Ducks in a row ...

September 27, 2008

Fall is in the air, and the wreath on my front door is glowing with autumn colors.

This morning I removed the summertime ribbons from around the necks of my three stone ducks and replaced them with orange, rust and yellow bows. They look so nice. The mama duck is standing tall and proud with two little ducklings by her side. (If she had five she'd be drooping)

My stone boy remains seated on his bench with a protective arm around his dog. I put crisp new ribbons on the dog.

I'm pleased with our tiny yard.

Two large baskets of greenery are attached to the redwood fence surrounding our patio. Artificial, of course. The only kind that grows well for me. Karen called my attention to a price tag still hanging on one of the branches. Made me feel like Minnie Pearl.

A few years ago when Karen and Honey Gail were visiting in Ohio, I sent them shopping for a stone bench to place under a magnolia tree near the street in our front yard. They brought home exactly what I needed. The little boy and his dog perched upon the bench were an added bonus. I couldn't wait to see it installed. My two daughters strained and tugged and arranged the bench just so. It was perfect. Almost. I hurried off to get my stone duck family, anxious to place them on the ground near the boy's bare feet. They'd be the finishing touch to a heartwarming picture. Motorists would smile when driving past.

"No." both girls spoke at once when they saw me coming.

"Why?" I wanted to know.

"Because, Mama, the stone is a different color. The colors won't work well together."

"But ... "

"No." They repeated firmly.

Honey Gail took the ducks from my arms and carried them across the yard to place them in a flower bed closer to the house. Far enough away from the stone bench boy so the colors wouldn't offend each other.

Later that night as my daughters began the long trip back to their own homes, I walked out into the yard to wave them off and as soon as the tail lights on their car faded from view I hurried to rescue my poor rejected ducks from the flower bed and relocate them to the magnolia tree area.

They fit perfectly. Stone boy's sweet toes rested close to baby duck's feathery behind.

When we made the move to Tennessee two years ago, Karen and Honey Gail loaded my stone creatures into the moving van without discussion. At our new address those same girls placed boy, dog, bench and duck family near a bush beside my front door. Still, no argument.

I think that means I won the battle, but with grown children one can never be sure.