I saw a duck inspecting the sandbox in our back yard the other day. She stood on the wooden ledge looking in the box. I wonder, was she pondering whether or not it was a good place for a nest? Or maybe she felt disappointed because it was a good nesting site before my husband removed the leaves and grass that had been there probably the last time she'd looked. As always, the animals are busy right now. We get in their way.
That makes me think about the poor bunny I nearly scared to death last spring.. I was happily gasping for air while mowing the lawn, when an itty bitty bunny startled me by hopping eight to ten feet in the air straight up and out of some tall ornamental grass nearby and then plopped, with a little splash, into our pond. I couldn't believe it! Shutting off the mower, I walked to the water's edge and looked for the little guy who was no bigger than my hand. When I didn't spot him right away, I sadlly concluded he'd sunk to the bottom of the pond like a rock. You know what they say don't jump to conclusions ... because, next, I found him swimming with great speed, toward the middle of the pond! Now I know there is at least one bunny out there that not only can swim, but can blow through the water like a high speed motor came with its little cotton tail. I wondered--how long could he keep it up? I was responsible for this. I had to do something. 'Ding' A bright idea sprung into my head! I could use the canoe. I found my daughter and she was more than willing to help. We hurried. But, by the time we were in the pond with the canoe, the surface of the water was completely still. There wasn't a ripple anywhere.
With heavy hearts we put the canoe and rescue bucket away. And then, we stood by the water's edge to talk about the bunny. The rock my shoe was close to stepping on, moved. Hey- that rock had wet fur! He wasn't a gonner after all. Mr. Bunny had the sense to turn his frantic swimming around and head back to shore! My daughter picked him up and put him in the grass where he could feel safe. I like to think he's still around. If he is, I'm sure he absolutely hates hearing the mower on the lawn. This spring I'll be extra careful when I mow. It's not just my back yard, I share it with others.
