Learning To Be Persistent and Consistent - From a Duck!
I know what you're thinking. I can imagine the look on your face. What in the world is she talking about? Right? Well, bear with me as I explain.
Spring time is when my husband and I like to get out in the yard and start to spruce it up so it looks nice. Our annual landscaping project includes us cleaning the flower beds, adding fresh mulch, new plants, etc.
Last spring was no different. We had it all planned. But our plans got interrupted when there was a mama duck that decided to take up residence in our front flower bed. She found the perfect spot to make herself at home, build her nest and lay her eggs. Once they were laid, I didn't want to disturb them by moving them. So I left the nest alone. Of course, this was taking our landscaping project off schedule. But that's okay. We were fine.
I kept checking the nest. One evening, I checked her nest and saw that the eggs had finally hatched! Yay! On with the project tomorrow. We were ready to get going.
The next day, I went out ready to get started only to find out she had laid more eggs. Wait! What? So, once again, I didn't want to disturb the nest, so I left them alone. Our project was getting more and more delayed.
Once again, the race was on to check the nest and finally - yes, these eggs hatched! This time I was going to be smart about it. So after the eggs hatched, I decided to put a plant in the area of the nest so she could not lay more eggs over night. Finally! We can get started with the project. Yes! I went to bed with a smile on my face.
The next day, I went out ready to go with the project. Yet, another surprise....mama duck had built another nest NEXT TO the previous nest where I had placed the plant.....and laid more eggs! Shut the front door!
Did you know that some varieties of ducks can lay an average up to 180 eggs per year?! I didn't either until I did some research. Some special varieties can lay almost 300 eggs per year! OMG! This project was never going to be complete!
Nope, enough was enough. So, we decided to put sand bags around the area she liked to build her nest. It wasn't a very attractive fix, but it kept her from building her nest there again. After that, she didn't return and we could finally move forward with the landscaping project. Done!
So, did this mama duck teach me a lesson? Yes, because no matter what I did, she countered it. She stuck to her plan and never gave up! Isn't that what I need to remember with building my site? I need to be just like that mama duck - be consistent, persistent and never give up! When I run into a road block, be flexible and come up with a different plan to get through the hurdle just like she did.
This year, since we live in an area that is relatively warm in the winter months (thank goodness), my husband decided to take the sand bags up and put mulch down early. The yard looks really nice.
Two days ago, I went outside to take a look around the yard. As I was looking around, I caught my breath....
I saw a nest...
...with two eggs in it.
She's baaaaack!!
~ Yvette ~
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Well......There is just no place like "HOME".....Welcome to the "Family" next she'll be coming to your table for diner....
You both have a Very Big "Heart"....How Ducky.....I Love it....
You are right....there is no place like home. Like I told someone else...she better be careful or we're going to have to start charging her RENT! LOL! Glad you enjoyed it.
Hey....If you are both Lucky....forget the rent and .....be Patient and Perhaps ...she'll lay some "Golden Eggs".....and end of story is one big "Happy Family"....And they all lived in a new NEST.....happy ever after.....LOL...