Daddy Duck was recently invited to speak at a church retreat. The ducklings and I got to go along with him & it was a lot of fun.
The place where the retreat was held was very beautiful.
It was incredibly scenic and peaceful.
(Or at least until we got there!)
There was a ropes course where you could swing very high into the air, or practice your tight-rope walking skills.
When we first arrived at the camp, one of the people working there told us that there had been some recent bear sightings on the trails. As we walked up the hill to the course where the trails began, the ducklings authoritatively explained to Daddy Duck how you should behave if you were to meet a bear in the woods. (After all, we had just read about this not too long ago in our zoology studies.) They emphasized how important it was to NOT run away.
All was well & everyone was having lots of fun, when all of a sudden Daddy Duck & the ducklings heard something big & heavy close to them in the woods. All of the bear expertise instantly flew out the window & they
bolted! (And Daddy Duck, too. Mama Duck was further back taking pictures of Queenie.)
Needless to say, we didn't do anymore ropes or trails. That was fine with the boys. They were practically glued to the lake the entire time. They caught fish, crawdads, huge clams, a snapping turtle and a kitten.
This is how they spent 90% of their time. They were too busy to even EAT. And not once did I hear the words, "Mom, I'm hungry."
I am ready to move to a lake.
At around 5:30am one morning, someone crept into our room. It was Monkey Man whispering, "Dad, can I go fishin'?"
And he did.
Our lodge was really cool. It was shaped like a hexagon. One half was bedrooms & bathrooms. The center had a huge stone fireplace, and the other half was open with lots of windows & glass doors.
Queenie met a little friend there who was close to her age. She did a good job of keeping up with everyone, but boy, was she exhausted! Whenever we sat down to listen to Daddy Duck teach, she would conk out in my arms.
It was such a treat for us to get to go with Daddy Duck!
Almost what I was saying when it jumped out of her brother's hand and stuck to my neck. ACK! GROSS!!
I didn't either, until recently. Queenie begged me to let her help & I was very impressed by what she could do.
Meanwhile, the boys were outside working hard. (Well, Monkey Man was, at least. That tiller isn't easy to handle!)
The tiller is loud, but I'm not sure how necessary the ear-thingees were. ?
So far, we've gotten 213 ears. (But who's counting?)
We've given some away, eaten some fresh, and packed the rest in the freezer. The ducklings like to eat it right off the corn stalk. 
I am ready to move to a lake.
It was such a treat for us to get to go with Daddy Duck!
Its texture is not unlike cotton candy.
Queenie needed a new look. Something fresh and less... nappy. Like this:
She looks so much older in her new 'do! 
The onion bulbs won't get very big once the plant bolts, and they also won't store very well.
The ducklings pulled them all up and washed them.
Queenie & Monkey Man chopped them up & I double-bagged them and stuck them in the freezer.
