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Julie is like a house on fire with the wall this week. Here is her progress:

Five days ago - west side

Looking down the center at how she fills in with smaller rocks

A day later

East side facing house

June 23

June 24

The artisan at work...

West side

Facing North, looking at the insides

East side

West side

all around the town!

Seriously, Julie is doing a fabulous job and we've already started to talk about where to get the rocks to continue. How she moves some of the large stones is beyond me.

More to come!

So Julie and I were sitting on the upper lawn today with the ducklings when we noticed that a male and female Mallard were walking to the upper lawn from the pond. Coincidence?

Perhaps, but we decided to see if the ducklings would go to the ducks. As we stood and slowly walked to the pond, the ducks retreated to the water. Amelia and Pepper followed Julie, spotted the ducks and the water and continued on to the pond.

walking to the pond

Julie watched them enter the water

The female came over to check out the ducklings.

Even the drake came over.

Unfortunately the female heard something from across the pond and she and the drake flew away. The ducklings couldn't have cared less. They were having too much fun in the water.

We're taking them out more now and they keep me company when I weed. They are a magnet for predators, however. Sweetie, the shy barn cat came out to fix her beady eyes on them and it's necessary at this point to keep the dogs in the house as Tucker would love to have duck confit.

Seems like everyone loves a duck! This past weekend, friends came to check out the ducklings.

The kids were enthralled.

Lily

Grace

So were the adults.

Alison

Can you blame them? This is Pepper.

Next, Grace and Lily were off to see the baby chicks.

Even Ben got into the act.

And then it was the horses.

Dandy was thrilled with the company.

And so was I.

While John and I were away this past week, the Mallard eggs we rescued from our dogs three weeks ago hatched. So beside looking after the cat, the dogs and the chicks, Julie became the proud mother of two ducklings. Her reaction on Saturday morning when they were one and two days old?

"Mom, I'm exhausted. I'm never having children if this is what it's like!"

Not to worry Julie....I have a feeling the ducklings were far more time consuming.

They follow Julie everywhere.

Amelia on the left and Pepper on the right

Mom takes them swimming.

Sometimes they need a little reassurance.

They seem to take right to it.

Proud mom

A walk to the sunny part of the lawn

I'm tired, mom.

"Duckling" eye view

Too cute!

Warming up Pepper who likes to snuggle.

The duckings love their "mom."

Ok.... we're off for another walk.

To be continued......