This morning my mournful pleas for scoops / snippets / anything of interest did not fall on deaf ears. For once, the reserve team had something for me. It would appear that Gertie the confused Canada goose is quite determined to establish an international fan club and yesterday she firmly established herself as the current number 1 personality on the ranch. The goose is becoming increasingly attached and clearly more enamoured with Quest the huge Shire gelding. If Quest stops to deal with an itch, Gertie will fluff out her feathers and have a little preen. If Quest grazes, Gertie grazes and if Quest takes a drink, alongside his huge head the goose lowers her graceful black neck into the rippling pond. Once again Gertie took the waddle down the farm road with the two horses, past Hol-ley and Lamb Chop, past the chicken coop and through into the barnyard. Gertie’s instinct to be a goose appears to come second to her instinct to stay with her totally indifferent protector and it was only at the door of the stall, surrounded by people and being watched intently by Bran the Border Collie, Gertie lost her resolve and took flight. We have no explanation as to why the goose has stayed at the ranch, why she didn’t fly away with the other geese or why she has such an affinity to our gelding.
UPDATE on Gertie as of 3.15pm. That fortuitous goose lives to waddle and honk another day…but it REALLY was a close call ! A phone call from a watchful and concerned Ginger confirmed that Edgar the eagle was back in the neighbourhood and not just on a flying visit. Edgar apparently made his first attack between the Shires…(now that’s a dumb eagle) which caused the gentle giants to forget that they are gentle giants and a couple of tons of horse thundered across the pasture. Gormless Gertie, alone and unprotected tried to follow but Edgar had goose firmly on his dinner menu. Gertie managed to make it to the pond while the frustrated eagle circled to swoop again, skimming the surface of the water, talons just a heartbeat from the frantically paddling goose. From my kitchen window I nearly choked on my candy bar as the ranch’s number one personality and the dastardly eagle duelled it out. Gertie stayed by the island in the pond, hiding in the reeds, only the ripples of water to betray her. Edgar the eagle had time, he flew into the cedar tree which grows tall and dense on the bank of the pond and patiently waited for the goose to move. I could see eagle and goose and, no longer interested in my candy bar and unable to concentrate on making my chocolate chip cookies with the prospect of Gertie’s pending demise, I came up with the master plan. Greg. Greg was busy down at the barn constructing the new stall and in reply to my traumatised phone call he replied “Maureen, that’s nature “. Ok, time for an executive decision….GREG go and make a noise, go and persuade Edgar that he is no longer welcome in this neighbourhood and go and make sure that Gertie lives to honk another day. Potentially, Edgar snacking on the goose could cause an international incident. Wisely, Greg considered preserving Gertie’s safety would possibly would be more advantageous than playing the “nature will take it’s course” card…and he was right. Greg scared the eagle out of the tree and Gertie the goose with nine lives waddled back to Quest. Peace restored.
Well as a postscript, I did finish my candy bar and cooling on the kitchen counter there are a dozen raisin scones and a chocolate cake, some 3 million calories and a smile on his face.
Take care, keep safe, M
PS. If you have a moment, please check out the “Hope for Georgia” page. Any donations large or small would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks, M
UPDATE on Gertie as of 3.15pm. That fortuitous goose lives to waddle and honk another day…but it REALLY was a close call ! A phone call from a watchful and concerned Ginger confirmed that Edgar the eagle was back in the neighbourhood and not just on a flying visit. Edgar apparently made his first attack between the Shires…(now that’s a dumb eagle) which caused the gentle giants to forget that they are gentle giants and a couple of tons of horse thundered across the pasture. Gormless Gertie, alone and unprotected tried to follow but Edgar had goose firmly on his dinner menu. Gertie managed to make it to the pond while the frustrated eagle circled to swoop again, skimming the surface of the water, talons just a heartbeat from the frantically paddling goose. From my kitchen window I nearly choked on my candy bar as the ranch’s number one personality and the dastardly eagle duelled it out. Gertie stayed by the island in the pond, hiding in the reeds, only the ripples of water to betray her. Edgar the eagle had time, he flew into the cedar tree which grows tall and dense on the bank of the pond and patiently waited for the goose to move. I could see eagle and goose and, no longer interested in my candy bar and unable to concentrate on making my chocolate chip cookies with the prospect of Gertie’s pending demise, I came up with the master plan. Greg. Greg was busy down at the barn constructing the new stall and in reply to my traumatised phone call he replied “Maureen, that’s nature “. Ok, time for an executive decision….GREG go and make a noise, go and persuade Edgar that he is no longer welcome in this neighbourhood and go and make sure that Gertie lives to honk another day. Potentially, Edgar snacking on the goose could cause an international incident. Wisely, Greg considered preserving Gertie’s safety would possibly would be more advantageous than playing the “nature will take it’s course” card…and he was right. Greg scared the eagle out of the tree and Gertie the goose with nine lives waddled back to Quest. Peace restored.
Well as a postscript, I did finish my candy bar and cooling on the kitchen counter there are a dozen raisin scones and a chocolate cake, some 3 million calories and a smile on his face.
Take care, keep safe, M
PS. If you have a moment, please check out the “Hope for Georgia” page. Any donations large or small would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks, M
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