Ducks and Chickens, Apartments and Rent

 Some interesting things along the home front.  I love ducks and chickens.  When I was first married, we lived in the country in Louisiana, and I managed to acquire three different pairs and types of ducks and from there had a merry time raising ducks and chickens.  The chickens were all different and I hatched them from eggs, but that is another story.  

We have two smallish man-made ponds in our complex and recently during the midst of the unbelievably hot summer I saw birds at the pond on different days.  The first bird I saw looked like something from the Heron family. When I googled it, I found this picture of a Yellow Crowned Night Heron.  Amazing. 

When I saw it, I froze, and he froze waiting to see what I would do.  I was on a Buddy Walk and luckily Buddy didn't see it and bark so I just walked on as invisibly as I could.  When I turned the corner of the building, I looked back, and he was gone.  I never heard a bird/duck call or a flapping of wings.  

To make life even more amazing a couple of days later I came upon two of what I believe to be Black Bellied Whistling Ducks. There was a pair and they had the most amazing orange-red beaks I've ever seen. Much more prominent than in this picture.

Again, I was on a Buddy Walk so we snuck on by hoping they would remain or at least come again, but sadly no.  

There are two big nature parks not far, as the bird flies, from here and I think perhaps they had a layover from there.  This was before we had a couple of light rains so I'm sure water was in deep demand for dry, thirsty birds.  

I love the pictures Marie shares and the birds and ducks are my absolute favorites.  They take me back to a very special place in my life, one that would be hard to duplicate in my present living situation. 

These are pictures of Buddy pulling his bed around the corner to the front door.  I don't know what he was trying to accomplish but I moved it back into civilization. 

Speaking of, Buddy is doing a little better.  After the chicken and rice recommendations, I went to the store to buy one of those precooked whole chickens and they had a couple of containers of Popcorn Chicken on clearance and I bought all four containers.  At first, I didn't warm them after I took a few of them out of the container in the ice box and he turned is nose up, so I warmed them, and he ate them all.  Next time I took them out of the ice box when I made my coffee so they would be room temperature by the time I finished my two cups of coffee which he knows means breakfast time.  He ate one but turned his nose up.  So, I cut them in half, and he was happy.  When I finish the containers I have, I will try whole chickens or something new.  He still eats treats and bread crust, but we will try expanding this short list. 

My daughter feeding the birds at Galveston.  

Like Margaret, it was her first visit to the beach 

since her long-time beach-loving dog passed. 

Other good news.  Recently I heard from the new apartment manager that they might be taking applications soon.  I am worried about the price even though it is an affordable housing project and I should get reduced rent.  Rent prices are incredibly high in Houston so a reduced rent could still put it out of my range.  There are companies continuing to move here making it worse.  If I was from out of state, I would never move here where the Governor is such a menace to society.  I believe he is crazier than Trump now.  

I did get a notice from my current apartments that the rent is going up $100.  That includes a $25 increase from $25 to $50 a month for pet rent!  Staying where I am was Plan C or D but that's out now.  No worries. Worst case scenario I will put my belongings in storage and camp out at either or both of my kids.  

I went out for a Buddy Walk about noon today and it was raining big fat drops with the sky completely clear and the sun out.  We needed it but could we have at least 10 minutes instead of just 5?

More later....