Photo-a-Day Challenge

Ordinary Days in an Ordinary Week

October arrives quietly

Our dog Syau lives in a small world of herself, Captain Argentina, me, and squirrels. She has almost no interest in any other living beings, particularly our cats Tango and Sébastien. Tango is enamored with Syau, loves her scent, and wants to be near her. But, when Tango cuddles close to her, Syau moves away.

Sunday, Syau was stretched long and sleeping deeply when Tango took advantage of her sound slumber to use her leg as a pillow. Syau never knew.

My friend Gina and I were sitting on the back porch when we heard a racket in the lake. The ducklings! They were playing tag in the water — having one hell of a good time. We put out corn for them. Nine came to shore first; the other three came a little later. They didn’t stay long; I’m sure because of their fear of Lydia.

But, Lydia was nearby and didn’t bother them. Three days ago, she came ashore with a large twig and Spanish moss dragging behind a rear leg. It appeared to be attached by a fishing line. She wouldn’t let me near. I found her on the shore Monday with that twig and line tangled up in bushes. She couldn’t move. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the line free from her leg and had to return to the house for scissors. When I returned, she panicked and pulled her baggage loose from the bush. She frantically ran around with me in pursuit. If she were to get tangled somewhere else, she might just die in that spot. Exhausted, she slowed down and I was able to cut the line. And, as soon as she recovered, she started harassing the ducklings again!

These primrose willows are prolific this time of year. A large bush of them is on our lakeshore.

We have a new Toby (our nickname for the Muscovy ducks). She’s come three times for corn and always alone. She’s a young female. I imagine she was born in the spring. Since I believe she will be a regular, I named her Perla.

Do you notice the Whistlers that don’t have orangey-pink beaks and legs? They are juveniles. I don’t know where most of the Whistlers go during the summer, but they return in late August and early September with their summer-born ducklings that are already nearly the size of the adults.

After a summer of almost daily rains, we are in the midst of our first dry spell of fall. The sky is bluer than blue and the clouds are as white as cotton balls.

Although considered a weed, I love Morning Glories (Tievines)! They are everywhere this time of year.

That I walk up my stoop, I pause to consider if it really be, A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books. To behold the day-break!

~ Walt Whitman

Sébastien is thinking about his next Medium post!

I worked all day on Saturday, pausing to have lunch on the back porch of my client’s office. This rabbit joined me, nibbling at grass while I ate rice.

© Dennett 2021

A little more than a year ago, I started the Photo-a-Day Challenge to help combat the virus blues. I take photos every day and choose one (maybe, two) to represent the day. Then, add a one-or-two-word descriptor and maybe, some narrative. A simple way to observe and preserve.

Want to join the fun? It’s all about noticing and appreciating your environment and sharing it with us, as these photographers and story-tellers have:

Erika Burkhalter / Eileen Vorbach Collins / Anne Bonfert / Sasha Meyer / Tracy Aston/ Lisa Bolin / Juan O. Aguilera / David Wade Chambers / June Nguyen / Mia Verita / Susan Alison / LensAfield / Barbara Radisavljevic / Diana Lotti / Barbara Dalton / Kim Zuch / K. Barrett / Sandra Barrett / Shruthi Sundaram / Gustavo Mendez

(If you participated in the Photo-A-Day Challenge and your name isn’t listed above, please let me know.)

Please follow the Snapshot rules:

Lead with a photo/title and subtitle follow No more than 10 photos per post No more than 750 words per post Yes, we know that the photos are yours but you still have to state that they’re your work

And, have fun!