Ducky Date

Of all the many talents Phill has, have I ever told you that he has a talent for photography?

Yeah. He's good.

Really good.

Good enough that I'm often jealous, in a fiery happy sort of way. And tonight, he really pulled out all the stops.

Tonight we went on a date and found this secret spot in St.George, a very un-St.George-like spot. A body of water and ducks. And ducklings. They made me squeal and say things in a strangely high-pitched voice.

Oh, heaven help me, those fuzzy little ducklings....

We followed them around, trying with the zoom lens to get close-up pictures--without getting close-up. We must have seemed like paparazzo, because we quite literally ruffled some feathers.

Their parents were very clear in letting us know how displeased they were by our proximity.

They gave us the evil eye.

It's pretty unnerving to get the evil eye from a duck. Especially when they give you the evil eye and come towards you at the same time, making scary duck sounds. Phill was brave. After the ducks came very quickly towards us, spreading their wings and hoarsely quacking and looking at us sideways, I very quickly walked further away saying something like "oh-man-oh-man-oh-man-oh-NO-oh-PHILL-oh-man-oh-man....." Needless to say, I was put in my place. But Phill got closer and took the wind right out of this duck's feathers. We'll call him Merv. I just think he has a Merv face. Look at his mean Merv-y face....

The mother was such a good mama duck. Look at her protective stance. She looks so intensely uncomfortable, I felt a little bad, actually. How dare I invade her personal space? "How dare you invade our personal space?"
They needed to confer about what to do. "Merv, I just can't do this anymore."

"You do something about this, or I am moving across the pond without a backward glance. I'm serious, Merv."She meant business.


So they moved the ducklings. First the ducklings went away from us, followed by the mama, followed by Merv and....who's the other guy? The brother-in-law? It was a strategized move.
Meanwhile, I'm a chicken. While Phill captured awesome humdingers like the ones above, I took placid photos like these.

Look at them! Three little ducklings.
They craned their necks to watch their mama swim.

And she was sure to stand between them and any danger....i.e., we human paparazzi. I just couldn't come between her and her babies.



Then we drove around and found high points from which to take photos.

And rode off into the sunset.

Best date ever.