Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Mail Order Bride


Our household has been selected for couples. Three female and three male cats all indoors, besides my husband and I. Outdoors, we have 1 male and 1 female cat, however, we have had 1 muscovy duck for the past 3 years. He actually showed up and fell in love with our pond and hasn't wanted to leave since. He had belonged to the neighbor up the road and Ronnie had to move and said if he couldn't catch the duck, he was just going to shoot him! Well we grew very fond of this ugly species of bird and would even take the bullet for him. lol My husband named him Elmer, (since I wasn't quick enough to decide.) He has been happy go lucky, wags his tail like a dog and will even eat the cat food put out for the other cats, despite his own corn feed! He occasionally pecks at the cats as if to tell them, "my food!" He has chased many a dog that has entered our yard. In the summer, he beats it down to the pond when he sees a heron land, and carries on with this threatening ritual dance, hoping the Heron will leave. As soon as I pop the door open, it scares the heron off and Elmer gets credit for his maucho duck ritual. He's quite proud of him self, actually. We never told him anything different and would wait until we see him waddle as fast as he could across the yard to repeat the scene all over again. He loves protecting his territory and I am sure not many people can say that they have a guard duck!




Poor Elmer has been alone all of these years. I often thought he would leave the area especially when the pond would about dry up this past summer, but it was his home to him. He would stay underneath our back porch amongst the Ivy and felt pretty safe.

Last night I had a knock on the door. It's pretty unusual for us as most people call before they drop over, but to my surprise, it was our old neighbor that had moved and he was carrying a cat carrier and said he had a present for us. Well, that's one thing I really didn't need was another cat! He picked up the carrier to reveal he had a "mail order bride" for Elmer! What a surprise! So Ronnie takes the carrier over to the pond and lets the female out. 3 years was a long time and I wasn't so sure if they would get along. We would have to wait and see if she stayed or took off. Well, it didn't take long before Elmer was jumping her bones! Talk about one happy camper! It was almost dark at this point, so had to wait until morning after their honeymoon to see if it was a great evening. As I left, I was imagining them under a blanket of snow having a cigarette,with Elmer asking, "was it as good for you as it was for me?" When I got up this morning, I saw the happy couple on the porch next door at the retreat house, so I finished up my email and would walk over to serve them breakfast in bed! By the time I walked over there, neither one of them were in site!!! It had been snowing harder and I noticed duck tracks in the snow and followed it over to the neighbor's garage. (Don't they just quack you up?)



Ah ha!!! I caught the two love birds! He was taking her to see the sites and all of his favorite spots! Good thing the neighbor doesn't mind!





I talked to the newly weds a bit and told them I had a nice cracked corn dish prepared for them so out they came and followed me back. I couldn't but help but to share their newly wed pictures! lol



As you can see by this photo, the honey moon is over. Notice that she is getting the last word in? LOL (ironically muscovy's don't have a voice), but rest assured she is nagging him already.

17 comments:

Featheronawire Sally Bramald said...

How absolutely lovely, I adore Muscovies anyway, this tale is delightful.

debmck said...

Oh!Wanda! I'll write more later but right now I have to run to the bathroom before I wet my pants laughing here!! What a fantastic tale and I positively have tears in my eyes cuz I'm so happy for the newly-weds!

Anonymous said...

So Elmer has a girl at last! What are you going to call her? Congrats on the new addition and the little ones that will be coming along soon. Lovely story. Thanks for sharing.

Charmion

Norma Soulet (AZArtist) said...

Wanda,

What a creative story. I was ROFLMBO!
Yes, Elmer's wife does need a name!
Maybe you can call her Daisy or Gluella! LOL

Hugs,
Norma

NEEDLEWINGS said...

LOL Too funny! I was thinking Daisy too. Thought I would let Narelle's daughter pick out the name for her, but the way things were going last night, we may have to come up with all sorts of names. hee hee.

Barb's Blurbs said...

How delightfully funny and wonderful! I'm sure that they are both extremely happy! Thanks for sharing this!

Gabriela said...

AHHAHHAHH! I am dying Wanda! You write terrific...You are just a blessing to know!
Love
Gabriela

Pattyskypants said...

OMG! That is the KEWTEST story I have heard in a LONG time!! I also like the photo of the kitty "on quack." ROFL!! You quack me up!

Judy Alexander said...

Great story.....everyone needs a little love....

jenclair said...

Ahh, romance. Warms the heart! What a great story.

Flicsha said...

Hi I think your Ducks would be so cute in a coat! Flicsha

Ohio Quilter said...

too funny wanda, so have you updated their nest for two. maybe some babies will come this spring.

callmelacie said...

My cousin and I sat back and giggled our way through this entertaining little story! Have fun with your special critters!

sherry carrigan said...

Thanks for sharing Wanda. What a wonderful love story.

Robbie said...

OK, this is just way too funny! I love the ducks! And the story! Now'll I'll have to keep coming back to make sure they stay together and no other duck 'comes between' them! Thanks for comments on your ATC you received. That was fun!

Pam said...

What a wonderful story. Hope they live "Happily Everafter"!.
Thanks for your comments on my blog.

Pam

Linda said...

Now that is a Sweet Sweet story. I am so happy for Elmer. We once had a Watch Goose...he was not nice. His Girl, Giggles, was very sweet though.