Monday, August 15, 2011

Our 15th annual "We Don't Have to Go Back to School Today" day!! and Austin the Duck...

The local school systems had their first day of classes today.  Poor little ones, the weather has been atrocious all summer and today it was BEAUTIFUL!

Here is a quick run-down of our 15th We Don't Have to Go Back to School Today day - all scheduling done by the Little One!  Our day began with breakfast at Burger King, followed by... (deeeeeep breath) shopping at Kmart and Tractor Supply (duck needed food), 3 hours at Chuck E Cheese, a visit to our favorite thrift store, 3 hours at the splash pad - we had it to ourselves most of the day and again the weather was AMAZING! - then supper at Sweet Peppers Deli complete with a shared slice of their Chocolate Eruption Cake - *dangerous* stuff.  That, my friends, was a wonderfully exhausting day!   The weather was absolutely perfect for the first time all summer, and we've been promised more of the same for the rest of the week!

Speaking of duck food...  Austin the Duck is SO beautiful and we love him dearly, but he goes to his new home this Wednesday.  We found him a new home a few weeks ago, but the amazingly sweet young lady (who has agreed to give him a proper-ducky home) and I had scheduling conflicts, not the least of which involved me spraining my ankle two weeks ago, plus we had triple-digit heat for a couple of weeks and I did not want Austin to begin his outdoor life when it was so hot! 

But the time has now come and although he seems to be very happy with us - snuggling in our laps, running around the house - with one of us right behind him with tissues, making sure he stays off the rugs and doesn't eat anything he shouldn't!! ;-), swimming several times a day in the bathtub, and playing outside in the back yard, it is time to let him go.  He has been an amazing learning opportunity for us all and he has enriched our lives with his soft peeping and whistling, nuzzling bill, curiosity about everything, beautiful feathering, and comical antics.  He will be missed.  Very, very much.  Never would have believed I would fall in love with a duck...

2 comments:

Travels with Emma said...

I'm sure Austin will be very comfortable in a new ducky environment! A good lesson for your daughter, I'm sure. :)

Jim and Sandie said...

Sounds like the perfect Not Going Back to School Day to me. And I just know Austin is going to love his new home.