Skating geese

I went to a workshop on kinetic sculpture this morning, and had a good time.  Interesting people, some very creative, some super talented, all nice.  And on the way home, I stopped off at Colonial Lake, where a house is for sale and where there is a lake and a creek.

The lake had a thin but complete skim of ice over the top, on which were perched two separate - very separate! - bird communities, one of seagulls, and one of Canadian geese.  Further off in the creek, ducks paddled in pairs, male and female, foraging not very successfully for food.  I worried about them, but there is an unequivocal sign saying not to feed the waterfowl, so I will have to leave them to nature and the authorities.

The Canadian geese were massed in a huge mob at once end of the lake, talking, squawking, and gossiping amongst themselves.  Every now and then one or two would decide to check out new neighbors, and would start to walk along the ice.  Except the ice was so slippery, it was step, slide, step, slide, step, sli-i-i-ide.  They skated gingerly along the surface and I couldn't help laughing out loud.  I stood and laughed despite myself, and despite everything that is going wrong right now.  Luckily, they ignored me.  God forbid I should hurt their feelings!  These were very dignified geese.

At one point on the lake, there was some crazing that looked like jagged leading for a sharply geometric monochromatic stained glass.  It was so unusual, and so beautiful, I looked and looked and looked at it, hardly believing how beautiful it was.  I mourned not having a camera, but perhaps I would see less if I were more involved in photographing.

What a beautiful day.  Thank you ducks, thank you seagulls, thank you Canadian geese, thank you everything that is real, that is true, that is positive.