another pond out of the 'hood. However, we finally have ducklings! I have seen two families. These guys are much younger (and their protective parents make them hard to photograph!)

I think there are four in this group. This one is a cutie.

And this is how they look when they scratch themselves! I don't know why, but I never thought of ducks scratching themselves the way dogs or cats do.

The other family is a little older and were getting swimming and feeding lessons from mom.

 

They appear to be doing rather well! I'd give their duckrobatics a 10.

The menfolk Mallards were having their own fun.

This greeted me on one of my recent walks. Why was this bench cordoned off?

As you can see, a turtle has buried its eggs here. Fortunately, someone saw it while happening and staked it off. I hope I'll see the babies.

And, I had a good sighting of Harry (or Harriet?) in a new spot in one of the ponds.

The head looks a little different from other sightings (although they are always far away and at a different angle) so I'm thinking it's Harry -- but who knows?

 I have to admit, he made quite the handsome hunter.

On the home front, a handsome squirrel. I've been thoroughly enjoying their shenanigans as they chase one another relentlessly!

Now, it's time to chill out and relax! 

Have a great day!

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