Ice. Out. Ducks. In.

The ice left our bay on April 22. Just like that, gone.

The mallards are delighted.  So,it seems is the muskrat.

In a shining moment this afternoon, while putting up a birdhouse near Beaver cottage, several events overtook me in rapid succession:  I saw the muskrat swim past, dropped my cordless electric drill, watched it bounce off my foot and cartwheel down the hill and vanish into eight inches or so of clear, cold water.   I only had boots that were four inches deep...   

and the muskrat was no help at all.     But the ducks thought it was very funny.